Hollow rang the Ravine. Rocks crumbled and fell to the black depths, tumbling into the empty space beneath his feet as tired, calloused hands clambered down into the dark. Feet sought purchase, toes stretched for solid ground that could bear weight. Hands clutched and forearms flexed. Muscles tired and sore from the day’s work continued to move diligently, lower and lower. Yet, while the sun was well beyond the horizon and dipping quickly, it still was not time to rest. As the distant blue sky began to bleed red, the depths of the open maw grew ever more black.

As the sun faded from view and the amount of natural light dwindled, the sole source of life continued its unsteady descent into the dark. Pebbles peeled from the rock face as he boldly labored on. Stretching. Testing. Grasping. Lowering further and further from the surface into the bottomless depths of the ground scar. As time drug on and with no sign of the floor, his muscles began to struggle. His hands and feet grew desperate. Oxygen barely reached the muscles begging for fuel as they expended more energy than the air could bring in. His body cried for pause, for relief. His mind whirled as doubt crept in. His meager frame was at its limit and there were several moments when fingers dared to slip. But he held on, clinging to the wall of stone for dear life. Death was not an option. So he told himself.

Eventually, the pain was overwritten by instinct. One hand here. One foot there. His knee braced against the wall for comfort for only a moment as his fingers reached downward for the next hold. He stopped thinking, stopped caring, and quietly worried only about where his next foothold would be. It was all he could do to keep himself focused, to keep himself from quitting. From falling. Even as he delved deeper and deeper, long since losing sight of the surface as a black smog clouded his view of it- he stared only at the wall in front of him. How long had he been climbing? How far had he descended? How much further would he need to climb? Would he even last? Questions he did not know the answer to. Questions he struggled to keep quiet while simultaneously trying to keep his focus. He embraced the monotony of his repetitive task and did his best to turn off his wandering brain.

That is until his left foot slipped. A moment he was practically waiting to happen.

The wall had become more slick and smooth the further down he went. The rocks weren’t exactly wet but they lost much of their rigid nature compared to the stones up toward the surface. That rough feeling beneath his hands was something he so desperately needed right now to stay attached to the wall. His fingertips were burning to the point of near numbness when his left foot failed to keep him in check. Terrible timing.

He had been searching for the next hold with his right foot when the left failed, leaving him to dangle. His hands weak and his forearms exhausted, he had no chance. His feet scrabbled against the stoneface, kicking and testing anything that felt like it could support his weight. With each subsequent failure, his hands peeled more and more away from their holds. His fingers desperately clutched the stones beneath them, holding on with every ounce of strength he had left. Desperation set in even further and the boy began to whimper. He had tried everything he possibly could, and his time was up. To his dismay- his fingers slipped free.

The boy didn’t yell. He didn’t scream. He only clenched his jaw and swallowed as he fell into the abyss. Here in this pit, there was no one to hear him, no one to cry for him, no one to mourn his failure. What good would it make to yell or cry out? It would be a waste of his breath. Thus, he accepted his mistake. He had failed to properly traverse the ravine. He had underestimated its depth and now, he would be cast off and remembered only as a tally mark for the rest of eternity.

Thump.

With a heavy sound, his body slapped against the ground with force. The noise of meat hitting stone echoed out into the black space, the noise bouncing off the various rocks and walls which littered the treacherous landscape of the Ravine’s floor. The surprise disturbance failed to awaken the silent, stoic air within the Ravine. No screams of beasts or skitterings of feet. Just the hollow noise of a meat sack impacting the surface. After the brief interruption, silence retook its place, and the Ravine returned to its peaceful slumber. It was an isolated, quiet event that was but a speck in the ultimate circus of life on the planet. The noise of the impact was carried off with the wind, forgotten as soon almost as it was made.

“What…?” However, in that sound came a revelation. The floor was cold, hard. Flat. There was no water. There were no hunters. No monsters or rabid beasts to eat the flesh from his bones. What was expected to be some sort of beautiful or terrifying climax at the end of the descent was nothing but falsehood, a culmination of lies told by adventurers who had never set eyes on the Ravine’s floor themselves. However, now, He had.

And he was… disappointed. The boy had fallen an unknown distance but not far enough to kill him. Enough to jostle his brain and send pain through his skull. Not enough to send him on his way. He sat up, wincing from the bruise the impact was going to leave and the pain that tore through his head. As he did, he realized just how much of a fool he had been to believe those pitiful stories. There wasn't gold, treasure, or fairies here. There was only a perpetual blackness and a bone-chilling breeze that cut through his thin clothes. He should have dressed for the weather. Slowly, as the spinning in his head calmed, he got to his feet.

The boy waited patiently for a few moments, standing in absolute silence as he listened and looked around. No matter how long he stood, staring, hoping his eyes would adjust to the veil, there was nothing that came out of the dark to greet or eat him. All that awaited him was the perpetual chill of the Ravine tickling at the back of his neck. No, that wasn’t just as chill…

Unease ripped through his spine as the hairs on his neck stood on end. but he could do nothing but remain frozen in place. While something had him spooked, there was an equal fear of not being able to see his own feet. There was no telling what would happen if he moved. Would the ground vanish the next time he stepped? Would he tumble down some steep slope? The moment he landed, he had lost all trust in those from the Surface and thus, had no point of reference for what to expect. There was no way they had ever been down here. All of their tales were lies- stories. He had believed them in hopes of finding something cool. Yet there was nothing here aside from the lasting feeling of being watched.

“Move…” he thought, urging his body to do something. Anything. He willed himself to slide his right foot out, stretching it slowly across the floor as he eased across the stone to his right. He raised his right arm slowly, reaching and lightly tasting the air with his fingers. He searched for the rock wall he had fallen from. It couldn’t have been far. He had slipped, not jumped. Yet, he still failed to touch something other than air. For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe he had fallen onto a pillar, or maybe he was on some island space surrounded by emptiness. If either were true then it didn’t matter how far he reached. He would never touch salvation again.

He clenched his teeth and instead of reaching out, he decided to kneel on the ground. On all fours, and now more confident, he crawled slowly to his right. His hands brushed and rolled over the dirt and rocks. The ground was solid, thankfully, and he made steady progress. Inch by inch, he slid directly to his right until, finally, his fingertips brushed the wall. The edge of the ravine wasn’t more than a few feet away as he had guessed. But it was just far enough for him to not be able to touch it normally. Once he found it, he rose to his feet and took in a deep breath. He steadied his thoughts, calmed the screaming in his head, and focused on the next step- walking.

He reached out with his left foot first and stretched it out comfortably in front of himself, letting it land light on the stone. Then, he moved forward with his right. Carefully, building confidence in the idea that the floor wouldn’t give way beneath him, the boy advanced. His hand remained stuck to the wall, sliding over its contours as he started to move forward. His breathing remained steady, a forced tactic he used to keep himself calm. His heart still raced and he could still feel the eyes on his neck. Even so, he kept walking.

He walked and walked, following the winding flow of the wall as he explored the suffocating black. He kicked several rocks out of his path, nudging them with his toes to clear the floor ahead. After a while he began to use them as tools, kicking them ahead of himself and listening for the sound of skittering over the flatness of the floor. With no way to accurately judge his position, the boy tried to count his steps. In doing so he hoped to at least get an estimate of how far he had walked, using his steps to gauge distance. The issue was that the number just continued to rise. He counted to one hundred and then would pick up a stone in his left hand. Once he hit ten stones, he would drop nine and place the last into his right hand.

It was working for a while but soon he realized the futility of the tactic. With no light and no way to know where he was even going, knowing how far he had walked was useless. Unless he found a way out, his step count would be just a way for him to pass the time. Not to mention it would work also as a countdown to his death. He had seen the cut in the sand from the surface, and the Ravine was known to stretch for hundreds of miles through the ground. Before descending, he had looked in both directions in which the Ravine stretched. He wasn’t anywhere close to the end on either side. For all he knew it could span the entire desert. And with all of the stories being proven false so far, there wasn’t a single detail he could trust.

Not like he had a choice now anyway.

Unless he wanted to try and take his chances with climbing back to the surface, he had to go forward. His step count increased, as did his fatigue. He had started climbing in the early afternoon after a long walk through the desert. On his descent, the sun had moved quite a ways through the sky. Add in an estimate of how far he had walked, he could assume it was likely evening by now. If not already nighttime. With no sun, no moon, and no stars to help him tell time, he tried to estimate using known factors.

Except, he had never walked this slow nor had he ever climbed that far. Even if he tried to put the pieces together in his head- he was likely wrong anyway. All he knew was that he was tired and hungry. His stomach tensed up painfully and his muscles pleaded for a break. As much as he wanted to continue, stopping now was as good a time as any. From what he could tell, there would be no difference if he stopped now or later.

The boy walked until he reached the next set of ten rocks in his right hand and then dropped eight of them, leaving him at an easy number to pick back up. He had prepared for a long trip, somewhat, and had snatched a few sandwiches from the bazaar before heading out on his little excursion. They weren’t big but it was better than nothing. The pack he had brought was only large enough to fit three of them along with a small waterskin. Two sandwiches would stave off his hunger for now but as he began to eat them, he already knew food would be a problem.

Thankfully, on his trip to the Ravine, he hadn’t drunk much water. He had his tolerance of the sun to thank for that.

He ate slowly, taking his time chewing and savoring the taste of the first sandwich he sunk his teeth into. It was smushed from the impact on the floor, but it wasn’t ruined. The pack had softened the blow a bit so the boy was thankful for that stroke of luck. Not much else was going for him, so he would take what he could get. As he finished the first sandwich, though, the boy was reminded of the fact that he likely wasn’t alone. He took a moment to look around, his eyes peering out into the dark as the hairs on his neck tickled against his skin.

His curious eyes were answered by the faint howling of the wind as a chilly breeze cut through the stone maw. On the floor and tucked against the wall, he didn't feel much of that breeze but he could certainly hear it. It was eerie, chilling, and he felt uneasy because of it. The boy hurried through his second sandwich, slurped down another light gulp of water, and then tucked away the waterskin into his pack. He pulled out a thin blanket he had folded up into it and draped it over his body. A contingency just in case he found himself stuck in this kind of situation. The only issue was that the blanket was thin. He needed something light that wouldn’t take up much space so he had snatched a small throw rather than an actual cloth that would give him warmth. This thing would likely only keep the wind out. Better than nothing.

Keeping the blanket tight to his body, the boy pressed against his pack which he had pinned between him and the stone wall. It worked as a barrier against the chilly rock. Once he was comfortable, or as comfortable as he could get, the boy tucked his head down and closed his eyes. His muscles were tired from the climb, his body ached from the fall, and his mind was exhausted from all of the noises he was hearing. Rather than fight off his exhaustion and potentially collapse, he decided it was best to rest a little. With his small meal in his stomach, he hoped for some relief. Before he knew it, his eyes were pinned closed and that same, frightening wind lulled him into a deep, chilled sleep.

An unknown amount of time passed as the boy sat curled up. The rhythmic wind and comfort of the blanket were more than enough to keep him out. When he opened his eyes again, he was welcomed by a threatening, freezing air that bit through his clothes and straight into his bones. The sun had fully set outside of the Ravine and night had come. With no hot air to slowly wedge its way down into the depths, a near icy temperature set in. Having remained stationary for too long, the boy’s body shook uncontrollably. With no way to have wiped it off, his sweat had crystalized against his skin, practically pinning the wet fabric of his clothes to his skin.

