Azarinth Healer Chapter 665: Tombs

Chapter 665 Tombs

They appeared in the crevice leading to the Penumra dungeon, Feyrair and Pierce joining them a few seconds later, no longer fighting.

Both were clad in armor and seed calm and collected.

Professional idiots, Ilea mused, smiling to herself as she glanced at the locator. Nothing nearby of course but they had a direction to go on.

Two Elders and a Cerithil hunter, Ilea thought, looking at the waiting group.

Where to bosswoman? Pierce asked.

Follow the arrow. Hows your lightning survivability? I know Fey and Pierce can manage, Ilea said, glancing at Verena.

I should be able to manage. Let get used to it, the woman said, flas spreading over her form as she ascended towards the cliff side above, dark clouds moving past above.

Will she be fine? Ilea asked.

Pierce chuckled. Ah the young and unfaithful. If you didnt exist, Id say shes the toughest human I know.

Not exactly an accomplishnt, Feyrair said, ignored by both won.

Ilea appeared above, spreading her wings as a bolt of arcane lightning struck her form, the energy slowly spreading through her body without leaving any lasting damage, the light burns healed in monts. She watched as Verena hovered upwards, energy gathering in the clouds before she was hit directly.

Her chest burst open as half her torso burnt up, gurgling noises resounding as a tinge of red mixed in with her fiery flas. Muscles flexed as the burnt and torn tissue regained its color, knitting itself together by what looked like sheer will.

Its quiet a grueso sight, I think thats why she doesnt show it to too many people, Pierce said. Also I guess she has to get naked, kind of. She glanced over at Ilea. Are you turned on by this?

Ilea glanced between Pierce and the regenerating Elder, another strike hitting the burning and flying form, this ti leaving considerably less damage in its wake.

I dont think so, no, Ilea said, watching pieces of flesh splatter against the stone ground below.

Would have been fitting, but I suppose not all heroes can be legends, the woman sighed.

Effective, Feyrair comnted as he joined them, burning wings on his back.

Verena flew over a few seconds later, dull red runes now visible on her body, most of her features sowhat obscured by burning flas. Im good to go, she said, her voice slightly deeper, with a distinct whispering backdrop.

Now thats pretty hot, Ilea admitted, glancing over at pierce as she refocused on the locator.

Breaking news, Lilith sexually attracted to burning tattooed won. Well I cant bla you, V, you look downright smoldering, Pierce mused.

Are you done? the elder asked in a calm voice. It had not been the first ti she had to deal with Pierce.

Ill take these two, or do you want to carry us all? Ilea asked, looking at Pierce.

What an honor, alas my ability will not allow for such feats. My flight is rather, delicate. Balancing four people, especially people of such political weight, would pose an issue, she explained.

Ilea grinned. Then Ill carry these two, she said, her ashen limbs extending as she charged her wings, aiming to stay sowhat low in the northern landscape, hoping to avoid whatever creatures dwelled far above the storms and clouds.

A mont later, they shot away, Pierce a re streak of lightning forging on ahead, the group shooting over the barren northern landscape with incredible montum.

Ilea kept an eye on the locator, adjusting the trajectory, occasionally going higher to avoid extensive outcrops of stone or outright mountains. No local creatures they saw braved the northern storms, either unable or not interested in the small and fast moving prey. Despite the fast travel, the group was struck by occasional arcane lightning, Ilea simply flying through the clouds as she was both unwilling and unable to dodge with her charged wings. Her resilience was supposedly increased greatly anyway, and in the worst case, she had displacent and phaseshift to figure sothing out.

About half an hour later, Ilea started to see distant magical impacts within so of the crevices, unlike what most of the wild creatures in the area tended to use in their hunts. She slowed down to observe, her eyes barely able to make out the distant spells.

What do you see? Verena asked, her body still clad in the sa flas and covered in runic tattoos. Whatever her spell, it didnt seem to be short lived.

Sapient beings I think, fighting or hunting sothing, she said and paused. Fighting. Both sides, if there are only two, are using targeted spells.

Want to butt in? Pierce asked.

Ilea checked the locator, which led them further north east. No, just thought it curious.

She grabbed the others again and continued the flight, assuming they had stumbled upon a battle between the forces of the Dark Protector and the Feynor. Either way, they had their own reason for being here and continued to follow the guidance of their derivative Taleen technology.

Night soon ca over the northern landscape, mists forming on the ground and flowing down into the many fissures and crevices. Ilea slowed as she watched the serene dance of the Miststalkers resu, the locator now pointing behind them and to one mountain between dozens more. Nothing about it seed out of the ordinary. In the north that was, the jagged edges and occasionally charred surface a staple amidst the storms, both for landscape and fauna.

Down there, she said, leisurely crossing the rest of the distance as she kept an eye out for any monster or Feynor ambushes. This was farther north than Ilea had ever been, excluding perhaps her short visit in the ho of the Fae, but that mountain peak couldve just as well been a separate realm for all she knew.

