Author's Preface
The grand door creaked open, even slower than the previous Azurite doors. Indents and marks were left on the floor, and waves of clean, fresh air hit their noses.
What greeted them put the rest of the tombs to utter shame.
A fake skylight, letting warm “sun” into the room. Ambient hues of peach, pale gold, and deep violet cast peaceful shadows across the entire chamber. Thick Jiu seals inscribed into the walls and ceiling hummed, hidden under the false projections. Visible to only the trained eye.
Gone were the floors of black tile that had accompanied them throughout the mission. In their place, white-gold marble swept across the entire floor.
Two raised dais of that same marble held the two largest coffins. Rows of the others were closer to ground level.
“Huh? We just went deeper in the tombs, right?” Arjuna murmured, stepping inside confusedly.
“Right,” came Leila’s helpful voice. “But the burial rooms are always kept exquisitely maintained. You can see all the seals and such, yes? And… take in that smell. Inhale it.”
Kazan and Arjuna both did exactly that - and were hit harder by the intense fragrances wafting throughout. Motawood incense, fresh jasmine, and a clean fresh smell like after rainfall.
“Wild,” Kazan murmured, taking his time in traversing the burial chamber. “Never imagined a place where the dead lie could feel so life-like.”
Arjuna nodded, taking a few steps closer to the coffins and the raised dais. “Yes. I feel that’s the point, no? To keep their souls at peace in the afterlife. And they give them the best life possible, help them traverse the underworld through… all this.”
“Underworld, huh? It’s a Solaran belief, pretty sure… but I know some other countries believe in it too.”
“Mhm!” Leila chimed in, hands behind her back. “I believe the biggest one is… Azuma, yes? The isolated island nation to the east. Rumors even say that the entrance to the underworld lies there.”
“Heh.” Kazan scoffed, the corner of his left lip turning up. “Funny. We’re the most staunch nation of believers in that, but the entrance is… across the entire world?”
“I like that,” Arjuna murmurs, slowly approaching the raised dais now. “That your belief isn’t centered just upon your own nation… but has ties to others. It invokes… more appreciation for others, I believe.”
“Yes. And that should be the backbone for many beliefs,” Leila responds with a faint smile. “We are all part of Nymeria. All part of the same world, who go through the same struggles… though we are not all human in this land, even the beastfolk, dwarves, and dragonkin must feel the same.”
“... we really got two peace-loving reformers here, huh?” Kazan chuckled a little. “Let’s save the rest of the philosophy for later. We can explore this chamber a bit more, but… the Treasure Room should be in the back.”
“Kaay. We should all- oh.”
“What, something else got yer tongue now? What is it-”
All three paused as they looked closer at the raised dais.
It wasn’t visible until they had gotten much closer, due to the way the coffins were positioned. But there, alongside the grand coffins for the late King and Queen - two small coffins. Much smaller coffins. The size of…
Leila wiped a single tear from her eye, not willing to look away from the ceremonial tombs. Not yet.
“... I’m sorry, King and Queen. We spoke about peace and acceptance, while the vile murderers who massacred the entire Royal Family, even your two babies… are still not caught. Roaming free out somewhere in the world.”
A small sigh escaped Kazan.
“Right. So caught up in the beauty, finding the Treasure Room, and thinkin’ about Nassor… we forgot ta pay our respects truly.”
Arjuna nodded - taking the center. A bit in front of the other two, one hand over his chest. Leila stood on his left and repeated it, left arm over her heart. Kazan stood on the right and… mirrored the gesture with his remaining right arm. Eyes closed, all three.
“A dance, a song, to cherish the dawn,” Arjuna began.
“We gather and lament, with heart and song,” chanted the other two.
“ With scrolls and spears, we hold them dear…”
“The sun has set, but always remains near…”
“Rest in peace to the glorious royals,”
“Solarans, your citizens, will always remain loyal…”
A gentle breeze, even in the tombs. Minute warmth building in the hearts of those who chanted. Something so fleeting, yet tangible.
As the trio opened their eyes, they felt the faintest embrace, ephemeral and fleeting.
“Huh,” Kazan murmured, lightly rubbing his chest. “I ain’t usually the most faithful or religious. But I swear I actually felt that, after we chanted.”
“Of course.”
Arjuna’s eyes held a wistful tint to them, orbs of bright green dimmed after the mournful chant.