Immediately, his mind jumped into panic mode. Hypothermia was no joke, and he had seen it affect the unprepared during some winter desert nights. If he remained still, he would die where he sat. But, even as he told himself to move, his body failed to answer. He felt weak. He couldn’t tell if he had slept for minutes or hours. His muscles felt tight and sore. His fatigue hadn’t dissipated in the slightest and now that he had slept, he found it almost impossible to move. His fingertips and toes were numb from the cold. His nose felt like it was going to fall off as sweat and snot dripped off the tip of it. Even his eyelids felt extremely heavy. Each breath he took was shallow and thin, and his lungs cried out for oxygen.

Was he going to die? In the very pit he had always been warned to stay away from? Away from his family, away from his friends? In some black hole that no one would ever find him in? Would he just become some random skeleton huddled against the wall?

“Dang…” He cursed as he glared down at the unseen floor just in front of him. He fought to clench his chattering teeth, curled his tingling hands into fists, and tried to wiggle his toes as he lowered his head down onto his knees. He let out a shallow sigh and shut his eyes again, letting his racing thoughts slow as fear was slowly replaced with acceptance. He could hardly feel his heartbeat in his chest. His pulse felt weak, his heart waning from the icy grip in the air. His blood would run cold here and there would be no fanfare of his death. Indeed, he had found the bottom of the ravine. He had traveled to the place everyone else was afraid of. Hell, he even walked in it! But, like all of the others who had tried to enter the maw- he would not return.

…or would he?

After sitting there, thinking, mulling over his inevitable death, he remembered a single faint detail. One from when he was but a wee baby holding on to the sleeve of his Auntie. There was an old man in the village of Racou. He had a long, stringy white beard and grey hair that was nothing more than a rat's nest on his skull. His cheeks were shallow, his eyes sunken, and his skin looked leathery and wrinkled. The old man was an odd one, and the boy had seen the man only once.

The old man had been squatting in front of a store with a cup set out in front of himself- a beggar. When the boy gave the old man a coin, one the boy had stolen from somewhere else, the old man smiled and said something the boy had thought useless at the time- “In exchange for your gift, I shall share with you wisdom. There is a door in the darkness, one which leads to a place no normal Man may walk. If you can brave the cold, ignore the doubt and the fear, and outrun the Beast- then your efforts will be rewarded.”

The boy had thought nothing of those words at the time, like a lot of things he had seen or heard when he was that young. But now, now that he was in the Ravine, something seemed off about what the Old Man had said. With that in mind, the boy lifted his eyes and looked around. If he really wanted to stretch the words of the riddle, he could assume the Old Man was talking about the Ravine. The Ravine was dark and it was cold. He had plenty of fear of dying and lots of doubts about being able to survive, but if he could push those away and find that door- maybe he had a chance. The only other detail was outrunning the Beast. Whatever that meant.

Wait, Beast?

Suddenly, he realized that the feeling of being watched still had not gone away. That unease, that lingering and troubling fear making his skin crawl was the only constant other than the cold that was keeping him on edge. He wasn’t alone in this pit of black, was he? While he could not see, he understood that sight was relative. The boy was a human, and humans used light to see. But what if something lived in the dark? It would be able to see in it, too.

Run.

Fight or Flight kicked in, and the boy felt instinct creep into his body. There was something out there that he didn’t want anything to do with. Sensing immediate danger, he tore the blanket off his body and grabbed his pack. He ditched the blanket, giving up on any chance of getting warm in such a place, and rushed to get to his feet. He shot his hands through the straps of his pack and then slapped his right hand against the wall, once more guiding himself forward into the dark. He gave up on counting and clawed his way forward, focusing purely on moving.

As his muscles thawed with the sudden activity, he limped into a quick-paced jog. If it could even be called that. The cold had caused his muscles to contract and after just a few heavy steps he could feel the pain of the sudden motion rip through his thighs. The muscles were frozen tight and the burst of energy was pulling on them. The resulting cramps caused him to stumble, and the sheering pain made him wince. He gasped, his lungs sucking in the icy air as he forced himself to keep moving. His right hand pawed helplessly at the wall and his flimsy sandals slapped at the floor, the leather bottoms clapping extremely loud in the otherwise silent Ravine.

After nearly stumbling and falling onto his face, he heard a distant hiss. The boy stopped and froze where he knelt. Behind him, he heard steps. Rocks clattered onto the floor of the Ravine. A faint tapping of light steps echoed in his ears. His breathing was heavy, but he couldn’t help but notice just how close that noise truly was. What was worse was those steps were only getting louder, closer. He grit his teeth and surged forward, running as fast as he could into the dark. Heat began to return to his muscles as he picked up speed but they had been torn and pulled to their limit already. His jerking into activity after practically turning into an icicle was the worst thing he could have done- yet it had been his only option. Survival was paramount. Yet in this game of endurance, it seemed that instinct was going to lead him to his death.

He dared a look back, doing the one thing every nerve in his body warned him not to do. He had to. He had to know.

There, not far behind and overhead in the black- sixteen small yellow dots, all close together and neatly organized into four rows of four, glared down at him as a massive body nimbly traversed the open mouth of the Ravine. It was a large creature, one he could not completely see. From the noise it made and from the shifting of a dense black outline, he could feel its size just from how terrified it made him to look at it. The dark silhouette spanned the entirety of the maw, its legs clawing at both sides of the rock face as it clambered after him. Truly a guardian of the dark, but that was an advantage. One the boy immediately recognized could work in his favor.

As the rockface turned and curved, the walls spreading open and contracting without much pattern, the creature struggled to keep its legs apart. At times it was forced to adjust its posture, forcing the beast to choose one side of the Ravine to run on until it contracted once more. Those previous changes in the terrain kept it at bay, giving the boy a chance. The boy only had to keep his hand on the wall and run. So long as he didn’t trip, he clung to the idea of having a chance. No longer did he worry about gaps in the floor or the potential of falling into another pit. He would rather fall to his doom than be eaten, or worse.

All was fine for a while. However, the Ravine wasn’t kind. The darkness never thinned. The chill never waned. The beast never slowed. The stone wall never gave way to a cave or a hole or anything. Nothing changed. Just his level of fatigue. No matter how much he willed for something to happen, there was no end to the chase. The creature maintained its distance with fair confidence, while the boy only tired the further he went. The heat of his adrenaline faded, his strength sapped away by the icy air he had been sucking into his lungs.

He began to have difficulty breathing, and the cramps he felt in his legs became almost crippling. He couldn’t stop to drink water and his stomach had already burned through the calories those two sandwiches had provided. His rest had done little to replenish his energy from the climb down and the last burst of energy he had from his body dumping its reserves out of fright had been spent. His running slowed to a jog, then to a stumbling gallop, and then finally to a slow walk. When he could go no further, the boy collapsed onto his knees. His arms shook, his legs throbbed with pain, and his head swirled as oxygen deprivation set in. The pitiful chase came to an almost abrupt end. One he didn’t quite agree with.

The creature, however, also paused. The boy heard it stop behind him. He felt it loom over him, its massive presence pressing down on his back. The boy gripped the wall and the floor, his knees digging into the rough dirt as he struggled to think of his next step. The creature lingered in place, watching him from its distant perch. Not taking a single step closer than where it was at. The boy heaved for air, fighting against death with every struggling wheeze he could muster. The boy listened, waited for the inevitable death that was waiting for him, and stared ahead of himself out of sheer defiance that this was the end.

Even as his body failed him, he clung to the hope that the door was only feet in front of him. That, maybe, if he took another step, he might bump into it. Yet, if he was to believe that there truly was a door, then he had no doubt it would be at the end of the Ravine. It wouldn’t be in the center, floating in the middle of nothing. No, it would either be along the wall in some cave or carved into the very edge of the Ravine- like the entrance to a dungeon or cavern. For it to stick straight out of the ground randomly made absolutely no sense. Now that he thought about it, it truly was foolish of him to believe in such a riddle. The old man was just some senile elder thankful for the free coin.

Aside from the lack of any way out, what was more concerning was the fact that the beast maintained its distance. The boy had been kneeling there for quite some time, hacking and coughing while trying to maintain his consciousness. He was still alive. Still not eaten. The boy looked back at the yellow eyes, those unblinking eyes that radiated power and filled him with fear. They floated there in the black, hovering, watching. Waiting. For a second, the boy wondered why it was just sitting there looking. However, then he realized why.

Why would it fight him, when it could just wait for him to die? There was no need to waste precious energy when he was going to keel over anyway. That fact made sense. The boy would perish here. He had little food, a limited supply of water, and no way out. Even if he tried to climb, the beast could just swat him down or kill him before he climbed out of reach. The boy had no apparent weapons to fight back with but there was always the uncertainty of combat. Thus, the beast picked the safer choice- the long game. The boy hadn’t fought it yet and as long as it kept out of reach, it risked nothing. Not to mention it probably didn’t need to eat very often anyways. The boy could only imagine how often the creature actually came across something edible down here, if it even needed to eat in the first place. The boy might just be unlucky and the creature could be a type that lives off magic entirely. Hunting could just be fun for it.

After finally gathering his breath, he let out a long sigh. He grit his teeth and rose once more to his feet. If he was going to die, then he would be defiant until the end. His knees wobbled and his muscles cried for more time to rest. Yet there was none. The sand in his glass had run out. He planted a hand on the wall and pressed on. The beast moved slowly at his back, stepping along with him and causing small pebbles to drop noisily behind him. Oddly enough, now that the boy knew he wasn’t alone in the black, he felt comfort. Even if the thing which gave him the company would likely feast on his corpse.

“Hey…” The boy called out in a soft voice, coughing hard as the cold nipped at his throat. He paused in his death march to look back at the creature. The eyes remained still. Unanswering. “You… Are you the Guardian of this place?” He asked, staring at the eyes. The boy had heard of such beasts or creatures. While he had never seen one outside of picture books, he had always been curious. However, the likelihood of it talking back was slim to none and he doubted it could even respond if it wanted to. Most creatures of its kind could only understand Magic Language or Demon Speak. He knew neither. When he didn’t get an answer or see any kind of response from the creature, he huffed and continued to walk.

“Guess you aren’t. I’ve never seen a Guardian or any kind of monster for that matter…” He coughed, wheezing faintly as he struggled to breathe.

“My Dad once said that Guardians weren’t all mean or bad.” Ignoring the possibility that the monster didn’t understand him, the boy continued to speak. If he was going to die, then at least he’d try to get something out of this trip. Even if it was an imaginary friend. “My Dad was an adventurer, you know… He wasn’t around much and he left me with my Auntie when he was gone. Whenever he came home, he’d share a few stories, hang around long enough to find another job, and then he’d be gone again. He left two years ago. Haven’t heard from him since. He said I was old enough to live without a deadbeat like him, but I wonder if it was just an excuse.” The boy paused, stopping for a moment as he looked down.

He remembered his father’s face clearly- the large bearded grin, his burly chest, and thick arms. The mixed scent of alcohol and sweat, with the faint scent of a woman’s perfume stained into his clothes. The boy was young, but he wasn’t a fool. His Auntie scolded his father often about that smell.

“He warned me to never become an adventurer. Always said it was dangerous and didn’t pay much, but he still told me stories and brought me strange objects- relics of the places he had explored.” The boy reached to his neck, his fingers finding a thin rope. Dangling from it was a white stone. It looked much like a long white fang.

