Temple of Truth

Chapter 121

Well, that was something. So, the steps widened – somewhat like a paper-fan. So, if people oriented themselves on different sides of the stairs, they would walk further apart.

"Let's use the right side." Fatty chimed in before Wu Xie could say the same thing. If this place wanted them to lose each other, then it was better to stay together. So, it was saver for them to all walk on the same side.

Together they slowly descended the stairs further – in relative silence. It almost felt like the mist was swallowing the sounds too. Soon enough Wu Xie couldn't even properly see the Wall anymore.

He stretched out his hand carefully, rather feeling for the cold stone that was next to him then finding it by sight in the dark mist. It took him a moment and a careful side step before his fingers meet a cold almost slimy surface.

Crying out in fright and pulling his hand back. Stone should be hard and cold nothing like that. Wu Xie shivered pulling his hand back in front of his face looking for something.

"Wu Xie", two fightend voices called out to him. Followed by fatty cursing profoundly after almost stumbling down the stairs, if Wu Xie interpreted his words right.

Wu Xie almost shouted a second time when a dark shadow appeared right in front of him, as he was trying to see if there was anything on his fingers. But that shout was interrupted and soon turned into a relived quiet whine – when he noticed the familiar figure.

Qiling

The shadow was so dark that Wu Xie was sure, that if he stretched out his hand, he would be able to touch him. But still Qiling wasn't more than a shadow – only when a hand broke through the veil of mist and touched the wrist of his hand that he was still holding right in front of his face was he able to see at least a part of him.

Wu Xie watched as part of those fingers sided along his hand, as if Qiling was feeling for something. The touch was almost feather light and his skin was warm.

"You don't need to be afraid. You're save." Qilings fingers held onto his hand now. The touch almost feeling hypnotic. Wu Xie couldn't see anything else even Qiling was nothing more than a shadow, though he must be so close. He couldn't hear much other then a huffing that might as well be his own.

"Ju-just surprised ", Wu Xie stammered. "I didn't expect the wall to be so – slimey?" It really sounded like a question. Even though Wu Xie knew what he had felt.

Then Qilings shadow moved a bit. Got closer to the wall – probably looking for what Wu Xie was talking about. "It's hypha. The roots of a mushroom. – You were just unlucky."

Somewhere behind him Wu Xie could hear a snort but decided to just ignore it. Yeah, unlucky that was kind of his thing wasn't it.

But with Qiling still holding his hand right now, he couldn't help but feel lucky instead.

"We should move on." Qiling almost whispered. "If you're still afraid – you can hold my hand."

On instinct Wu Xie blurred out "No, - I'm fine."