The Awakening

Chapter 11

Loud plinking filled the tunnel as beaded water collected and fell off the stalactites. The tunnel had started off too thin for Kiel and Lycel to walk next to each other, but quickly widened into a large natural cavern. "I hope Stratar is ok." Kiel said.

"I'm sure he's fine Kiel, he's been alive for what, 200 years? I don't think a few soldiers can take him."

"Yeah something like that. I guess you're right." They walked in a tentative silence for a moment before Kiel spoke again. "Who knew there was something like this under Yortin?"

"Yeah if people knew about it I'm sure adventurers would've used it as a base. Instead they all used Kievia, kinda far away."

"Yeah, they did. I met a lot of the adventurers that stayed in Kievia. I used to sneak out of the castle and hang out in the guild hall."

"And they let you stay?" Lycel said quizzically, rubbing his head after bumping into a particularly low hanging stalactite.

"Not at first. They would throw me out and tell me to stick where I belong. Well they stopped doing that when I won a brawl with one of them." Kiel looked toward the ceiling wistfully. "After that they treated me like one of them and taught me all sorts of tricks for survival. They'd tell me stories of places they'd been and how different things were. It was mainly because of them that I broke out of my shell."

"I never had much contact with anyone. I was part of a group who killed first and asked questions later, it was lonely. I had a few friends, but things were still bad." Lycel frowned, then pulled his lips back into a small smile. "Things are different now though, I'm away from all of that. Now I have a friend who'll watch my back, tier 5 swordsman or not."

Kiel grinned "Hey watch it, I might be better than you before you know it. Then you'll really be grateful!"

"Whatever you say, your highness." Lycel stopped and bent into a low mock bow. The two continued in high spirits down the tunnel, jovially joking with one another the whole way.

After several hours of walking down the cavern, Kiel and Lycel stopped. The tunnel ended in a large staircase that was visible in the distance. Steps were cut directly into the wall and sloped sharply upwards. "I think we made it."

The steps continued upwards for several minutes before Kiel and Lycel saw the exit. Up above the stairs was a cavern with a grassy floor, the light of day peeking around a corner just ahead of them. "It feels good to feel some warmth again! I guess the snow is all gone now!" Lycel said as he basked in the high noon sun.

"Yeah." Kiel said. Lycel frowned and turned toward him.

"Look Kiel, he'll be ok. There's no point in us worrying about him, he sent us away so it's our job to make sure it wasn't in vain." Lycel scratched his head and sighed. "C'mon, let's get going. I'm excited to see the academy! I always wanted to go."

Kiel's frown loosened up and broke into a wry grin. He started pumping his arms and running as quickly as he could. "Alright, race ya to the tree over there!"

"You sly dog! Sorry but it won't help!" Lycel began whispering while lowering into a crouch and before Kiel could tell what happened, Lycel was at the tree, waving at Kiel.

"That's cheating! You can't use your assassin magic crap to beat me!" Kiel panted as he came to a stop.

"Ooh so sorry, since I won, what do I get?" Lycel said, looking smug.

"How about our next meal, and a bruised shoulder."

"A bruised shou-" but before Lycel could get the words out Kiel made contact.