“My father said that this was a stone instrument used by an extinct race called the Ulnoc.” The boy turned around and held it up towards the golden eyes, letting the creature see it- if it even cared. The pale white object had a thin, cone shape, with small carvings of people and a language he couldn’t read etched into its sides. “He said the Ulnoc were a race similar to Elves, but a lot smarter… And a lot more peaceful.” The boy returned the artifact into his pocket and frowned. “He said it was a good luck charm little kids carried with them to ward off bad spirits. Funny, isn’t it? Really works well against creatures of your size.” The boy let out a faint chuckle, wincing as his lungs throbbed.

The boy looked up at the yellow eyes for a moment, quietly peering into the sixteen dots in hopes of some kind of response. Of course, getting none, he shook his head and let go of the relic. The boy just turned and continued to walk, trudging forward through the Ravine. He started counting his steps again, kicking rocks as he went along. He wondered what number would be his last.

“My dad told me he had found a Guardian in some ruins he and his friends had found. It was an intelligent creature that could communicate. Rather than fight, the Guardian said it was there just to ensure no one evil came for the Ulnoc treasures. After seeing the type of person my father was, it had deemed them worthy, I guess. So, in exchange for spreading the knowledge of the Ulnoc’s existence, the Guardian let my father and his friends take a few relics.” The boy’s right hand clawed at the rock wall. He gripped the stone and his head drooped as he squeezed his teeth together. Frustration set in. What did he think was going to happen, climbing down into this place? Especially after hearing all of those warnings from other passing Adventurers and even his father telling him never to even get close to the Ravine.

“I guess I was hoping you might be the same. Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?” The boy stopped once more, then turned around to face the creature. His hands curled into fists as he sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t want to die here! I just wanted to see if the floor of the Ravine existed!” He shouted, his voice booming through the space. His voice thundered into the nothingness around him. He could hear the pained emotion in the echoes.

“They all told stories! Stories of great things down here! Of beautiful fairies, of beautiful waterways! They told me that there were animals and beautiful lights! Crystals that glowed in the dark! Gems that you could see yourself in!” As the emotions leaked out, the boy began to sob. He dropped to his knees and then slumped to his side with his back against the wall. He pulled his knees into his chest and coughed as his eyes squeezed closed. Cold streaks of tears began falling into his clothes as he trembled against the rock.

“I just wanted to be like my Dad and see more than sand, but I’m no adventurer… I’m just a runt, a stupid kid with stupid dreams and stupid hopes…” The boy dropped his forehead against his knees and continued to sob into the void, letting his tears and nose run freely as the steps of the Guardian finally began to close in. It seemed his time was up. The boy squeezed his eyes together and drew into himself tightly, his legs and arms trembling as he shied away from the inevitable pain.

“Child…” A deep, raspy voice filled the space and the boy froze. That wasn’t his whimpering or his thoughts.

“....Child…” It repeated, beckoning for his attention. The boy slowly turned his head upward, toward the sound. A large figure hovered over him, less than a few feet away- the beast was just out of reach of his fingers. The sixteen yellow eyes were so close he could see the black outlines of small rings within them.

“...Will you not walk further?” The voice asked. From the direction and the sound of chittering, the boy recognized that it was coming from the creature. It struggled to speak in his language but it was doing quite fine for something of its size.

“Why should I? There’s nothing here but rock! There are no gems or crystals…” The boy pressed his lips together and stared down at the ground. He kicked a few rocks from around his feet and sniffled. “They all lied to me… Every one of them.”

“You are right. There are no gems. No crystals. No jewels or treasures. There is neither water nor animal here.” The creature took in a noticeable breath as it paused.

“Only I remain in this place. Like you, I was lied to. Trapped by Adventurers within this pit and cursed to eternity within its walls.” The creature lifted itself up, its eyes retreating into the dark before its legs began to lower it to the floor. The boy listened as the large body came down from the wall. It settled in front of him, its heavy mass settling on the ground before it spoke once more.

“I have searched for a way out for centuries, only to be thwarted by magical barriers and a Gate which opens only for the worthy.” The beast heaved and breathed, seeming to struggle with its words. Human language must have been difficult. The boy could only imagine what lengths it was going to so it could speak.

“You do not belong in this place, Child. You came here on a whim, seeking a beauty that does not exist. The fire of your life is far too bright to be snuffed out over such foolishness.” The beast let out a deep chuckle, and the boy could hear chittering- likely its jaws tapping together as it laughed.

“I have seen many like you, but all of them came with far worse intentions. Since I have been in this place, only one has succeeded at The Gate.” The boy stared at the beast. In that moment of pause, the old man he’d seen came to mind. Was he the one? That could be the only explanation.

“Then… is there a way out?” The boy said, his eyes opening slightly as the faintest glimmer of hope appeared before him. The beast shifted, its eyes dipping slightly in the motion of a nod.

“I know not where it leads, as the Chosen Man never returned to this place. I cannot guarantee your safety, your freedom, nor can I guarantee that it will accept you. And should you fail, I cannot help you out of this hell.” The beast shifted, and then the eyes rose off the ground. “But, I can guide you to it.” There were several heavy clicks and the rocks around the space all shifted as the creature returned to its raised posture. The boy stared at the eyes, then lowered his head.

The creature remained quiet, likely waiting for a response. The boy sat there, thinking, mulling over what to do. He had come this far, hadn’t he? He would die if he did nothing and while he didn’t quite trust this creature, what did he have to lose? If it had nefarious intentions, then it would kill him either way. But, it had given him a chance. A choice. How could he dare to call himself an Adventurer if he didn’t at least try? Because that’s what Adventurers did. Until the very end, they did whatever they could. Right, Father?

After a few more moments, the decision was made. The boy’s hands spread and he grabbed at the wall. Slowly, painfully, he forced himself once more to his feet. The air licked at his nearly numb legs and pain coursed through his body. This would be his last gasp.

“P-Please… I… I want to try!” The boy shouted, clenching his fists at his sides as he stepped away from the wall. Both determined and desperate, he had no other option.

“Spoken like a true Adventurer…” The beast hissed and then the eyes lowered again. The boy suddenly felt something brush against his stomach- a strong, hard, hairy limb. “Climb onto my back. I shall bring you to The Gate.”

After hesitating and taking a few extra seconds to let his brain process what was happening, the boy nodded before slowly climbing up the limb. It was long and stiff, the hairs tickled at his exposed skin. Yet, it was oddly warm as he clawed up the carapace onto the beast’s back. He found a small space to sit in just behind its head and he gripped what felt like a gap in its hard outer shell. Once he was settled, the beast began to walk. The fangs of the creature chittered and a faint heat began to radiate from its shell. The boy shivered as the warmth thawed away at the ice in his bones.

“Do you have a name?” The boy asked after the beast began its trek. The beast lifted off the ground and its feet stretched up into the space between the walls again. Nimbly, it began to navigate the Ravine’s maw.

“A name…?” The creature paused. Its body seemed to vibrate as it thought. “Long ago my kin called me Chul E’tana or Black Exile in your tongue. We are not given names like your kin. We are given titles when we achieve great things or return from battle. I earned mine when I lost my family and was left behind to die.”

“I’m sorry,” The boy frowned and gently rubbed at the fuzzy shell beneath him. He hadn’t expected such an explanation but the faint trace of sadness in the words resonated with the boy.

“That sounds… terrible.” As they walked, the boy stared down at the silhouette of the beast. After contemplating whether he should ask his next question, he took the chance and opened his mouth. “Do you hate them? Those that left you behind.”

A harsh question, but one he felt he needed to ask. His father had abandoned him and that certainly was a sore spot. The boy wondered if the creature felt the same. He was answered only by silence. The beast rumbled beneath him for quite some time. When the boy suspected he may not get an answer at all, the rumbling stopped.

“I did. For a long, long time, I despised them all.” The beast let out another rumble, its fangs chittering for a few breaths. “But time has made me wiser, has made me more understanding of their decision. I learned to survive in this place and how to fight. I became my own strength. Exile is a word of power to me and I carry it like a prideful scar. I am Chul E’tana, and my kin will fear the name on the day I return to the surface.” The beast let out another deep chuckle as it walked, likely enjoying the thoughts of terror it would bring upon those that had left him behind. Should it ever be freed, that is. At that moment, the boy had an idea.

“What if…” The boy started. “What if I can get you out? What if the Gate opens for you, too?” Where he expected some kind of surprise or joy, he was met with laughter. What was funny?

“The Gate has denied me, Child. I have tried many times. Even when the Chosen One passed through. He had said the same to me, but I am unworthy.” The beast sighed and chittered. “Unworthy and abandoned here in the dark. Eternity is all that awaits me. To atone for my sins, I will at least provide you a chance. One that I do not deserve anymore.”

Recognizing the feeling of acceptance, the boy couldn’t help but clench his jaw and stare down at the large body beneath him. The creature had done the same thing he had. It had come into the Ravine, become unable to leave, and accepted its fate within the maw. Only it had survived down here. Likely for far, far longer than the boy could ever imagine. The boy could only wonder how painful that must have been. How lonely the creature must have felt. To have been abandoned and left to fend for itself, then trapped in this kind of place. Truly a sad tale of a life.

For the remainder of the ride, he sat in silence, thinking of a way to help the creature. While it was big and scary, Chul had been cast away just like the boy had. Their stories were far different, but he felt empathy. His chest tightened at the idea of being able to walk free while the creature remained behind. There had to be something…

“We are here…” Chul E’tana rumbled, cutting the boy’s thoughts as he lowered slowly to the floor. The long cut of the Ravine stretched onwards off to the right, but they seemed to have turned into some kind of cavern within its depths.

The boy couldn’t see where they had come from or where they had turned, but the heavy steps of the beast echoed a lot louder in the confined space. As Chul E’tana walked into the cavern, marching diligently into the maw, a faint blue began to radiate off the walls. The boy could finally see again, somewhat. Even more so as they moved around a curve and that faint blue filled the boy’s eyes. On the other end, a massive door that was carved into the rock was brightly illuminated by pulsing blue veins in the walls surrounding it. The sigils on their flat sides maintained a solid blue hue only growing stronger as the two approached.

Because of the light, the boy could finally see the beast beneath him. An Arachkin. Chul E’tana was a sturdy, massive black Arachkin with a thick black coat of fur covering his exoskeleton. In several places near the ends of the long limbs, the boy could see scars and marks where adventurers had likely tried to cut into the hard shell. There were burn marks, arrowheads lodged into several locations, and there were even cracks in certain places. Whether those cracks were from age, battle, or a lack of nutrients, the boy did not know. He knew he should have been scared of such a sight. Instead, he was in awe.

Chul E’tana stopped a safe distance from the door and then lowered his body down to the floor. He let out a faint coo, ushering the boy to come down from the perch. During their trip, the heat radiating from the Arachkin had helped thaw the boy’s limbs. Moving was much easier and the rest from sitting helped rejuvenate his body a bit. His legs were still sore, but he found it much easier to climb down from Chul’s back now that he could feel his fingers again.

The boy carefully slid off the Arachkin’s back and then took a few steps towards the shining blue entrance. He stared up at the massive doors and clenched his fists. The Arachkin hadn’t lied to him, unlike those from the surface. And for that, he was grateful. Chul had given him a chance, and he would do his best not to squander it. With that in mind, he turned back to face Chul E’tana, catching the sight of the spider inching back towards the darkness. Almost as if it pained him to be so close to the blue glow.

