Hey all, thanks for reaching chapter 7. If you have just started reading my blog, please scroll down to the end where you will find the prologue as well as a brief history of the game this story if based on, then begin your journey from there.
I also recommend trying out the game, now called Dekaron, at this site:
https://www.papayaplay.com/dekaron.do
It's a free to play MMO (Mass Multiplayer Online) and is worth a shot playing! -Albert
"After we enter the mouth of this cave, we'll need to track any source of magic being used. Sarah, that's where you come in. See if there are any alarm glyphs or runic traps that could trigger upon our further movement into the cave."
Sarah nodded, relieved that Albert was so ready to grant her a big responsibility right after their conversation.
"Nina, once we enter, sneak through the shadows and use your life magic to see if there are any guards in plain sight or hidden along our route. We'll need to deal with them silently. Sarah and I will move a few paces behind you."
Nina responded with a nod, a faceless expression neither happy nor sad. Repressed may even be the word, as to a boiling kettle with a flurry of emotions being pressed down and slowly cooled.
"Let us not tarry any longer. Forward!" exclaimed Albert, loud enough for the two ladies to hear, yet soft enough to let the neighbors sleep soundly through the night.
He began to walk towards an opening in the rock wall when Sarah said "Albert, that's not going to lead us anywhere deep through the caverns. That leads to the outhouse for cave workers."
"Oh, how do you know?" asked Albert.
"There's a sign right there" replied Sarah.
Nina confirmed this with a sniff of the air, then ever so cutely wrinkled her nose and frowned as if to say "smelly."
"Wow" Albert said, "there I go again, my, what would I do without you two?"
"I shudder at the thought" Sarah retorted, but then smiled, saying "good thing you've got us to watch your back."
Albert confidently raised his head, puffed out his chest, then said "Thank you, I am blessed. Ok, so where is the entrance?"
"We may have went on the wrong side of the hills" said Sarah.
Nina shook her head as if to say no, then pointed to a trail leading up to what looked like an opening to the side of the small mountain. The start of the trail was behind Sarah, but not easily noticed by the naked eye. Trees and other foliage blocked the pathway. Sarah was surprised.
"Nina, have you had training in hunting and tracking?" asked Sarah.
Nina nodded yes.
"Wow, that's great! I'd love to have training of that sort" said Sarah. Albert then chimed in, saying "Let's continue this conversation while we walk up."
"Oh, right, my apologies" said Sarah.
Along the way to the perceived opening, Sarah continued her girl talk with Nina.
"As I was saying before being rudely interrupted" Sarah said, sneering jokingly at Albert, with his response of raised hands as if to say, "what did I do?" Sarah continued "when I was in the cloister of the Incar, we didn't train ourselves in what seemed to be 'dirty' work, but to me it is appealing. Would you be willing to teach me some techniques?"
Nina smiled and nodded. Despite her silence, Sarah could tell that she started to find a friend in Nina.
Albert then came beside Nina and, as awkward as ever, wrapped his arm around her, giving her a squeeze like they were best of pals, saying "Hehe, maybe you could give me some lessons too, seeing how I'd be lost without your guidance, haha!"
Pleasantly bashful, Nina blushed a bit as she lowered her head in shyness.
"Albert, you're embarrassing her" said Sarah.
"Oh, I am? Er, Nina, am I embarrassing you?" asked Albert.
Nina turned her head away, while looking back at him ever so subtly.
"Hehe, sorry about that. Just saying thanks for your assistance!" said Albert as he patted Nina on the back.
"Albert!" exclaimed Sarah, although it was not harsh, due to Sarah noticing that Nina was enjoying it despite her apparent bashfulness.
Albert looked up, and his countenance became serious as he said "Get ready, we're almost there. Remember Nina, you go in first ok?"
Nina, with her usual somberness, nodded yes. When it came to business, Nina and Albert didn't mess around. Like a swift rogue, she hurried silently ahead, then abruptly stopped and crouched behind a small boulder outside the cave. Sarah and Albert crept slowly toward her, then Albert signaled for Sarah to stop and stay still.
Nina had her eyes closed, the engravings on her face glowing with a taint of red. She then opened her eyes and waved for the other two to come where she was. Sarah and Albert scurried silently to Nina.
Sarah wasn't used to sneaking around; her training didn't include stealth, however, the head enchantress did have her conduct physical enhancement training apart from her usual elemental practices. She remembered Alicia saying physical fitness could be considered a magical element that we must further fine tune and exercise.
"The body can be as difficult to master as the element of fire is" Sarah remembered her mentor say.
In fact, Sarah's skills like Energy Jab, relied on her physical fitness, as it drew from the life force of the mage itself, whereas molding and shaping elements like water or ice into a spell, used up a caster's magic potential, or MP for short.
It's not that Sarah couldn't sneak around, rather, it was not her preference, nor an activity she was trained for. After Sarah and Albert got closer, Albert asked "do you sense anyone Nina?"
Nina shook her head no.
"Okay, excellent, but that is strange. No one is guarding the place. Let's set up a point to to next and-"
"Wait!" interrupted Sarah. "I sense something...its not a magic trap...it seems like the beginning of an incantation, a ritual...its dark magic...a summoning ritual."
"A summoning ritual?" said Albert. "Is there a pact being engaged, perhaps by a vicious summoner?"
"No, it isn't magic I recognize" Sarah replied. "I sense something is being offered up as attrition, a sacrifice..."
"Blood" said Nina eerily.
Sarah and Albert turned to Nina in shock that she said something for the first time in their midst.
"Blood!" Nina said in a louder tone.
What followed Sarah and Albert's amazement, was a realization.
"Oh no! They might be using the villagers as sacrifice for some dreadful being! Their lives are in jeopardy!" exclaimed Albert. They all quickly rose to their feet. "Forget sneaking, we need to hurry!"
Next comes the fighting, and we know that warriors are always needed, whether in times of peace or war.
