the-manta

In all Tamriel, since the dawn of time, there have been few flyers (or fallers) less graceful or dignified than apprentice wizards, and so Felix was playing his part in an age-old tradition as he tumbled helplessly down the sinkhole. His unflattering cry was cut short as he thudded into the viscous fluid beneath the elven hall, the sudden chill and unexpected impact driving the wind out of his lungs with a definite tang of blood. For a moment, he seemed almost suspended on the surface of the black sludge, but then he was sinking, faster than he thought possible. His mind galloped into panic as the muck sucked him downwards, oozing upwards and over his limbs as he struggled to swim. Rushing from spell to spell, his lips innately formed the beginnings of a dozen different spells, cut off before they were complete by the next frantic remembrance, sending nothing but white sparks crackling from his skin. The more the young mage struggled against the sucking ooze, the harder it pulled him downwards, almost like an intelligent entity swallowing him whole. Feeling the cold slime reach his chin, he gasped for breath, and regretted it. Instead of air, it felt as if he had inhaled a pound of broken glass, the breath tearing through his sickened lungs in what proved to be the last nail in the coffin for his chances of escape. The sinking slime seeped into his mouth, then his nose, then his ears, creeping ever upwards as he feebly kicked his legs. “Mages!†A strong hand grabbed seized his collar and he felt the familiar sensation of being rescued from certain death. Nina grunted as she hauled the mage upwards, dragging his head and shoulders out of the slime. “Don’t struggle,†she panted, “only makes it worseâ€. She looked to her side and spat, trying to dispel the bitter taste of the ooze without success. With one oil-slicked hand, she kept a hand on the mage’s collar, and with the other she maintained a death-grip on an angle of rough brickwork, holding herself in a crouch against the wall, just out of the slime. Felix released a few strong breaths, painfully stretching out the muscles of his chest as he regained his composure. “Thanks,†he managed, feeling the slime stick to his tongue and teeth. “And uh… sorry.†He glanced to the side, where a small cluster of desiccated craniums emerged from the slime like ghastly stepping-stones. A look of disgust was visible through the slime on her face as Nina followed his gaze. “Don’t worry about it; most of them died when they landed.†Her eyes turned upwards, up the rough stone blocks of the sinkhole’s size, and to the jagged maw of the hallway above. She seemed to shudder, and Felix soon saw why. On both sides of the chasm, pale, gormless faces stared down into the ooze, their eyes alight with an otherworldly blue. None of the zombies made any move to follow the two adventurers, but neither did they turn their backs on the stone flytrap. With some considerable assistance from Nina, Felix hauled himself (mostly) out of the viscous sludge, his knuckles turning white as he clutched the rough angles of the walls. He peered into the darkness over his shoulder, scanning the edges of the pit for some escape, but the jagged texture of the walls turned them into webs of shadow, impossible to penetrate in the darkness. “I can’t see…†he began “Anything? Yeah me neither.†Nina spoke with some reserve, perhaps suspecting the solution that Felix would suggest. “You know, I could…†“No.†“But we can’t…†“No.†“Just let me…†“NO!†“Tsk.†For a few moments they simply remained, squatting against the rough stone, in silence. It could have been his imagination, but Felix fancied he could see Nina peering into the darkness. “Okay fine.†She finally said. With a sigh, Felix cast the spell, a fluorescent orb of light rising from his outstretched hand to hover over his shoulder. “See? Quite safe.†“Shush,†was Nina’s only response. “I see the way out.†And so there was. A metre or so to their left, the rough rock curved off into itself, vanishing into a gloomy tunnel. With a look back to Felix, Nina led the way.

Massive birthday wishes Rider!