The Lightning Scroll

Ch2, Pt VII: Return to Your Roots

Dexpa recognized their new setting. "These are the ruins where it started," Dexpa stated. "But something's different."

He noticed the ceiling of the ruins was now almost entirely caved in and there was more rubble laying around. "I don't remember there being this much dust," Dexpa noted. He tugged at one of the vines on the wall and it crackled in his grip. "Or mold."

The obelisk that spawned the knights was no longer glowing. In fact, it was in pieces on the floor, completely inactive.

"Well, this is what happens after a place like this is left unattended for several centuries," Rokai informed Dexpa.

They climbed over the entrance of the ruins leading into the swamp. "Only way is through," Dexpa said, stepping into the swamp water.

Salazar looked at the swamp in disgust, lifting his robes as he stepped in after Dexpa. "So, this is how you built your tolerance. You really used to do this every day?"

"I wasn't alone," Dexpa said. "Jo'navir would usually lead the way. He gave me the confidence to push through."

"Who's that?" Rokai asked.

"My brother. The one I'm looking for," Dexpa said. "He was kind of the leader of our group. Me and Mo'nazar would usually follow behind him. We trusted his guidance to get us home safe."

"And Mo'nazar?" Rokai asked again.

Dexpa was silent. He couldn't find the words to start with on such a touchy subject.

Salazar patted Dexpa's back thoughtfully. "He was a friend," he explained to Rokai. "And he will ALWAYS be with you," he added, turning to Dexpa.

Rokai felt embarassed. "I'm sorry, Dexpa. I didn't mean to—"

"Don't worry about it," Dexpa replied with a wave of his hand. "Look, here it is," Dexpa added, pointing ahead. "My home."

Most of the village was flattened, which Dexpa now expected. However, a strange new structure caught him off guard. On top of Mo'nazar's old house now stood a massive castle carved out of stone. Multiple windows were crafted along the sides, each emitting their own hue of blue light. And at the very top was a larger window that looked as if it was broken through from the inside. The room within the window was was void of light.

"Where's the big castle door?" Salazar jested. "You can't have a castle of this size without a door to match it."

At the bottom of the castle, Mo'nazar's old front door frame still remained, revealing the inside. "Huh?" Dexpa pondered at the sight.

"What's wrong Dexpa?" Rokai asked.

"When I left this place, the village was in ruins," Dexpa said. He pointed towards the bottom section that looked identical to Mo'nazar's old wooden home. "Including this house. But it's back to what it looked like before the attack even happened. As if someone rebuilt it." His eyes analyzed the castle carved around the home. "With some upgrades, I guess."

Dexpa entered the house and noticed the inside looked identical in appearance as well. The hatch, however, looked newer and was sitting wide open.

The three of them scanned the room for information. There were books scattered on the floor next to a bookshelf. Dexpa noticed there was only one book remaining on the bookshelf. He read the title. "Dead Thrall."

"Sounds like necromancy," Salazar noted. "Fitting for a place like this, I suppose."

"We should keep our guard up, just in case," Rokai added.

"Let's move forward," Dexpa suggested, approaching the hatch and jumping in. It was his first time seeing the inside of the cellar.

There was a faded out red summoning circle painted on the floor, along splotches of blood coating the walls. Dexpa noticed another bookshelf sitting at the end of the room with a giant hole in the wall beside it. As he approached, he noticed the shelf was full of conjuration and destruction spell books. A plethora of purple crystals sat on the floor beneath it. He peered into the hole beside the shelf. "This must lead to the inside of the castle," he said.