The gate creaked open to reveal what I could only describe as being the widest non-natural path I've ever laid eyes on.
Within the crowd before us, which was bustling with hegraphenes and other creatures I couldn't identify if I tried, I noticed that some were so large that I nearly mistook them for cave trolls or even ochelons. I also realized that it was only the best comparison I could give myself with the state of sheer awe I was in.
"Whatever you do, do not look the big ones in the eyes," Irun said over his shoulder as he led the way through the massive quantity of creatures. "Dare I even ask why?" I asked half-jokingly. "Well, unless you want to fight them right here in the middle of the path, I wouldn't recommend it," he replied with a shrug.
I wonder why they're so touchy about that, I thought, not wanting to fuck around and find out after having spent so long without decent rest or food.
It was a daunting feeling; being the only people in a crowd of monsters. Irun and I spent most of our lives training to kill them, and yet here we were; following his mutated ass to a tavern likely filled with more of the same.
I'd be lying if I said I was any bit comfortable in our current situation, but anything was better than being stuck in the Draukar forest.
As we walked through the crowd, I heard some of the hegraphenes, being the only creatures I could recognize, speaking a language that I could only describe as rocks being crushed in mud. Whether that was due to the face plates they had embedded into their bodies was another story entirely, but I quickly came to the conclusion that I wouldn't learn it anytime soon.
Do you know what language they're speaking? I asked Ysevel, hoping she could tell me something about it. Not exactly. It's an odd combination of about four different languages, but only the guttural sounds of each, it seems, she replied. Is it possible that they actually know more of the languages of the Between? I asked, receiving nothing but a shake of her head as a reply.
I'll need to ask Irun about that later. Hopefully, he can tell me something about it, I thought, making a mental note to find out more about this world.
We continued making our way through the crowd, but I noticed something similar to the world I was raised in. There were market stalls that lined the path, filled with all kinds of crystals, weapons, armor, and small trinkets that I noticed were infused with mana.
"What are those?" I asked Irun, gesturing towards the stall filled with odd-looking trinkets tied to some kind of string. "They're mana-infused charms. Some can offer a single hit of protection, while others can help with fatigue. It just depends on what you're looking for, and what you can afford to pay," he said, squeezing through a pair of conversing creatures that were nearly twice his height.
I bet that smelled like a basket of roses, I thought wryly, judging the height of his head in comparison.
After squeezing and burrowing our way through the crowd, we finally came to the front of the three-floored tavern. On the sign that hung just above the door, there was a symbol of a blade wreathed in a phantasmal tendril with illegible writing underneath. The heavy doors were opened out towards us, held by massive hinges not unlike the ones of the main gate, and were painted the same matte black.
There were a pair of mana-flame lamps that hung on either side of the doors, and one large one just above the sign that illuminated the floor just before the entrance, piercing through the gloom of the Underworld and making the tavern in front of us feel much less intimidating than before.
"Once we're inside, let me do the talking. Same rules apply for eye contact," Irun said, turning to face Ysevel and I who nodded our understanding. As soon as we passed through the threshold of the door, all sounds of conversation came to an awkward halt. Without saying a word, or making any sort of eye contact whatsoever, we walked straight toward the hegraphene behind the bar.
It was a much larger one than those at the gates and had a stomach that was heavily compressed by the plate on its chest. It raised what I thought was its eyebrow at us as we got closer, and I would be lying if I said I felt any bit comfortable.
The hegraphene got closer to the bar as we approached, leaning over slightly to get a better look at us. The countertop was nearly at shoulder height for me, which meant Ysevel's forehead was likely the only thing visible to the creature when we got close enough.
I can feel his eyes piercing my core, Ysevel sent me. I can, too, but we can't afford to stare back; especially not now. The air is tense enough as it is, and I'm not trying to get my shit pushed in the wrong direction, I returned, giving her a glance from beneath my brow.
I heard the hegraphene chuffing behind his faceplate before he spoke. "Welcome back to Deathwhisper, disciple! What brings you here? Oh, and with company, I see. Out there making new friends, are we? I'd pull you your usual bitter, but I'd feel bad about not being able to tend to your friends without knowing whether they could even drink first," the bartender asked with a surprising amount of… cheer in his voice.
"Thank you, Krozz. It's good to see you again, friend," Irun began, reaching over the countertop to clasp the extended arm. "I'm here to see Lady Kalia, but these two need to be vetted first. The guardsmen at the gate sent us here to do that, then wait for further instructions," he said in a familiar tone, gesturing to either side.
"Lady Kalia left a while ago but is supposed to return within a few cycles at most. So, I'll be the one to vet them for a temporary stay until she says otherwise," Krozz said plaintively.
"She's not here? Where did she go?" Irun asked, genuinely surprised to hear the news. "She wouldn't say, but the hurry she left in wasn't like her usual way of doing things at all. It's also why the guards were probably a little hostile, even knowing who you are," Krozz replied, eyeing Ysevel and I scrutinously for a few moments before chuffing again.