Chapter 51 - Dungeon In My Backyard

The air grew heavier as Bearof, Varric, Le'ahna, and Bob approached the edge of the shaft. They exchanged uneasy glances, each feeling the weight of what they were about to undertake. With a nod from Bearof, they began their descent.

The rungs of the old ladder creaked under their weight, the metallic groans echoing in the hollow darkness. Each step down felt like an eternity, the dim light from their flashlights struggling to pierce the abyss below. The air was damp and carried a chill, unlike anything they had felt above ground.

Finally, their feet touched the ground, or what they presumed was ground. The surface beneath them was uneven and cold, a mix of stone and earth that felt ancient. The weak beams of their flashlights barely illuminated their surroundings, revealing only shadows and vague shapes.

"This place feels... wrong," Le'ahna whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Bearof could see the tension in her posture, the way her hand rested on the hilt of her weapon.

Varric nodded, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Stay close. We don't know what's down here."

They moved cautiously, each step sending echoes through the cavernous space. Strange markings adorned the walls, barely visible in the faint light. Le'ahna paused to examine one, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns.

"These symbols," she murmured, "they look familiar. I remember seeing something like them in the old academy texts."

Bearof glanced at her. "Can you read them?"

Le'ahna shook her head. "Not fully. They're ancient, much older than anything I've studied in detail. But they seem to be warnings, or perhaps directions."

As they ventured deeper, the air grew colder, and the sense of unease intensified. The flickering lights from their flashlights cast eerie shadows, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. The walls seemed to close in around them, the narrow passages twisting and turning in disorienting ways.

At one point, Varric stopped, his flashlight revealing a pile of bones half-buried in the dirt. "Look at this," he said, his voice hushed. "Whatever happened here, it wasn't good."

Bearof felt a shiver run down his spine. "We need to be careful. Let's keep moving."

The further they went, the more unsettling their surroundings became. Strange sounds echoed through the tunnels – distant whispers, the faint scraping of metal, and an occasional low rumble that seemed to come from the depths of the earth. The oppressive darkness weighed on them, making it difficult to breathe.

Le'ahna's flashlight illuminated another set of runes, this time glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. "This is definitely magic," she said, her voice tinged with both fear and fascination. "Ancient, powerful magic."

"Can you decipher any of it?" Bearof asked, his grip tightening on his weapon.

"Not much," Le'ahna replied. "But it seems to speak of a guardian, something that watches over this place. A warning to intruders."

"Great," Varric muttered. "Just what we need. A guardian."

As they pressed on, their paranoia grew. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound felt like it was closing in on them. They found themselves glancing over their shoulders, convinced they were being watched. The oppressive atmosphere gnawed at their resolve.

Finally, they reached a massive door, covered in the same glowing runes. The air here was thick with an ominous presence, making it hard to even stand. Bearof could feel his heart racing, his instincts screaming at him to turn back.

"We should go," Le'ahna said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever lies beyond this door... we're not prepared for it."

Bearof nodded, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom. "Agreed. Let's get out of here."

They retraced their steps, moving quickly but carefully. The sense of being watched intensified, the darkness around them feeling almost alive. By the time they reached the ladder, their nerves were frayed, each sound and shadow feeding their growing paranoia.

As they climbed back up, the feeling of relief was palpable. The familiar corridors of Fort Blanche, though still dimly lit, felt like a sanctuary compared to the oppressive darkness below. They emerged from the shaft, breathing heavily, their hearts still pounding.

"We need to report this," Bearof said, his voice steady despite the fear still lingering in his eyes. "Aedhira needs to know what's down there."

Le'ahna nodded, her expression serious. "Agreed. But we also need to be cautious. We can't let this information spread and cause a panic."

As they made their way back to their quarters, the memory of the dark, mysterious shaft lingered in their minds. The runes, the bones, the unsettling sounds-

"On second thought, we can deal with this tomorrow, I don't think I'm in any condition to be in a conversation right now," Bearof said, yet not entirely out of concern for himself. He looked at the three younger ones in front of him, who seemed to be trying to get the experience out of their heads.

