The Hidden Facility

As Fei and the gang went inside the invisible facility, the forested scenery quickly turned into some sort of greyed-out area of bricks and blocks. Much like what you would expect from an old, dilapidated building that was left unattended for several years, cobwebs can be seen in several places within. There is no furniture inside, nor any sort of decorations or clues as to who owns the place and for what purpose. it was built. The only thing that appeared to be recently used was a drag mark on the floor. The lack of proper cleaning within the building would obviously lead to a build-up of dust.

Fei checked her Locate spell. It was still pointing towards somewhere deeper within the facility.

"I think we need to go further inside," she said.

With every step they make, their footsteps echoed loud within the cornered walls. The place was too quiet as if cut off from the outside world. Cybel never dared to leave Sofia's side.

As they proceeded, they encountered several rooms. Some are pried open, while others are sealed shut. Looking inside one of the open doors, they found nothing but broken pieces of what appeared to be some sort of tools, and some obvious damage on the surrounding walls, as if something big and heavy was smashed or dragged across them.

"This place is totally empty," Sofia commented. She took one of the metallic objects scattered on the floor. She took a closer look, perhaps hoping to understand the nature of its previous form.

Fei was busy checking out the other rooms. Emerging from one of the rooms, she shook her head towards Sofia and Cybel.

"Same with the other rooms. There's nothing but dust and more dust," she said as she brushes off dirt from her clothes. "My spell points us further, so let's keep moving,".

The group resumed their exploration of the facility. Without any maps, they decided to follow the widest hallways, occasionally checking out small passages when they across one. About thirty minutes had passed before they managed to find a cavity of sorts within one of the rooms.

Sofia peered down towards the cavity, throwing a small rock to it to check how deep the bottom is. A loud *thud* sound can be heard in just a few seconds.

"It looks more like a collapsed floor or ceiling than a cave in, it isn't that deep either. What should we do, Ms. Fei? Should we go down?" she asked Fei. Fei leaned towards the hole. Using her Lumenus spell, she sent a ball of light downwards to see the terrain below.

"Yeah. Looks like a collapsed floor. And the bottom is only a short distance away, so I think it would be better to explore it now rather than later." In a single moment, Fei jumped down. landing on her two feet. If it weren't for her Lumenus spell, she would no doubt be unable to stay clear of the pile of rubbles. She checked her surroundings to see if there were any potential threats. Seeing none, she signaled the two over. "It's safe. You can come down now". Sifa and Cybel followed her shortly.

"It's more spacious than I initially thought," Sofia commented. The Lumenus spell aided them in seeing a distance away from their initial position. Unlike the previous rooms they've explored, this looks more like a facility of sorts, complete with laboratory paraphernalia and large tube-shaped glasses, although the majority of them are either pulverized or broken into many pieces, the glass shards scattered across the floor.

"This looks old," Cybel commented, picking up one of the glass shards. With just a press of her fingers, it turned into sand or ashes.

"Guys! Over here, come check this out!" Fei shouted somewhere further ahead. She chanced upon some clothing that appears to belong to the missing students, along with some personal items such as handkerchiefs and shoes.

"These must have belonged to the missing students. I hope they're fine," Fei commented. "At the least, we now know that we are heading in the right direction."

"Ms. Fei, come take a look at this one,". Sofia was quite a distance away from the group. She was pointing towards a portion of the wall that appears to be rubbed over and over. Visible lacerations are smeared into the walls as if something sharp was continuously rubbed against them.

Fei went over and took a look at what Sofia found.

"This is... scratch marks and ... rubbing spots,"

"What does that mean?"

"It means that this space serves as a den,"

Of what? They didn't have to ask. They have a general idea of what creature would choose this place as its den. Still, judging by the claw marks on the wall, the creature is big. Fei's initial assessment of the chimera not being fully matured still remains. However, she wasn't so sure of the size of it now.

*RRRrrrrooooooaarrRR!*

A thunderous bellow soon echoed within the confined space. Fei and Sofia quickly raised their guards, placing Cybel behind them.

"Look's like while searching for the chimera, it was the chimera that found us," she commented.

A pair of gleaming eyes shone in the distance, slowly approaching the trio. The chimera's steps are barely audible, with each and every stomp resounding across the large room. With a body of a lion, the legs of a goat, and the tail out of a scorpion's stinger, their adversary easily exceeds two (2) meters in height. Its fangs protrude out of its mouth, and easily measure more than ten (10) centimeters in length. Its man-crushing jaws and mouths are something that you wouldn't want to have to deal with.

"Haste! Endure! Protect!"

Multiple colors of light shone through the dark as Fei cast her buff spells toward their group.

"I'll take the lead. Sofia, you stay with Mabel and provide support using ranged spells," Fei instructed her junior.

The chimera is slowly but surely approaching their group. Like a predator stalking its prey, it is carefully observing Fei and her group's every move, cautious of any threats that may befall it. Fei stood guard in front of them as she carefully takes out a piece of equipment from her backpack. She pulled out two metallic glove-like pieces, and a pair of gauntlets, and equipped them. Open and closing her palms, she checks if there are any major issues. The gauntlet fits perfectly in her hands, as expected from a piece of equipment made by Ancdem's most renowned weapon's smith.

"OK!" She bumps her fist together, creating an impactful sound that even made the chimera stop its movement for a moment.

"Let's do this!"