“Chul…” The boy called out, and the spider paused. “I’m… I’m Jake!” Jake shouted and took a few paces towards the creature. Chul’s fangs chittered as he lowered down into a dark corner, far away from the light of the doors.

“A boring title,” The creature let out a low rumble, a laugh. “Jake of the Humankin. This is where our friendship ends. Should your trial fail, know that you will perish here. Understand that I can help you no further.” Perish, also known as to become food. Jake understood what would happen if for whatever reason this trial ended not in his favor. If those doors didn’t open, Chul would eat him. Jake was the only thing the Arachkin could eat down here. But… there was always a chance. As long as Jake kept trying, he had to believe in that chance.

Jake’s fists tightened and he nodded, acknowledging that he understood. As Chul watched from behind him, Jake stepped up to the doors. A few meters in front of them a raised circular platform jutted out from the floor. On it, a sigil was carved into the rock. The carving matched the one on the doors. Jake stared at the marking for a moment as he quelled the racing thoughts. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He stepped up onto the platform and let the tension in his muscles ease. As he exhaled, he felt the weight of his body fade. The floor beneath him began to glow faintly, swallowing him up in a veil of light.

“Speak your cause and let Us be the judge of your heart.” A fierce voice full of power, one that was hard to discern whether it was male or female, echoed into his head. It drowned out everything else and sent a chill down his spine. Jake stood there, afraid and worried about what to do next. If he said the real reason he had come to the Ravine, would he be denied? Or should he lie? Maybe if he said something heroic and more fitting for a Hero he might be given entrance. He tried to think of something an adventurer would say, something a knight would say.

Except… All he could think of were the distant words of his father. Traits his old man had tried to instill into him when he was young, in between his stints of abandonment. He had told the boy to be kind, caring, and share with those who could not. The old man had warned him to never shy away from a fight, but to never instigate one. To be brave and bold when others may cower or hide. To take care of those he cared for with all he had, and to be tough and firm even when things looked bleak. Flimsy things to be shared from a man whose eyes were always on the next adventure, from a man who couldn’t even be a proper parent. Jake had listened, and Jake had learned. While his father wasn’t wrong in his teachings and Jake understood their meanings, that still didn’t make the leaving hurt any less.

Jake opened his eyes and found himself standing in a dark space, the air around him alight with a blue flame. Before him were two floating faces carved from stone. They stared at him, stoic, waiting for his answer.

“I’m here because… because I want to become an Adventurer!” Jake shouted, clinging to the one true desire he had in his heart. The desire to see grand, beautiful things. To make friends in far-off lands. To conquer battles that no one would ever believe! He wanted to experience the stories his father had shared with him, and he wanted to one day share his with a child of his own. Most of all he wanted to be a better man than his father ever could be. He wanted to show his Father that not only would Jake be a better Adventurer, but he would do it without ditching his own family for it.

The two faces floated there, silent, for a long time. The air crinkled and the blue lights flickered slightly. The sigil at the boy’s feet pulsed and the lights were pulled down into it. Jake watched as the lights danced within the lines of the stone until finally, they went out. Jake looked up towards the two faces as the black veil around him faded. They too disappeared as the doors remerged into his view. Where the two faces had been floating, the sigils on the doors returned.

“You may pass.” Whatever being was in his head spoke calmly, finalizing the decision. In response, the doors in front of him flashed brightly. The floor quaked as the heavy stone doors began to split apart. Jake recoiled, covering his eyes to keep himself from being blinded by the light. On each side of the doorframe, two large pits ignited with blue flames, as if acknowledging the result of the voice’s decision.

“Wait!” Jake interrupted the show, stepping to the edge of the raised platform. He stared into the light as it began to dim, hoping whatever within it was still there. And that it was listening. “Please! Let Chul through as well!” His plea echoed into the air, his voice cracking through the void.

“Boy…” The spider rumbled quietly at his back. Jake clenched his fists and stared at the lights, his eyes searching for something to yell at.

The lights dimmed for a moment, and all motion of the doors stopped.

“The Arachkin’s heart has already been judged. This Jury has denied him.” The voice in Jake’s head now echoed through the cavern itself. The doors pulsed for a moment before they once more began to open. Jake’s jaw tensed, his teeth scraping together. He would not be denied so easily. He told Chul he would try.

“He was trapped here by people who don’t even know him, all because he’s an Arachkin! He doesn’t deserve it!” To his statement, there was no answer, no response. The doors continued to open. The flames burned unimpeded. Even the light in the doors continued to glow without so much as a flicker. Jake felt anger build within him as he realized time was running out.

“I offer my life! Anything! Give him another chance!” Jake shouted as he stared at the two doors.

Suddenly, the stone screeched to a halt. They were nearly fully open but now stopped in place. The lights on the doors coiled and dimmed before blanking out. The flames in the two pits were snuffed out, plunging the cavern into a veil of black.

“What did you do, boy?” Chul stepped out of his corner and approached the platform. Jake took a few steps back, retaking the center position on the raised platform.

“Uh, I’m not sure?” Jake looked around in the dark, waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly, the doors began to move again. This time, they moved with purpose. The heavy weight of the rocky doors dragging quickly across the ground caused the entire cavern to tremble powerfully. The strength of the shaking forced Jake down to his knees, lest he fall over and off the platform itself. The tremors caused the ceiling to loosen and several large rocks fell to the ground, landing with heavy thuds all around the doors. Chul’s fangs chittered and he hastily moved over the top of the platform, protecting the boy with his body from the falling stone. The doors slammed closed, and the rumbling in the ground finally stopped.

In the next moment, the platform lit up. Bright red lines cut through the sigil and Jake felt the strength fade from his body. The sigils on the doors lit up in a similar red. Jake was pulled down to his hands and knees as Chul was pushed away from the platform by an unseen pressure. The Arachkin released a high-pitched wail as it skittered away from the door.

“Your offering has been granted. A second Trial of Heart will be conducted.” The voice boomed its decision into the cavern. Jake glared up at the doors and tugged at the restraints holding him down. Weak and without any knowledge of what to do, he was helpless 

“Step forth, Arachkin. And be judged.” The two sigils on the doors flared brightly before two large stone faces emerged out of the rock, pushing outwards from the center of the lines of power.

Chul stood at the back of the platform, his eyes switching between the trapped boy and the doors. He hesitated, his fangs chittering as he mulled over what to do. Jake gave the restraints another tug but was reminded that he could do nothing, so he waited. Chul eventually let out a huff and stepped forward. Jake had gambled, so he would at least play his part.

“Speak your cause, Arachkin. Let Us be the judge of your heart.” The voice beckoned. Chul looked between the two faces and then lowered his head.

“For a long time, I have acted as Guardian of the Ravine. I made many mistakes during my youth and I have long since recognized the errors in my ways. I have served my role diligently, thus I ask of the Gods. Grant me a chance to atone for my sins.” Chul’s voice rumbled through the air as he pleaded his case. Jake watched, a slight smile creeping into the corners of his lips.

The two faces, remaining stoic, receded into the door. The red lines of power remained but began to pulse and burn even brighter. The doors shuddered and cracked open. Once more, they dragged across the floor as they opened slowly.

“Child of Rastua, your words have been heard by the Goddess. We have watched you, just as you have watched every Adventurer who has stood before Us. You have proven steadfast in your duties as Guardian of this Gate, the Ravine, and its people. Now, you will be the Guardian of this Child.” The red light receded, quickly being replaced by blue once again. The two flames relit, flaring to life even more brightly than before.

Jake felt the restraints holding him down fall away, allowing him to finally stand back up. He rubbed at his wrists, whisking away the odd feeling of the ghostly bindings tickling at his skin. Focusing more on the voice than his actual surroundings, he was caught off guard when the platform beneath him changed color again. This time, it shifted from blue to purple. Not only did the color change but the lines etched into the stone changed as well. New lines cut through the rock and the letters within them were replaced by entirely new ones. When the formation of the new sigil was complete, an exact copy of it appeared beneath Chul’s feet.

“A binding?” Chul muttered, looking down at his feet before he turned and looked behind him. Jake met the mass of eyes, slightly concerned about what was happening and unsure of what to do.

Before either could do anything, though, the sigil at Jake’s feet pulsed with power. A line darted outward, cutting through the floor and linked Jake’s sigil with Chul’s. Heat washed over Jake’s feet and then raced up into his body. He felt light once more and his vision became foggy. His stomach tensed, his breath caught in his throat, and he was forced to his knees as he felt the heat gather into his left shoulder.

“Your kin have brought many terrors to the Overworld while you have been here, Child of Rastua. This task will be your redemption. Reclaim what is yours and earn your rightful place at the Table. She will be watching you.” The burning in Jake’s shoulder rose in temperature as his skin started glowing beneath his shirt.

The boy grit his teeth and pulled back the short sleeve, revealing what was happening to his body. At first, just a bright purple light was leaking from his skin. However, the burning was the staining of black in his flesh. Like ink, the magic coursing within his body carved an image into his sun-kissed shoulder. The Mark Of The Arachkin. A thick carapace, eight sharp legs, and a tight array of four red eyes organized into a square in the center of the spider’s small head. On the abdomen, a small purple marking was etched into the black ink.

Jake heard Chul’s fangs chitter along with a faint hissing of pain. When he looked up to see what was the reason, he watched as a similar event happened to the Arachkin. The same purple light bled into the air on Chul's abdomen as he too was given a marking. As the magic centralized into Chul’s back, the purple marking that was on Jake’s shoulder emerged out of the light and burned into Chul’s carapace. When the formation of the marking was complete, the purple marks both flashed one last time in unison before the lights faded entirely.

The doors were now open and the way beyond was lit by faint glowing crystals in the ceiling. The two blue flames flanking the doorway burned casual on, resolute in their task of providing light until told otherwise. The heat in Jake’s shoulder was gone and he felt rejuvenated. The soreness in his muscles had faded away, the fatigue in his mind was gone and he felt as though he could handle another climb if needed. The boy took another look at his shoulder to admire the new bit of skin art he now had.

“I guess I had a little bit of luck left,” Jake chuckled as he stepped off the platform. Chul moved aside a bit and glanced down at the boy, his eyes following as Jake walked up to the doors. Jake stopped just before them, his eyes tracing the frame as he looked for any sort of barrier or something potentially in place to keep him from moving on. Seeing nothing, he stepped through. The doors remained unmoving, the flames unshifting. Satisfied, Jake looked back to Chul and shrugged.

“Guess we passed,” he grinned. Chul’s fangs chittered as he too approached the door. Although, he approached with far more caution. Jake walked forward into the tunnel, stopping just beyond the path of the doors. Chul reached a single leg out, testing the air to see if he too would meet some form of resistance. When nothing happened, he took a step through the threshold. Then another. Then another… He walked through the doors, over the top of Jake, and into the tunnel.

When they were both clear, the heavy doors began to pull closed. They did not slam shut nor did they close in haste. Slowly, steadily, the two stone doors sealed themselves closed, locking Jake and Chul inside of the tunnel beyond the Ravine.

“How did you know that would work?” Chul asked as he reached one of his legs up to the door. It didn’t react to his touch. Jake just shrugged.

“I didn’t, I just didn’t want to give up so I spit out the one thing I thought might work.” Jake let out a laugh as he planted his hands firmly on his waist, proud of himself. Chul stared at the door for a few more moments before he turned and looked at Jake. Those bright yellow eyes blinked a few times before he lowered down to Jake’s level.

