24 The Galgor

"Here you go," Yalvo said, reaching up as he pulled the doors to the cellar open near the back of the kitchen, allowing the treads of light particles to trickle in. "Follow me. I'll show you the way to the sewers." He added, slowly making his way down the flight of stairs that squeaked with each step.

I followed. And in seconds. Rows of wines stacked neatly against one another stood side by side. It was massive, but the kitchen light had seemed more than enough to allow light to flood this cellar.

"The damage is already cleaned up, but do look around. See what you can. There is where we found the brittle fur."

Pointing near another door, I was sure, would lead me further down into the sewer system or possibly the catacombs.

The catacombs and the sewers could potentially lead to the same place. For a catacomb to be under the city, there must be an entire labyrinth down here, connecting to hundreds of points.

I approached the door near where Yalva had pointed and squatted, narrowing my eye as I noticed something. I stared at the markings behind the racks of wine; it was faint, but there were claw marks cutting through the stone.

[Ding]

Skill acquired: Heighten Senses Lv 1

Grade: F

Attribute: +10 Int

My blood warmed following the sensation of pure pleasure, pricking my skin like goosebumps. As wave after wave of euphoria and wonder, all seemed to dance through my mind. The wound over the wall even began to look clearer.

"Amazing," I whispered.

"What is?" Eryth responded, squatting beside me with a look of confusion. " Looks like an ordinary claw, probably from a rat."

"It's too big for a rat," I replied, amused by the thought. If I extrapolate data at hand based on the size of this claw mark, the creature would have to be the size of a goblin or a little larger, but not by much.

"Naivety at its finest." I lifted my eyes to him, meeting his thin smile," You're the Inquisitor. I'll leave you to your hunt. Or have you decided against the trial?"

"Far from it," I heard myself say in a challenging tone, "It sounds fun, and I'm interested in old Yalvo's reward." Eryth rose, and my eyes snapped to the entrance. "It's interesting, you know… The unknown."

"You could die," said Yalvo.

"And I could live. That's the fun." I mused, opening the chamber doors that rewarded me another flight of stairs to transverse. But this time, the light did not seem to reach deeper, leaving only darkness.

My heart was already hammering against my chest, and before I could say anything, Eryth tapped my shoulder; here's a torch, would you perhaps like a weapon as well? A sword, maybe?"

I could dual-wield, but I need a free hand for my torch. "No, I'm fine. Laevatein is all I need."

Eryth nodded and turned, "Then we'll be seeing you. If you don't return, I'll assume your dead."

"Is that confidence or indifference?" I mused, taken back by his behavior. However, Eryth didn't respond as he silently left alongside the grinning Yalvo. And once again, I was alone, and it was silent.

Just how I like it, people are confusing.

Quickly turning Laevatein into a lighter, a beautiful lilac flame appeared, grabbing my attention. It was strange, but the flame itself didn't seem any different from a normal fire, but the color, for some reason, was different.

I wonder if the flame holds the same magical properties.

I lit the torch, swallowing the head with lilac color flames, and moved out. Transforming Laevatein into a dagger, I stepped down the flight of stairs, leaving the cellar into unknown territory, planted my feet on solid ground, and stared down at the faint tracks that looked to have faded over time. It was human or at least something with footsteps similar to a human. Pondering what I could be facing for a second or two, I glanced up silently and proceeded farther down the dark narrow corridor, following the trail as the shadows of my being reflected over the wall, shimmering with the soft hiss of the torch. I stopped, having met a metal door similar to the ones in a submarine.

"How'd the creature get through the door?" I whispered, scrunching my brow, looking from side to side, observing the same scratch marks all around."The door was left open!" I figured. "But why? Negligence perhaps, or is there some other reason Yalvo would come down here."

Prying open the latch, Laevatein hissed through the stale air, ready to strike at a moment's notice when a familiar rancid scent spilled through the gaps as the latch swayed open.

Holy shit, this is horrid! I knew that book 'Everyone Poo'd' missed something! Bloody lairs! Jesus Christ, this is rank!

"Yo, look at the scratch marks by the lock," My inner voice said, drawing my attention. My brow scrunched, and my eyes narrowed at more precise marks that needed human precision to attain. Someone tried to pick the lock, and since the door didn't require a key from my end, does that mean…

The hairs on my neck suddenly rose, spiking at the nape of my neck as the crackling sounds of something rattled against the stone. My heartbeat picked up, an alarm ran through my heart, and exhilaration danced along my spine.

'Thud-um, Thud-um Thud-um,' hammered my heart as I grinned, unable to help it as my senses came alive, becoming so sharp and precise I could feel the faint tremors travel through the stagnant air to the vague motions of something hidden.

A raspy growl reached my ears, and my muscles tensed, but I couldn't tell how far the creature was. I scanned my surroundings and entered through the hatch, closing it once I entered.

I lifted my torch to light my surroundings, surveying the hundreds of tracks coming and going leaving me somewhat confused about where to go until my eyes suddenly contracted as I looked up, noticing the familiar scars against the ceiling.

Bingo. There were two paths I could take but with this!

I moved, keeping my footsteps soft and without sound; I began tracking the beast, noticing bits of deep blue fur scattered about alongside various other DNA.

Another feral growl shook the air, only a few meters away by the sounds of it.

"You bloody idiot."

I stopped lowering the torched towards the ground and leaned against the cobblestone walls, peeping my head around the corner, seeing nothing, only darkness.

"Not my fault the beast got away from me, is all," came another voice, this one younger. "What's the big deal? You can just—"

"Just what, you babbling idiot?" barked the older voice. "The Galgor is free! Do you know how much it cost me to bind it to a Heartstone? How could you just let it get away from you? You're a bloody Wizard!"

"I never said I was a good one! And stop yelling! We can just—AHHHH."

I jumped as a squail so sharp struck my ears, one filled with pain, my heart raced, and I dashed around the corner, dancing around a few turns when the older voice sounded.

"Fuck! Dayo, get up! Hurry! Get up!"

"My arm, my arm! Gods! My arm!" Howled the one called Dayo

Seeing a glimmer of light, I hopped around the next corner stopping as my eyes went wide at the sight of red and the beast.

[Ding]

[Galgor Lv 2]

Race: Undead

Str: 22

Dex: 29

Con: 29

Int: -7

Passives: ???

Skill:???