Pillars of Magic: Paradox

The Starlight Guide

With the monsters and heavy atmosphere leaving them behind, they could finally somewhat let their guard down. Even with the wand in their possession, as long as they were in the Warnicorn Metro, they weren't truly safe. Which Kasper so kindly pointed out.

"We need to get out of this stinking place. Like, 10 minutes ago."

"All in due time," responded Lucan.

"Due time?! What more in the hell do you want to do in here? Are you trying to find more ways to get us killed???"

"Will you calm down? There was nothing - not a sound, or a movement - ever since we started to climb the stairs. It is safe to assume that the worst is behind us. And in this case - literally behind us."

"That doesn't mean shit and you know it!"

"All right. Let's test your theory of blood sucking monsters lurking behind our backs." Lucan turned around and focused his sight into the distance. The tunnel was semi-lit, as many lights were broken due to passage of time. But even so, the sound coming from afar was what put it off. "Do you hear that?" he asked Kasper.

"What?"

"Exactly. Now, keep your irrational fear in check. Look at Kobi - he managed to calm down just fine. And that says something. Isn't that right, Kobi?"

"Uhm." His answer was short and barely audible. The reason why he was so calm. It was as if his whole world was in their newly acquired wand; it fascinated him. He didn't know why, however, there was this warmth emanating from it. Whenever he started to feel anxious, he just looked at it and immediately felt like nothing could happen to him.

"See?"

"But...!"

"No buts! We are on our way out. I suggest to leave your doubts here as we march on."

Kasper had plenty to tell, but no desire to go against him for all costs, so he decided to keep it to himself. He had a point though: as long as they were still in this forsaken place, anything could happen.

That anything happened a lot sooner than he anticipated, although not in a way he expected. The long and barebone tunnel they were walking in was up until this point lit with somewhat working lights, but after a certain point they went dark. The path clearly continued, but the light did not.

"Hmm," pondered Lucan. "This is interesting."

"Not the word I would have used."

He turned back to check if there was a change in the scenery from which they came. "The lights are still working behind us, so unless the electricity is cut off in this particular place, we have to assume this sudden change has to have a meaning."

"And what would that be?"

"Let's see: if we take into consideration that we, supposedly, didn't miss anything of value on our way here..."

"That's a big if..."

"...then the logical conclusion would be that this place is hiding something important."

"Important, you say..." Kasper went to check both walls on the sides by touching and even smashing them. "Nothing. This better not be some kind of stupid puzzle."

"I don't believe it is. Look." He showed both of them what appeared to be a cutout in the ceiling above.

"A way out?"

"Most of the time problems tend to have simple solutions. And this appears to be the answer to our escape from this place."

After he concluded his theory, all the lights in the hallway went off, except for the one near them.