[h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
Novak was a little worried about jumping into the hole, even if the cat girl had told him it was safe.  After all, being part cat, being able to survive long falls might just be second nature to her.  Fortunately, there was nothing to worry about- the layer of goop safely absorbed the force of his fall, causing him to gently bounce.  As he struggled to get back onto his feet, a doorway down the hallway slammed shut, startling Novak and causing him to lose his footing.

[color=ed1c24]"Leannah?  Is that you?" [/color] Novak asked, once again endeavoring to try and stand up.  Had she triggered another mechanism?  Novak looked around, noticing the glowing crystals that his companion had mentioned, as well as a curious trail of luminous shards leading into the hallway.  Did Leannah make that?  Or was it already there?

Novak pocketed the mask and broke off a piece of crystal for light.  It'd lessen the light in the room even further, but being the only one of his group who could didn't know how to use light magic, Novak needed a source of illumination.  Perhaps the mask could pierce darkness with its strange sight, but he'd rather not over-rely on it.  According to Lazhira, the Illuminator was a fickle being who took away as readily as he gave, and Novak couldn't be sure if the mask might suddenly stop working.

Now with a light source, Novak was ready to explore and find his feline companion.  It was at this point that he realized that Narkissa and Lazhira had not followed him into the hole.  Were they really choosing to fight those slime monsters?  At this point there was nothing he could do for them, so he opted to proceed down the hallway and hope that his companions on the upper levels would make it out in one piece.  It wasn't like he'd be any help up there, since those things didn't look like they could be killed with a sword.

[color=ed1c24]"Leannah?  Can you hear me?"[/color]

To his left, and where the trail of crystals ended, was what used to be an entrance, but now, Novak didn't see any way of opening it.  The doorway to his right led to what looked like an old kitchen.  Novak briefly pondered as to whether anything in there might be of any use.  [color=ed1c24][i]There might be some cutlery in there but I already have my sword.[/i][/color]  The next room down appeared to be a dormitory.  Clearly this sublevel used to be a living area.

Novak proceeded further down to the end of the hallway.  Leannah was probably in the sealed room behind him, but he felt it'd be wise to look around first before attempting to deal with that dilemma.  Or perhaps he simply didn't want to be caught off-guard by anything in this eerie sublevel.  At the end of the hall there were two paths.  The path to the right led to a room with a pedestal.  The path to the left...he wasn't sure where it led.

[color=ed1c24][i]Just what is this place hiding, I wonder...[/i][/color]

Novak could feel his heart pounding as a feeling of trepidation rose within him.  He carefully down the crystal, and with his now freed hand, pulled out the mask and placed it upon his face.  With the mask on, he glanced at the pedestal room, then back at the sealed doorway of the hallway behind him, then at the passage leading away, hoping to discern clues to open the sealed room.  It might have been easier to simply hold the mask with his other hand, but this place gave Novak the willies and he wanted to keep his sword arm unoccupied.

[@Rune_Alchemist][@Crusader Lord]