Master Of None

"I guess if you are done sketching we don't really have anywhere else to go. The other stairway is collapse and it might take a long time to dig out to see if the ruin is any bigger." Walker was a little depressed that it had been so small. He knew that the ruin had given them very important knowledge and some very amazing gear. But it was just sad that h wouldn't have more to explore and look for. 

"Most of the time when we try and excavate the collapsed portions of ruins it ends up leading to more collapsed places. We would end up just digging to the surface for nothing. You may forget how deep we are underground, but for some reason, it was normal to bury the more important people deeper in the ground. The going theory is based on strength. Look at that skeleton we encountered." 

Walker heard Zeniths' words and started to realize that this did seem true. Every time they had heard about the ruins, they heard about them being deeper and found by the miners in the deep caves instead of near the surface. 

"I think that it is to avoid the undead that can come back. It's a good theory. The ancient peoples would have been able to protect themselves if the powerful undead were deep down and away. The ember skeleton would have done great damage to the average people." Su put everything in a logical order and summed up the theory. It was all too true and Walker wondered why this act had disappeared through the generations. 

"I wonder if there were fewer priestess system uses or exorcist type system users back then." Walker thought that this would easily explain why there were also more ruins dug deeper and many more undead coming back to life. 

"Could be. Most ruins only have pictures or documents that have been translated showing small villages and small scale battles. There are much fewer grand cities or large armies." Zenith had some knowledge on these things since she mapped out a few ruins or caves. However, she didn't know everything because that would require one of the archivists or code breakers. 

"Well, I think we have rested and learned a lot. But we should head back. There are plenty of other things to do and I am sure that one of the kings is waiting for your maps?' Walker knew that it was most likely the king of the deep caves and the elder that wanted to see what she had sketched out. 

"Yes! I need to tell them all about what we found. I want them to come and look at the walls themselves but that is really if the rune based system users allow them. Whenever we find a rune in a ruin they get a little possessive. Oh, and can you take the chests back with you? I know you have that spatial magic like my back pack." Walker nodded and stored the stone chests away. 

"What did you mean about your back pack having spatial magic?" Su beat Walker to the question.

"Well, I received a quest to create it using certain monster parts. After I did I was required to leave it in a pitch black cave filled with cold water for one week. I guarded that cave against any possible light like it was the end of my life if I didn't. The result was a map bag that could store my maps, ink, quills, charcoal, really any of my tools. Weight and size doesn't matter. It's very useful. I just wish I could store food and potions in it. But it is limited to map making materials." 

Walker was comparing it to the methods Gil needed to follow to get his quiver that could store near endless arrows. The two items were specific to their systems and would help them make the best of them. "Sounds like you will be able to travel pretty much anywhere and be able to gather the information and create maps." This was another positive aspect of having such a spatial item.

The group continued to chat a little as they headed back the way they came when Walker realized something, "Should we deal with the skeletons that are making noise in their stone coffins? They are trapped there so I don't think they are a danger, but it still feels weird to just leave them." As much as he said he didn't fear leaving them, Walker did have a slight worry that they would somehow get out and harm someone. 

"No, they should be fine. When the archivists and others come there will be guards that are required to come. Normally I would go with guards as well, but they are busy with the reconstruction and slime hunting. I just didn't want to wait and had the opportunity. I couldn't just let it pass me by." Zenith looked at Su who had rescued her and presented the perfect opportunity for her. 

With the word from Zenith, they continued on. Onyx had taken a spot on Midnight's back and was vigilant as ever when they reentered the rock horned vipers' nest. "Brother, things have changed. It looks like more were fighting. Some are even defeated." 

The sight was a mess of rocks and three rock horned viper bodies on the dusty floor. The mutated rock horned viper was coiled in the middle of them with its' head held high. It was scanning the next for more challengers since it had been teamed up on for the nest it had guarded. Now it was certainly the most dominant of the nest and none would dare oppose it. 

"We should lay low. I don't think we should defeat it if the breeders are going to come here. We can sneak out wa-" Walker heard the crumble of stones and realized Zenith had tripped over a crumbling stalagmite. The mutated rock horned viper did not even hesitate in its' actions to attack them.

…..

….