Chapter Three Hundred and Fourteen — Unbearable Arms
Chapter Three Hundred and Fourteen — Unbearable Arms “Something’s coming,” Bron said. “Somethin’ bigb.” He spun his mace around in a little circle, loosening his arm to strike.The rest of us huddled in a bit closer. It was probably not ideal for a fight. Swords needed room to swing, and magic needed clearlines of fire. But the other option was being further from the others and closer to the dark. Had our little pool of light gotten smaller? It might've been my mind playing tricks on me, but it seemed like our glow wasn't reaching as far.I tried to brighten my lightball, but I don't think it helped.My eyes darted around, and my bun ears swivelled this way and that, searching for the source of the noise. I couldn’t pin-point it at first except to say that it came from my right. Then I heard a faint snap, like someone cracking the joint of their finger. But that was from above.“Above us!” I said. My little lightball shot up into the dark and zipped past something white and skeletal lurking in the abyss.Amaryllis and Lucille fired two spells in the same breath. A fork of lightning followed by a spray of glimmering icicles that chilled the air in their wake.The arm flinched back, a hand big enough to grab me around the waist twisted and writhed as Amaryllis’ magic worked into it, and then the icicles thumped into what little flesh it had.Something screeched, far, far away, and the hand disappeared faster than something that big should have been able to.“Was that the thing in the dark?” I asked.“Looks like it,” Bron said.“Guard up, ladies and gents,” Erin said gruffly. “I’d rather not get caught by that thing.”Aria hummed. “Anyone else notice the roots on it?” she asked.I shook my head. I didn’t see anything like that. Then again, it was only visible for a moment, and then my vision was ruined by Amaryllis’ lightning. I was still blinking back my night vision. Idly, I reformed my lightball in my free hand and held it up.Ahead of us, Lieutenant Petalwrought was finishing up with the big teddy bear knight. The big monster was missing some stuffing already, and looked worse for wear. The knights harried it, one taking to the air, another lunging for the bear’s waist while Petalwrought slashed forwards, meeting the bear’s sword with his own.I winced as the bear was chopped apart. It fell to the ground with a soft thump, and the knights regrouped and eyed the dark around them.The night light chose that moment to flicker.“Reform,” Lieutenant Petalwrought said. “We need to move out. We don’t have a lot of time to lose.”We caught up with the group, and our formation returned, the knights on the edges and rear, the rest of us in the centre providing what light and help we could. Lieutenant Petalwrought pointed out ahead to another distant light.“We need to move a little faster, make up for lost time,” he said.“What happens if we’re slow?” I asked.“Then the night lights wink out, and you need to find your way out of the maze without them.” He glanced back, and his eyes were hard within his helmet. “We do not want to do that,” he said.“That would have been good to know earlier, sir knight,” Amaryllis muttered.I swallowed and nodded.“Are there any other things we should know?” Amaryllis asked.“There’s a way to avoid fighting the bears. You need to sing a lullaby; it'll put them to sleep,” he said.“Then why didn’t we do that?” I asked.“They’re not a great challenge, and we all need to sing. I don’t know if all of you know lullabies, and singing as a group isn’t an easy task,” he said.We started moving, so I set aside my arguments for the moment. The corridors narrowed again, but we weren’t as far from this night light as we were the last.This one was unguarded, but Lieutenant Petalwrougt didn’t seem amused when we arrived. The light flickered. “We’re still not moving fast enough,” he said. “Let’s work up to a light jog until we reach the next one. We can alternate walking and jogging.”“I see the next one,” Bron said. “Off that’a way.” He pointed to the side, and following his finger I noticed a faint glow in the distance.