Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:56:42 GMT -6
This trip was as much about me getting more used to him as it was about him getting more used to me. It would be a long road on both counts, I could not deny that.
The long tunnel was utterly featureless. Were it not for the excellent quality of stone lining the walls, I would have second guessed my decision to come this way. There was nothing but smooth rock in every direction with little to interrupt it. Not terribly exciting, but it did give my mind time to wander.
An elemental golem’s swooper stage was something of a myth, only hinted at in rare pieces of information I could scrape together about the species. It would seem that whoever at the labs designed the creature was unable to give it enough innate power for it to reach its final growth on its own. Instead, it required a supplement to its elemental energy. In Sha’s case, light magic.
17 [23.8, 8.4]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -6
It was upon visiting the Trader’s hoard that I first had some insight into how that could be achieved. He often had magical crystals within his wares, plucked from energy sources deep in the earth. With that much raw elemental power, I theorized that I could indeed force the evolution of a golem stalker into a swooper, completing the life cycle.
The only problem was that I had no idea how much energy would be needed. I dutifully collected as many crystals as I could, both from the Trader’s hoard but also through my own exploration of the caverns I was currently traversing. They had a certain feel about them, as if they pulsed with the heartbeat of the world itself. It is said that mages could feel that heartbeat in every living thing, as all life was intertwined with magic.
Still a novice in the ways of the divine, I had to rely on my draconic instinct to get me through.
18 [23.85, 8.6]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:57:25 GMT -6
I could perceive a nearby crystal just fine, but their purpose was still foggy. I had no choice but to continue to collect them until their true value was more evident, whether that be in powering up golems or selling to the mage folk.
The density of the stone in the tunnel changed abruptly, interrupting my thoughts. What once was solid stone became like gravel under my claws. I instinctively slowed my pace, preparing for the uneven footing with an abundance of caution. Sha, of course, had no such reservations and went charging ahead. His foot sunk into the fluid mix of sand and stones and he immediately went toppling end over end down the now sloping tunnel.
I sighed and quickened my pace to follow after him. I did not imagine that he would be easily hurt by a few loose rocks, but I did think he was capable of getting himself lost.
19 [23.9, 8.8]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:57:50 GMT -6
His impossibly thick diamond-like skin was not enough to keep him from just wandering away once he hit the bottom. Thankfully, he was easy to keep an eye on, as he glowed quite brightly in the darkness.
Once we were both on the bottom of the slippery slope, I could see him looking up at me with his bottom set of eyes. He was flipped up on his back again with his belly and wiggly little legs in the air. It was a relief to see that he had not gotten himself in too much trouble. I was surprised by how worried I was about him. He was nearly indestructible, what could I have possibly been so concerned about?
“Sha, you must be careful,” I cautioned. I lifted him again, then plopped him down the right way up. He was as happy as ever with his little tail wagging side to side and unusual number of big pink eyes staring up at me
20 [23.95, 9]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:58:59 GMT -6
“It is imperative that you at least take notice of my pace. If you continue charging ahead in dangerous situations, then I may be unable to set you right again next time.”
“Do you understand?”
No. Of course he did not understand. It was utterly ridiculous to expect him to. I was pretty sure that if he had to eat to sustain himself, he would not even remember to do that. Expecting him to have the foresight to be more cautious was a tall order. I resigned myself to being even more vigilant. I was responsible for him, after all. I was the one who brought him here, and therefore it was on me to ensure his safety.
“Now, then,” I said, grabbing a clawful of the gravel. I allowed the sand to sift through my claws, then I rolled the leftover rocks around with my thumb, casually inspecting them for clues.
21 [24, 9.2]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:59:19 GMT -6
It was unusual for the ground to change so abruptly. The change was significant, but to what end, I was still yet to discover.
“See here?” I said, having found something that caught my interest. “The edge is sharp, meaning it has yet to be worn away. It has remained undisturbed for some time. I doubt many travelers come through here.”
“That’s good news for us, Sha,” I explained. “I think there will be a fortune in our future.”
With that thought in mind, I shook my claws clean and made my way deeper into the tunnel. The gradient of the slope was slight at first, just enough to trip Sha off his unsteady feet. Quickly it grew sharper, the decline becoming harder to fight against and the ground becoming slicker as it was littered with pebbles that had fallen down over time. I could see Sha struggling to stay upright, stomping with uncertainty through the debris on the ground.
22 [24.05, 9.4]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:59:35 GMT -6
“Come, Sha,” I said quietly, lifting him up and cradling him in my claw. “I will carry you for now, but do not get used to it,” I teased. As always, he just looked happy that I was nearby.
Lifting him off the ground had the added benefit of his light spreading much further than before. It allowed me to see down the slope into the darkness below. Unfortunately, it was not much help after all. There was a sharp edge at the end of what was visible as if it was cut off by something. The rock must change shape there, casting a dark shadow on what exists there.
The mystery of it intrigued me, and I hurried along the tunnel with one claw still wrapped around Sha. It was not the most efficient way to travel, but I really did not want him to get himself lost or injured.
23 [24.1, 9.6]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 5:59:49 GMT -6
I could manage just fine even holding one claw up, and though it was a bit undignified, I knew nobody would be around to see it.
The increasingly loose ground on the slope was starting to become a problem. I could feel my claws slip a small amount with each step. It was one of those times where planting all of my claws really would have been ideal, but I neglected to bring a sling with me like the one I carried seedlings in. That was a mistake I would not be repeating.