The others fanned out a little, their own abilities surveying the environnt as they made landfall near the mountain. No pools of mist reached their location, the distant beings entirely uncaring for the group of adventurers.

No entrance on this side, not on the surface, Verena said, her eyes scanning the shadowy mountain side. She whipped her head upwards.

Ilea followed her gaze, seeing a small group of Famine Crows fly past, their attention attracted by the bright light of both Feyrairs wings, and Verenas form.

Lets try not to attract too much attention to this place, Ilea said and rushed off, heading straight at the swarm with spreading ashen limbs.

The large birds had a body reaching about one ter in length, their wing span four tis that. Leathery skin covered their gray forms as they started teleporting towards their perceived pray.

Ilea impacted the group, space awareness coupled with her precognition allowing her to see where they went with each use of their magic. They didnt stand a chance, eight of them sliced apart and falling before they had properly circled the ashen form. She teleported through the largest clusters, her ash alone enough to rip through their wings and bodies, screeches resounding as the bulk of their numbers scattered, rushing away from the surprisingly blender like human.

She continued to teleport through their retreating ranks, occasionally preventing so of them to use their skill as she observed her own ability with space awareness. Ilea had stopped her slaughter, simply using the quickly moving and teleporting birds as a source for so space shift training, her only remaining third class skill no yet at the end of the third tier.

Those are close to four hundred, Pierce remarked.

Not worth killing, Ilea murmured. Yes. Its annoying that most monsters just dont understand what they should and shouldnt attack.

Humans of our power are rare, how would anyone know, Verena said, the group now flying again, the elder soon pointing out a small crevice leading into the mountain.

Ilea went in first, the locator ahead as she plunged into the darkness, quickly navigating the ancient cracks and tunnels, likely natural or made to look that way. She didnt much fear tight spaces, but any apprehension she wouldve had evaporated with the existence of her spherical perception, and the knowledge that she could teleport out in most situations. Compared to her companions, she at least had her space magic at her side.

No traps, she murmured, letting herself fall into a broad tunnel, her embers the only source of light in the vicinity.

The others joined in the next minute, all finding their way down with more or less issues.

Pierce was the first, having teleported through most everything. Ominous, she murmured, a few sparks of lightning traveling over her armor. Third tier light magic resistance?

Yeah, among other abilities, you? Ilea asked.

Similar. My lightning travels over surfaces. And I can see nearby mana sources, you for example, she explained, glancing up. Already here?

Feyrair jumped down, hissing at the woman as he looked around, his eyes downright glowing in the dark, wisps of white fla clinging to his armored form. I believe the last ti you rushed into the unknown, you managed to anger a dragon of all things.

Pierce waved him off. Ah, thats so far in the past, its hardly worth a ntion.

Verena hovered down, her eyes on fire. The tattoos from before were gone by now, as was the fire covering her whole body.

This way, Ilea said and lead them through the darkness, everyone walking through the tunnel as if the sun shone on from above.

Looks made by sothing intelligent, Verena murmured.

There are a lot of sapient creatures hiding within the northern lands, Pierce said. Lets hope theyre weaker than us.

We negotiate if they have a key, Ilea said.

Ah yes, the holy Lilith. What if they decided four hundred years ago that the key is the very embodint of their god? she asked.

Ilea tilted her head back a little, glancing at the woman. Then we borrow their god for a little while.

How considerate, Pierce said. Praise be Lilith, the rciful.

No signs of anything living? Ilea asked instead.

Quiet. Empty, Pierce answered.

Weird, Ilea said. Theres an entrance coming up, she added as they rounded a corner, coming towards a few old sets of stairs leading up to a rather large stone double door.

Feynor, Pierce said imdiately.

How ah, yes, Ilea said, looking at the carvings in the stone. Front and center was a prominent four legged winged being flying upwards, smaller horned distinctly Feynor creatures knelt near the bottom of the carving while kneeling in prayer.

She couldnt see any living creatures within, no light coming through the doors either. Nor were there any enchantnts or traps preventing entry.

Lets see what this is about then, she said and opened the gates.

The air inside was stuffy, with a faint hint of death. Ilea stepped inside, ready to be assaulted by whatever necrotic abomination claid this place as their own but nothing ca rushing at the intruder.

Beyond the entrance lay a small stone platform with a dark abyss beyond, a suspension bridge made of tal and wood led into the darkness about fifty ters away, Ilea already seeing the pyramid like stone buildings hanging from the cavern ceiling like carved stalactites. Only few windows adorned the structures, their barren forms desolate and imposing in the lightless cavern.

Feynor alright, Pierce whispered and glanced down.

Death in the air, Verena added.

Cant feel anything. Undead have mana too, Pierce inford.

This place creeps out, lets get the key and fuck off. No unnecessary teleports, Ilea said and flew to the other side, carefully inspecting the air through her dominion, just in case there were any auras or enchantnts in the way.

