Though Zottes had repeatedly emphasized the dangers of exploring the ruins, Moriah departed without making much preparation.
The underground ruins beneath the Black Forest weren’t far from the Fairy Market, but the entrance Zottes led them to was not the main one.
“This is something I discovered myself. No one else knows about it. From here, we can go directly to the lowest dungeon level.”
The gnome pulled away a wooden plank, revealing a deep, sloping tunnel that extended into unknown darkness.
A dungeon?
Li Wen pondered the word carefully.
She had assumed the gnome had simply used “dungeon” as a cover for what was really a hidden ruin, but now it seemed there truly was a dungeon here.
Why, though?
Shouldn’t this be an alchemist’s laboratory?
What would a dungeon be doing here?
Her knowledge of this region—indeed, of the entire Black Dragon Territory—was extremely limited.
The only thing she knew was what was related to the Terminus Codex.
Everything else, from the Fairy Market to the alchemist’s laboratory, was entirely foreign to her, both in this life and the last.
So, for now, she could only suppress her questions.
Having lived most of his life in dark caves, the gnome possessed natural dark vision, and he led the way forward.
They hadn’t brought any torches, so Moriah used divine magic to summon a glowing sphere of light.
“The primary dangers in ruins like this come from traps and monsters that might have taken up residence,” Zottes muttered quietly.
“But once a ruin becomes widely known, the dangers grow… Adventurers looking for treasure, even those walking beside you—they could end your life at any moment. Ah, but apologies—I wasn’t referring to you all, of course…”
Moris wasn’t offended.
He simply recited a line from the scripture: “Let not riches blind thine eyes, for thine eyes were meant to behold the Glorious Light.”
Li Wen, walking behind him, offered no comment.
She was too busy being irritated by the two wild mages behind her.
“I’m telling you, that gnome’s seriously suspicious,” whispered the female wild mage beside her, loud enough to make sure Li Wen heard.
Their names, as introduced in their rather impromptu fashion, were Nasha for the woman and Hallick for the man.
“I agree,” Hallick chimed in.
“He smells strongly of garlic—reminds me of the socks I left under the bed in that inn.”
“You left your socks under the bed?”
Nasha stared at him, appalled.
“I know it’s bad! But a pair of socks costs three pence…”
How was that the important part?
Li Wen picked up her pace, desperate to get away from the pair.
But clearly unaware of her intent, they quickened their steps to catch up.
“Hey, slow down! It’s dark and slippery in here. I might fall and slide somewhere I can’t climb out of!”
Then maybe you should just slide off and disappear, Li Wen thought.
Besides, Moriah’s divine light made the tunnel perfectly navigable.
“Wait, are you one of the ones that knight kidnapped too? We’re planning a brilliant escape. You in?”
Nasha whispered conspiratorially, casting a wary glance toward Moriah up ahead.
Li Wen couldn’t take it anymore.
“Do you see him? He’s completely absorbed in exploring the ruins. If I were you, I’d be running right now, not buzzing around a stranger like a pair of flies. Do you understand me? Huh?”
The two wild mages froze at her outburst, visibly startled.
They nodded in sync, like scolded children.
“You don’t understand how scary he is,” Hallick whispered.
“He pretended to be friendly, said he’d do a free magic show. We were excited—until he conjured up all the money and treasure we’d, uh, earned. Right in front of everyone! We’ve never seen magic like that. The crowd almost tore us apart.”
It’s a shame they didn’t, Li Wen thought to herself.
At last, they reached their destination.
Emerging from a crack in the wall, they found themselves in what Zottes had claimed: a dungeon.
The dungeon was roughly a third the size of the Fairy Market and was divided by thick stone walls and iron bars into separate cells.
The place where they emerged was itself one of those cells.
Inside, shackles, chains, and various instruments of torture littered the space—many of them stained with dried blood and other unidentifiable substances.
Scratches and bloody handprints marred the walls, bearing grim testimony to the inhumane treatment of those once imprisoned here.
There was no way this place had anything to do with an alchemist’s lab.
Li Wen noticed that some of the instruments looked far too large for use on humans, suggesting that the prisoners here hadn’t all been of the same species or size.
“There’s something moving overhead.”
It was Moriah who spoke this time.
“That’s normal,” Zottes replied calmly.
“What’s above us is the main structure of the ruins—a vast maze or underground fortress. Adventurers from across the land search for treasures or fight monsters there every day. That’s what you’re hearing.”
“So… is this the place where you found the potion?”
Li Wen was the one to ask.
The atmosphere in this dungeon was too unnerving—she just wanted to find the potion and get out.
“No. It’s deeper still… Please, follow me.”
After a brief pause, the gnome turned and led them even farther into the dungeon.
Along the way, they saw more grotesque and disturbing instruments—twisted devices whose purposes seemed alien and cruel.
On a dissecting table lay mummified corpses, their abdomens split open, their skin overgrown with rock-like scales.
Further still, the iron bars were replaced by sealed metal doors.
From behind some of them came sounds—shifting, moaning, even screams—as if someone inside was still being tortured.
Everyone’s expressions darkened at the sounds.
Only Zottes remained unbothered, walking as if all of this were perfectly ordinary.
“Don’t pay attention to it,” he said.
“Might be wraiths. Might be worse. Either way, ignore it.”
“Something… terrible happened here, didn’t it?”
Moriah seemed ready to open one of the doors, but remembering the presence of the defenseless wild mages, he decided against taking unnecessary risks.
“It always has,” Zottes replied.
“But what does that have to do with us?”
Moriah frowned, clearly about to argue—but then Zottes interrupted him.
“We’re here. This is the place.”
A door loomed out of the darkness.
Li Wen didn’t even get a clear look at it before Zottes pushed it open without hesitation.
Tftc!