“Thank you, Humankin. For this gift you have given me, I will do my best as a Guardian to aid in your travels.” Chul’s voice radiated from the spider, his tone far lighter than before. Jake’s lips pulled back as he grinned wide. He reached out and placed a hand on Chul’s carapace, brushing his fingers through the Arachkin’s furry face.

“I know you will, and I look forward to the places we’ll go, friend.” Jake gave the hard shell beneath that fur a few taps before he turned towards the tunnel waiting for them. “And this is where our little journey starts,” he said with a happy, excited tone. Indeed- this was the beginning, and Jake wouldn’t have it any other way.

Suddenly, a bright light flared behind the boy. Curious and taken off guard, Jake looked back just in time to see the Arachkin’s massive body reduce in size. The large beast shrank to the size of a spider that could practically fit in Jake’s palm and it crawled up Jake’s back. Chul took up position on the boy’s shoulder, lowering down comfortably as he stared ahead into the tunnel. Jake raised an eyebrow, more surprised over the choice of location rather than the magic itself. Jake had told himself to be open-minded about being an Adventurer so magic of all things wasn’t something he would let himself be ignorant to.

“Ready?” Jake asked. Chul nodded resolutely.

“I have waited far too long for this,” Chul rumbled. Jake chuckled as he set off into the tunnel. With a pip in his step, he moved quickly through the dark, letting the crystals guide him to their next stop.

* * *

The rocky tunnel went on for what felt like forever, which sapped Jake’s energy for the most part. As excited as he was, it was tiring walking for so long. After several bends in the deceptively long route and an annoyingly steep ascent that twisted along through the rock, the tight path opened to a large circular room. Crystals lodged in the walls gave some light to the room but it was far too large for their faint glows to fully illuminate every shadow.

In the middle of the room, the dark was fended off by a clear, dimly glowing crystal protruding from the ceiling. Its tip pointed straight down towards the center of a spell circle that was etched into the floor. Eight statues surrounded the large spellwork, and each one took the shape of a different race. There was even a Dragon among them, a creature Jake had been told was one of the long-forgotten races. For it to be here, Jake knew this place was old.

Curious but unafraid, Jake stepped into the cavern and approached the edge of the large circle. Chul hopped off his shoulder, his body glowing as he expanded to his larger size. While Jake inspected the lines on the floor and some of the statues nearby, the Arachkin made his way around to the far side. The Arachkin investigated the statues, his eyes taking in each of their figures before he finally stopped at one that looked like an Arachkin.

“What is this?” Jake asked, placing his hand onto one of the lines. The lines were actually dug into the stone and a white grainy substance lined the rock. A thin layer of dust and dirt had mixed itself in with the white, but there was enough residue to see the leftovers. Even after so many years, possibly centuries.

“A reverse summoning circle. In exchange for an offering, one may speak to the Gods.” Chul finished his encirclement and then peered at the circle. Jake took a step away from it, feeling uneasy about the ‘Gods’ part. Chul’s fangs chittered for a moment before he tilted his head up towards the large crystal in the ceiling.

“The crystal is the medium. And the circle is the catalyst. The offering looks to be blood.” Chul took a few steps to the left, moving halfway around the circle again, his eyes taking in the numerous markings, letters, and smaller nested sigils that made up the much larger spell. The Arachkin must have recognized the work from somewhere. He was quite confident in his information so Jake decided to trust his observation.

While Chul did more poking into the power of the spell, Jake took a less intelligent look around the room. He observed the circle and the statues and then looked up at the crystal. It was all foreign to him. He couldn’t read any of the letters on the floor, didn’t understand what or who any of the statues represented, nor did he understand any of the symbols. Even the crystal overhead was a surprising sight. All he could do was trust Chul and hope the Arachkin wasn’t about to use him as some kind of offering.

“Will it work?” Jake asked, toeing the edge of the circle as he tested to see if it would randomly trigger. Chul hummed for a moment as if he was already trying to figure that out. The Arachkin walked around the circle again as he thought, stopping at Jake’s side once more. He didn’t seem satisfied with what he saw from the sound of his heavy sigh.

“There is no damage to the sigil, and the crystal seems intact.” Chul paused for another moment, staring upwards. Two of his yellow eyes changed to a faint green as he eyed the massive object. The eyes shimmered and glowed faintly, and then dimmed as they returned to their yellow color. “The magic inside of the crystal is faint, but it should still activate at least once more before it is spent. Everything here is old, older than I am. I cannot be sure.”

So, this was even older than Chul? How old was this guy?

Regardless, that was enough for Jake. They had come this far and were presented with an opportunity to possibly trigger a meeting with supposed Gods? Jake wasn’t exactly needy on the holy front but he found it odd for there to be such a spell put down directly after a Trial of one’s heart. It was as if the expectation was if one passed the test, they would then be allowed to use the circle. From what Jake had learned after listening to stories from his Father and other Adventurers- oddly placed things always had a reason.

“Only one way to find out.” Jake shrugged and stepped onto the circle. Chul’s large mandibles tapped together as the Arachkin considered saying something. He chose to keep his worries to himself and stepped away from the circle.

Jake approached the center, following the lines of power to its exact middle. There, in the very center of an even smaller ring and tiny scratchings in the rock, a tiny hole was cut perfectly in the floor. It looked to be just the size for someone to stick their finger into. Jake looked up at the crystal overhead and found that its tip aligned with the hole as well. That was when he noticed that the statues were also perfectly positioned equidistant around the outside of the circle. A perfectly symmetrical spell circle.

“Huh,” he muttered. He knelt on the floor and looked down into the hole. At first, he figured there might be something inside of it, like a needle, which would poke his finger and get the blood out. So, he stuck his thumb into the hole. When he found the inside to be perfectly smooth and with no bottom, the boy was once again stuck. Except there was something familiar about that inner ring surrounding the hole. The markings. He had seen them before.

The boy raised an eyebrow and pulled the artifact tucked beneath his shirt out. The Ulnoc talisman. The markings which were etched into its pearly white sides matched the style of the markings on the spell. Jake’s lips pressed together as he pulled the talisman off his neck. Putting two and two together, Jake lined the talisman up with the hole and found that it practically slid right into place. A perfect, smooth fit.

“You knew I’d come here…” Jake muttered as he pulled the talisman from the hole. He grit his teeth, a bit annoyed for several reasons, all of which he didn’t want to think about at the moment. Rather than linger and let himself get angry, the boy pressed the tip of the talisman against his finger. The sharp end pricked his skin and with a few harsh twists, he was able to wet the tip with blood. The boy shook his hand and sucked on his thumb, writhing a bit from how bad that hurt.

“All is well?” Chul called from the edge of the circle. With his thumb stuffed in his mouth, Jake could only answer with a loud grunt.

Once the pain faded a bit and became tolerable, Jake continued with his task. He checked the talisman to ensure he got it bloody enough and then lowered it back to the hole. He took in a slow, deep breath. Then, he stuffed it in. The talisman slipped down and nestled itself into the stone with a satisfying tap. Not even a moment later, the talisman began to glow faintly.

“Why does everything glow?” Jake’s eyes narrowed a bit as he stood up.

After a few seconds, the room shuddered and the light poured out from the talisman. Like water, a faint blue light spread outwards to fill in the lines and the lettering. The crystal overhead similarly came to life in a brilliant display of color, the various rays shooting down and touching each of the statues. One by one, the eyes of the statues opened. Bright white lights poured out of them.

“Boy!” Chul shouted at the same time as the last set of eyes opened. Jake blinked and looked out towards Chul. The Arachkin took a single step towards him, but then a bright wall of wind shot upwards from the circle’s edge. It cut them off from one another, isolating Jake in the middle of the circle.

“Ah-” Jake’s mouth opened and he raised a hand, but there was nothing he could do. The wind cracked and whistled loudly, the noise rising in pitch until it brought pain to his ears. Jake plugged his eardrums with his palms and clamped his eyes closed, wincing as the noise peaked. The wall of wind accelerated until the noise finally hit its crescendo. With another crack, the noise cut off.

Jake opened his eyes, blinking away the throbbing in his head as he took a look at his surroundings. Much like what happened at the door, he wasn’t in the Ravine anymore. Instead, he was surrounded by white. In every direction, the pale and boring nothingness stretched. He was free to move but he felt there was no need. Something told him that wherever he was, he was fine standing right there. Though, he couldn’t tell if that was a good feeling or not. More like a threat that if he moved, something he didn’t quite like might happen.

“A visitor?” An elegant-sounding male voice rang out. It came from his back right, and Jake turned to see an Elf standing behind him. The Elf, coincidentally, was standing where the Elf statue had been. The Elf was thin, tall, and wore beautiful gold and green robes. He also had a funny-looking headdress. A book dangled off his hip.

“It seems so! And he’s one of mine! Look at that! I’ve won the bet!” A loud, booming laugh erupted from beside the Elf. Out from the white, a man who sported a strong chiseled jaw, barbarian-like armor, and a mighty battleax held easily with one hand over his broad shoulders, marched into view.

“Yes, I guess you do.” The Elf sighed.

“How long has it been?” A large Tiger-looking Beastfolk thundered into view to the Elf’s left. His burly, furry chest was fully exposed. He had countless scars across his body and a large broadsword strapped to his muscular back. He wore a pair of very plain, baggy pants tied to his waist by a clean leather strap.

“Too long, Old Friend. If only it wasn’t another Human.” A Sahaugin emerged next to the Beastfolk, carrying a trident that clanged loudly every time he knocked it on the floor. He wore a massive, gilded crown imbued with an array of jewels and crystals. Both of his hands were covered in rings and his wrists had at least five bangles and bejeweled bracelets. But he wore… not much else. Only a loincloth to cover his waist.

“I think it’s lovely to have another Human here. Oh, and he’s so young… How exciting.” A Demoness strutted into view on his left, her outfit skimpy and revealing far too much of her charcoal skin. Her black wings were neatly folded behind her, and her hair was braided gallantly down her back. Her heart-tipped tail swayed behind her wide hips, ticking back and forth as if trying to lure Jake into a trance.

“Stop with your foolery. He is our Guest, not another suitor.” Far more gallant than the Daemoness, a large-bodied and familiar creature stepped forth. Her lower body was the abdomen of an Arachkin, but her upper body was human. She wore a tightly fitted black top that hugged her bosom and her hair was tied in a complex but elegant way down her back. A style fit for a queen. The Goddess of the Arachkin, no doubt.

A dragon emerged next, this time from the air. Jake was unsure of their gender as they landed without a word. The creature eyed him for a moment, scoffed, and then lazily squatted down onto the floor as if waiting for the entire procession to be over with. The Dragon set its head down onto its massive claws and closed its eyes. Jake found that to be rude but he held his tongue.

The final individual to appear was a stout Dwarf. He stepped out with a powerful stride and took his position at the head of them all at the top of the circle. The Dwarf wore a black apron over his dusty black clothes and set down a massive hammer in front of him. It landed with a powerful thud, silencing all of the side-talk. His two, massive paws rested on the upturned handle of the battle hammer. A large ruby jewel was set in the pommel and it glistened between his fingers as he caressed it.

The Dwarf eyed Jake for a few seconds, as did the others surrounding the Boy. When he finally looked like he was going to speak, the Dwarf instead turned his head and eyes to look up at the Arachkin beside him. He looked annoyed.

“Why do you take that form? Is it because he’s human?” The Dwarf asked, his tone flat.

“It is familiar to him.” The Arachkin crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. “Something wrong with that?” She retorted. The Dwarf shrugged.

