Chapter CXLVIII

Axe has to squeeze himself a little to get into the cave. Going in headfirst, he can see that this entrance area, illuminated by the ball of light floating in the air, is reasonably large.

The first one to enter had, to his surprise, been Nero. It was a surprise because normally whoever hires people for things like this doesn't like being the first to take risks. Which always sounded sensible to Axe. Who would go around hiring people like him only to risk dying themselves?

But the guy hadn't even hesitated. After waiting a little so that Axe and Carrion could catch their breath after moving so many rocks, Nero had simply gone to the entrance and called to them, “Right, enough resting, come on!” before entering through the hole.

Axe had followed since, as the combat specialist, if something suddenly appeared, he would be the one best equipped to deal with it. At least in principle, because considering how calm his guys were, no one seemed to think Nero was in much danger.

As such, either they knew something more about the inside of this cave, or Nero was more capable than he looked. Which, considering what Axe and Carrion suspected about him, would make sense.

On the other hand, he had recently indicated that he was a mage. And mages normally aren't the first ones to enter dangerous situations. Unless they were from Seran “The Rock's” school of magic. Which could explain how this guy might be the one who had dealt with the Bane of Mages.

Once, during an argument in a bar, someone had said that The Rock would beat the Bane, provided he could cast his spells before the Bane could cancel them. That had made sense to Axe.

But then again, that person was supposedly a necromancer, something Nero still hadn't demonstrated himself to be.

“So!!” Nero's voice sounds from deeper into the cave.

“Yes, yes. I'm just studying the cave,” Axe declares as he enters completely and gives Carrion room to come in. And what he said isn't even a lie. He is looking around at the space.

The cave they are in extends into the darkness beyond the reach of the ball of light, forming a tunnel with no end in sight. Indicating that this must only be the entrance to a potentially large cave system. This would make sense if they were planning to hunt animals.

The cave seems natural to him, except for one area where he notices a very straight line that gives the impression it was made by some kind of tool. But that could simply be the way the rock is. Or something made by people in the past that isn't representative of the cave's natural formation.

“Looks like a normal cave.” He hears Carrion's voice behind him.

Turning around, he can see her shaking the dirt from her clothes as she studies the cave around them.

At that moment, the light disappears, leaving them plunged into darkness, since the light coming through the entrance is only enough to illuminate Carrion.

They stand silently in the dark as he waits for Nero to tell them what to do, since he has been the one giving orders so far. Until he finally speaks.

“Aren't you going to light the place?”

For a moment he thinks Nero might be talking to him, making him reach for a torch he usually carries. But Carrion speaks before he can.

“Are you talking to me?” she asks, sounding intrigued.

“Of course,” Nero replies casually.

“I don't know your friend's spell,” she answers, sounding somewhat frustrated.

“First, don't call them my friends. Second, how do you not know the spell? It's one of the most basic ones there is.”

Axe can see her shaking her head as she answers, “And one of the most useless. Why would I waste magic training a spell that can easily be replaced by a torch?”

A sigh sounds in the darkness before a ball of light suddenly appears above Nero's outstretched hand. His face looks thoughtful as the ball begins rising into the air.

Confirming that he is a mage, to no great surprise.

“Can't exactly argue with that,” Nero declares as he turns toward the tunnel extending ahead. “I should have brought one of the two. Better to burn through their magic than mine.”

This makes Axe retrieve his torch and, holding it up, say, “We can use this.”

Exploring this place using magic really could be a waste. And it is somewhat of a surprise that the mage didn't think of bringing one or more.

Nero simply nods, and Axe begins trying to light the torch, something that could still take a while since there isn't any flame nearby. So Axe has to make a fire, which even with his experience isn't easy.

Nero approaches him and seems to say to Carrion, “Of course you can't use your magic to help. Can you!” in what seems to be yet another jab at the fact that she uses ice magic.

When he grabs the top of the torch, it suddenly bursts into blue flames.

In the distance, Axe can see Carrion, who was obviously preparing to answer him, stop with her mouth hanging open, looking thoughtful.

“I think when the spell ends, the torch should stay lit. But we'll see,” Nero tells him, seeming to study the torch that is now burning merrily, albeit in blue.

“I'd better go in front... To light the way,” he announces, indicating the torch, to which the mage nods.

Axe gets up and starts following the tunnel. Carrion quickly comes alongside him, wearing a tense expression, as if she wants to say something but doesn't dare in the mage's presence. Whatever she noticed seems to have shaken her.

“Don't spread out. If something unexpected appears, I'll deal with it,” the mage calmly instructs them, which leaves him somewhat frustrated.

Axe would be the first to admit that he is far from being one of the best fighters in the world. But even so, he is still reasonably capable. While this guy seems to treat them as if they were completely helpless.

He already knew this job would be different, but he had never expected this mage. If he had known, he never would have accepted it. But as he had explained to Carrion, now that they had accepted it, they would have to complete it.

Because even if these people didn't kill them on the spot, they certainly had the contacts to make them disappear afterward.

Right now, what they had to do was finish the job and give the impression that they were people who could still be useful to them in the future. Because that would ensure it wasn't more convenient for them to simply keep them silent forever.

As such, their performance had to be perfect and discreet.

They walk in silence until they see something that makes Carrion speak aloud.

“Wood.”