“Gods exist. They always have, in our beautiful land of Nymeria,” he murmured. “It’s merely how much we choose to base our lives around them. And how much we give weight to their champions' actions.”
“Right.” the one-armed healer rolled his eyes. “Excuse me. I’m the see it to believe it type of guy. I spent all my time in a cramped one bedroom home, then went straight to the Black Fang Mercenaries,” Kazan scoffed. “Ain’t never seen an act of God or Gods or whatever. But I can’t deny that was… special.”
Leila nodded. “Yes. The Sovereigns, the Demi-Gods who step in only during Nymeria’s crises, are living proof that some higher beings exist. But I suppose not everyone calls those beings Gods. ”
“Let alone worship them, or see them as… beings to make transactions with, like most in Solara,” Arjuna finished.
They all stepped away from the dais. A single nod between them. And…
Three pairs of eyes locked onto the opening at the back of the burial chamber. The flicker of gold and other jewels already caught their gaze. Artificial sunlight illuminated the waiting riches even further, amplifying the gleam.
“Right. We’ve paid our dues, yeah? Let’s head in.”
Kazan led them this time. His staff clanked quietly against the white marble. Lean shoulders growing more tense as they approached, yet… he also couldn’t help the corner of his lips from twitching upwards.
“Remember. We’re not here to take the treasures yet. Just secure the route… and hopefully find a way to get our blockhead leader back.”
What hit them first, wasn’t the grand opulence.
No.
Treasure rooms always had plenty of shiny gold, luxurious jewels, and rare artifacts.
But what stood out first?
“So many… scrolls,” Leila whispered. “An exorbitant amount, even. It’s a treasure trove! Ah, I could spend hours, laying down, naked in bed, Jiu cooling seals on my room, just sipping away at some refreshing goat’s milk with honey while I peruse these texts…!”
“But wait.” The Heiress squinted. She took one of the scrolls, holding it up against the artificial lighting. “They’re written with… re-writing ink. These will never fade away, even after centuries!”
Arjuna ambled closer as well.
“Incredible. And these too…!”
He lifted up a small, compact box. Small bits of Azurite and other metals were carefully placed at the vertices, along with microprint Jiu seals. And when he opened it up…
“Whoa!”
Inside just one container - at least a dozen books popped out of a small portal.
“That’s… amazing! Let me try as well, Juna.” Leila took another one of the small boxes, lifting it up from under a pile of gold Solaran coins. Yet when she lifted it - nothing but a frown adorned her lightly freckled face.
“Huh? Odd. Not opening. Did I do something wrong?”
“Here. Let me try-”
“Everyone.”
Kazan cleared his throat, glancing over his shoulder at the pair. The brown-haired young man was crouched, sifting through some of the jewelry.
“Reminder. We’re here after surviving two life-threatening fights. And Nassor is still missing. So let’s try not to-”
THUUUM.
“AHHHHH! Break my fall, BREAK MY FALL!”
A black mass opened up towards the ceiling. Thrummed with energy. And then - out shot a person. Dumped unceremoniously, at incredible speeds.
Kazan’s body moved before his mind caught up. Staff snapped up, feet planting wide, Jiu already flaring across his body and staff.
“ENEMY-”
“ Wait. That voice. The screaming, like the world’s biggest idiot-”
CLANG.
His staff banged against an empty spot on the floor anyways. Jiu rose up, and then… “Soften.”
The person-shaped missile came flying in. Three seconds to impact. Two. One…
Leila had her ears covered, bracing for impact, eyes squeezed shut. Arjuna had gone still, bow half-raised, face drained of color.
When he hit the ground, there was no crash or splash of gold coins. Just an easy landing, as the white marble literally cushioned the fall like a pillow.
For a second, nobody breathed.
“Yeesh… can always rely on you outta combat, huh?” Nassor lay on the floor there - just relaxing.
He had a grin on his face, despite the… numerous wounds all over his body, rips in his armor. Bits of blood leaking from the almost claw-shaped wounds.
“Y-you…! You fucking asshole!”
Arjuna dropped his bow entirely and crossed the room in two strides, tackling his brother straight into the marble.
“Haha, love you too- h-hey! Watch the injuries, little Juna! Ouch…”
Leila was there half a beat later, dropping to her knees beside them both, and lightly smacked the spearman’s shoulder.