“Just odd, is all.” The Dwarf waved it off and turned his attention back to Jake. The Elf scoffed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. The Dwarf shot him a glare but the Elf ignored the nasty look, instead deciding to inspect something he found interesting beneath his nails.

“Human Child, what is your name?” The Arachkin asked, shifting slightly on her legs as she spoke. Jake took a look around him, once more observing the array of personnel around him before his eyes settled on hers. He took in a slight breath, quelling the nerves.

“I’m Jake… Jake Furrow.” Jake folded his hands neatly in front of himself, unsure really of what to do with them. The Elf groaned suddenly, and then the Dwarf began to laugh.

“Furrow?” The Dwarf parroted. “Are you the son of Alan Furrow?” Jake found the question a bit specific and his stomach tensed. He hesitated in answering but eventually nodded. The Dwarf let out another rumbling laugh.

“Oh, the chances! To meet both a Father and Son! I love it!” The Dwarf bellowed from behind his hammer. The Arachkin smiled and closed her eyes as she waited for the Dwarf to collect himself. Jake clenched his teeth and looked around, a bit confused- the Beastfolk and Sahaugin were whispering to one another. The Elf rubbed at his forehead. The Human squinted at Jake and rubbed at his chin as if trying to put the pieces together. The Dragon remained… asleep.

“It was a long time ago, runt, but your father stood before us just as you are now. Of course, he looked a lot bigger and a lot less scared than you- but I can see the resemblance.” The Elf spoke, crossing his arms and tapping his fingers along his bicep. He wasn’t anywhere near as amused as the Dwarf. What was his deal?

“Ahem…” After having enough of the distraction, the Arachkin cleared her throat to get her compatriots to quiet down. The Dwarf caught his breath, ceased his cackling, and regained his composure. When he was ready, he gave her a brief nod.

“The location you called us from, I recognize it Did you meet one of my kin?” The Arachkin questioned, her eyes looking at him curiously. He knew exactly who she was talking about and nodded without hesitating.

“I did. Chul E’tana. He’s with me.” Jake looked towards where he had last seen Chul, but he wasn’t there. The Human and Elf were standing in that same general direction and both looked at each other for a moment, unsure if he was looking at them. The Arachkin peered in the same direction. She frowned, then extended a hand. Immediately all of their eyes settled on her as the air seemed to grow a bit heavier.

“What are you doing?” The Dwarf asked as her hand began to glow. Tension in the room spiked as even the Dragon opened their eyes to look. It seemed this woman wasn’t fond of following norms.

“Calling him forth.” She spoke bluntly as if what she was doing wasn’t already obvious.

“If I am not mistaken, his name means that he had been banished. Yet you wish to summon him here? Is that not foolish of a decision?” The Dragonkin spoke up, rising from their lazy posture on the ground. The Arachkin did not answer and continued her spell unabated. A moment later, Chul appeared behind Jake. The large spider was of medium size so that he could fit within the circle. Chul blinked as he took in the view, likely confused as to what had just happened. Once he realized where he was, he immediately bowed his head.

“Chul E’tana. I see you bear the Mark of a Guardian.” The Arachkin said, folding her arms across her chest once more. 

“I do, Lady Rastua.” Chul lowered his voice and answered respectfully, never raising his head.

“Rastua?” Jake looked over at the female Arachkin, and she stared back. If this was her, didn’t she already know that?

“I always regretted never interfering when you were outcast, Chul, but rules are rules. What they did to you was unfair, but I hope you understand why we could not help.” She gave a sharp glance towards the Dwarf, who only smiled and didn’t dare meet her eyes. “Watching you become bound to that stupid place was painful, but we are thankful for your efforts in the Ravine. After all these years, I am glad to see you in good health. Do not make me regret my decision to change your judgment at the Trial, Chul.”

“I… Thank you, Madam.” Chul’s fangs chittered together for a moment. Containing his emotions, he returned to silence. Lady Rastua’s harsh expression softened, her stern eyes and thin lips turning more motherly as she stepped forward.

“Look after him, Chul. Don’t let him become like you were.” She spoke softly, her voice warm as she placed a hand gently on her kin. Chul shivered from the touch, and he seemed to close inward on himself. 

“Yes, Lady Rastua.” After his words, her hand began to glow once more and Chul’s fangs began to rattle. His large carapace filled with bright color, several scars, and wounds fading away.

“A gift, for enduring your hardship and as an apology for my mistake. Be well, Child of mine.”

“I... I am not worthy, Lady Rastua, but I will carry your gift with pride as one of your kin.” Chul slowly rose again as Lady Rastua stepped back. His eyes were alive with renewed vigor and the Arachkin stood tall in front of his Goddess. Satisfied, she smiled and sent him back with a faint wave of her fingers. Chul let out a hearty roar into the God’s space. It was a powerful and strong outcry that thundered through the air of the God’s Realm. The Gods all stared at him as he disappeared, likely back to the cavern.

“Quite the show,” the Elf muttered. The Beastfolk to his side snarled.

“Pay some respect, Elf. That Guardian has seen more tribulations than you can imagine.” The Beastfolk snapped, his fur rustling. The Sahaugin reached over and tugged on the arm of his friend.

“Be calm. He knows,” the Sahaugin muttered.

“I am aware, Beast. Rastua, your kin always seem to be in some form of trouble. Why is this?” The Elf crossed his arms and tapped his fingers against his arm again. A possible tic.

“Ask your kin for that answer, Faurus. Is it not your people who have hunted mine for centuries?” Lady Rastua returned to her spot at the edge of the circle. She placed a hand on her hip and stared blankly at the Elf. The Elf opened his mouth to retort but the Dwarf raised and dropped his hammer. It landed with a loud clap, silencing the dispute. The Elf sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. Rastua shrugged it off and turned her eyes back to Jake.

“Now then, what to do with you..” She observed him closely for a moment. Her eyes seemed to peer into his very soul. Without saying anything more, she shrugged. “He is too young for one of my gifts.”

“Too innocent for one of mine,” The Demoness called out. Innocent?

“Too foolish for one of mine,” The Dragon scoffed. Did she call him stupid?

“No spirit will take to him,” The Elf sighed. A what?

“He is no beast,” The Beastkind called. Obviously.

“Can’t swim. Worthless.” The Sahaugin laughed. How did he know that?

That left the Dwarf and the Human Gods. They looked at one another, and the Dwarf only grinned.

“Son of Alan,” the Dwarf called. “If you could change the world, how would you do it?” He asked, slowly turning the hammer in his hand. “Would you do it through battle? Would you carve your lineage into the bodies of your enemies? Conquer battlefield after battlefield and fight side by side with your brethren until the last of your days?” The Dwarf stole a glance towards the Human God, whose grin closed into a broad smile. “Or would you do it through wit and craftiness? Through a trail of kind deeds and unparalleled stories of your trials? Would you travel to far-off lands in search of riches, jewels, and treasures known only by a chosen few?”

Unsure of what the questions meant but not wanting to give some half-assed answer, Jake decided to take his time answering. If the Gods had enough time to fool around, then he had time to think of his choice. From what he had just learned, his answer would likely decide to which God he would be best aligned. Though, like the trial at the gate, Jake wanted to be sure to give his more heartfelt answer. Anything less and he felt like he would be lying.

The boy crossed his arms and stared down at the ground. He nipped at his inner lip and swung his foot, kicking a phantom rock as he mulled over what to say. The Gods looked on, some more patient than others, but all remained silent. Even the Dragon God eventually opened an eye to stare at Jake. The boy used his time wisely to have a long internal look at his own personal expectations of his future. He had boldly decided to become an Adventurer after running off to the Ravine, but he had learned quickly that it wasn’t so easy of a task. Even more so, when he earnestly thought over his goals, he couldn’t come up with anything close to what the Dwarf had suggested.

“I don’t want to change the world,” Jake finally said. This caught a few of them off guard it seemed. Even the Dwarf looked taken aback as he raised his brow. Jake took a look at each of them for a moment before he settled his eyes on the Dwarf. While a few didn’t seem satisfied with that response, a few of them smiled. Lady Rastua was one of them.

“I don’t want fame or riches. That stuff is boring. I just want to go on Adventures as my Dad did. I want to see things he saw and experience the beauty of the world. Most of all, I want to make a lot of friends.”

The Elf couldn’t contain himself. He let out a heavy laugh and pinned his hands onto his hips. “Friends? Adventures? You come before the Gods of this Realm and you don’t even ask for something far more… greedy? Grandiose? Like others of your race? Seriously?”

“Not all Humans are so simple, Faurus.” The Demoness intervened before any of the others. Her tail swishes energetically back and forth, practically whipping behind her wide hips. Her thighs were rubbing together, too. Was she… attracted? “That was such an adorable response. I think I’ve changed my mind! Would you like to join my harem, Child?” Her pupils glowed as they took the shapes of hearts. She smiled sweetly at him as she leaned forward. Before she could take a step, the Dwarf let out a soft rumble.

“Oi, hands-off. You already cast your vote.” The Dwarf snipped and the Demoness sucked her teeth. Her expression soured, but the rubbing of her hands on her arms seemed oddly… lewd.

“With that kind of answer, I cannot give him a gift of mine even if that is what he wishes.” The Human admitted. The large man sighed and shook his head. The Dwarf cackled.

“No. No, you cannot. The only two in this circle who could provide for this child are me and you, Ferynith.” The Dwarf peered over toward the Dragonkin, but they remained silent as they stared at Jake. From the look in their eyes, it seemed they were pondering deeply over something.

“Want to change your mind?” The Dwarf rumbled. The Demoness hissed loudly, frustrated she hadn’t been given the same treatment. Rastua reached over with one of her long legs and whapped the seductress over the head before shushing her.

The Dragon, now interested, slowly turned their head towards the center of the circle and leaned forward towards Jake. A bright red jewel glimmered in the center of their horned head, one that was bristling with power and glamor. Jake peered into the jewel for a moment, staring into its depths. It was almost as if he was being drawn to it. As if his soul would be sucked in if he stared too hard for too long. To avoid that abrupt end, he pulled his eyes away and lowered them to settle into the Dragon’s. The Dragon huffed, dissatisfied, and retracted its head. At the same time, it slowly lifted onto its feet. Just the movement of its massive body changed the pressure in the air. After shifting to better face Jake, the Dragon settled back down and lay on the floor again.

“One more question, Child.” A female voice emanated into the air from the Dragon’s direction. A ‘She’?

“It seems you will.” The Dwarf laughed briefly and then went quiet. He leaned forward against his hammer, eager to see what would happen next.

“Four men enter a room and sit around the table. One a Mage. One a Warrior. One a Common man. One a Thief. None know the profession of the other. They are all dressed the same.” The Dragon begins, speaking slowly and pausing until Jake nodded, showing his understanding. “They start with drinks. Two men order wine. One shouts for ale. One man asks for water. When it is time for food, two ask for a salad. One bellows for meat. One asks for stew. When it is time to pay, one pays for two, one does not pay, and two pay for themselves.” The Dragon paused at the end of her riddle, then lowered her head onto her hands. Her eyes partially closed, but the large jewel continued to shine. Jake could already tell he was once again being judged.

“Who is who?” She asked. Jake clenched his teeth and lowered his eyes as he went to work with getting his answer.

“That’s a stupid riddle!” The Human behind him barked.

“No, I think you’re just an idiot.” The Elf waved him off and shook his head.