“Good eye,” the lieutenant said. “Let’s not dilly-dally. If you find yourself unable to keep up, speak up. We won’t go faster than our slowest. We can redistribute packs.”Again, we took off. The distant light wasn’t the night light, not directly. As we jogged closer it became clear that the light was around a corner. There was a small staircase, tight enough that we had to step up two-by-two, then the floor widened, and kept widening until I couldn't see any walls except for one way out in the distance, with the nightlight on it.We started jogging over to the light, but of course we didn’t all jog at the same speed. Our formation thinned out a little in the centre, though we were still well within each other’s lights, and the knights kept their circle around us the entire time.I was glad that I’d spent the last month and a bit being so active. Before coming to Dirt, if I'd tried to run this much, I think I would've collapsed.Still, I was looking forward to the next night light, for the small pause it would bring. I was more looking forward to being off this floor. The maze was scary in the same way that the long shadows lurking under your bed were scary. Worse, even. These shadows had actual hands that wanted to reach out and-Aria screamed. Just a short wail that was cut off with an omph.Spinning, I looked for the scientist, but she wasn’t where she had been before.The formation stopped, but at different speeds, so for a moment we ended up being spread even further apart.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.“That way!” one of the knights said.He rushed out into the dark, sword bursting to light with a brilliant glow.I bounded after him. “Amy, keep everyone safe!” I called over my shoulder. Not including Awen was probably rude, but I was already a dozen bun hops away and had to focus on moving.More mana went into my lightball, creating a greater circle around me.There was shouting from behind, but I focused my hearing forwards, towards the knight, and towards the sound of bone scraping on floor.The knight grew closer to Aria, and I saw the glow of his sword illuminate the struggling woman. One of the hands had grabbed her, a thick finger grasping around her neck, the others around her middle. Sylph were smaller than humans, likely lighter too. They’d be easier to drag away.The knight grabbed Aria by the hand, and his added weight slowed them down. Then he started to hack at the hand with his glowing sword.I rushed past them.Weedbane opened with a dangerous snick and I pushed mana into it until the scythe glowed an eerie white.My slash passed through the boney arm holding Aria with the same difficulty it would have cutting through a single blade of autumn grass.Another distant screech, from far, far away in the dark."Oh, oh," Area gasped, eyes wild and movements frantic, "oh, that — that was — that was awful." She flung the hand off of her, though it looked like a few fingers had been hacked off already.“We need to get back, now,” the knight said. “They might try to grab all three of us next.”“Okay,” I said. I tossed Weedbane to the knight, who caught it mid-shaft out of reflex, then I scooped Aria up, careful not to squish her wings. “Come on! We can still see the night light!”We shot off, the knight easily keeping up with my sprint, despite his armour and the added weight of my scythe.“Y-you can put me down,” Aria said between bounces.“I will,” I promised. “Just as soon as we’re back with all the others.” It wouldn’t do to put her on the ground now when we were still in the open and one of those creepy hands could swoop back in to grab her. “How did it grab you?” I asked.“I don’t know,” she said. “I was keeping up with the others, but I’m not used to running quite so much. I wasn’t looking up, actually. Then it was around me and... and pulling me away.”I tsked. “How rude! I’m glad you’re safe.”We met up with our friends before reaching the night light. They must have seen us heading to the night light. Somehow, it was hard to see them until we were almost upon them, even with all the lights hovering above and around the group. A quick headcount showed that everyone was there.“How is she?” Lieutenant Petalwrought asked.“I’m fine,” Aria said, voice only wavering a bit.“Good. Captain Bunch, can you carry her to the next light? We’ll regroup there. Come on, everyone, double time it. No spreading out!”We ran to the next light and arrived just as it started to flicker a little. Only twice, but the second time it turned off it stayed off for a full second. It felt like a very long second.I set Aria down on her feet, then brushed off her clothes, putting a bit of Cleaning magic into it to remove the dust and scuffs she got from being dragged. “There, nice and safe,” I said.“Thank you,” she said. Then she fetched her notebook out with a huff and started to scribble something in the quick sloppy handwriting so common to doctors and scientists.