Chapter 84 Mysterious Voice
River told Anna and Valerie the whereabouts of Cleo and Leah before hurriedly left them at dwarves. He decides to quickly get out of that conversation as soon as he's done with his initial goal to prevent any slip ups coming from him or the two that are with him.
The three of them proceed to check the ins and outs of the abandoned cathedral while avoiding Valerie, Anna and the dwarves.
They explore the crossing part of the cathedral. At the left side of it is another entrance however adventurers rarely use it since the stench coming from that area is much stronger. At the right side is a stairs leading to the basement where a more stronger undead enemies resides. Straight ahead is apse and ambulatory part of the cathedral.
"River?" Phraan said. "RIVER!?" he repeated when he realized that River is ignoring him once again. He can't fathom why is River doing this much for Cleo and Leah. Yes, they helped them have a new life but is that really enough to sacrifice themselves to this extent, he wondered.
"Don't worry too much Phraan, we will escape as soon as we saw an enemy that we can't deal with. Remember we are also at 2nd Job were not some newbie at their first mission." River reassured the worrying Phraan.
'Don't worry too much? What the hell is this guy thinking? Does he really think monsters in this area is a joke.' Phraan complained inwardly.
When they asked around earlier at the camp sites where the adventurers located. Some of the seasoned adventurers warned them about the basement. That place cannot be taken lightly. Not only it is infested by the undead. There is also some octopus like creatures that only a few had seen and live to tell the tale.
"Phraan go set up some traps over here. This will be our safe zone, once we saw an enemy that we think that we can't fight head on." River ordered.
He might be blinded by this mission but he didn't forget to strategize or plan ahead. Its as if this is his intention the moment they step foot at the abandoned cathedral.
Phraan who still have reservation about this whole situation reluctantly sets up his trap. Most of it are bear traps that are modified to sever a limb of an undead. He also sets up a poison traps but he's not really sure if this will work against their enemies here at the basement.
Once Phraan finished setting up all of his traps. The trio proceed to slowly explore the basement. The stench here is more prominent compare upstairs. The source of light are just few torches that they themselves lit up. Carcass and skeletons of unknown origin litter the place.
"What's with this place?" Ryder complained while trying to remove the slime from his boots that he stepped on earlier. "Let's just get this over with so we can get out of here as soon as possible." he added. Even though he agreed at River's idea he also have some reservation about this place.
After almost an hour of exploration, the scenery remains unchanged. Its as if they are just going circles. They tried marking some of the walls as a reminder where they come from. So far they didn't saw any mark that they previously put. Its just that the basement is so vast.
"Are we sure that were not just going in circles?" Phraan asked.
"You saw the walls, our marks is not there. Maybe this whole place is just that huge." Ryder answered.
"River?" Phraan called out to River when he saw that he suddenly stops. "What's wrong?" he added.
"Stop talking, step back slowly." River whispered without removing his gaze at something he saw in front.
"Why? What's wrong with you River?" Ryder asked this time.
"Aarko kkora mer"
A voice suddenly filled their minds.
Ryder the lowest levels among them is the first to started bleeding from his ears and nose.
"Wha-what language is that?" Phraan questioned while trying to find the source of the mysterious voice.
"Ryder! What happen to you?" River asked while shaking the now unconscious Ryder lying the ground.
"We need to go now, River!" Phraan exclaimed while wiping the blood dripping from his nose.
The two tried their best to drag Ryder with them.