The Abyssal Dungeon! Chapter 2..
A hypnotic, erratic blue glow lit her face as she stared at the anomaly.
“ROSA!! Don’t you dare step any closer to the rift. Who knows when the next wave will emerge!” A large man with a thick, well-groomed beard and circular glasses too small for his commanding presence beckoned toward her. “The last thing we need to do is worry these townsfolk any further. The first thing we need to do is look after them! The arcane scientists of Lashtiam are almost here to close the rift, and the dangers of entering far outweigh the cacophony of potential consequences!!” The man berated the unmoving individual with warning and reasoning so vigorously. He clearly knew the 10-foot-wide stainless-steel chamber that locked her away from any outside force. It was a miracle she hadn’t yet suffocated under her own hubris. She’d even name a poor, unassuming dog Gadget if that’s what she truly desired.
“Do I have to keep reminding you, Abbot? Please refer to me as Crimson. But that matters little, since you’ll likely never see me again. If the only thing these arcanists can muster is sealing the rifts that keep appearing, who will destroy them at the source? As you know, they keep growing in size and destructive capability. Come with me, or don’t. The time is now.”
“It would go against my sworn duty to the people. It is only you that follows the Domain of Death.” The Abbot takes a few paces back, preparing to say goodbye.
“There were others before me, Abbot. But they all…you know. Died.”
Over the hill, a young girl with overalls sprints towards the young Saint. “Miss!! Miss!! Don’t leave! You still need to teach me to Raise the Bed!” The Abbot shoots Crimson a disappointed glare.
“Your bed is quite high enough, young one. It’s the dead that want to rise.” Saint Crimson attempts a smile as he mechanically pats the girl on the head.
“Hmph.” The Abbot furrows his brow. “The dead are right where they belong.” The girl, teary-eyed, hands Crimson a bright red rose. She woefully accepts the parting gift, as it wilts and crumbles to ash in her grasp.
“The time was now, like a minute ago, so I’m already late.” The Saint waves, then turns back to the rift. She picks up the compact traveler’s satchel resting at her feet; the hanging potions and various tools and weapons (mostly weapons) rattle with dissonant tones. A tear in the very fabric of space, just big enough for a medium-sized humanoid to walk through, roughly 5 feet by 5 feet. It warbles and crackles with a sharp blue aura. Saint Crimson takes a muted breath and walks forward.
…
“Excuse me, sir!? Not that you qualify much as sir anyhow, but you must answer me at once. You’re mindlessly staring as if we’ve been in this interaction for a week.”
Ron was terrified now, his mind racing to the first conclusion he could form, but it was taking longer than ever. The endless rainfall was one thing, but how could he possibly be in a dungeon right now? And the Abyssal Dungeon? He could barely even recall hearing that name. Maybe something from an old history book, or as a child around a campfire. Wouldn’t a foul beast have appeared far before an adventurer ever could?
“Stop monologuing internally, and just give me an external response!” Crimson reached for the reversed cross hanging from her neck as it began to glow darkly.
“Wait, wait, wait!! I don’t know, ok! The furthest I’ve gone out of the tavern is maybe a step or two, and all I could see was the rain!!” In this moment, Ron wanted nothing more than to confirm the truth of her statement. Crimson slowly squinted at Ron, her face and posture relaxing only slightly.
“Do you have some sort of curse on you that prevents you from leaving?”
“Uh. Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
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Ron
HP – 43
Status – frightened
Saint Crimson
HP – 32
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*Hope you enjoyed this new installment!!! I guess I’m a sucker for multiple perspectives and non-linear storytelling!! Can’t wait to keep revealing lore and backstories as we chug along. Sumino, if you’re reading this, even though I told you NOT TO, I guess you can ask me to add stuff to it if you want. And uhhh, Ro, you chose to be a human fighter, so… stay out of the kitchen on this one. Thanks!*
