From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XXVIII 𖥸

|| Drake's Fang ||
|| Southwestern Dhalmekia ||

Having infiltrated Drake's Fang by locating an abandoned entrance to the mines, Clive, Lyra, and Torgal followed the tunnel all the way to a door. Clive opened it slowly and it creaked, revealing the main tunnel. Stepping through the door, Lyra gently closed it behind them. Creeping through the darkness, they searched for any prowling soldiers or workers.

The first thing they noticed was the horrid odor of death. The smell of decaying flesh and blood filled the mines. Clive and Lyra both covered their noses at the horrible stench. Proceeding forward, they started to become nose-blind to the odor.

Suddenly, Torgal growled which alerted both of them. They glanced at the canine and Clive gripped the hilt of his sword to ready himself to draw it in case there was a threat. Lyra's fingers flexed, but she didn't summon her spear. She waited until she knew for certain if there was a threat.

Taking a few steps forward, Clive heard a faint squelch under his foot. When he looked down, he saw a bright puddle of blood. Lyra spotted the bodies of miners and soldiers scattered around the tunnel.

Their eyes were drawn away from the corpses when they spotted movement. Further down the tunnel, they saw a large creature dragging the body of a soldier. It trudged over to another group of creatures just like it and tossed the corpse down before munching down alongside its fellow monsters.

One of the monsters lifted its head and roared, satisfied with its meal as blood dripped from the corners of its grotesque mouth.

"By the heavens..." Lyra mumbled, sickened by the scene.

"Orcs..." Clive murmured, withdrawing his hand from his sword.

"They are not native to Storm," Lyra whispered.

He met her gaze. "Did the royalists bring them from Ash?"

"It's the only possibility I too can think of. It will be impossible to sneak past them. Our best chance of facing them is to catch them off guard."

"Which is your specialty," he said. "Prepare your spear."

"Right away." She called upon her spear and it manifested it her hand. The symbols on the strip of emerald fabric tied at the end radiated faintly with a white hue. "Let's go."

Crouching, they silently proceed to the other end of the tunnel. They avoided the corpses and puddles of blood as they drew closer to the feasting orcs.

Clive's eyes never left their large forms. "Are the beastmen part of the Waloeder army now? How the hell did that happen?"

"Perhaps magic or some other form of manipulation," Lyra replied. "However, I do see royalists among the bodies. If there is some form of manipulation, it is no longer in effect."

"Recruiting monsters and unleashing them whenever they pleased..." Clive growled lowly. "It is no surprise Waloed would stoop so low..."

As they drew closer to the light, the couple saw the orcs were finishing their meal. Seeing their backs were still facing them, this was the perfect chance to attack.

Lyra released her spear and it floated in front of her. With a swift motion of her hand, the weapon surged forward and pierced an orc in the back. It squealed in pain before flames erupted from the weapon and burned its body from the inside out. She swiftly moved her hand again and the spear was yanked out of the monster's body, the orc now dead.

The remaining orcs were alerted and turned around, spotting the trio. They roared and squealed while drawing their weapons. Clive grabbed his sword and immediately jumped into action alongside Torgal. They fought against the orcs and came out victorious.