“Oh, yea? How about you answer it then, pointy shoes!” The Human God hissed.

Just as the Elf began to open his mouth for a retort, the Dragon slammed her tail heavily onto the floor. They both froze up, stiffening in their shoes.

“Silence. The boy is thinking.” She reminded them of their guest and the two pacified. Verbally, at least. Their eyes still lingered on one another as they continued to challenge each other, before that they both looked toward the boy.

Jake rubbed at his chin and his face, mumbled to himself as he thought, and he began to pace around in a small circle. When he got bored of walking and that hadn’t helped him, he sat down and folded his hands neatly in his lap. Then, he raised his hands to his face and bit down on his index finger.

“Here.” After seeing the boy struggle for long enough with no assistance, the Demoness stepped up into the circle and knelt beside Jake. She held out a hand and summoned forth a quill and a piece of parchment for him to scribble on.

“This might help.” After handing him the writing tools, she rested her hand gently on his shoulder for a brief touch. Her hand felt hot and he felt the tension in his body fade for a moment from it. He thanked her for the gift and she returned to her place at the edge of the circle. Jake began to draw on the parchment and asked a few times for details to be retold. Each time, he adjusted his scribbles and took notes that he felt were important.

He first thought each man would follow a rule. A rule which followed their described classes and the expectations he might have for them if he were to see them in a pub. Then, he thought maybe they might try to cover themselves and act like someone else- especially the Thief. Certain choices didn’t seem to match up with what he first thought. But even then, something was off. Maybe there wasn’t an exact process for their choices. Like the Demoness had said- not all Humans were simple. Maybe one of them was just… different?

It was hard to fully understand the specifics without having eyes on the men directly but then he also figured those additional details were useless. If he looked at each man and focused only on their descriptors, then it became a bit easier to draw a conclusion.

“Well?” As the quill was lowered to the floor, the Dragon narrowed her eyes curiously. Jake stood up with his parchment in his hands and stared at his answer. He still wasn’t certain about his answer but it was the best he could think of. Unless there was some trick she was hiding, then he would have to roll with what he had. The Gods finally stopped their impatient fiddling and looked at him once more. While Jake was thinking, they must have grown bored. Had he been thinking for that long?

“The Common man ordered water, the Mage and Thief ordered wine. The Warrior ordered the ale. The Common man orders a salad, as does the Mage. The Warrior orders stew and the Thief calls for meat. The Warrior pays for two. The Thief pays for himself. The Common man pays for half. Then, the Mage covers for himself.” Jake read his answer from his parchment, scratching his head halfway through as a bit of doubt set in, and then he looked up at the Gods. Once again, a few exchanged looks but their eyes all eventually leveled on the Dragon. She hummed for a moment, then coaxed him for an explanation. She wanted to hear his thought process.

“Well, the Warrior is loud and my dad always drank beer when he came back. But, he never paid a lot for dinner. He always bought something with meat and potatoes, and it was cheap so that I could eat too. He’ll likely pay for himself and the Common man. The Thief will buy meat because he can afford it, along with the wine, but he’ll be cheap and only pay for himself. The Thief of course won’t buy beer so he doesn’t get drunk, in case one of the others is a thief too.” Jake spoke more confidently as he read off his reasoning, making sure to look at the Gods all together as he fed them the details he had come up with. If he pictured the scene in an actual bar or bazaar, it became easier for him to understand.

“The Mage, probably someone fancier, will buy a tastier wine but nothing as cheap as beer or ale. They’ll probably also buy salad because I hear it does wonders for magic restoration. The Common man is poor, so they’ll order the water and the salad, and still have barely enough to pay. The Mage will pay for himself but will offer to help with the common man's cost. Since the Warrior is already paying, though, he won’t have to.” With that, he offered his paper to the Dragon, as if she would want to look over his writing as well. She eyed him warily for a long time, her eyes glancing between him and his paper. After coming to her decision, she rose up and stepped into the circle. Rastua and the Dwarf both smiled as she lowered her head and offered him the gem.

“Touch the gem, Son of Alan. I shall grant you a gift, one that will aid you in your travels.” Lady Ferynith peered up at the young boy and waited for him to reach out to her. A faint smile crossed his face but even though he had been instructed to move, he still hesitated. Uncertain, he looked over towards the Dwarf for permission. The bearded fellow grinned and nodded.

“Go on, Child. Take your reward before she changes her mind!” He said aloud. Lady Rastua also dipped her head slightly, coaxing him to continue. Jake grimaced, but resigned himself and looked at the gem. He reached up and placed his palm against it, gently grasping the colorful object. A bright light flowed from the center of the gem, making him squint from how bright it was.

“I gift to you the Blessing of the Dragonkin. My gift is one of magical prowess. Much like my kin, you will find yourself compatible with every element, every language, every spell. So long as you seek it, knowledge will come easily. You will not know everything, but learning will become second nature to you and with it great power. As one of my Apostles, I also grant you access to my Eternal Library. A location full of boundless pages of wisdom that you may access to your heart's content.” Ferynith spoke into Jake’s head directly and provided him with visuals of his gift. She even gave him a brief view of the library itself- a massive spiral tower full of neatly organized shelves with books filling every slot.

“The library contains everything you could possibly hope to know. From the history of the World to battle tactics, to magical spells. All you have to do is think of the library and you will be brought to it in your mind. But be careful, time flows differently within the walls of the Library. Though it does not stop entirely, it slows significantly. Time in the Overworld, however, does not change. So do not think you can simply escape to it when you’re in a pinch. Nothing in the library can leave the library, but you will retain the knowledge you gain inside of it. As a parting tip, if you think of it before bed, you will come to it in your dreams.” With that, the jewel’s light dimmed and Ferynith pulled away from Jake. The Gods looked on curiously, but the Dragon God said nothing. Jake looked down at his hand and then his lips drew into a wide smile.

“When you return, your body will bear the seal of my Kin. Consider it an additional token, a small reward for putting such effort into a simple riddle. Present it should you come across one of my kind, and they will show you at least some form of kindness. Though, beware of those with Dark Scales. They have abandoned my following and will attack those who bear my seal. I recommend covering it, as their numbers are growing in the shadows.”

“Thank you, Lady Ferynith.” To show his gratitude, Jake bowed his head and lowered himself to a knee as he accepted the gifts from the Dragon God. Ferynith narrowed her eyes on him.

“You have potential, Child. Don’t waste my gift and do not bring shame to my name, or the next time we meet I will give you a curse instead.” She warned, and the Dwarf let out another laugh. Jake nodded and clenched his teeth.

“Well then! You have been rewarded for your curiosity, Child! I was worried you might walk right on by the magic circle, but you indeed are like your father in that aspect. Always touching, always prodding.” The Dwarf spoke loudly and entered the circle, leaving his hammer behind. Several of the Gods narrowed their eyes as he approached. The Human stiffened the most.

“Thaedraun,” The Human God warned, his voice low as he gripped his ax. His feet shifted and Jake could tell he was coiled like a spring.

“I know the rule,” Thaedrun raised his hands to calm his compatriots. He showed his hands, letting them all see that there was no magic channeling within them. Then, he pulled out a small crystal from his pocket, which he also showed to the others. A thin rope was fed through the crystal and looped like a necklace, done similarly to the Ulnoc talisman.

“I will not give you a gift, as you may only receive one. But, I will give you this as I too have high hopes for you.” He dangled the crystal in front of the boy for a moment before looping it over Jake’s head. “It is a Finder Gem, a rare artifact found only in the deepest parts of the largest mountains. The gem will glow when you are near an artifact or something of great value. Pour a bit of mana into the crystal to fuel the sigil within it, and it will lead you to the object. Hold it over the object and it will even tell you of its properties, or at least what it is.” Thaedraun patted the boy on the back and then, like the others, returned to his spot at the edge of the circle. While he walked away, Jake held the Finder Gem between his fingers. Inside, a magic sigil floated in the crystal.

“I have faith that you will provide quite the entertainment for us, boy. And consider that treasure an investment in your ability. Go forth, and explore. But be wary- the world is not as kind as you think it may be. Remain curious but be watchful. Do not let complacency be the reason we meet again.” He chuckled and firmly grasped the handle of his hammer. He raised it and slammed it down thrice.

“This meeting is adjourned. Safe travels, Adventurer.” As Thaedraun spoke, the circle on the floor once more began to glow and the white world grew brighter. Suddenly, all of the Gods straightened as their eyes too started glowing.

“May the seas and winds always be in your favor.” The Sahaugin belted.

“May you see grand things and find beautiful sights!” The Beastkin rang.

“May you fare well in battle and always find the strength to defeat your enemies!” The Human cheered.

“May the Spirits guide you whenever you are lost.” The Elf urged.

“May you never stop learning, and never lose your imagination.” The Dragon hummed.

“May love always fill your heart!” The Demoness winked.

“May bravery guide you through peril.” The Arachkin bowed.

“And may you find fortune and good ale wherever you go.” The Dwarf bellowed.

The Dwarf raised his hammer once more and slammed it down powerfully onto the edge of the magic circle. In a flash, the Gods were gone and Jake found himself standing in the middle of a familiar room- the cavern he had been in before. The bodies of the Gods were replaced by their stone statues and the magic circle was no longer bright. The Realm of the God’s was gone, and Jake had returned to the cavern within the Ravine.

Not a second passed before his back began to burn. The scorching pain forced him to his knees and Jake’s hands grabbed at the floor as he felt the sensation scorch over his skin. The burning at first spread over the entirety of his upper back but then localized to the left side, just behind his shoulder. He grit his teeth, his nails scratching at the dirt as the burning intensified. It felt like it took several minutes to run its course, when in reality it took less than one. Just as quickly as the burning came, it faded and the boy was spared from further pain. He let out a few heavy breaths and slowly collected himself, returning to his feet.

“Guess that’s the Dragon Mark,” he thought, glancing over his shoulder towards it. Indeed, Lady Ferynith’s promise that he would bear her marking was not a lie. On his left shoulder blade he now bore the Mark of the Dragonkin. Much like the Mark of the Arachkin, the black ink took the shape of a small dragon, its eyes a dim red.

Not lingering on the Mark for long, Jake looked down towards the center of the large sigil. The talisman his father had given him cracked and crumbled to dust inside the hole. When he looked up, the crystal in the ceiling lost all of its color. The already weak and dwindling light within it finally faded away entirely. Once it became fully translucent, it cracked loudly. Nothing fell and it remained lodged into the ceiling, but the splinter in its core was clear to see. The power within it had been spent.

“You have returned.” Chul cooed from the edge of the circle. Jake looked over at the Arachkin, a smile crossing his face. The boy made his way out of the circle and stepped over the line.

“I have. That was amazing,” Jake grinned and looked up towards the statue of the Human God to his right. “I guess those stories weren’t entirely wrong.”

“No, they were not.” Chul let out a huff, his mandibles tapping together a few times. The Arachkin’s eyes drifted towards the circle and then he bowed his head in respect. Jake took notice of the gesture and then turned to do the same. While he wasn’t used to kneeling, bowing, or nodding, he did his best to pay his respects to those that had given him such an opportunity. He wasn’t quite sure of how to use his gift just yet but he would learn and do his best with it.

“Let us go. They have shared all they can with us.” Chul reduced his size once more as he prepared to leave. Jake knelt to the floor to pick up the spider into his hand, helping his companion up onto his shoulder. He then headed towards the far side of the cavern where the exit loomed. Before he stepped through and on to the next portion of their little adventure, he turned around and bowed once more.

