16 City of Ravens 2 (1/2)

Walking through the forest, I soon found my way back, which confirmed my suspicion that something was at play when I got lost.

Remembering what happened to me, I felt overwhelmed. Never have I experienced anything like this, and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. If I tell anyone about the ghost, they will think I'm crazy!

And the exploration of ruins was also too big of a temptation! Maybe I should call Master later?

It was almost noon when I entered my room. Before I came here, I made sure that the body camera was off, then I connected it to my laptop. I opened the video file and skipped to the part where I fell through that shaft.

The recording was mostly intact, the part of the recording where the ghost should be was nothing more than white noise. It then continued for a while before it cut to the site where I woke up.

I wasn't sure what to do, but I didn't want to tell everyone about what I found. Whatever I find there, I can take it. Artifacts, Relics, everything can be owned by me and in turn, be sold later. If I disclose the location of the tunnels the MCA and the government will act quickly and claim everything there, leaving me with nothing.

Situations like this are not common but they do happen, plus there is a lot that I didn't explore.

But there is still the ghost that I need to consider! Whatever it did I suddenly was moved to the outside. The white noise continued for only a few minutes, and just to get there from the crossroad took me almost an hour. This indicated that space arcane arts were used. Not only are they extremally rare but also powerful!

And whatever killed that sky panther... in other words, chances are that I will die the moment I go there again.

For now, I should keep that a secret.

I edited the video making sure that it cuts off before I got anywhere near the entrance of the shaft. The MCA may ask why I did so, for it I will say that I was spending the night there and wanted to keep some privacy.

People die in the hunting grounds, mostly by monsters, rarely by humans, but it happens, and with the monsters running around the place, blood, bones and body parts are everywhere. Finding a corpse is impossible not to mention evidence.

Even if they suspect anything, they won't be able to do anything. And if I leave the parts where I kill the monsters, they will still pay me for them.

With that done I went to the MCA and claimed my reward. The clerk did shoot a suspicious glance at me but said nothing.

Back at my place I wanted to change my clothes, starting with the armor and then the shirt, I saw that there was something on my arm.

Starting on my upper arm to the halfway of my forearm, strange symbols like a snake wrapped around my arm.

”WHAT IS THIS!?”

I tried to rub it off with water, but it didn't come off. Was it that ghost lady doing? This can't be any good, there are too many unknowns. This is an emergency and one more reason to call Master.

I dig out the flip phone and called Master.

'What's going on kid?'

”Master, something happened…”

'Well, can you hurry up, I'm in the middle of something. (AgHHGAA!! PLEASE STOP!)'

”What was that?”

'Speak quickly or call in two hours. I'm busy.”

”…” I shortly explained about the ruins, the ghost and the symbols on my arm. When I was finished Master stayed silent for quite a while leaving me listening screams of some guy.

'Ok. I must admit that what you said is… unusual. I will be back in a few weeks, in the meanwhile find someone who can translate the symbols on your arm. Keep the ruins a secret, I will check them out when I get back, and if you can try to secure the entrance. I need to go now, stay out of trouble.'

”Master, if you know something about this, don't keep me in the dark. And what are you doing now?!”

'I don't know much, I saw a place that is like what you described. An altar, bodies, murals, the style of the buildings, only that it was at the top of the tower in an underground city and there was no ghost. It was littered with powerful monsters so I wouldn't recommend you to go snoop in there.'

”Where was it?”

'Australia, five years ago. I fell into a shaft like you did.'

”And what are you doing now?”