A Soldier's Life - 424 - Bone Dry And Demon Denied (edited 7-17-25, +250 words, fixed the last 500 words. I wrote them at the airport before the flight without Grammarly)

Chapter 424: Bone Dry And Demon Denied

“Someone should check on the dungeon, then. Maybe the bone devil has not left?” I said seriously.

“Are you volunteering?” Fenlorian asked, a note of humor in his tone. It was odd for the serious High Sentinel to add a touch of sarcasm in the circumstances. Did he not realize children were dead? No, he did as there was an underlying anger on his face.

“Maybe.” I looked at the other elves and the dwarf in his group. “If what is happening here is the same as what happened on the mainland, there is no limit to the number who can enter the dungeon. The dungeon will be unaware but will continue to spawn creatures every day cycle as usual. That means we could be faced with two bone devils in a day instead of one.” The group went silent, Fenlorian’s jaw tightened.

“And you were there when it happened? And now you are here, and it is happening again?” A gray-haired elf said accusatorily.

I faced him and made eye contact. “We were crossing the Shadow Belt. Rumor was it was the Brotherhood who caused it,” I said without malice.

“We heard the same rumors here through our agents,” Fenlorian said tiredly, waving off the old elf’s concerns that I was the cause. “We do not participate in the squabbles on the continents. But they might have pressed them upon us. The Watcher is right. We need to confirm if the bone devil is still in the dungeon and if the dungeon is in control of its mechanisms.”

“If the dungeon is unconscious, maybe it would be a good time to destroy the core,” an older elf in gray robes emblazoned with gold stitching said.

That sparked a rapid conversation among the assembled before Fenlorian put an end to it. “Enough,” he barked commandingly. “Elandran, take your team to the west terrace so you can respond to any threats quickly.” Immediately, five elves turned and headed for the stairs. I noted one of them was the elf who wanted to destroy the dungeon. “Sarethil, remain here and guard the stairs.” Four elves and the dwarf moved to the stairs a few steps behind the first group.

“The tide is low; the entrance is exposed. The rest of you are with me.” Fenlorian ordered, and I assumed that included me and Blaze.

“Shouldn’t you raise some minions?” I asked, indicating the bodies of the spine devils the elf woman had harvested. I had learned a fair amount about necromancy, having sat in on Evie’s lessons at Veilmark. Disposable undead scouts would be welcome.

“Demons are not affected by nether essence. We cannot infuse them,” an elf said, amused at my ignorance.

“I did not know that,” I replied. Blaze gave me a sidelong glance and grin. Twice tonight, I had failed to know something. I might have had a retort except the death of the elf children had spoiled my disposition.

Fenlorian led the way in his matte black armor, his runic blade drawn. Beside him moved three elves clad in Death Sentinel gray robes. Each robe was unique, with varying shades of embroidery both on the inside and outside. The embroidery was more than a decoration as I could see the runic patterns when they were smoothed enough with their steps.

I didn’t know the names of these elves, but I recognized two of them from the council table. One was tall and willowy, with silver hair braided tightly and sharp, hawk-like eyes. The second walked with a subtle grace, her robe's deep crimson embroidery catching the glowstone’s light like blood on silk, a slender blade sheathed at her hip. She was the one who had used the collector on the spined devils. She had pocketed all the lesser fire essences she collected.

The third was broader of shoulder than the others, his expression flat and his dark eyes unreadable. Under his robes was the fine elven chain mail I had seen on Kyrenic. A curved, heavy blade rested on his hip, as well as three other sheathed short blades among his pouches. The buckle on the belt told me this man was a Death Hunter and likely not a necromancer.

Blaze and I took up the rear, our footsteps echoing softly as we followed them down the pier toward the looming cavern wall. The exit was not a secret, but it was angled to prevent the sea mist from entering the cavern. It also seemed to dampen the sound of the waves. The short passage outside had faded runic writing, likely wards.

Fenlorian stopped ahead of us at an iron gate, although it was likely not made of iron, as the salt would have corroded it over time. He stood there for a time as we crowded behind him. Beyond was the darkness of night and the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs of Sanctuary. My aether sight didn’t detect anything.

“Did the creatures come through here or from the ship passage?” Blaze asked, breaking the tension.

The Death Hunter looked over at Blaze, who returned his stare expectantly. “The gate is still locked.”

“We found the serpent in the bay,” the elf woman said. “They flew and swam through the ship’s passage. It is only alarmed and not warded.” At least the woman was being forthcoming.

Fenlorian reached for the gate, and I was not the only one who yelled a warning. “The night is moving beyond!” “The shadow demon is there!” My warning was a little less specific: “Watch out!”

Darkness engulfed the gate, and the passage suddenly grew cold as the darkness surged toward us. “Nythra!” someone yelled, and the elven woman’s robes glowed a brilliant red, the runes illuminating. The shadows around us hissed and retreated. Blades had been drawn and were slicing through the darkness, following the creature as it fled back through the gate.

Fenlorian’s hand rested on the lock on the gate for a moment before it swung inward. “Kaemar, track it. We cannot let it get free to ascend above.” We all followed Fenlorian past the gate onto a ledge about twenty feet above the waves. The ledge was about ten feet wide and extended in both directions, but Fenlorian moved to the right. I suddenly didn’t feel so safe being at the back of the group with the inky blackness of night beyond and cold waters below. I let Blaze step in front of me because I had the amulet.

Looking up the cliff of Sanctuary, I could see a few spots emitting a glow and guessed those were the landings. The seven of us made our way carefully along the ledge until we came to the stairs covered in barnacles and seaweed. The High Sentinel’s boots crunched on them as he took the steps fearlessly. We entered a cave after a short descent, and Nythra created a light above her head. I think she was doing it for Blaze and me since we were human.