“Let’s tighten our formation,” Lieutenant Petalwrought said. “We don’t want to lose anyone else who happens to be on the edge. Knights, I expect you to pay more attention, please. Though this failing is my own.”That was nice of him to say, taking the worry off his subordinates’ shoulders like that. We spotted the next night light a bit further out. It was much closer than the last had been, but it was flickering already.“I know I said we would walk to the next, but I can’t help but feel as though the lights are deteriorating faster than usual,” the lieutenant said.“Then we’ll move faster than usual too,” Lucille replied.We set off at a fast jog for a minute, then the lieutenant raised a fist and we slowed to a brisk walk. It allowed those of us in worse shape to catch their breaths. As soon as the next minute was over, the lieutenant waved ahead, and we started jogging once more.The on-off cycle continued until we were close enough to the next light to see that it wasn’t unguarded. Two bears, both of them a bit to the right of the light itself. One looked like it was covered in roots, the big vines wrapped around its arms and armour, making it hard for it to move at all.“I see the next light already,” Lieutenant Petalwrought said. He pointed to two of the knights. “You, and you, peel off, distract. The rest of us will run straight by. Rejoin the tail and send the rear-guard forward.”The plan went off without a hitch. The two knights waylaid the bears while we ran by, directly toward the next night light. Then the knights disengaged from the bears and caught up with us in a matter of seconds. Our formation reformed with two fresh knights at the front, and the two unharmed bears gave up on their chase as soon as we were out of the range of the lights.“There it is!” Bron said. “I see it, there’s a door thataway!”Next to the night light was, indeed, a doorway. Our pace quickened without anyone having to say anything, and even those of us struggling from the run found a second wind.I kept expecting an ambush, arms reaching out to grab us at the very end, but nothing of the sort happened.“Well done, everyone,” Lieutenant Petalwrought said as we reached the last light and the door. “Now let’s get off the World-forsaken floor.”
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Chapter Three Hundred and Fifteen — Childish Fears Grow Up to become Adult Fears
Chapter Three Hundred and Fifteen — Childish Fears Grow Up to become Adult Fears This was our third time in the bedroom that linked the entire dungeon together. I was growing used to the room, I guessed, though it had changed again.The bed wasn’t just undone, it was missing its blankets and sheets, and the mattress was stained and gross. The walls too. Water damage made the pretty wallpaper peel in places and rot in others. Mould was sneaking up along the floor and the entire room smelled damp and unclean.I couldn’t resist letting some Cleaning magic leak out. It spread across the room and brushed aside some of the worse stains and cleaned out the mould. I didn’t want anyone getting a cough while we were down here, and the room smelled much nicer after a minute or so.We caught our breaths after the long run on the last floor. Aria slumped to the ground and splayed her hands out behind her and Lucille leaned against one of the walls. Even my friends looked a bit winded, though we were recovering quickly enough.Lieutenant Petalwrought cleared his throat. “The next room shouldn’t be as difficult,” he said. “Does anyone have a timepiece?”Bron did. He pulled it out and tossed it to the lieutenant who caught the device out of the air.“We’ve been in the dungeon for just over an hour. I think we’re due a small pause. We have some supplies, if anyone needs to eat. Don’t forget to drink as well.”“I’d love some tea,” Lucille muttered.“Ah, I can help with that,” I said. I could be helpful! I plopped my pack down and pulled out my tea set. It was a necessary part of my adventuring kit, after all. I prepared some tea for everyone, though I only took a tiny cup for myself. There weren’t any bathrooms in dungeons, and while it was an easy walk back up to the surface, I didn’t feel like challenging that maze room again.Once everyone was relaxed and sipping at warm tea or lukewarm water, the lieutenant straightened his back and cleared his throat for attention. “Two floors remain before we meet the dungeon’s boss. This next one is perhaps the easiest floor in the dungeon, at least for some. It’s generally a combat-free floor, just a challenge to test your bravery, and so far you all seem more than brave enough to pass this trial.”I puffed out my chest, even if the compliment was a bit silly. I wasn’t that brave, I just wasn't afraid of much.