Something Immortal

37: The Undead Part Two

Broken battlements and wreckage walls. It was looming from the most, hewn out of the mountainside. A cold wind blew as the guards pushed the heavy bolt aside to open the gates and found the courtyard deserted. This mission was dangerous and the guards, mostly draconian were scattered around the place to watch and observe. If things have fallen out of control, they would be pulled out in an instant.

"Why is all the competition in this festival so life hazardous?" Som turned to Ilarion questioningly.

Before the other could reply, Saanvi who was following closely behind spoke, "They are preparing us in facing the worst," she explained. "That boar hunting was an example of mindless creatures, monsters rarely seen and there are more out there like it in the wild."

"And this second?" Marko also questioned.

Saanvi, "Experience with the undead. They are the worst soldiers to join the battlefront. Do you know why the dragon priests were annihilated? Because they not only tried to control the God Naga, they tried to control his soldiers—the wraiths. Through them, they raged war against the other races that started the first battle of the legionnaires."

Som's head turned to his other side and saw Kali quietly listening in. He didn't say anything either and they continued trekking the courtyard with the rest, and towards the door. But not before glancing to the tower where the Dragon Emperor was waiting with the rest of the councils, including his brother Sri who was pale due to anxiety. Sigurd was by the entrance along with the audience right behind them, waiting patiently.

"Why is he obsessed with collecting the dragon priests' masks?" Som rasped, and the draconian prince was bemused.

"I'll tell you, but it will cost you."

"Then, don't tell me."

A low chuckle. "Do not be anxious. You'd do just fine."

"How did you know that?"

"Because you're stronger than you think. I can feel it. And I believe it."

Silence once again engulfed their group as they were left at their own devices trying to find the right door to this abandoned monastery. So far, they haven't encountered any undead but once could feel their presence in the air, lingering like venom in their veins. Their group was solid but the other teams separated and disappeared one by one. They must've found the way inside for they haven't heard any sound of battle.

"Hey, I know this!" Mica, as usual, found something interesting. In their surprise, Kla Han followed him cocking his head at the young man who seemed thrilled of discovering a flattened and tall structure that appeared to be an entryway. He knelt down and felt the door that looked like a board.

"How do you propose we should open that?" The werecat prodded curiously and Som thought this was the first time he had shown interest in Mica while the strigoi had always been attentive to his presence.

"There must be a lock somewhere," Mica said, still feeling the walls. "If we can find it, we can open it."

"Or I could just punch a hole in the center and be done with it."

Rattanon cackled. "That works too."

"No!" Mica, despite his secret admiration of the werecat, disagreed with this method. "You do that and we'll wake whatever is inside. If we can get to any of the dragon priests' tombs without disturbing the other types of undead in this abbey, it'll lessen our strain of battling."

"Stealth, huh."

"Yes, stealth."

"Bloodsucker, you know that doesn't always work," the werecat continued to argue and they were all forced to listen.