“It is ahead,” one of the elves stated. I guessed he was Kaemar by the confidence of his statement. “It is gone,” he added a second later.

“It retreated into the dungeon,” Fenlorian stated confidently, and walked purposely forward. The familiar oily surface of a dungeon entrance was just ahead in the ocean-smelling cave.

“It is underwater at high tide. Is the dungeon flooded then?” Blaze inquired.

“No,” Fenlorian stated, standing a dozen feet from the entrance on guard. “I am not an expert on dungeons, but it can choose what it allows to pass its entrance. Just like it limits entrants.”

“Are we going in?” Nythra asked with a note of distaste.

“It only allows four people to enter, but hopefully, as the new Watcher suggested, those limits are not currently enforced. Kaemar, Torandir, and Phaelon will enter with me.” Nythra let out a breath of relief. “Nythra can try to enter after us.” The elven woman nodded slowly. Fenlorian looked at Blaze and me. “It is your decision on whether to enter or not.”

The oily surface swallowed all of them in quick succession, and when Nythra’s turn came, she was also able to enter and left us in darkness. “You don’t have to come,” I told Blaze as he produced his glowstone.

“And wait out here alone?” he said with strained amusement.

I stepped onto the oily surface and found myself on a ledge overlooking a shimmering green lake with a fractal web of crystalline paths crisscrossing it. There was the sandy bottom of the lake that glowed green, and lit the chamber we were in. The ledge we were on had neat Elvish writing on the walls and was probably a safe room, but with a magnificent view.

“Be careful while you walk, some of the paths break apart and sink. Your only warning will be the cracking sound. Alternate between taking a left and right to cross safely,” Fenlorian was speaking, but his eyes were scanning the room for threats.

It was bright enough that there were no shadows, so the shadow demon was not likely to be in this room. The crystal-clear emerald waters with the sandy bottom were inviting you to go swimming in them. If it weren’t salt water, it might not be a bad place to bathe.

“A pity there is no reward chest. We killed the serpent in the bay. I feel cheated,” one of the elves said.

“Are those paths stone? Is this where you got the windows for Sanctuary?” I asked after taking everything in.

“Yes,” was all Fenlorian said as he started to descend the steps to the pathways. His companions followed him, and Blaze and I joined them.

“Normally, the serpent is weaving under the water, waiting to attack. I like this much better,” Nythra said to anyone who would listen.

Fenlorian was focused on finding the shadow demon. “Stay four steps apart as we cross, I want no surprises.”

Blaze and I followed, last in line, across the bridge. When we stepped onto the path, it was solid, but small fractal lines appeared around your feet. When you lifted your foot, they repaired themselves. It reminded me more of ice than stone. Flat fish matching the sand scuttled away from us as we walked above them. The water was ten feet deep, and all I could think about was what essence those fish might yield. We zig-zagged across the chamber to the far side, and by their confidence, it was clear all of them had been here before.

The following room was a stone-domed room with stalagmites and stalactites meeting to form weird hourglass shapes. Thin veins of glow stone in the wall lit the chamber. It didn’t give a lot of light to see by, but I could imagine how dangerous this room might be with forty-two-spined demons flying about and clinging to the columns.

Fenlorian hadn’t entered the room, and I guessed it was because the shadow demon might be hiding here. My aether sight didn’t reveal anything to me, and the other elves remained quiet as their experienced eyes also scanned the room. The room had a sulfuric smell to it. Not like rotten eggs, sweeter like one of the acids from alchemy.

Fenlorian started walking. “Stay close and cross through the center of the chamber. Do not touch the columns—they’ll burn your skin and destroy your gear.” I think he was addressing Blaze and me because the other elves seemed aware.

The first column I passed was coated in some glistening substance. Blaze reached out toward it, but Nythra saw him and grabbed his arm.

“It’s demon piss, human,” she hissed. She shook her head like he was an idiot.

Blaze leaned closer to me and whispered. “I wasn’t going to touch it.”

At the threshold of the next room, Fenlorian paused. The reason was immediately clear. Dozens of alcoves lined the chamber, stretching from the floor all the way to the ceiling—perfect places for a shadow demon to hide. The light source were three glowing millipedes moving along the wall, causing the shadows to be constantly shifting. Those giant insects had a lot of useful alchemical components.

“I see it,” Kaemar said, pointing at an alcove in the ceiling.

“I will draw it out,” the High Sentinel stated, stepping into the chamber.

The darkness descended not just from the front, but also from behind the commander. There were two shadow demons. Blaze had already drawn his weapon, knowing his bow was useless. The shadowy masses converged on Fenlorian, and the fight ensued. Aether shields flashed in defense, and runic blades and bursts of spells flashed.

It was a chaotic dance, and I think I might have been the only one capable of seeing the demons true bodies. Magebane was cutting through the darkness well, but I felt no resistance, and I wasn't sure if I was dealing damage. The demons were incorporeal, but when they attacked, they briefly became material. Only runic weapons and aetheric magic could affect their shadow form, but successful strikes only slightly weakened them.

When the fight ended, two of the elves were bloodied from deep cuts, and Fenlorian’s black armor had a gash across the pauldron. The shadow demons were incorporeal, but in death, they appeared as a mass of black sludge. “Where were the two dungeon releases then?” Blaze asked the question I had.

“No,” Fenlorian replied, already walking toward the final room. “Greater shadow demons can split themselves into two lesser shadow demons. Those were lesser demons.”

The final chamber was a gray stone room with smooth walls and floor. I assumed a bone devil didn’t require food, because there was nothing in the room to sustain it. There was also the fact that there was no bone devil. Fenlorian didn’t take long to assess the room, turn, and hasten our return to Sanctuary. There was no need to express urgency.

Nythra (f), Kaemar, Phaelon, Torandir

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