“What’s the challenge on this floor?” Lucille asked.“Not another maze, I hope,” Erin muttered.The lieutenant chuckled. “Nothing so complicated. It’s a series of rooms, each with a bed and some sleeping amenities. To get to the other side, you need only crawl under the bed. Eventually you’ll find yourself in a corridor, though the dimensions are never the same. That’s where you’ll encounter your greatest fear.”“Our greatest fear?” Awen asked.The lieutenant nodded. “I have only heard of a few who have been injured on the floor, at least physically. The fear will be illusions and light and sound. Not real. Just keep pushing forward. Ignore the fear or face it, as you wish. Once you’ve crossed the corridor, you’ll come upon a doorway into a hallway; that is where we’ll all gather before returning to this room.”“Can more than one person go under the same bed?” I asked.He shook his head. “No, it’s one at a time. There are multiple rooms, so we’ll all have a bed to crawl under. Fears rarely change, so I know that the knights and I will be facing the same challenges as we have before. The first time is unpleasant, but always remember that it is only an illusion. It will not actually hurt you.”“You’ve already said that some people were injured,” Amaryllis pointed out.Lieutenant Petalwrought nodded. “Yes. Usually by their own magic. On occasion a recruit has tripped over their own sword.”One of the knights jokingly elbowed the other. I couldn’t see the face of the poked knight, but I could feel the embarrassed glare directed to his companion.“You won’t be injured by the challenge itself. Scared, perhaps, but not injured. I promise.”There wasn’t much else to do once we were done drinking. I refused the offer of crackers from Bron (they looked way too dry) and then I repacked my tea set, nodding to Lucille’s muttered thanks.We didn’t form up as we continued into the next room. Lieutenant Petalwrought stayed at the front, but he said that we didn’t need to worry about any adversaries in this next part of the dungeon. Still, it was clear that he was checking his corners and watching for trouble anyway. He was nothing if not diligent.Awen slid up next to me as we squeezed into the next floor. “Broccoli,” she asked in a low voice that wouldn’t carry.“Yeah?” I asked.“Can... can I get a hug before we split up? I... I don’t know what my fears are, but I think it would be easier to face them, ah, with a hug?”I grinned and bumped my shoulder against hers. “Always,” I said. “You too, Amaryllis.”Amaryllis was just behind us. She scoffed. “As if I need such things. Though I imagine that I would be wasting my time if I insisted otherwise instead of just humouring you.”“That’s right,” I agreed.The first room was... a room. A little space with a desk, a shelf with some knick-knacks, and a bed.One of the knights was picked to go first, to show us how it went. The bed wasn’t all that big, but he squeezed his pack through the opening, then dropped onto his tummy and shimmied through.The room had a door that led into another bedroom, this one much bigger, with a bed fit for two in the middle. “Any volunteers?” the lieutenant asked. “I’ll be going last.”“Might as well,” Bron said. He dropped, then rolled under the bed. When I leaned down to see under it, he was gone, and I could see clear out to the other side. Was there a trapdoor or something?Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.We continued into the next room, and this time, when the lieutenant asked for volunteers, Awen was the one to step up. “Awa! I’m going to go next, please. Just... want to get it over with.”“Fair enough,” he said.Awen turned towards me, and I pulled her into the best hug I could manage. “You’ll be fine,” I said. “Remember, no matter what you see, no matter what scares you, Broccoli Bunch will be there for you on the other side, okay?”Awen nodded. “Thanks,” she said with a return squeeze.She snuck under the bed, and was gone soon after.We crossed two more rooms, losing as many members along the way, one of them a knight, before we came upon a bedroom fit for a princess. “Well, this one seems good enough for me,” Amaryllis said.I grinned, and shared a hug with her too.Under the bed she went, with a lot of grumbling along the way about the indignity of it all.I waited until I couldn’t hear her anymore, then checked under the bed. No Amaryllis.