The Slums of Euridayl

22: The Face of Wrath

Getting to the entrance was simple enough a task and Enid made with long strides, hoping to lessen the time Kieran spent as a fairytale monster to an absolute minimum. The boy accompanying her didn't seem to mind. They were content enough with silence and neither made for idle chatter. It was when the mouth of the cave bared its teeth that the need for chatter fell upon them.

"Oh gods of Azzan-"

Arius smiled a little, shrugging his shoulders.

"You hadn't mentioned how creepy the shite looked."

He began to assemble some twigs and drying grass into a bundle while Enid scoffed and tightened the straps of her travelsack.

"Now we can't be sure where it is exactly, he only said into the depths."

Enid cocked her head at the boy, blue eyes brimming with curiosity.

"Wot?"

He furrowed his brows at her.

"Have you ever seen Sun Peaches before?"

The boy shook his head.

"Do you know what they smell like?"

Arius began to grow irritated by the senseless line of questioning. It was not yet nightfall but surely it'd approach soon.

"I can't imagine it matters, lass."

Enid shrugged.

"They smell like honey."

Arius scrunched his nose at her and nodded.

"Right then, let's get moving."

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The inside of the cave was slippery and cool. Arius' improvised torch scattered the brunt of darkness around them but as they moved farther into the earth, the caverns grew tighter and the smoke had started to become an issue.

"Shite."

Enid coughed, waving the smoke in front of her away.

"This won't do. If we keep the torch business up, we'll die of smoke inhalation."

Enid nodded in agreement and the boy quickly snuffed the flame. When they both sat in a shroud of complete darkness, Arius sighed heavily. It was impossible to see one's hand before their own face and they were likely nowhere near the flower yet.

"Are you familiar with any light spells?"

Enid cocked her head sideways in the darkness.

"Spells?"

Arius scoffed.

"Surely you know what a spell is."

"Arius..."

The boy turned his head in her direction, tense at the weary tone she held.

"People born in Drumwe don't usually have the natural ability to perform spells."

The boy's mouth made an 'o' shape as he tried to ponder why that could possibly be. Thokre had never mentioned such a thing to him, though now that he thought about it, none of the Great Wizards came from Drumwe. Arius sucked in a deep breath, nodding begrudgingly as he knew what he had to do.

"I haven't the capability for spells either, however I do have a second option."

Enid's curious eyes were cloaked in darkness as she awaited his explanation.

"I can see in this perfectly fine. I can lead you through the caverns."

Enid smiled and nodded. She was sure of it now.