An Enchanting Tale

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

A spiraling set of steps led the explorers into the depths of Mzulft. Both S'maash and Zolara casted candle light to reveal a variety of rock formations carved into the deep. Layers of strange mycelia covered the walls and ground of the cavernous extent. Zolara prodded at the luminescent growth.

"It looks similar to glowing mushroom, but I assure you, it isn't," the argonian commented. S'maash was indifferent; he was only focused on finding the next fragment. As Zolara kept pace, he considered the possibility of new reagents. "Did the dwemer practice alchemy?"

"I am unsure. Why?"

"I have never seen some of these mushrooms, much less had the privilege to study the actual root system."

Progressing ever deeper, the cave-like structure of Mzulft opened into a black expanse of stone walls. Among the walls, the unknown mycelia glowed, providing an eerie, soft, blue light. S'maash felt somewhat agitated.

"It could be anywhere in here. This place is endless," he complained.

"Perhaps, we should hug the walls in search of falmer structures."

"Smart."

"The left one or the right one," Zolara asked.

"It doesn't matter...left."

"No, I like the right one."

Rolling his eyes, S'maash sighed and followed behind him. A long walk ensued. Eventually, they reached a hill. From its crest, they spotted mist far off in the distance to their left. The glow of mushrooms gave the fog a mystical, scintillating quality.

Disoriented by the expansive emptiness below Mzulft, Zolara tapped S'maash on the shoulder then pointed to the mist. His friend nodded, so they walked towards it until they realized it wasn't mist at all. It was water. A towering, brass-like pipe rose from the water to heights unseen.

"This must be a source of steam," Zolara concluded.

S'maash nodded, yet remained aloof. "It doesn't help."

After resting for a moment, they continued their search along the walls. Still, they found no results.

"I have an idea," Zolara said. He proceeded to summon a storm atronach. Then, he fired spells of all kinds in every direction. "Do the same!" S'maash, a little confused and quite alarmed, rose from his seat. "We're attracting falmer! Wherever they come from must be where we have to go," the argonian yelled louder.

"Are you insane? We'll get killed!"

"Hey, you want to find this thing, right?"

Wide eyed, and biting his lip, the dark elf struggled to devise a better plan, but the noise had already been created. First, S'maash overcharged ebony flesh then he summoned a flame atronach. Instead of wasting more of his magicka reserves, he resorted to clapping and whistling.

Their rowdiness continued for moments, yet there was nothing beyond their echoes and errant explosions of light. Huffing and panting, they exchanged a glance.

S'maash ran back to the piping and beat it with sword and shield. The gargantuan tube reverberated with strong echoes.

"Excellent," Zolara said.

For seconds, they both struck it. Then, they waited. Slow minutes rolled by before a flurry of feet were heard pounding over the ground. Both adventurers whipped their heads around, searching for the falmer stampede. Zolara spotted their approach and tapped S'maash. In order to provide certainty of orientation, the argonian placed a fire rune on the pipe, marking the direction from which to look.