“She’ll be fine,” Aria said. “I’m sure all of your friends are as brave as you are. There’s nothing to worry about.”I smiled back at her. “Thanks,” I said.The next room saw Lucille squeezing under a rather fine bed in a humble little room. She didn’t want hugs.And then we came upon a teeny tiny bedroom, one small enough that it was tough for everyone to squeeze in. “Ah, one of these,” the lieutenant said. He was glaring down at the bed.It was a children’s bed, all nice and neat and covered in colourful bedspread. “What’s wrong with this one?” I asked.“Not much room under the bed. It’s hard to squeeze in, even for a sylph.”I shrugged. “I’ll go this time,” I said. I was sure I could pass through. “But, ah, can someone take my scythe? He’s a bit big.”Erin volunteered to hold my scythe for me, with a promise to give it back as soon as we met again.I dropped to my knees, took off my pack, which was fortunately squishable enough to fit into the space, then I crawled in on elbows and knees. It really was a tight fit. As I pushed in, I had to exhale hard to make space for my chest to fit, and even then it was rather uncomfortable.I was regretting picking this bed when I finally scooted forwards a little and found myself no longer under the bed.With a bit of a wiggle, I pulled myself out of the tight space, then tugged my pack out while I eyed my surroundings. It was a great empty space, dark, with deep, branching silhouettes nearly blocking out a faint pale blue light coming from somewhere ahead I couldn't see.I created another light ball, then raised it high so that I could see better.The room was filled with roots.They crissed and crossed from every direction, big brown ones as large as trees and some no bigger than my pinkie. I poked one of the roots with my foot. It thunked. So they weren’t just illusions, then.I shouldered my pack and started to look for a way through the maze of roots. I didn’t find a way to walk through it, but I did find a way to slip between the bigger roots.Was this my greatest fear? A room choked by Evil Roots? It was more annoying than scary, honestly.I rolled through a hole and flopped onto the ground on the other side of the roots, then paused as I heard someone groaning above.It was Amaryllis, and she was nearly stuck trying to squeeze her way through the roots. I tried not to giggle at the look on her face, and that had her glancing up and finding me in the dark. “Well, will you help me or just stand there gawking?” she grumped.I laughed and climbed up to help her down. She was quite stuck, actually, but we managed to wiggle her through. Mostly that meant me putting some weight on one of the roots so that it moved aside and made enough room for her to pass.“Are you okay?” I asked. I patted her back free of dust.She sighed. “I’m fine. I didn’t think we could rejoin each other in here. The lieutenant didn’t say anything about it.”“He didn’t,” I agreed.Amaryllis’ eyes narrowed. “Are you the real Broccoli, then?”I shrugged. “I know I am, but then I don’t know if you’re the real Amaryllis. The Lieutenant also said that the illusions in here couldn’t hurt us. Uh, I know you’re physical though.”“Corporeal, the word you’re looking for is corporeal.”I grinned. Whether or not it was the real Amaryllis didn’t matter, I figured. I’d treat her as a friend, and that was that.“Come on, there’s a weird light that way. I bet that’s the exit.”“Yes, you would run towards the first shiny thing you see,” Amaryllis grumbled.I laughed, the sound lightening my heart in the face of the darkness and the roots. I gave her a hand to slip through two of the bigger roots.“Broccoli,” she said once she was on the other side. “Come here, please.” There was a strange, worrisome note in her voice. I hurried to push through, and when I did, I found myself confused.We were on a hillside? There were still roots all around us, and it was mostly dark, but only on the edges.In the centre was a ravine, with a slope before us and one just a little ways away. The image, the illusion, faded on the edges. It still felt familiar, somehow.Then a group of cervid materialised from thin air on the far end, and with them an Amaryllis that was trussed up and tied.“Oh.” It was the only sound Amaryllis made.Was this... was this that time she was kidnapped? When I rescued her? Wait, was this her greatest fear, rather than mine?“It’ll be okay,” I said as the scene continued. “I’m here, you’re fine.”“I know,” she said. “But still.”We probably shouldn’t have stopped to watch, but neither of us moved, not even as a smaller, bunny-ear-less Broccoli showed up, looking... looking like a much younger, less confident me, one who desperately wanted to save the only sorta-friend she had made so far.
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