Realm Wars

Meanwhile, Ryu and the others were unaware of what was happening in the Oasis. They made their way deeper down in the ruins, and the group tried hard not to sneeze. A thick layer of dust coated everything with a pale haze, and piles of pale stone dirt lay slumped in the corner.

A patch of dampness gave rise to the musty odor of mildew. The clammy, humid air is heavy with the funk of spores. 

Apart from their movement, this place was silent as the grave. Even holding their breath and straining to listen to their surroundings, they hear absolutely nothing.

The silence was deafening.

Then they stopped when they heard scrabbling noises of something small scurrying into a hole in the wall. As they approached, they heard the sounds of many small vermin scurrying out of their way.

"I don't know if I'm glad or not to find it so empty," sighed Marcus.

Halfjack nodded his bear head.

But they stopped when they heard a faint noise that could be a growling creature or something scraping across the floor. 

A low hiss resonated through the tunnel—some great creature perhaps, or the grind of stone on stone.

Ryu and the others looked at each other. 

Seraphina pointed at the fork. "I think it came from the right."

"Should we check it out?" Marcus suggested, voice unsure.

"Look." Halfjack pointed at the things on the edge of the stone walls. 

There was a pile of filthy straw in one corner that might function as crude bedding. A sort of nest had been formed out of moldering cushions, ragged blankets, and other discarded tapestries.

"Agh. . ."

A groan resonated in the tunnel, and everyone didn't wait for another second and ran in the right archway. That sound definitely didn't come from a beast.

"W-wha. . ." Marcus words were stuck in his throat when he saw a room thick with spider webs. Multiple cocoons were hanging from the ceiling.

Seraphina's skin crawled in disgust, and she gasped, and Ryu held her mouth and motioned for her not to make a sound.

Ryu then pointed to a dark corner of the room, and upon closer inspection, they found Giant Spiders lurking nearby. Multiple eyes, hairy limbs, and big, very big bulging stomach.

They seemed to be asleep.

Ryu placed a finger on his mouth to warn the others to stay quiet.

Seraphina's skin erupted in hives, but she bit her lips and nodded.

Marcus pointed to a cocoon at the far left and signaled everyone that the noise came within it. 

With careful steps, Ryu approached the cocoon, and with the swiftness of his movement and claws, he released the cocoon from the tangle of webs without making the slightest noise.

Carrying the cocoon, the group retraced their steps back in the tunnel, making sure that they were at a safe distance from the Giant Spiders. They didn't want to fight if they could avoid it. Who knew if Tiamat could hear the commotion and decided to take a detour in these ruins.

Marcus didn't waste time and immediately cut the cocoon in half with ease. What stumbled upon them was the skinny form of a halfbreed.

Marcus was surprised to find Abby alive, and he almost burst her name. He immediately held his mouth and whispered, "Abby."

Abby groaned and coughed while Seraphina fed her water, one gulp at a time.

"What happened to her?" Halfjack questioned.

Marcus didn't know too. "She must have escaped the massacre and ended up in here. We could only wait for her to regain consciousness."

"Agh. . ." Abby moaned again, too weak to even open her eyes.

"We should retreat to a safer spot and wait for her to regain consciousness before we continue," Seraphina suggested.

But. . .

"Is there a safe spot in here?" Marcus chuckled that sounded like he was lamenting.

The desert was surely out of the question as Tiamat was still at large while this tunnel was full of Giant Spiders and who knew what else.

"I'll look around and find a safer area," Ryu said. 

"I'll go with you." Marcus went to his feet before Seraphina could open her mouth.

Ryu knew what she was thinking from the pout of her face. "You stay here and watch over her. If we are not back within two hours then . . ."

"I'll come and search for you," Seraphina cut in with no room for argument in her tone.

Ryu gave a wry smile before he looked at Halfjack. "I'll leave them to you."

Halfjack eagerly nodded and punched his chest with his paws. "Leave it to me."

Ryu and Marcus then left and went into the left archway from the fork before. Ryu didn't want to split, but given the current situation, it was best to leave Abby in the care of Seraphina while they explore the ruins. 

Ryu could put Abby in the Jar of Capturing Life, but she was on the verge of death at the moment. She needed Seraphina's constant care, and Ryu didn't want to put the both of them in a Jar and break it later when they needed Seraphina's magic.

He had only one jar left, all thanks to the dessert insects. It was best not to waste it. And besides, they didn't plan to explore deep. At the first sign of danger, they'll just flee.

"So. .. ugh. .. " Marcus scratched his head, his voice mirrored the awkwardness on his face. "Are you and Seraphina like a thing or something?"

Ryu gave Marcus the side-eyes, and Marcus looked away. 

"No," Ryu said and offered no ongoing conversation. 

"I-I. .. I see." Marcus looked over the ceiling. He wanted to make small talk, but he didn't know where to start, and he wanted to smack himself when he added, "Oh right, since you're a half-beast, you already have a mate."

Marcus groaned at his poor social skills. But what would he ask? Ryu's life? He was a servant and a halfbreed. What life could he have?

Ryu shrugged, and he thought of Cecily's beautiful face. "I guess." He was just glad that he wasn't a purebred. Even with just half, all he thought about was to be together with Cecily. His end goal was always her. 

Ryu then wondered what it would be like for the pure beastfolk. They must have gone mad if they couldn't see or be with their mate.