"Sizzle." Blood dropped onto the twigs alight, the sizzling sound no louder than the wafting smell of meat cooking on the open flame. Tantalizing meat juices gushed down the meat onto sticks ,the reddish brown meat on the skewers made stomachs grumble with fervor. It took restraint not rush the meat and devour it because they had long ran out of saliva to swallow.
Eight men sat in silence surrounding the open fire, " So lets introduce ourselves, I'm sure you all don't want to die amongst strangers." Carl said as tried to lighten the damp mood, Leon's accusatory glances did no help either.
" Why did all decide to become adventurer's and are you all still pursuing your original ambitions because I for one am not. As your senior I will tell you this, money rapidly loses meaning as a goal, as you rank higher it loses its meaning to you so unless you have a goal its highly unlikely that you would reach rank A." Carl said.
Carl's words were correct, Nathaniel had found himself on more than one occasion questioning his reason for vengeance. Did he want vengeance on those who summoned him or for his lost arm or the emperor who allowed such acts of cruelty. He did not know the object of his anger, just that he was angry but he also did not know whether such anger was justified.
Yes they had made him experience hell but would he allow himself to be so shallow that those experiences would define him, as a person and as a man. Though he had entertained the thought before and disregarded it the situation now was different compared to the army then.
He had escaped so why not search and fill the gaping hole within him with something else since vengeance would not suffice. So he made up his mind and engraved it deep in his soul, the smile that broke the billions or millions of light years away from home. His family and lover he would search for a way back.
" To go home." Three words, Nathaniel said surprising the others and breaking the silence. Those words were filled with conviction and warmth.
Leon looked at Nathaniel he did not know what Nathaniel meant nor did he understand. Birport village was destroyed but he did not ask. Nathaniel's answer had made him for a moment also question his drive. He could not help but think of his orphanage. He was the bridge way that led those kids to a better life so should he really waste his time on revenge and looting from others.
Charles was out of commission and Elena had left for one of the magic towers within the kingdom. Nathaniel had been in the village for close to three months but that is not to say that he had visited the entirety of Rosewood village. There existed the slums of course. Many adventurers lost their lives leaving a lot of loved ones without any one to care for them. Nobles continually schemed against one another making the common people casualties in the aftermath.
" To protect those dear to me and feed them so that they won't go hungry." Leon said mumbling however everyone heard him, Nathaniel gave a look that said he was reevaluating this idiot.
" Hahaha, well men lets not dampen the mood further, the meat is ready so lets eat." Carl said jubilantly, he was glad someone had taken his words to heart. The 8 men ate and 7 went to sleep with one keeping watch although the Arneth dungeon had weak monsters it was best to be careful.
Early morning...
Nathaniel led the party into the gray wolves' den, the breeze was flowing smoother with no rancid smell. They walked forward, Carl and Leon took the lead, Leon was the other close range fighter. Their party had 2 close range fighters wielding swords and shields. 2 archers that served as scouts and 2 mages, one that specialized in earth and water spells and the other in light and fire spells. Adventurer's unlike official mages and their apprentices stayed clear of mastering two attributes simultaneously, it took a lot of time and resources. The other element either augmented or eliminated a weakness.
A spearman of course he was restricted in corridors however he was the mid range fighter.
The passage broadened as they found themselves within a large cave after passing the massive bronze doors that had sealed this place.
Amber crystals illuminated the cavern, pillars surged on the right and left crating a passage way in the middle. The pillars looked someone might have used earth magic rather than build them. They might not have noticed but the path descended down.
They dispelled their illumination spells as they stood. " Be careful, to get through we have to fight rank one earth golems." Nathaniel warned. " Alright, lets begin." Carl and Joe took steps forward, they were the vanguard.
Both men cast reinforcement magic on themselves as they advanced, the ground fragmented as rocks rose from beneath the rocks assembled themselves rapidly giving birth a dozen gray colored 3 meter golems.
" GRROAR." A high pitched roar threatened to rupture the eardrums as the golems slammed their arms on the ground. It shook as earth spears surged like a wave heading for the intruders. " Water magic; raging waves." A water tide broke the momentum of the spears.
"Fire magic; inferno." A blast of fire hit the rapidly formed earth mound that shielded the golems, the fire broke through hitting the dozen golems. " Raging waves." The water and earth magician Ben, quickly took advantage. Seeing his change Carl swung his sword as a vertical slash of aura hit the golems that now had cracks quickly destroying them. 12 crystals fell onto the grounds as they released mana waves that dissipated into the air.
" Lets hurry." Leon said. They walked on the path deeper into the labyrinth.
Smoldering heat rushed them as soon as they exited on the to the other side, bubbles of lava popped as they gazes at the entrance leading forward however they had go get through the pools of lava.
" Mana barrier!" The light magician Wilson shouted hurriedly as two spherical mana barriers overlapped blocking the lumps of lava aiming at them.
Bang. The barrier rippled as Wilson shouted. " Focus." Two paths left and right circled around the pool of lava however their narrow width and closeness to the walls of the cave posed a problem. It meant that only one person could move ahead with the rest following but that left them open to the attacks of the fire elementals in the pool of lava.
"Everyone encase yourselves in a mana barrier, Ben take Nathaniel with you." Carl ordered as he placed his shield on his back. He walked forward however Ben harrumphed at his orders. He gave Nathaniel a side glance. Nathaniel's weakness as a magician made him luggage. How could a magician be that weak, mage artillery was the strongest fire power of any army. Nathaniel's weakness disgusted him. "Lets go." Ben said as they headed for the left path.