Chapter 36

"We can't allow him to alert others! Stop him!"

"How?"

"Create a mana wall with me! And tell Dafur to prepare cast his runes!"

"Dafur! Luci says that you should conjure…" Stone was interrupted by a fiery arrow emerging from the Dafur's rune and killing the panicked villager by piercing the neck. A muffled explosion tore his head off, sending it on the overturned chair's leg. The expression on the villager's face was so surprised that even Stone chuckled.

"Never mind," Stone was embarrassed. That was not very stony.

"Ten out of ten," Lucifer giggled.

"What?" Stone was confused by these strange sentences.

"Nothing," Lucifer brushed him off. "Tell him to pack. We're leaving. Now!"

"Dafur, Luci wants to leave. Now."

"Yea, sorry about that. T'at was the strangest feeling I ever had," he apologized. "Som'body's gonna be grumpy," Dafur snickered as he glanced around for the last time. This would teach that pesky shaman to not mess with a dwarf!

They left and stealthily moved towards the shaft on the other side of the enormous cavern. On the way, Dafur showed some common sense by dropping most of the stolen things, leaving only necessities; fire-attuned mana crystals, around two hundred gold coins, and some gems. The rest was hidden into a hastily dug out hole behind the armoury.

As Dafur's went near the almost empty mess hall, he smelled beer. A lot of it.

"Oh, no! Stone, stop him!" Lucifer called out, alerted; dwarfs and their beer…

"Luci says we have to keep moving."

"Just a lil' bit!" Dafur beseeched.

"No! In any circumstances, don't allow him to drink beer!" Lucifer knew what would happen otherwise.

"Apparently, you can't. I don't know why, but Luci is loud about this."

"Please! No more than three mugs! I'll be done in a second," the roused dwarf argued with a pleading voice.

"No!"

"No."

"Fine! But I'm takin that small keg!" He pointed at the untapped keg. He put Stone in the pocket, the bag on his back, and the 25 litre beer-filled keg on his shoulder.

"Damn dwarfs and their addiction to beer!" Lucifer lamented as they ran considerably slower and not so stealthily on the beaten track towards the other entrance.

The way split into two ways; up or down?

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'Bang! Bang!' "Mast'r!"

In the Gilded Runemaster Guild, a young servant banged on the rune-engraved door leading to Therdreag's personal workshop.

'Bang! Peng! Clang!'

Muffled explosions and clanging spread from behind the door.

"Dornus dammit! Whichever Karna-Kul's shit is banging on my door, I will hang him by the balls!" A gruff, angry swearing echoed as the door opened. A charred-black face emerged, frightening the newly hired servant.

"I'm sorry, mast'r!"

"Sorry won't cut it, bastard! Now, what do you want?!" Master Therdreag grumpily asked, knowing that the boy had to have something important.

"Master Baelgin wanna to visit here. His apprentice disappeared near yar place. Ya shoulda know which," the servant whispered while looking at the tips of his boots while his beard slightly trembled.

"Hmm, when?" Therdreag's grumpiness and anger vanished. "This could be problematic. I forgot that Dafur is his apprentice. Even though Baelgin is a mere 4th-rank runemaster, he comes from a fairly powerful military family."

"In an hour," the servant relaxed.

"Prepare some meals and a lot of beer. And tell your superior servants," he emphasizes with a relit anger, "to prepare themselves to welcome a fellow runemaster." He pondered about something and added with a broad smile, "Oh, and tell apprentice Tafur to come. No excuses allowed."

"As ya wish, mast'r," the servant bowed and ran away.

"Dornus dammit! Something is happening. I can feel it!" Therdreag's smile faded. "Too bad I didn't have time to visit the lab and check those logs. What should I tell him?"

The guild became bustling as everyone prepared to receive the important guest.

In an hour, Baelgin arrived, followed by a guard and a servant. They led him to one of the luxurious reception rooms, fitted with paintings, statues and even some ancient tinkerer's artefacts carefully placed on the pedestals. The middle of the room was dominated by a table from rare chestnut mana-wood with matching chairs. Lightly shimmering runes were engraved into walls, ceiling and floor in the Protection Array. They were clearly the works of Therdreag, known for having an Universum-acknowledged [Engraver] profession. On what tier, nobody knew.

He sat on the sturdy chair and a servant brought him an ale mug and some fruits. After he chugged three refills, the master Therdreag arrived, followed by his favourite apprentice, Tafur.

"Welcome, friend! I am truly sorry for your apprentice," Therdreag said with a fake bright tone. "Tafur was there. He will explain during lunch. Servants!" He clapped.

"Good mining, friend! Thank you for your warm welcome. Yes, it's truly regrettable. When I investigated, I found the destroyed miner's camp. Luckily, the owners were already rebuilding it. When I questioned their leader, he said something about mana crystal deposit," Baelgin paused with significance, "and two blighted dwarfs," he makes another significant pause. "When I returned to report to my uncle, who, as you certainly remember, is a captain of the Army of the Abyss, he sent me to you," he spoke with a hidden threat that did not escape Therdreag's experienced ears.

On the other hand, Tafur was confused. Something was wrong, but he could not tell what.

"Ah… don't worry, I reported everything truthfully," Therdrea shot an amused glance at his apprentice when he saw his confusion. "Now, my little genius, tell everything! Don't worry, you can talk, Master Baelgin already knows about the laboratory. After all, we found it together," he explained with a slight smile as he reminisced about the simpler past. That time, both were barely inaugurated 4th-rank runemasters, seeking riches to support their further studies.

Tafur wanted to reflexively answer, however, he had a mouth full of beer. He hastily gulped and narrated his adjusted story. Tafur's mouth's corners slightly rose as he recalled that he had finally gotten rid of that pathetic twin of his.

Master Baelgin silently listened. When Tafur ended his story, he deeply frowned. "So, Dafur is blighted. Still, we have to presume he is still alive. Master Therdreag, did you find what is in the laboratory?"

Tafur's face hardened. If his twin was still alive…

"No…" Therdreag replied a bit ashamed. He promised the Assembly that he would be able to translate those old runes. He still did not make any progress with them and now it was broken.

"Hmm… And the rift to the Abyss opened too. The Army of the Abyss will build an outpost there. Who is the owner of the mana crystal mine?" Baelgin questioned.

"It's mid-large and attuned, so it belongs to the Assembly. The miners' guild who owned the marble mine will be reimbursed and will be allowed to mine out the marble after their safety will be assured," Therdreag gave away the information.

"I don't care about them," Baelgin dismissively answered as he pondered how to react to his lost apprentice. He could not abandon him. That would damage his reputation, but he did not want descent to the dangerous Abyss himself and hiring adventurers would be too expensive. Moreover, Dafur was not someone too important and according to his brother, blighted anyway.

"Baelgin! Aren't you a little bit cheeky?" Therdreag squinted.

"I am sorry, Master Therdreag," Baelgin replied with fake regret and a hint of amusement.

"Good," Therdreag nodded and smiled at Tafur. This was an important lesson too. When talking to a higher-tiered being, be always respectful. Even on the battlefield.

"Now, if you excuse me, I will have to go back to my guild and my family," Baelgin stood up and burped. "Thank you for your treat. The beer was amazing."

"Right? It's from Torag's brewery in the north."

"Human? They can make such a good beer?" Baelgin asked with suspicion.

"No, no… Of course not. Torag is a dwarf."

"Dwarf in the north… What happened?"

They chatted a little bit more as they went to the gates. Right before the Baelgin left, Therdreag leaned to him and whispered, "thanks for allowin' mea to lecture mae apprentice."

Baelgin knowingly smiled and after wishing, "Happy mining!", left.