The others followed behind, the group silently landing on the other side and coming up to an open entrance into the connected structures. Why build like this? Ilea asked, stepping inside as she inspected the walls. There were a few defensive runes in place but none were active. Dust covered the floor but she couldnt find the source of the sll.

Creatures in caves rarely fly, Verena said.

I guess Hallowfort was built high up too, she thought, impressed with the architecture. The inside seed rather simple, but comfortable, granted with the hearths burning and other light sources present, coupled with the sll of food and sounds of people. As it was, it reminded more of a tomb than anything else.

But they had yet to find the dead.

Ilea led the group deeper into the structures, the combined size of the buildings enough to house enough people for a small city. They had built vertical more so than horizontal, to make the most of the space they had down in this natural cavern. Ilea wondered if they carved the pyramids into the ceiling or if they sohow added the stone with magic. Their weapons and spells didnt seem behind anything else she had seen, the warriors who ca for Catelyn more than capable.

She did think it a little weird that a group of beings worshiping dragons built their settlent so far below the earth. Might just be my false expectations. Audur lived underground after all, she mused, the locator leading them into a temple of sorts, various shrines depicting winged creatures of various sizes and distinct qualities. Ilea checked to see if she could recognize the Guardian of the West in any of the pieces but failed to find her.

The locator pointed at a large wooden chest sitting in front of a dragon coated in silver.

Ilea went over and opened the container, finding a few silver coins of various make, a few chunks of unrefined silver ore, and the pyramid like Taleen Key. Its here. I suggest I take it and we teleport out imdiately.

We could loot the place, theres plenty of treasure still around, Pierce said.

Ilea sighed. It was tempting, but after her experience in the Izculen dungeon, she felt a little uneasy.

They just left all this here? Feyrair asked. Their dragon gods are what they care about. I dont think they would just leave these relics behind for no reason.

Theyre stupid idiots. Maybe so kind of mind magic creature walked in and ate them all? Maybe they ford a new belief system and decided to move out? We can only waste ti guessing, or get started looting, Pierce mused, yet not having touched anything so far.

[The Stonehamr Key Ancient Quality]

Ilea grabbed the key and stored it, waiting to see if sothing would happen. No enchantnts ca to life, no monster ca to get them. Alright, lets see what we can get. But we stay together at all tis, and everyone, communicate if you perceive even a sliver of sothing suspicious.

Not scared youll offend any dragons? Verena asked as Ilea started looking through the various chests and cabinets.

I already have one who wants to kill for little reason. Why not add a few more? she asked. Bunch of oversized drakes anyway.

Feyrair hissed joyously as he looked at the beings. He stopped near one of the ticulously crafted statues and grinned broadly, his hand raised before a beam of white fla burned through the length of the dragon, its head falling to the stone floor with a thud.

Whats that about? Pierce asked.

Garonoth, the elf hissed. Next ti we et, I will win.

If hes anywhere near Audur, youre gonna have a bad ti, Ilea mused, leaving most of the clutter behind, focusing on gold alone, finding about a hundred and fifty pieces in total, distributed into various plates, chests, ornants, and ceremonial armor.

She grabbed a dragon like helt and put it on. Hmm.

Very stylish, Pierce said, grabbing one herself. Might get a few looks at the next ball I wont go to.

Theyd ask about which esteed smith made it, Ilea murmured.

You. Yes. , theyd ask what creature I slaughtered to get the skull, the woman said.

How did you get such a wonderful reputation? Ilea asked.

They dont an it in an admiring way, she mused, making the helt vanish. These are made for rituals alone, barely worth looking at.

Might seriously wear it to a ball, she murmured. But I guess I can just replicate it with my ash.

Not that color, the woman said and walked away, checking the sheathed swords fastened to the propped up armor.

Treasury sowhere? Verena asked.

Ilea shook her head lightly. Not in the vicinity. I guess this is it, if they have one. Very central too.

I suppose, the Elder said. Sha they dont like painting.

So of the doors have nice carvings, Ilea said, pointing at one of the exits.

The Elder considered before she walked over and ripped the thing off its hinges. She held the thick wooden door with both arms and smiled. A souvenir at least.

Ilea watched her hack away the sides until she could store it.

She sent out a few ashen birds, a little inspired by her recent dragon encounter. They would return to her if they found anything worth checking out.

When the ash had circled around the set of structures, Ilea motioned to the others. Were done here, she said and spread her wings, flying towards the exit. The others followed without complaint, Ilea looking down into the abyss as she passed the suspension bridge. Nothing showed up to interrupt or attack her, which only made the slight feeling of unease worse.

She held her breath until they reached the exit again, leaving the mountain tunnels in exchange for the northern surface. Ilea didnt feel like dallying in the area, checking her surroundings for anything suspicious but failing to perceive anything. She looked at the locator which pointed northwest, collected her allies and flew off towards the next target.