32-Down to the Void Pt.1

He sat up from his bed massaging his temples as his head pounded violently. He tried to look around but had to close his eyes as everything seemed to dance around. He was alone in the tent; the rest of his comrades had already been out and preparing for his descent.

Servus 132-X cursed under his breath as the pain became more intense. The pounding pain had become more like a squeezing torture now. It made him lay back on his bed. The damned headache felt like his eyes almost popping out from its socket due to the unbearable pressure. His eyes burned and watered as the pain intensified further.

The grimace on his face said it all. He gnashed his teeth as he clenched the side of his bed, praying for the pain to end. The pain was at its crescendo when he saw a vision of a big glass ball rapidly descending from the sky towards a wasteland causing explosion and destruction in its wake.

He opened his eyes in shock and miraculously, the pain disappeared. He gasped for his breath, as he filled his lungs which much needed air. He blinked his eyes and slowly massaged the bridge of his nose. As he laid himself on the bed drenched in his own cold sweat.

Not a few moments passed, the beastman entered the tent to supposedly wake him up, obviously, he was already awake. The beastman noticed him drenched in sweat while massaging his temples.

"A-are you alright?" The beastman knelt and tried to touch his forehead, but Servus 132-X caught the beastman's hand midway.

"I'm okay," Servus 132-X sighed. "I was just having a—"

"Nightmare?" The beastman interrupted as he reached out his hand for Servus 132-X to lift himself up. "I know, how difficult this is for you. You know—you don't really have to do this."

"It's already set in stone, my friend." He smiled at the worried beastman and sat up on the bed with the help of the beastman's hand. "You don't need to worry about me. I will come back alive and in one piece."

The beastman sighed as he realized that his worries were futile to the stubborn and determined Servus 132-X. He smiled at him and said, "I wish I could do something for you too. More than just—waiting."

Servus patted the beastman's shoulder and stood up. "Just be there." He smiled. "Come on, let's eat some breakfast!" He walked out of the tent into the sunless gloom of a morning.

The sun was shy above the clouds. It didn't even care to peek its rays into the forsaken grey land. In the distance the thunder made a low growl signaling rain might struck at any moment.

It made Servus 132-X worry. This rain might cause the delay of his descent and he didn't want that to happen. He did not want to feel anymore anxiety than what he already had. It was already eating him inside and another delay might toll on him.

He was worried that it might cause him to cower and change his mind all together. He didn't want to burden his comrades more with worrying about him. He just wanted to get it over with.

"I could sense rain any moment now." The beastman declared.

"I hope it doesn't," Servus 132-X mumbled. "I want to get this over with already." He added as he gave the beastman a nod.

Both walked towards their usual meeting place. From a distance, Servus 132-X saw the dwarf looking at the sky with a somber look at his face. The elf was also looking at the sky, while stirring her cooked meal in a small pot she hanged over the campfire.

The dwarf noticed them approached and suddenly his gloomy face, was now a smiling one. "Oi! Lads! C'mere!" He waved at them while holding a bottle of ale on his other hand.

Servus recalled his meal rations before, they were worse to the point of unconsumable to humans, but as slaves they were forced to eat the bland porridge and stale bread. The food he's eating right now is a luxury compared to the one he had before.

After the meal, Tristam came around. "Good day, sers and lady." He slightly bowed his head as he greeted them.

"We ain't Sers and Lady, Lad," the dwarf replied. "And the morning is fairly gloom. But, yah, okay. Glum Morning to yah!" The dwarf bowed back sarcastically.

Servus 132-X saw how Tristam's face went red. The poor knight was again flustered by the dwarf's sly reply. He knew how Tristam was trying his best to befriend them, even though everytime he started a conversation, it came across awkward and out of place. Servus 132-X knew that he meant well and decided to befriend the young knight once this madness is over.

"Ser Tristam, why are you here?" Servus 132-X asked as he lowered his spoon into the bowl.

"O-oh! Yes! Umm…" The poor knight tried to compose himself. "Commander Prestonheim asks for you."

The slaves looked at one another and nodded to Servus 132-X.

"Yes, I will be there with you." Servus 132-X stood up and placed his half-eaten meal on his seat and followed the young knight.

Suddenly, rain started to fall as they went across the other side of the camp, where Lord Prestonheim's tent is. At first it was a soft drizzle patting them on the head but after a few moments, the patting turned into an assault of heavy rain.

They ran across the camp until they finally reached Lord Prestonheim's tent.

Inside, the Lord Commander paced in front of his table, looking at a parchment with the list of equipment that arrived at early dawn. These items were for Servus 132-X descent.

Tristam interrupted his brooding with a salute, "Lord Prestonheim, Servus 132-X is here."

Lord Prestonheim glanced at both of them soaked in rainwater, "Had it rai—" before he can finish his question, the heavens answered it for him. Raindrops violently poured against his tent, sounding like a thousand galloping cavalry.

"Good day, Lord Prestonheim," Servus 132-X greeted the general.

"What did you say?" Lord Prestonheim asked.

"I said good day, Lord Prestonheim!"

"GOOD GRIEF! THIS RAIN! COME CLOSER HERE SERVUS 132-X, I CANNOT HEAR YOU!" The rain muffled their voices.

After that was settled, both went back to their serious conversation.

Lord Prestonheim started to pace on the table once more, "Servus 132-X." He began. "I called you here to present to you the items that you need for your descent." He pointed at a small wooden chest at the side of the table close to Servus 132-X.

Servus 132-X opened up the chest and saw the items.

"The item are as follows." Lord Prestonheim read the parchment on the table. "One boiled leather armor. one buckler. One standard-issue gladius. A pair of standard-issue leathered foot wraps. A small cloth-made satchel with the following runes, three pieces of fire runes, three pieces of water runes, two pieces of air runes, three pieces of earth runes and seven pieces of light runes. There is also a flint in there. Kindly, check the contents and be careful with the blade."

Servus 132-X checked all the contents of the chest. Everything was exactly as it was listed. He unsheathed the weapon and tried the buckler as well. Both were light and easy to handle. The blade is well-balanced and is perfect for delivering swift blows in tight spaces. He was contented to see the items and nodded to the Commander.

"Everything is here." He closed the chest and asked Lord Prestonheim, "Lord Prestonheim, would this rain inconvenience you?" Servus 132-X was still worried if the commander would delay the exploration because of the damned rain.

Lord Prestonheim was surprised with the question but knew exactly what it meant. He cracked a huge smile on his face. "You utterly amaze me! Either you're a fool or just courageous." The commander nodded, "We live to thrive even in this weather."

"Shall we begin then?" Servus 132-X smiled back at him.

Lord Prestonheim laughed. "Tristam, call the other knights and ready the pullies. We are about to begin."