TCOB: CHAPTER NINETEEN

Into the belly of the beast (2)

Nai stared at the cave in front of her with a small frown on her face. She extended her staff towards the cave entrance, her senses venturing deep into the underground system of tunnels as she sampled the mana within.

“Mondtrance,” she whispered, calling on her mana.

[You have used Class Skill - Intermediate Mana Sense Lvl 3]

"Is there a problem, Miss Nai?" Sir Dunice asked curiously as he came to stop beside her. Behind the duo, yeomen toiled hard as they rapidly constructed a few layers of simple fortifications of wooden spikes and earthen mounds around the entrance to the ravine, containing it and creating a suitable staging ground to begin securing the dungeon.

Behind them stood a few squires armed with bows as they alertly eyed the dungeon entrance for any signs of suspicious activity.

"I am not sure," Nai replied, her frown deepening. "The mana readings I am getting tallies with the estimated norm for a silver-grade dungeon―if you take the natural dissipation of mana within the dungeon into account. Yet, for some reason, the behaviour of the monsters inhabiting it seems to vary greatly from what I expected. They appear… too calm?"

"...I don't understand what you mean," Sir Dunice said with a slight frown.

"It has already been over two weeks since this dungeon breach was confirmed, right?" Nai asked.

"Yes?"

"Ok, how do I explain this? You see, monsters have been well documented to prefer locations of higher ambient mana densities as a high concentration of ambient mana is speculated to be a necessity required for a monster's growth. In the likely scenario that the ambient mana within a monster's habitat falls below a certain degree, the creature inhabiting the territory would usually migrate in search of a more suitable location to inhabit, right?"

"Yes?" Sir Dunice nodded.

"Given that the ambient mana within dungeons such as this one dissipates over time, it would be perfectly normal for the monsters within to have started growing restless due to their primal instincts urging them to move to a new location."

"How much has the ambient mana within this dungeon fallen?" Sir Dunice asked, realising Nai's concerns.

"...Enough for the creatures within to have long ventured outside," Nai replied. "The ambient mana levels seem to have fallen below critical levels for some time now. It appears the information Lord Gaeb got in regards to this breach was procured a little too late… or this dungeon just matured quicker than we expected."

Sir Dunice fell silent for a moment as he contemplated the implications of Nai's words.

"I will have the men take a look around," the knight said at last. "Though, I wouldn’t worry much. There could be an inert mana vein in there which you probably can't sense but the monsters are subsisting on. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened, right?”

"If that, then it's all good. I believe the lord would be elated to hear we discovered a mana vein on a relatively low-risk delve." Nai fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Where is Sir Justin? He needs to be informed about this."

"He took a few men to get a lay of the land," Sir Dunice replied as he turned around to leave. "I will inform him about your findings when he returns."

Nai nodded faintly as she continued to stare at the dungeon for a few moments longer before also deciding to leave.

As she walked back she caught sight of Clyde's figure erecting a portion of an earthen wall in the distance. She paused as the odd thought to seek his opinion regarding this matter crossed her mind. Shaking her head, she stamped down the urge to approach him and continued on her way.

Despite wanting to once again speak with the man, Nai avoided him like a plague. She felt afraid of him…

Or at least dreadful of what other cruel truths he had hidden in that tainted mind of his.

…

An hour later…

"The men reported finding no signs of monster activity outside the dungeon," Sir Justin said to Nai as he and Sir Dunice approached where she stood. "There might be a mana vein inside like you suspected."

"Are you certain?" Nai asked as she continued to stare at the dungeon entrance in the distance.

"Yes, we are," Sir Dunice replied calmly. "I believe it would be best if we avoided delaying our plans any longer. If there is truly a mana vein in there and those monsters are consuming it, then every minute we waste out here is another iota of value that is being lost. That said, I suggest we begin our task immediately."

Nai looked to Sir Justin for his opinion as the unease she felt within remained strong. The knight however seemed to agree with his colleague.

"I gather the men and have them prepare themselves," Sir Justin said as he handed a leather satchel to Nai. “Unseal the lure while that’s being done.”

Nai nodded as she cast her gaze around at the men busying themselves in anticipation of the battle ahead.

"Understood," she nodded. Reaching into the leather satchel she pulled out a small box. It was an ivory container that appeared to have been delicately crafted. Its surface was covered in elegantly carved runes and whorls while a few texts of esoteric writing were centred on the lid.

Nai stared solemnly at the box for a few moments before she mumbled a word under her breath.

“Barrierenbann.”

[You have used Class Skill - Barrier Dispell Lvl 3]

[Intelligence check…]

[Check passed]

[Perception check…]

[You have undone a containment seal]

Nai acutely felt as a sliver of her mana was consumed and the box lid grew loose. Giving one last glance to the knights who approached the dungeon with their weapons at ready, Nai exhaled deeply before, with a slight pull, she opened the box in her hands.

The feeling was sudden. A conflicting feeling of revulsion and euphoria coursed through Nai's veins as she felt a gust of mana escape from the box and wash over her. In seconds the air around the entrance to the dungeon was saturated by a high concentration of mana and the thick stench of fresh blood.

Nai glanced inside the container in her hands, watching as a single shard of solid crimson-coloured mana rapidly evaporated, thick red vapour rising visibly from it. It was then she heard it. The deep growls and cackles of terrible creatures beneath the earth and the thunderous thudding of a swarming horde.

The mage looked up to see a small cloud of dust suddenly billow out from within the dungeon. Moments later a blurry figure burst out from the cave, racing towards her direction. Then it tumbled for several metres before skidding to a stop, an arrow sticking out from its chest.

Nai strained her eyes slightly as she identified the creature, a hairless wolf-like beast with clawed feet, a short tail, and a thick leathery hide.

"Bonehounds," Sir Dunice said calmly from the front as he adjusted his stance with his sword poised in front of him. "Stay defensive, Maggots! Don't break your ranks!"

As the knight uttered his instructions, several more figures raced out of the dungeon. Nai watched as the squires picked off most of the creatures with their bows before they could even make it past a few metres from the cave's entrance. A few got through this net of arrows though, before being summarily cut down by the two knights in front.

But the wave only grew stronger. Minutes later, monsters were slipping through the first line of defences. They vaulted over the piling mounds of their dead brethren before landing amid the men gathered behind where they wreaked havoc. Within seconds, one unlucky man had already been disembowelled, his steaming guts spilling onto the dirt floor by his feet, thereby marking the first true casualty of this expedition.

Nai watched everything with an even stare for she knew this was still the easy part. Harder times were yet to come. Things would only start to get worse when they get to the actual 'delving' part of the expedition.

Yay… the mage mumbled gloomily as she raised her staff and began to chant a spell under her breath.

“Feuerwirbel!”

[You have used Class Skill - Flame Vortex Lvl 3]