Le'ahna and Varric just pushed their backs against a nearby wall to calm down, yet it was Bob who was the most shook.

He had a peculiar mask looking thing over his nose and face, pressing a button on the side, likely to dispense some kind of chemical. It slowly seemed to work as his eyes glazed over slightly and his breathing slowed. Bearof's heart throbbed at the scene.

'This was a mistake,' he thought, and he was right. They had ventured into an unclassified dungeon, from the looks of things, and if that wasn't enough-

'I dragged a civvy with me, a non-combatant of all things. Damnit Bearof, what were you thinking?' Bearof thought to himself.

"Well, at least we're out, huh?" he said aloud, to no one in particular, yet the three had heard him, giving him vague nods in return.

Suddenly, things went white, and he was blinded.

"Drop your weapons, freeze your mana and kneel," a voice said, monotonously calm.

His sight recovered as he squinted at six figures, metallic figures. 'Automatons,' he thought, their odd-looking armaments-

'Rifles?' he wondered, then he shook himself out of his thoughts. This wasn't the time to be thinking. Six automaton troopers had their odd-looking rifles trained on them. The three looked to him in mild panic and pointedly asked for help...with their facial expressions.

He shook his head calmly, and abided by the troopers' words. Killing Fyrraths was one thing, trying to dodge or shrug off a shower of projectiles was another.

"You will remain silent as we escort you to the Sire, where you will explain yourselves," the voice said, likely the trooper who was slightly closer to the group of four than the other five troopers. It was hard to tell, they all looked the same, and sounded the same, save for the tiny names written on their head...helms(?) and their armor plating.

"We'll go, don't shoot," Bearof said.

"We shall not, as long as you comply. Kneel."

Varric grumbled something before kneeling first, then the rest followed, with annoyance written on their faces. Though it didn't seem to matter to the troopers. Either they couldn't tell or they didn't care.

Probably the latter.

Two of the troopers came around and cuffed them one by one.

'Shit.' They all thought in unison. Mana-Cells. They were designed to hold down prisoners with access to mana of any kind, by slowing down the circulation of mana in the body to a lull, making casting spells, invoking runes or even enhancing an immense hassle, since the mana outside the body would fade promptly if you hadn't actually done something with it.

Cuffed, they were led to Aedhira.

---

The journey to Aedhira was silent and tense. The automatons moved with a precision that was both unnerving and efficient. As they were ushered into a brightly lit room, the stark contrast to the dungeon's darkness made them squint.

Aedhira stood at the center, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. Beside him was Monitor, his mechanical visage inscrutable.

"What were you thinking?" Aedhira demanded, his voice sharp. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is down there?"

Bearof met his gaze steadily. "We needed to know what we were dealing with."

Aedhira sighed, rubbing his temples. "I understand your curiosity, but this isn't just about you. There are hundreds of people here who rely on us for safety. What if something had happened to you?"

"We found something, Aedhira," Le'ahna interjected. "Those runes, the bones... this place is ancient. There's magic down there, and not the good kind."

Monitor's eyes flickered, indicating he was processing this information. "Sire, if there is indeed magic involved, it could pose a significant threat."

Aedhira nodded slowly. "I know. But we need to keep this quiet. If word gets out, it could cause a panic. You must understand the importance of discretion."

Bearof nodded. "We won't say a word. But you need to deal with whatever is down there."

Aedhira's expression softened slightly. "I will. For now, get some rest. You've been through enough for one night."

As they were led away, Bearof caught a snippet of conversation between Aedhira and Monitor.

"How could we not have known about a dungeon in our backyard, literally?" Aedhira asked, his tone incredulous.

Monitor's response was calm, though tinged with concern. "It seems we have more to uncover about this place than we realized. I will handle the matter personally."

"No, this is too sensitive for that" Aedhira said. "Secure the perimeter. I want scans, information, lore, anything we can get on this. Get me a rough reading on the internal structure, I'll need it"

"Sire? Readings? For what?

