The landscape changed with the lines of walls and stone paving making away to rugged, uncarved rock all under the cracked ceiling. The small party of mage apprentices and soldiers traipsed along the cold stone, reaching the cavernous walls before the last day hour was spoken for. They would reach the surface at first light the following day; it was too dangerous to travel above ground during the height of day when the plants were most active and too dangerous at night as not all plant life was dormant during the darkest hours.
They did not speak, as they walked towards the tunnel to the surface, though it was not really necessary to remain silent, the plants could not hear them. They would, instead, notice the vibrations made by their feet as they touched the ground and some had evolved to 'taste' the air in which the sweat from their flesh would evaporate into, perhaps announcing their presence. The safest time to be on the surface would be in winter, but then again, in winter, it was not necessary to go to the surface to clear the volcano's surface of greenery. This trip was the first of the year, taken in the first month of spring and they would continue until the last month of autumn.
They did not know that they were not alone rising to the surface.
Elyas huffed softly. He had been too lazy this winter, it seemed and was now completely out of shape. He felt the need to fix this. He hadn't noticed until now, that his waist had softened and perhaps thickened a little with idle days spent only honing his skills until completely average. The girl next to him yawned softly, clearly not a morning person and he shared a wide smile with her. She blushed visibly in the dim torch light.
They came and found themselves in front of the gates that blocked the tunnel that would lead them to the surface world. The guards there spoke softly to the soldiers, who guided them into to one of the watch towers. They would stay the remainder of the night there, resting, until beginning the shorter length of their journey before sunrise.
The soldiers chatted, catching up on minor matters while the students dozed or meditated. Patrick sidled up to the girl that he thought had caught Elyas' eye and attempted to engage her in conversation, but she rebuffed him.
The following day saw the opening of the gates and the guards wishing them safe journey as they let them through. The large metal doors then swung closed behind them, causing the less experienced in their group to jump with nerves. The older soldiers chuckled at their recruits reactions, but the magi said nothing against their own, recalling their own first nerves.
They traipsed on for a while, the tunnel shrank in width meaning they could only journey in pairs for a short while before it widened once more. The soldiers lit torches embedded in the walls as they passed them, the oil fuelled flames casting their shadows against the cool rock. As the flickering light made way for a still, encompassing light that came from ahead, one veteran soldier growled in irritation.
"Fucking plants are already growing thickly," he muttered as he made way for Elyas who threw a bright ball of mage fire at the vines and encroaching weeds at the entrance. Torch fire could burn the plants, but the effects tended to be temporary and short lived, if the flames took at all considering it might have rained or the plant was resistant. But mage fire was more potent, burning hotter and burning that which the mage wanted to burn. Patrick joined him, his fire was not so well controlled, but only the trained eye could see the obvious difference between the two. Patrick never noticed his own lack, just wished to show his rival that Elyas was not better than him. Again, Elyas did not put the energy into worrying about it.
Lina, the sand user, grabbed a large rock and threw it towards the smouldering fire as the last of the plants were cleared. The rock crumbled into sand as it reached the hot stone and hissed as it fell over it, smothering the dying flames. The group then cautiously walked ahead. The massive forest had been slowly swallowing rock and barren land into its midst over the centuries, overcoming nature's own laws. It felt far too close for comfort now. The fire users blasted nearby foliage with streams of flames, attempting to push it back until the distance between the green edge and the entrance to their volcanic home was lengthened.
"Right," The old veteran called out in clear tones. "Form teams. Burn and sterilise and chop down any green patches you come across as you climb up the mountain slopes. Take your time, there's no point in rushing things."
"But the sun....?" A recruit looked nervously to the eastern horizon where the sun was peering over the landscape.
"The sun is going to rise whether we get a move on or not," the old man growled. He shook his head, the higher ups were getting too comfortable down in the depths thinking they were safe so long as they kept sending the small squads to the surface to control things. He'd warned them year after year that the plants were getting stronger, bolder and they needed more men to cover the grounds and they needed to journey to the surface more often. Nothing had changed, though.
The men and women only split into two groups in the end, partially because of small numbers and partially as they only had two sand users who needed to turn the soil pockets into sterile sand.
Elyas' group took the west side of the mountain face, carefully aiding each other up the narrow and steep trail, pouring fire and sand into patches claimed by dirt and foliage as they journeyed. Jenefer stumbled over the loose ground, thanking the soldier beside her as he helped her catch her balance. Her eyes caught movement slithering upon a ledge beside him and she helped out startled.
"What is it?" Another soldier asked and she nervously pointed to that which had caught her attention.
Below them, two figures had emerged from the mountain's passageway, the larger of the pair carefully placing the knocked out solider onto the ground. He was not their target, so he was left alive. It was preferred if they did not kill anyone who was not their target, for there was no profit in it. Who knows if they might be paid to assassinate him another day? The smaller of the two blinked, eyes watering as the bright sunlight filled his vision. Slowly, his pale eyes cleared and they swiftly flickered over the two groups upon the mountain, focused their tasks. His small head tilted, he had spied the target, but there were many others with him. Collateral damage maybe unavoidable, unless...
He reached inside the loose sleeve of his tunic and withdrew the small black snake hiding there in. It's tongue flickered from its oral opening, cloudy eyes seeming to stare unseeing. The snake coiled about his wrist as he reached into his sleeve for the other. His hand returned empty and an expression of confusion fell upon his face. A yelp upon the mountainside distracted him for a moment.
"A snake?" Philip Scorch, the apprentice from the higher class said in hushed tones as the little creature stared down at them from it's perch. It's pure black eyes seemed very intent on Elyas, who frowned for a moment before reaching slowly out for the animal. A soldier grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"What are you doing?" He scowled. "That snake is possibly more deadly that the plants, it's poison is swifter, without antidote and it can follow us into the dark."
"But do not rock vipers reside within the darkest depths, how do you think it came to be here?" His comrade questioned. Almost in answer to their question, though they would not know it, there came a cry of surprise from below them.
As Seven was pondering the disappearance of his small friend, he had not noticed the encroachment of green vines, that slithered through the ashes as quietly as the serpents he tamed. Five, however, was not so oblivious, slicing through the creeping lengths with a blade as they approached. He pushed the boy to one side, who fell onto his bottom without sound, but finally became aware of the danger. Calmly, as he sat there, he tugged at the string on his belt and withdrew a small vial of clear liquid.
He was about to remove the cork from the vial, when he felt a sharp yank upon one ankle. The vial slipped from his hand and he cried out as he was pulled towards the forest. Five yelled out, a guttural roar, running to slice the vines that entrapped the boy, who stretched out his fingers trying to grasp the vial. More vines shot out from the forest, preventing any ease of rescue, but a ball of flames burst forth setting them alight. The boy grabbed the vial in triumph, glancing up as the fire flew through the air above him. His eyes caught sight of the soldiers and magi running towards them, one paused to look at him. Recognition shot through them both, but all too late.
The vines retreated, taking their claim with them. The boy vanished into the foliage.