[quote][color=1a7b30]“I appreciate the offer, but in their state I’m not sure I could identify most of them... nor am I certain whether there would be any next of kin to return them to.”[/color] With a wave of his hand he extinguished the second spark he had been using to inspect the bodies before continuing,  [color=1a7b30]“Aside from myself, I only know of twelve others that evaded the disappearance in Scheel, and I’m not entirely certain of their current whereabouts...”[/color][/quote]

"I... I see, I hope there is some answer you can earn from this expedition." Vesemir tapped the knight's pauldron and moved on. He was aware of how his offer could sound like a fake decency, but God knows he meant every word he said. 

"Feel bad for Master Rezello," he mused as he walked closer to Eblana and Jazdia. "Only nine survived, including him. I could only imagine how hard it is, being one of the few who survived."

Eblana could only sigh, while Jazdia had no comment on that matter. She turned and walked toward the exit, ready to leave this gloomy place. On her way, she noticed that Verdant was chatty again, which was a good thing. 


[quote][b][color=#38b000]"I dont think they're very smart at all. The light is an, uh, anom-ally? But none of them comes to check it out."[/color][/b]
[/quote]

"Now you say that, I agree. We have been wondering why, but considering this has been a tried-and-true trick, we rangers didn't think much about it." Answered mr Elc, fixing his mask before continuing. "The fact that whoever is above my pay grade doesn't show any interest in studying these creatures doesn't help either."  

[color=ec008c]"They would if it serves the national interest, but that's very unlikely given the history of this place. So, I'm afraid there won't be any nation-sponsored journal for it in the foreseeable future. Let's temper our hopes; we have come this far, which means our guesses are working. Those devourers aren't getting any smarter, but they might return. Let's get going." [/color]

As their brief visit to the grim chamber concluded, Jazdia, out of curiosity, glanced back. She could have sworn she saw the shadows of the fallen rematerialize as the light from Vesemir's lantern faded away.

The path ahead inclined gently, revealing openings that, in the dim light, appeared as a four-meter-wide chasm of unknown depth. Clusters of glowing mushrooms lined the sides of the path, sprouting on dried skeletons and gaps where blood and human remains were once stuck. 

Jazdia plucked one of the mushrooms and tossed it into the chasm, and it landed on what looked like a solid floor, just six meters below.

Not far from that 'chasm', the road in front of them was branched again. To the right or to the left? Their navigator had not made her choice, nor had she activated her eyes to check if they had gone astray. She simply stopped and inquired.

[color=ec008c]"The treasure is on the right path, our destination is to the left. What path will you choose?" 
[/color]