Chapter 73 – Into the Depths (4)

The awe inspiring sight of the large, spacious cavern soon entered their view. While everyone paused in shock and awe, Midhir’s gaze was fixed on the temple itself. It bore the scars of his battle with the serpentine creature.

“This way,” he said again as he led them towards the bridge on the water, leading from the stairs all the way to the temple.

They descended the stairs but paused in the middle of the bridge as Alistair crouched and pressed his palm against the bridge’s surface. “To think such a place existed below the city…” he spoke through gritted teeth. His gaze raised upwards, towards the ceiling of the cavern. “Are we still under Bareon?”

Willow nodded without hesitation. “We didn’t walk further than a couple hundred steps, Bareon is much larger than that.” Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at the steams of water falling from the holes in the ceiling. “I don’t know where the water’s coming from though… Or how it hasn’t completely filled this place.”

Midhir approached the edge of the water. “There are exits below, in the water. The cavern connects with the Old Growth, some distance north of the city.” He scowled as he watched the shadows moving below the surface. What were those?

“Lonan,” Alistair’s sharp voice startled him. “What can you tell us?”

The historian flinched upon hearing his name. He blinked twice, then turned his gaze towards the temple. “Nothing much yet – I’m not a geologist, and we’re looking at cave and underwater lakes right now.” He dusted off his coat, then took off towards the temple.

“I want to check the water.” Arwen softly spoke while walking to the edge of the bridge and kneeling by the water.

“I’ll accompany Lonan,” Midhir quickly followed the historian without giving them a chance to protest.

Lonan’s steps slowed down as he stepped through the entrance to the temple. He stood by the columns, inspecting and studying them. His amazed expression faded, turning into a confused and disturbed scowl. He only spared a glance at Midhir when he heard him approach.

“Were these broken when you arrived?” he asked, pointing at the broken and shattered columns.

“No, the whole structure was in pristine condition.”

His words were met with an annoyed, almost angry look. “What could you have possibly done to cause such rampant destruction?” Lonan raised his voice slightly, pointing towards the broken pillars, and the debris covering the ground.

“I didn’t do anything but try to survive,” Midhir protested before walking towards the inner chamber of the temple, with Lonan in tow.

As they stepped through the once majestic entrance, the historian gasped. “What in the Gods’ names?!” he exclaimed before rushing over towards the charred corpse of the serpentine creature. While he was busy with that, Midhir made his way to the pool at the centre of the chamber.

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Looking down at the calm, still surface of the water, he could see shadows moving below; like splashes of ink spilled into the water. He crouched next to the pool and hovered his palm above the surface of the water.

Footsteps soon echoed as the rest of the group also joined them. He stood back up and stepped away from the edge of the water.

“You made it sound a lot less dangerous… or large,” Willow pointed at the serpentine creature’s charred body with a look of horror and disgust. “Are you sure there aren’t any more of them?”

“There can’t be,” Lonan interjected before Midhir could answer. “If I’m not mistaken, this creature belonged to the serpent god of old.” His gaze turned to Midhir. “The Old Gods were said to have given their people guardians – creatures made in their image to protect them. While I don’t believe they did such a thing, I’m certain this was an almost extinct creature even when the Old Faith was prevalent in what later became Eldoria.”

“So,” Arwen muttered with a scowl. “Midhir killed the last of its kind?” The glance she shot him was almost filled with disappointment.

“I was trying to survive!” he cried out.

The young woman chuckled. “I know, I know,” a bright smile formed on her lips. “I doubt it was of its right mind anymore anyways, it must have been so very old.” She approached the severed head, standing just a few steps away from it. “No living mind can live for so long without slowly crumbling. You likely put it out of its misery.” There was pity and sadness in her voice.

“Even if he didn’t, a threat like this beneath Bareon would have been unacceptable.” Alistair glanced at him. “Our city has its thanks,” he bowed his head ever so slightly before turning his attention to Lonan. “What can you tell us about this place? Can we somehow stop New Growth from spreading via these ruins?”

Lonan hesitated. He fiddled with the collar of his coat and tapped his foot on the ground. “I don’t know for sure, I can’t guarantee anything,” he eventually said after a stretch of silence. “I’m no enforcer. I wouldn’t dare use anything left from the dark ages.”

Midhir narrowed his eyes as he watched the historian avert his gaze and look to the marble floor. There was absolutely nothing of interest on the floor, where he was looking. His lips formed a thin line as yet another disturbing thought gnawed at the edge of his mind. Was Lonan lying? Why wasn’t he answering Alistair’s question properly instead of just dancing around the subject?

“What was this place for?” Arwen’s voice echoed in the charged silence.

Lonan folded his arms. “I can’t say for sure,” he repeated, “but these aren’t statues of gods or beings of worship – the Old Faith believed in beings from beyond the Veil. They never worshipped humans.” He pursed his lips in consideration before continuing. “Perhaps these were priests and priestesses. And perhaps this place wasn’t just a place for worship.” He pointed at the pool at the centre of the chamber. “I haven’t seen any reference to water-related worship.”

“What if this place wasn’t always flooded?” Willow chimed in. “Could there be something below us?”

Alistair approached the pool with a scowl. He stretched his hand, summoning his spear from the holding hem hidden under his sleeve. “Perhaps.” He glanced at Midhir. “You said you found a passage to the forest north of Bareon. There could be more passages, and the overgrowth could spread through them.” He pointed to the pool. “Perhaps the answer to why the growth is so persistent is down there as well.”

Midhir felt his chest tighten as he looked at the water.

There was a reason for the Old Growth trying to overtake Bareon, just like how it tried to crawl up to An’Larion. It wasn’t the altar-like structure in the cavern above, so it had to be something down below.

Summoning his courage, he stepped forward. “I certainly hope so.”

He could only hope that the shadows moving deep in the water weren’t any threat to them.