The War of Gods

Chapter 5 - Part 4

Nerith looked over the valley that extended before them. Part of her felt glad for Joel's little episode just so she could enjoy this view. They would've gotten here the previous night otherwise.

The Path of Sorrows led to an opening in the forest — a clearing of sorts — that also marked the beginning of a steep depression in the terrain, as if they were at the top of a mountain. The clearing covered a short space. The forest resumed a couple dozen meters from where they stood and, from this elevation, they could now see how massive it was. The trees extended for miles. Weeks, maybe months, of walking. As far as Nerith's eyes could see. It vaguely reminded her of the northern part of her own country, although she was never allowed to go there.

"This has to be it." Mavar said. "Look, down there."

In the middle of the clearing, there was a clearly man made platform dug into the incline. Three pyres stood there side by side.

"Are... are those for us?" Joel asked. "Some kind of twisted joke?"

"They don't know who we are, Joel." Nerith answered.

"We killed their buddies, though."

"Maybe it's for their buddies, then." Mavar said. He started down the incline down to the platform. "Let's go."

The pyres were modestly made. Organized stacks of logs with a piece of cloth over the top. They came up to around Nerith's waist.

"So... what now?" Joel asked.

No obvious tomb entrance in sight. The grass around the pyres was flat, as if someone paced around them over and over again. Or a big group stood around them. Nerith followed this trail of flat grass with her eyes. It was going behind them... into the wall.

Huh.

"Guys." She said.

"I see it too." Mavar said. "Joel, could you make a whole for us in that wall?"

"Oh, allow me." Nerith said. "I've been practicing my nature spells."

She cracked her knuckles and knelt, placing her hands on the floor. She concentrated, feeling at the pool inside her chest. It was a feeling she couldn't quite describe. It was like a pot of soup, you heat it up a little and...

"Earth Tremor." She whispered. A simple spell that caused a small controlled earthquake.

She felt the essence within her flood her arms and pass onto the ground. The wall ahead shook and collapsed, revealing an ancient looking metal door with a sapphire-like stone attached at eye level. No knob or lock.

"Good job!... Now what?" Joel prompted.

"You know," Nerith said. "You'd be more useful if you investigated as much as you talk."

The small fellow laughed at that, and they all moved closer to the door, trying to decipher its mysteries. Some sort of magic was certainly at play here, but without knowing the correct spell...

They tried to remain optimistic. Perhaps the Stormbloods didn't have access to such magic. They were simple thugs after all. The group looked around them, searching for hidden buttons, levers or pressure plates that could open the passage. No luck.

"I'm starting to think we're not very good at this." Joel said.

"Well, how about you bring up some actual ideas?" Nerith said. Joel meant no harm, but he was getting on Nerith's nerves.

She stepped closer to the door, pressing her ears against it, trying to listen in. She could hear extremely faint movement inside. This had to be the place.

"I don't think seducing the door is the way to go, big girl." Joel said. "Be careful not to knock with those things on your head."

That's it.

"Look here, little guy." Nerith said, as she turned to him. "You will not speak about me that way. I am sick and tired of people only mentioning my physical attributes when referring to me. As if I am not the daughter of not one, but two professors of one of the most renowned academic institutions of the planet. And as if I'm not attending that institution myself! I do not know you well enough for you to get so comfortable with me, nor do I intend to over the next year. But if we are to be stuck with each other for the 300 something days, you will stop ignoring my intellect, and you will shut up and help open THIS! STUPID! DOOR!" She said the last three words accompanied by three very heavy, very rage-induced and very loud kicks on that very same door.

Uh oh.

Mavar sighed. "We should run."