“Don’t you EVER! Do you have any idea…! We thought you might…!” She couldn’t even finish a single sentence. “W-we tried to play it off, but still, d-deep down…”
Kazan finally let his staff hit the floor, for the first time. He exhaled deeply. Shook his head… and let out a small, tired laugh. “Unbelievable. Ya get swallowed by some giant ancient horror, just to come back and make us laugh, cry, and get pissed off. Yer unbelievable, Nassor.”
He didn’t step too close. Just watching from a slight distance, lips gently curved upwards.
“H-hey, priorities,” Nassor wheezed from underneath his brother. “Almost died, eh? Give me some slack! Had some soul-searching to do…”
Perhaps after a minute or two, the pile of worried limbs untangled itself. Nassor sat up slowly, still wincing a bit, rolling one shoulder with a soft pop. The other three had a better look at these scrapes, knuckles busted raw, and those claw scars.
“You look like shit,” Kazan grinned.
“And you look like a half-eaten rat,” Nassor grinned back.
“You wanna get healed or no, asshole? Maybe I’m feeling too weak to heal you up, with only one arm…”
“Hah! Maybe I’ll just ask Leila to do it herself?”
“Go for it. Then you might match me, only half of your body lookin’ healed… no offense, Leila.”
“None taken,” Leila giggled a bit. Her tense features had already softened considerably. She gave Kazan a small look.
“Already on it,” Kazan grumbled. He stepped closer and let his Jiu flow directly into the white-haired mercenary’s right side. Leila went to work on the other side.
The spearman winced a bit - black mist sizzling off the rapidly repairing wounds. “Oof. These wounds are stingin’ a bit. Careful, Princess Big Booty.”
“You…! Still using that, here?.” Her cheeks flushed just a tad. “But yes, sorry. I-I think that’s just my novice healing.. Let me be a bit more careful…” Leila’s brows furrowed as she concentrated. “Phew. Healing techniques are still difficult for me, especially without some anatomy knowledge.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Kazan? You said you never really went to any school, yes? Then how do you…?”
“Practical experience. Four idiot siblings, mercenary work since fifteen, and a lot of dying men. You learn fast,” Kazan murmured calmly.
“... oh. Right.”
A brief moment of silence. Nassor was quietly smirking, and Arjuna had that soft look of amusement.
“They’re so personable… and normal, most of the time,” Leila thought to herself. “Even during those nights I spent with Nassor, Arjuna, the women from the Inn. Having fun. I forget these three have killed and seen death already. Meanwhile, I’m…”
The curvy beauty cleared her throat, turning her attention back to Nassor. “A-ahem. But uh… what exactly happened, after you got swallowed up, Nassor?”
“That’s a story for later,” Nassor yawned. “But the short of it? Whoever that Overseer was worshippin’, she tried to recruit me or something. Big schemes. Talk about the future, about making me real powerful. So I told her no. Don’t want no handouts from a creature I know nothing about. But of course, when I declined…” he shrugged. “She didn’t take it well. Beat me up a bit, and then spat me out! Nothing worse than a woman scorned, eh?”
… the joke didn’t garner any laughter. Even Nassor’s eyes didn’t seem to be into it. Only Arjuna caught the way he glanced towards the younger brother quickly, the mask falling - and then right back to that usual cocky smirk.
“Nassor…”
Leila rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Fine. Getting out of this tomb first is probably best. Even if it’s safe now…” She shivered. “Don’t want any snake molt or leftover weirdness tainting me. I’m curious about the cult details, but… later. Let’s leave.”
“Right? So, out we go then. It was a bit of a messy trip, but a success nonetheless! Route secured, plenty of questions for ol’ Captain Raktam… let’s go.” Nassor winced, using Arjuna’s help to stand up. And with a small nod, he led the way out of the bountiful treasure chamber.
“Okay, one moment-” Arjuna went over to the pile of riches one more time. He searched, set some things aside…
And carried two of the items from the treasure room. One silver locket, and one of those odd compact boxes that carried books within.
“Ready. Make sure to memorize the path, as we leave.”
They all made their way out of the Mystic Royal Tombs, their souls feeling just a bit lighter now.
False happiness was slowly replaced by something more real. Or at least that’s what they told themselves as they walked.
Yet, in their weary eagerness to return to Eshtara Village’s boring normalcy…
Not a single one of the four caught it.
The small snake mark emblazoned just under Nassor’s bellybutton.