Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 26: The Waters of Skuld - Part 1

"I can not believe everything has remained exactly as it was," Bartholomew enthused, tail of his coat flapping as he circled the room in search of any signs of disturbance. The only difference in the sculpted mountain cavern was the growth of fibrous dust and stringy spider webs. "Almost like I was never away."

But you were, Lilith withheld. You were gone for almost three-hundred years. Even if the cosy research nook had remained untouched by time, the outside world had likely evolved. Certainly, they were the first outsiders in centuries, and while Bartholomew may have been convinced of their safety, she wasn't taking any chances. He had been confident of their security in The Compendium and yet they had teetered on the brink of being devoured by a soul-ravaging book. She refused to make the same mistake twice.

As the professor secured the private gateway, she roamed the cavern, scraping her nails along bowls of multi-coloured stones and shelves lined with musty, wilting tomes. "Do you have personal gateways on every world?"

"I do. I purchased small plots of land specifically to store my research materials." Hoisting himself off his knees with the help of a nearby shelf, he dusted off the dirt from his trousers. "Right, the gateway should be stable until we get back. Shall we?" He retrieved his cane from beside the damaged desk and twirled it towards the cave mouth, shadows spinning within the influx of daylight.

Without waiting for Lilith's response, he strode out into the crisp air and inhaled, savouring the distinct earthy aroma of each tree and the mild, powdery fragrance of Mino blossom. The treetops rustled and thinner boles quivered as large animals bouldered between them, legs thumping and bodies swaying.

Lilith gawped. Forest stretched out to the horizon and painted every lift and dip with a mosaic of vibrant greens. Neon blue spilled from waterfalls and pooled in lakes in dots of ethereal light, and gigantic skeletal remains emerged from the ground, reminiscent of the ones on The Core.

"Are they fires?" she asked, pointing to the expanding, smoky plumes in the distance.

"That is chimney smoke. The villages are equipped with a central vent, where the dwarves carefully direct the fumes, taking precautions to filter out any harmful toxins before releasing them into the air. Some even incorporate fertilisers to promote the prosperity of the forest and safeguard the trees in the colder months."

"So that's what I can smell?"

"Yes. Admittedly, that particular aroma does take some getting used to." Bartholomew swivelled to get his bearings and muttered to himself before he directed an arm to the east. "That is where we are heading. Thuldran."

"Thuldran," Lilith repeated, as though tasting the word. The sensation was strange but not unwelcome, rolling across her tongue as naturally as the high-altitude breeze teasing her braid.

"That is the one," Bartholomew smiled.

Sticking close to the mountain wall, he assessed each step and paused along the way to strategise the best route ahead. Over the centuries, much of the path he had originally built had eroded and fallen apart, but the brunt clung on, enabling him to navigate the treacherous rocks with a certain level of safety.

"The dwarves of this realm are known for their prowess in trading and their insatiable appetite for exploration," he explained as they ventured closer to the base of the low mountain. "They have a knack for finding things, but haggling over prices for goods can be a challenge. They have a deep understanding of worth and will not easily let something go without it being fully appreciated." He made to speak again, eager to share more vital information before they entered dwarven territory, but his words drowned in his throat when he saw his companion absentmindedly rotating the Eventide crystal on her left bracelet.