The origin of magic is always similar. There are clear limits to the power a re human can wield. What remains is simply ‘who can handle it better.’
Liam’s power slowly swept over the barrier. He moved, searching for any gaps. If he made any rash moves, the person inside would notice, so he had to gradually gnaw at the edges and wrest control.
“You plan to break this spell,” Owen Cassfire remarked, stroking his chin as he took a few steps. From the shattered, upside-down cross tombstone to the withered old tree where they stood.
“It’s created by the book. It’s textbook for a cult ritual. This is sothing that a newcor from Greenwich would use,” Owen said in his neutral, analytical tone.
“It ans they only had access to such magical texts. It’s safe to assu they did it alone, without a master,” Liam agreed with a shrug. Unfortunately for the owner of this barrier, there were two people here skilled in dismantling and reassembling such spells. This barrier would be gone in five minutes, leaving no trace.
“Why don’t you sit down and rest? I’m the one skilled in this, not you, Moore.”
“You’re right, but why does it still annoy ?”
The red-haired sage smirked, his glasses flashing. He had an uncanny talent for getting under Liam’s skin, only to flee when the real trouble started.
A vine clung to a spot, signaling an attack point. Liam, leaning against a tree, began to focus on one visible part at a ti. The barrier covering the cathedral grounds began to thin visibly.
＊ ＊ ＊
When I threw myself into the left passage, the sight before was enough to make anyone with a strong stomach retch.
Iron bars lined the walls, and in the corners, piles of clothes and belongings were heaped like mountains. Jars filled with an unidentified liquid.
“Is that… an eye?”
No, I decided not to think about it.
Turning my head, I saw syringes caked with dried blood. Dear God, one prick from those and you’d die from sepsis in no ti.
At the very end was a tal door with a wheel like the helm of a ship. It looked like you had to spin it to open. But up close, it seed aged and wouldn’t turn easily.
“Wow….”
It was a dead end.
I looked back at the passage I had co through. The shimring walls had turned into flat brick walls. My pursuers were blocked, but I was trapped too.
Just then, sothing caught my eye. A faint light shone in the darkness, drawing in.
After rummaging through a heap of clothes, I found a lost necklace and ring. The ring glowed, making it easy to find. It was hot, but wearable.
“Got it.”
I pocketed them and walked towards the door, deliberately avoiding looking into the cells. They seed to contain mummified bodies, and I was slightly afraid they might still be alive.
The wheel was stiff. I had to brace one foot against the wall and push with all my strength to make it budge. Whoever could open this door must be incredibly strong. I had no desire to et such a person.
After a struggle, I finally opened the door and faced the inside.
I wanted to shut it right away. What? Go left? Left? This is like a haunted GPS. It was leading to my death.
“I’m going to die here.”
I muttered miserably. It couldn’t be helped.
The ominously twisted figure sitting on the throne looked like a statue, its form indistinct. Tangled black mass that resembled a plant, but its true nature was unknowable.
Were there eyes? I couldn’t tell.
What was it modeled after? No idea.
But staring at it made feel like my consciousness was being pulled into a deep, dark abyss.
Through the haze in my mind, I heard a thin, unholy lody, like sothing from a twisted and ruined heaven. Sacred but utterly vile at the sa ti.
My very being felt shaken. Staring at it too long was dangerous. I didn’t know what it was, which kept sane, but if I ever understood it, I would surely lt away, brain first!
I needed to find a way out. I forced my gaze away from the statue. There was sothing square in front of it, but I avoided looking at it.
But there was no escape in this room. If I used my notebook’s function, I’d just end up back in the cave.
As I prepared to go back, sothing truly horrible began to happen.
Why am I so unlucky? Is the world cursing ? What is this? Why am I so unlucky?
The wheel began to turn, and the door pulled open. I didn’t even have ti to scream. Standing there was soone I didn’t want to et.
“Hello, Jane Osmond. Here you are.”
My insane cultist friend.
‘Oh, crap. Why now?’
So unlucky. Why now?
‘Why now?’
I wanted to cry. But maybe I should be half-grateful because it made forget about the incomprehensible statue behind . I don’t know. I really wanted to cry.
Clara Barnum’s eyes glead as she grabbed my wrist.
“Perfect timing. I was going to show you around here anyway if you didn’t give in.”
“Show around? What, a date with that statue?”
My mouth moved on its own. Clara giggled and dragged inside!
Any hope of escape vanished, replaced by growing fear.
“See? This is who I worship.”
“I don’t want to see.”
When I said that, her fingers harshly gripped my scalp, lifting my head.
“Look. Look properly.”
I don’t want to look….
My resistance was weak, and Clara was strong as she dragged to the throne. Kneeling before it, she forced my head down. Before was a stone sarcophagus about two feet high. A stone throne and a sarcophagus, an insane combination. Clara sneered.
“You provoked Liam Moore, didn’t you? Whatever you did before, because of your sche with Liam Moore, my plans are all ruined. Now it doesn’t matter. It’s better to use you as a sacrifice. He’ll be more pleased with your blood.”
Who prefers live sacrifices? I wanted to shout that.
Why not believe in a proper religion? The one who said ‘Let there be light, and there was light,’ or the one who achieved enlightennt. Those are reputable religions, aren’t they?
This situation was dire. I was trapped with a cultist, a crazy statue, and an eerie sarcophagus. The cultist friend was bad enough, but the sarcophagus was even worse. It had a hole at the top, and I definitely didn’t want to look inside.
Then, a thunderous voice sounded.
“That’s your place, Jane.”
What? ? In there?
I wanted to scream. Not because of the white bugs or eyes(?) crawling inside. I’d rather go on a date, have a follow-up, and share a deep kiss with the statue.
Please. Clara ignored my desperation and shoved my head into the hole.
‘Are you insane?!’
I was terrified. Tears welled up. I didn’t want to see what was inside. It sounded like bugs with many legs were crawling.
Do you know that large bugs make noise when they move?
Chills ran down my spine as the sarcophagus began to open.
‘God, Buddha, Mom!’
I couldn’t enter a sarcophagus full of bugs. I didn’t want to. It was full of fat maggots.
And a skeleton,
“Argh!”
Necklace! Activate! Move! Please!
But the necklace didn’t see this as a ‘mortal threat.’ No, my sanity is at stake. My mind will be destroyed. But this cursed necklace only cares about physical death.
This can’t happen. I don’t want to be trapped with bugs.
Just as I clung to the edge of the sarcophagus, hoofbeats sounded. Undeniably, horse hooves. But why here?
My legs stiffened, and so did Clara, who was pressing down. Her grip was still strong, but she didn’t push further.
“Hoofbeats?”
I muttered, and Clara’s hand trembled. She heard it too.
For a mont, I wondered, ‘Is it Liam?’ But I knew better. Liam Moore wouldn’t ride a horse into this narrow tunnel.
“Can you hear it too?”
As I asked, the sound of a horse’s neigh grew louder, coming closer.
and with this, volu 3 is completed! you can find the epub version of it on my kofi shop /s/47e809d50f). tysm for reading this story until now !
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