A thick and impressive wooden beam can be seen against one of the walls. As they approach, it becomes clear that the beam is connected to a wooden support on the ceiling, forming a structure meant to hold up this section of the roof.

As if they were in a mine.

Studying the structure up close, he has to comment.

“This is old.”

Even though it still seems to be in decent condition, the color and state of the wood confirm that it must have been here for several years, if not decades.

“Let's hope it held up better than the damn entrance,” the mage's voice complains calmly behind them.

This place had clearly been built or expanded, which confirms a theory they had: that Nero had found some kind of map revealing this place.

“It should be pretty unlikely that we'll find Sedogs around here... You know, considering we're in enclosed tunnels,” Carrion comments, pointing out an interesting issue. Though Axe can't figure out why she is bringing it up now.

“Maybe...” the mage begins thoughtfully. “But we'll see.”

So, the two of them exchange glances, as if silently commenting on what the hell kind of answer that was.

“But let's continue...” Nero finishes, encouraging them to continue exploring. “Just avoid the path behind the door on the left.”

Strange once again, but neither of them dares to comment.

And as promised, after a few minutes, on the left side of the path they are following are the remains of a wooden door, half-rotted away by time.

“Okay, the door didn't hold up quite as well. But let's see what else we find...” the mage comments, apparently intrigued by the state of the door.

“Oh!! Further ahead there should be a more open area...” Nero suddenly reveals, as if he has just remembered a small detail. “As for the dogs, be careful. Even though it's unlikely. It's possible there are some of those monsters in that area, hidden behind some rocks.”

An extremely detailed piece of information. That Axe can't imagine how the mage could have found it.

Even so, they continue on their way.

And once again, they quickly find the area Nero promised.

“Well, at least it seems I still remember some of this map,” Nero comments out of nowhere, apparently confirming his earlier suspicion.

They continue, but suddenly Carrion points at something and shouts, “There!!”

She is pointing at the skull of some creature, half-hidden behind a rock in the path.

And looking at the mage with intrigue, she adds, “Looks like it's a Sedog.”

One of the monsters Nero had said might be found during this mission.

“Worth anything?” the curious mage asks.

“Nothing special. A few coppers,” she replies, managing to keep a straight face despite the situation.

“Okay. Then let's continue,” he instructs, seeming more animated.

And they obey, continuing to walk.

Along the way they find more and more beams, not all of them in good condition, but most still managing to do their job of supporting the ceiling above their heads.

Until finally they reach a crossroads.

They turn toward the mage, who in turn looks between the two possible paths.

“Great, I don't remember this,” Nero comments, scratching his head as if trying to remember which way to go.

Axe and Carrion exchange glances, trying to figure out what to do now, when he hears a sound coming from the tunnel on the right.

As if dozens of tiny legs were approaching.

This makes Axe extend his arm toward it in an attempt to expand the illuminated area in that direction. But without daring to actually enter the tunnel.

“What is that sound?” Carrion asks, while Axe strains to see into the darkness beyond the torchlight.

Before he can answer, something dark blue suddenly appears in the middle of the darkness.

And lunges at them.

At that moment, despite carrying his axe, he isn't in a good position to use it, so he has to use the torch as a weapon. He swings it at the thing, hearing and feeling that whatever he hits is hard.

Whatever it is, even though it is closer to him now, its movements and the fact that he has to defend himself with the torch make it extremely difficult for him to figure out what he is fighting.

“Axe!!” Carrion shouts from behind him.

Suddenly, a new, clear, powerful light illuminates them.

And he can see what appear to be giant blue beetles, the size of a dog.

One beside him that he hadn't noticed in the confusion is perfectly positioned to take a blow from his axe. Especially now that he can drop the torch, since it is no longer necessary.

The axe manages to penetrate deep into its shell, and the creature releases a green liquid that Axe can only assume is blood.

Unfortunately for him, the axe becomes stuck in the creature's hard carapace.

When the first beetle, after being driven back by his use of the torch, turns its mouth with its fierce-looking pincers toward him...

“Crystal Spear!” Carrion's shout echoes through the tunnels.

A blue light in the shape of a spear passes beside him, striking the creature. Succeeding in stopping its advance, while the creature appears somewhat stunned.

At that same moment, a figure appears behind him.

Leaving him somewhat startled.

But before he can react, he sees a foot kicking the beetle away.

And so he realizes that Nero has entered the fray, even if in a rather strange way for a mage.

That is when his senses return, and he remembers that his priority is getting his weapon back.

Planting one foot against the creature where his axe is embedded, he keeps wiggling it, trying to find a position that will allow him to pull it free.

And finally, he manages it.

And with the axe in his hands and the beetle returning, he hears once again:

“Crystal Spear.”

Carrion's new attack finishes off the creature.

Nero approaches the remains of the creature, commenting in a calm, thoughtful voice, “I wasn't expecting to see them already. They should have been further in.”

“Giant blue beetles!!!” he hears Carrion's shocked voice.

He can remember that this had been Nero's description of one of the monsters they might encounter.

And indeed, here they are.

Looking at the female mage, he finds it difficult to understand the woman's reaction.

“These are...” she begins, apparently now able to identify these creatures that she hadn't been able to identify from Nero's description alone.

But instead of saying the creatures' name, she starts looking around at the stone walls and old wooden beams and says, still in shock,

“Then this must be...”