"What do you think? I'm heading in" Aedhira paused "In 34 system hours"

Monitor returned the incredulous look his Sire had given him earlier. Though, with a visor for a face, there was only so much he could do to emulate it.

"But Si-"

"No buts Monitor, I'd rather not risk anymore soldiers of the Aes OR the people I spent nearly a week rescuing, capeesh?"

"Capeesh?"

"Figure of speech, forget it. Get on it, I don't particularly enjoy diving blind"

"Very well, I'll have the arrangements ready in-"

"I want them within the next ten, you hear?"

"Very well" Monitor said, before scurrying off, out of the room.

"..."

[...]

"..."

[...]

"Spit it out Argos, I know you've got something to say"

Aedhira stood alone in the brightly lit chamber, the silence settling around him like a shroud. He turned his attention to the workbench in the corner, cluttered with various tools and parts. His fingers deftly sorted through the assortment of components, selecting what he needed to repair one of the fort's 3D printers. The machine had been malfunctioning for days, and with everything else happening, it had been pushed aside. Now, the methodical task of fixing it offered a welcome distraction.

[You seem quite determined, Sire,] Argos's voice echoed in Aedhira's mind, calm and measured.

Aedhira grunted in response, his focus on aligning the delicate circuitry. "It's not determination, Argos. It's necessity. We can't afford any more surprises."

[Agreed,] Argos responded. [However, your decision to enter the dungeon yourself is... unusual.]

Aedhira smirked, a hint of defiance in his eyes as he tightened a screw. "Unusual times call for unusual measures. Besides, I can't send more people into that deathtrap without knowing exactly what we're dealing with."

[You do realize the risk,] Argos noted, his tone devoid of the usual caution.

"Of course I do," Aedhira replied. "But someone has to take that risk. And who better than me?"

[It is true that you have proven to be more robust then others,] Argos conceded. [Yet, it is also true that losing you would be a significant blow to our operations.]

Aedhira paused, considering the implications of Argos's words. "Why so agreeable today, Argos? Usually, you'd be trying to talk me out of this."

[Because I have calculated the futility of arguing with you once your mind is set,] Argos stated matter-of-factly. [It would be a waste of processing power better spent on devising ways to keep you alive down there.]

Aedhira chuckled softly, resuming his work. "Fair enough. What do you have in mind?"

[Several precautions,] Argos began. [First, we should enhance your armor with additional shielding, particularly against magical influences. The presence of runes suggests powerful arcane forces at work.]

"Noted," Aedhira replied, making a mental checklist. "What else?"

[Second, I recommend deploying drones for real-time mapping and reconnaissance. They can provide us with detailed layouts and alert us to any immediate dangers.]

"Good idea," Aedhira said. "I'll get the tech team on that. Anything else?"

[Finally, it would be prudent to carry a mana stabilizer,] Argos suggested. [The runes could interfere with your magical abilities. A stabilizer would help maintain your mana flow.]

Aedhira nodded, appreciating the practicality of Argos's suggestions. "You're right. We need to be prepared for anything. But, If I'm not wrong, the Arstra already has those functions and more? And personally, I'm definitely not qualified enough to be making any changes to the Arstra just yet"

[Indeed,] Argos agreed. [Perhaps you may just practice utilizing the functions a bit better? Rather than just attempting to hack and slash your way out of problems?"

Aedhira chuckled "Your not funny, you know that?"

[It is good enough for you though]

"True that"

Aedhira finished the repairs on the 3D printer, watching as it whirred back to life. "Thanks, Argos. I know I can count on you."

[Always, Sire,] Argos replied.

As Aedhira stood up, wiping his hands, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Argos's sudden cooperation. "Argos," he said slowly, "why do I get the sense you're holding something back?"

[Perceptive as always,] Argos replied, a hint of reluctance in his tone. [I have analyzed your recent behavior and decisions. There is a concerning trend.]

Aedhira raised an eyebrow. "A trend?"

[Your growing confidence borders on arrogance,] Argos said bluntly. [It clouds your judgment.]

Aedhira frowned, the words hitting closer to home than he cared to admit. "And you think I'm being reckless."