“Thank you all for your faith in me. I’ll do my best.” He whispered, uncertain if they could hear him now that there was no magic left in the crystal. Then, he turned and strode away into the dimly lit tunnel. Much like before the stone walls spiraled upwards, stretching on and on into the distance. Until finally a faint speck of light that wasn’t crystal appeared in the distance.

Jake squinted towards the light, trying to discern what it was. When it dawned on him that it was surface light, he started running. His tired legs found energy as he hurried up the last stretch of the tunnel. He slowed to a stop once the exit was clear to see and caught his breath as he walked towards it. He stared into the light, listening for the faint whispers of the wind and the sounds of birds. When he looked at the spider on his shoulder, Chul’s own eyes were locked on the distant exit.

“Ready…?” Jake asked. Chul continued to stare for a brief moment before he slowly lowered his body and curled up. He nodded, and Jake walked up to the exit. Chul began to shake just as the green of a flowing meadow came into view. As Jake stepped out of the rocky hole, Chul’s shaking only intensified. The once terrifying Arachkin now shook and trembled, and Jake could hear a faint tapping of the spider’s fangs.

“Welcome back to the surface, Chul,” Jake said softly, reaching up and coaxing the spider into his hands. Chul took a few uneasy steps forward into Jake’s waiting fingers and settled down on his belly in the human’s palms.

“I’m free…” Chul muttered, his voice a low whisper in Jake’s mind as the Arachkin stared outwards, taking in the view of the world he had lost sight of many countless years ago. “I never thought I would see this kind of view ever again. I cannot thank you enough, Son of Alan.” Chul slowly turned about in Jake’s hands, his yellow eyes rising to meet Jake’s. Jake grinned and nodded, happy to oblige the one desire of his new friend.

“You saved me and helped me reach The Gate. You helped me take those first steps after I thought it was all over. This does little to repay that debt I owe you. If you would be willing to continue to be my guide and friend, I would be honored if you would join me from here on.” Jake slowly removed one of his hands, letting Chul take up the space of the other. Then, he extended his index finger as if to shake and make a deal. Chul let out a hearty laugh and raised his front leg, touching the finger. The deal was struck. The bond not only made by magic but by heartfelt word. Something which both considered to be worth far more.

“I would be happy to. If you are foolish enough to descend into the Ravine with just a towel and a few scraps, I can only wonder what other troubles you might fall into.” Chul let out another booming, thunderous laugh. His whole body shook as he let out a joy-filled noise that echoed into the air. While it was a jab, Jake couldn’t help but chuckle as well. He certainly had been a bit loose in his preparations for the trip but with no experience, he had done what he thought would be enough. He considered himself lucky that it had been.

A gentle breeze brushed over them both, the grass and trees rustling in the late morning wind. Jake gave the spider a moment to enjoy himself, and Chul relished in the freshness of the air and the coolness of that wind. When he was ready, Jake returned his partner to his shoulder. After taking a few more paces out into the lush green surrounding them, the ground began to shake. They both looked back towards the place they had come from just in time to see the exit begin to decay. The inside collapsed first, the rock walls caving inwards and the blue lights dimming as dirt and stone filled the tunnel. Jake moved further away to avoid getting caught in any debris. Eventually, even the open maw fell inwards. With a heavy cough, a large cloud puffed outwards, blocking their view of the tunnel. When the dust settled, a sigil flashed on the ground as it smoothed to a more natural state. The floor shifted slightly and thick green grass rose from the fresh soil, concealing the traces of the tunnel.

“Such advanced magic. No wonder it was was never stumbled upon.” Chul hummed as he peered in the direction of the tunnel. Jake nodded in agreement. He wondered if the tunnel had been made especially for him and if the area had been flat before he arrived in the summoning room. If there was this random tunnel sticking out of the ground he found it hard to believe someone didn’t come across it by accident. Though, there was also the idea of some force concealing the tunnel from casual view. Camouflage of some kind, possibly? Jake took a look around and noticed they weren’t exactly anywhere frequently visited, so maybe it was just never found.

In any case, he was done with his little excursion. It was time to get back to his village.

“Let’s go home,” Jake said. He looked up to see where the sun was in the sky and oriented himself. Judging from the angle, he turned right and started to walk. The ground wasn’t exactly thick or hard to traverse, but the firmness of the ground beneath his feet compared to the texture of sand made him jealous. It was far easier to walk here than in the desert. The temperature was also far more bearable. The occasional cover of trees helped deal with the oppressive sun, keeping him cool with short moments of shade.

“You use the sky to travel?” Chul asked, pointing out how Jake frequently looked up to ensure he was walking in the proper direction. Jake nodded.

“It’s an old trick we were told to use when moving in one direction. The sun is predictable, so we use its position in the sky to tell us which way to go.” As a kid, Jake and other children from his village were given a basic course on how to use the sky to keep their direction in the sprawling desert. While it wasn’t foolproof nor extremely accurate, it worked for generic direction keeping. At night the stars would provide the true map of the world and during that time was when the caravans would generally move. As a child just trying not to get lost when running around and playing, the starry map was far too advanced.

By keeping the sun on his left and moving in a fairly straight line, the trees eventually gave way to stone. The Ravine returned to his view and Jake stepped out of the greenery to the familiar rough territory. The sands on the far side were a welcome sight and while the beating sun wasn’t quite something he wanted to return to, he was itching to get home and tell his Auntie about his trip.

Except, there was a problem. Sure, he was topside again and he certainly was able to walk up to the edge of the Ravine without issue. Getting across that massive maw was another story. Jake peered down into the black pit, his eyes trembling as he thought of having to descend into that place again. He’d fallen once and barely made it out. Even with Chul, he still didn’t feel comfortable taking that risk again.

“Are you sure you wish to return?” Chul suddenly asked. Jake pressed his lips together and then looked over towards the distant dunes. His chest tightened, his heart yearning for home. It hadn’t been long but he missed his Auntie.

But, there was no real reason for Jake to actually go back. Aside from his Auntie, Jake had nothing in that village. He had a few clothes and trinkets given to him from his vagabond of a father, but nothing truly binding. On top of that now that he had made the decision to become an Adventurer, returning to his village would be him just returning to the starting point. He had survived the Ravine and the tunnel had spit him out into a new land, a land waiting for him to explore. Indeed, there was no need for him to return home.

Yet, he couldn’t just walk away. He had left without saying goodbye, without telling her that he was excited and to not worry for him. Something didn’t sit right with him for leaving in such a way. It was almost like he had repeated the exact steps his own Father had taken, and Jake had sworn to be different. To be better.

“I have to say goodbye to my Auntie.” With that in mind, Jake made the decision. Jake couldn’t leave his Auntie like that. If anyone in the world cared about him, it was certainly her. He had told her he would be back before dinner and she trusted that he would. How many days had it been since he’d told her that? The sun was high in the sky now, and Jake had begun his descent at around the same time so he could only imagine just how long he had spent down in the Ravine and the cavern.

“Shall I create a bridge?” Chul looked up at Jake. The boy blinked and stared first at the Ravine, then down at Chul.

“Can you?” “With ease.”

Chul hopped off Jake’s shoulder and skittered over the rock to the Ravine. The Arachkin slipped over the edge and vanished beneath the ledge for a moment. A brief flash illuminated the dark as Chul’s body expanded. He grew and grew, far larger than Jake had originally seen him until he could stand comfortably within the maw. Chul raised his back legs to his abdomen and out of his backside, the Arachkin produced thick, gooey silk that his legs spun about into powerful strands. With nimble grace, Chul latched the silk rope to one side of the Ravine and then hopped to the far side, attaching the strand to the ground across the gap. and stepped forward into the crevice. He expanded, filling the gap and his back legs began. He formed another rope and then established a parallel set of anchor points. With the bridge’s foundation set, he patiently went to work filling the gap between the thick strands.

Jake watched in a mix of awe and giddy excitement as he watched the Arachkin work. The white bridge came together quickly, the tough platforms forming as Chul made his way from the close side to the far side. When he was finished, Chul gave the bridge a little test by walking on it himself, his large body causing the bridge to flex and sway as he moved over it. Even as Chul stood in the exact center, at the peak point of flex and tension- the bridge didn’t make a sound. The Arachkin, satisfied with his work, walked to the other side of the Ravine and then turned to wait for Jake.

After seeing the bridge comfortably support the large-bodied creature, Jake didn’t feel any doubt or fear that the bridge would handle his meager weight. However, he didn’t like the idea of there being nothing to grab and hold onto. If he teetered, or if the wind decided to pick up, his stomach tensed at the idea of him falling over the edge. Well, until he stepped out onto the first bit of silk.

While initially, Jake expected to get stuck, the boy found that the silk grabbed and held his foot firmly in place. As he wiggled and tugged, his sandal remained where Jake had placed it. The boy had to tug on it to get his foot free, but not so much that it required strength behind the pull. It was more like he was walking in thick mud than on webbing, and it was reassuring. Even if the wind tried to knock him over, the silk would keep him in place so long as he trusted it.

Thus, he sucked in a breath and quelled the butterflies in his stomach. One step at a time, he started to traverse the bridge. Initially, the bridge didn’t sway at all. The closer he got to the middle, though, the looser it felt to step. The silk ebbed and wobbled. The bridge swayed slightly left to right, and a cross breeze tickled his nose as the view of Chul watching him ticked and tocked in front of him. The boy’s stomach tensed up again and Jake stopped at the midpoint. He took in a long, slow breath. His hands curled into fists and he dared a look down. Just beneath the few inches of pearly white silk was a deathly fall into a wide black mouth.

He shouldn’t have done that.

“...Nope.” Jake looked up, his eyes focusing only on the next step as he upped his pace. Quickly, the boy moved across the bridge and he forced himself to hurry along. The longer he stayed on the bridge, the worse the churning in his stomach got. When he reached the far side it was the most relieving experience. All the stress in his body vanished and his adrenaline faded. The thumping of his heart continued to ring in his ears for a few breaths as the wobbling in his knees subsided.

“Are you okay?” Chul lowered down and his fangs chittered for a moment. Jake was bent over, his hands on his knees as he gathered himself. Instead of answering verbally, the boy just raised a thumb. He was just peachy.

Taking a few moments to breathe, Jake finally got his stress under control and stood up. He let out a huff to wash away the feeling of peril and then turned to face the bridge he had crossed.

“Think it’s permanent?” Jake asked. He was tempted to walk up and give it another touch, but he’d seen enough Ravine darkness for the time being. Chul chittered in thought for a couple of seconds before doing the spider equivalent of a shrug.

“Unsure, but unless a powerful storm comes through or someone burns it, it will last.”

So, it was semi-permanent then. Prior to descending into the Ravine, Jake hadn’t heard of any way to cross the maw. There were no natural connections left behind from when it tore through the landscape and so far, neither country had created a way to travel between the two lands. By leaving the bridge in place, Jake hoped that someone would eventually come across it and utilize it. Or maybe it would stir someone to create an actual permanent solution. After briefly experiencing the comfort of the green grass and trees, he hoped that one day others in his village would be able to as well.

Jake considered that good enough and then climbed onto Chul’s back. Once more using the sun to guide them, Chul turned away from the Ravine and the two set off into the sands. Jake gave one more look behind him, watching as the Ravine shrank behind him. He gripped onto Chul’s carapace and nodded quietly to himself. He turned away and put his back to the maw, leaving the dark pit and his meeting with the Gods behind.