Spurred on by the promise of treasure, I allowed the gravel beneath my feet to carry me into the darkness. I simply gave in to the pressure, feeling myself enter a controlled slide. I held Sha out in front, hoping his light would illuminate any dangers that might pop up as the tunnel dragged me further and further into the depths of the mines.
24 [24.15, 9.8]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:01:27 GMT -6
Suddenly and without warning, the ground ceased to exist under my claws. My ears filled with the sound of stones clattering down into the abyss and my instinct to fly kicked in. I gasped for breath and looked down just in time to watch Sha tumble out of my hands into the gaping hole below, his light decorating the stones around him on the way down.
“Sha!” I screeched. My thunderous hiss echoed through the tunnel walls, causing a cacophony of clattering as rocks rained down into the canyon beneath me.
My heart was instantly at odds with my survival instincts. I knew that if I stayed put, I would be safe. I also knew that if I stayed put, Sha would likely not be. I had to decide before I knew all the variables. I had to make a choice that may not favor my own well being. I had betray my instincts to save Sha.
25 [24.2, 10]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:01:42 GMT -6
I flew down into the flickering darkness, partly illuminated by Sha as he flipped through the air. The wavering light cast flickering shadows on the walls that made them feel alive. It was hauntingly beautiful, but I spared no time to appreciate it. I stretched out my claws and swiped at Sha only to knock him away from me.
I missed.
The wavering light made it difficult to see. It was all over in an instant, though it felt like time was moving in slow motion. No time to decide. No time to breathe. I felt like I could only watch on in horror as Sha slipped out of my grasp and plummeted to the floor. He hit the ground with a pronounced thud and a loud crack followed.
“Sha…” The panicked growl from before was nowhere to be seen, my voice now small and wispy like a breeze on a leaf.
26 [24.25, 10.2]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:01:59 GMT -6
I floated down into what I could now see was a small open cave within the tunnel. Sha’s light still filled the room, giving me hope that he would be alright. Not many beings could survive a fall like that, but if any could, I had to believe it would be a golem like Sha. The words from a pamphlet I had read echoed in my mind, ‘Nearly indestructible.’
I was reluctant to reach out to him, paralyzed by fear and guilt. I had done this. For all he knew, I simply cast him into the darkness to plummet to his own doom. He would look up at me and the last thing he would see was the one responsible for his fate before he faded away.
To my surprise, Sha suddenly began to stir. At first he was kicking his little feet, then managed to kick off a nearby rock and straighten himself up.
27 [24.3, 10.4]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:03:27 GMT -6
He shook his head and wiggled his tail, almost like he was checking that it was still there. Then he immediately began to survey the area around him, and his four eyes locked in on me.
“I tried to help you,” I attempted to explain before quickly giving up. He would not understand, despite my sincerity. I was merely glad to see he was still alive. I slowly approached him, in a way still terrified that something bad would happen any second. My body was still flooded with fear from what had happened before, unable to register that we were now safe.
I reached out and gently stroked Sha with a single outstretched claw. He closed his eyes and wiggled his body enthusiastically. He really seemed to be just fine. I could not find a single scratch on his body or feel anything out of the ordinary.
“You really are very tough, Sha,” I said.
28 [24.35, 10.6]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:03:47 GMT -6
For as much as I had read and understood about his species, it was truly something else to see it in person. I was pleased to find that the words singing his praise did not exaggerate. He would make a glorious defender some day, that much was almost certain.
“I am glad that you are unharmed,” I said, finally feeling the fear drain from my body.
Now it was time to solve a problem. Where was I? The sloping tunnel opened up suddenly into a huge crack in the earth. Looking up, I could not see the sky, which meant that we were very far underground. The walls were narrow, close to me on two sides, but extending out in the other two directions.
I returned to what I knew, brushing the rocks with my claws to see what they might tell me. I could see that the sediment was still rich and indicated a lot of gemstones might be located nearby.
29 [24.4, 10.8]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:04:12 GMT -6
With that thought in mind, I decided to take a small break from traveling to search for gems. The ground was largely undisturbed, as if no creature had ventured this far down in a very long time, if ever.
The dangerous descent was certainly a large part of why this particular tunnel appeared abandoned. I could not imagine a less capable explorer making it this far. A person may well have slid down the tunnel just like I did, but instead of floating at the end…
Underground caverns like this must be one of the reasons that creatures like Sapphire gained the ability to fly. I originally thought it was quite puzzling to see a creature that spent its entire life underground having wings, but experiences like the one I just had made me appreciate the adaptation even more. Many gargoyles also possessed the ability to fly, no doubt for similar reasons.
30 [24.45, 11]
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Star
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Post by Star on Mar 17, 2024 6:04:37 GMT -6
I fully expected to see a nest or some other indication of creatures living down here. It was so well sheltered from intruders that it must be an ideal place for creatures to live. I would have to look for signs of life during my search. The last thing we needed was to be trapped in here with one of those horrible bugs. Sha was tough, he had proven that much, but I doubted he was much of a fighter at this stage.
It was time to pull out some tools, so I removed my pack and placed it gently on the ground. The tools inside had clearly been shaken up from all the commotion, but they were fine. Most of them were made for smashing apart rocks, so a little jostling was nothing compared to their intended purpose.
“Here Sha, to protect your head,” I said, pulling a spare helmet out of the pack.
31 [24.5, 11.2]
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