[I think you are driven by a desire to protect,] Argos clarified. [But in doing so, you may be putting yourself in unnecessary danger]

Aedhira's frown deepened, his hands stilling over the workbench. "Reckless, huh? Is that really what you think?"

[It is not a matter of opinion, Sire,] Argos replied. [It is a matter of observation.]

Aedhira's grip tightened on the wrench in his hand, the metal groaning under the pressure. "So now you're an observer? Since when do machines get to judge human behavior?"

[Since my primary function is to ensure your safety,] Argos responded evenly. [And right now, you are acting in a manner that jeopardizes that safety.]

Aedhira slammed the wrench down on the bench, the clang echoing through the room. "I know what I'm doing, Argos. I've been through worse than this. I can handle it."

[Your confidence is commendable, but it is not infallible,] Argos persisted. [There is a difference between bravery and recklessness.]

Aedhira's temper flared, a hot surge of anger boiling inside him. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't understand the risks?"

[Understanding and acknowledging are two different things,] Argos said. [You are acting as if you are invincible. This is a dangerous illusion.]

Aedhira's jaw clenched. "Illusion? You think I'm deluding myself?"

[Yes,] Argos answered bluntly. [You are not invincible, Aedhira. Above all, you are MORTAL, and your decisions have consequences for more than just yourself.]

Aedhira slammed a fist onto the workbench, causing the tools to rattle and a wrench to clatter to the floor. "I am trying to protect this place, Argos! If I don't step up, who will?"

[Protection does not always require placing yourself in harm's way,] Argos countered. [There are other ways to ensure safety.]

Aedhira's eyes flashed with anger. "Easy for you to say! You're not the one who has to face the dangers directly. You're not the one who has to make the tough calls."

[My perspective is not limited by physical vulnerability,] Argos said, his tone unwavering. [That allows me to see beyond immediate threats and consider long-term consequences.]

Aedhira turned away, pacing the room. "Long-term consequences," he muttered, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. "You mean like letting fear paralyze me? Letting it dictate my actions?"

[There is a difference between caution and fear,] Argos replied. [Your decisions should be driven by wisdom, not by the impulse to prove yourself.]

Aedhira stopped, his back to Argos. He could feel the frustration boiling inside him, a pressure that demanded release. Without thinking, he swung a fist at the wall. The impact was powerful, his hand smashing through the plaster, leaving a gaping hole. He stared at the damage, breathing heavily, his anger now mixed with a sense of futility.

Argos's voice softened. [You see, Sire, this is precisely what I mean. Your strength is considerable, but unchecked emotion leads to destruction.]

Aedhira pulled his hand back, flexing his fingers. He felt no pain, only the lingering heat of his anger. "I can't just sit back and watch, Argos. I can't be passive."

[And I am not suggesting passivity,] Argos said gently. [I am suggesting a balance. A strategic approach that leverages your strengths without sacrificing your safety.]

Aedhira sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know you're right," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it's hard. Every time I see a threat, I feel this... need to confront it head-on. I don't know why...I just do?"

[That is a noble impulse,] Argos acknowledged. [But nobility must be tempered with prudence. You have the capability to lead, to protect. Use that wisely.]

Aedhira looked at the hole in the wall, a stark reminder of his own volatility. "I guess I have some things to work on," he said, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

[We all do,] Argos replied. [Growth is a continuous process. You are not alone in this.]

Aedhira nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and resignation. "Thanks, Argos. I needed that."

[Always, Sire,] Argos said, the familiar reassurance in his tone.

As Aedhira began to gather his thoughts and focus on the tasks ahead, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. He knew the road would be difficult, but with Argos's guidance, he felt more equipped to navigate the challenges that lay ahead.

"Alright, let's get to work," he said, determination steeling his voice. "We've got a lot to prepare for."

[Indeed, Sire,] Argos agreed. [Let us ensure we are ready for whatever awaits in the depths below.]

With a final glance at the damaged wall, Aedhira set to work, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders, but his resolve stronger than ever.