Alistair sighed deeply. He was so close to reaching the Architect, but yet another hurdle was put in his path. Perhaps it was because he didn't sleep well with all the wyrms scuttling around at night, but he felt a bit irritated. He just wanted to get rid of these damned visions and return to Sunglow.
"So, how do we choose a path forward?" Elowen asked, staring at each tunnel in turn.
"I don't know. Do you hear anything?" Alistair asked, wondering if perhaps enhanced elven senses could help them this ti, too. Elowen peered into each tunnel in turn, and Alistair could see his ears perk up as he listened.
"I don't hear anything, but this tunnel on the right seems to have air flowing from it."
Alistair walked up to the tunnel, and indeed, there was a slight breeze coming from it. "Perhaps we should go here."
"Wouldn't it lead us to soplace outside?" Elowen questioned.
"It could, but if it becos obvious that it's the wrong path, we could circle back. But I believe it would be crucial to follow the different tunnel."
"I suppose we might as well."
So they followed the path on the right, a fresh breeze getting increasingly more noticeable the deeper they went. Soon they exited into another chamber, which had another three tunnels to choose from.
"Oh, no… This might be a maze. Probably a magical one at that," Elowen grumbled.
"Magical? It doesn't seem any different from any regular cave."
"Not on the surface, but it could be changing as we traverse through it, leading us astray."
"But there must be a way through."
"If we manage to follow the clue or find a way to disable the magic at hand, then we might get through. For now, we have no choice but to choose another path."
Alistair examined the tunnels carefully. This ti, each one was subtly different. One was barren and slled of mold—he didn't want to take that one. The other one had darker walls as if charred by fire. The last one had a bit of moss growing on the walls.
"Let's go this way," Elowen and Alistair spoke up at the sa ti. However, the elf was pointing at the charred entrance while Alistair pointed at the mossy one. They paused.
"Why that one?" Alistair asked.
"It seems like soone has been there before. Maybe they charred the walls to mark the right path."
"They might have as well marked the wrong path. I think we should go here."
"Why?"
"I-I don't know. I just have this strong feeling in my gut. I can't explain it better than that."
Elowen frowned and peered into the tunnel. He didn't seem to like the idea of going into the mossy tunnel, but after looking at Alistair, he conceded. "Very well. If you're feeling so strongly about it, then I won't argue."
So they continued walking through the maze, passing one crosspoint after the next. After having passed through seven such crosspoints, Alistair felt a bit of hopelessness seeping in. Were they already lost? Would they keep wandering these tunnels forever, unable to find the proper way forward? He wasn't sure if he rembered the proper way back.
But then the scenery changed. Bright light ca from the end of the tunnel, and both n began to run. Before long, they found themselves in a ginormous illuminated cavern. Naturally illuminated since the top of the cavern had a clear view of the blue skies.
Various lush plants grew in it, and animals and monsters alike road around it. Alistair wondered whether he should reach for the sword, but it didn't seem appropriate. The swamp boars were peacefully grazing next to deer while whistlewisps flew around the air, releasing their gentle song.
At the center of this underground paradise was a small hill upon which there was what could be described as a shrine. It was small, white, and made out of what looked like marble. Colorful flower vines stretched around its walls, and at the very center of it sat a creature unlike any other.
It was vaguely humanoid in shape, but its skin looked as if it were made from marbled quartz. It had six arms, each pair seemingly made from a different material. One pair looked to be made from tal, the second pair looked to be made from tree bark and vines, and the third from mist, appearing ethereal and untouchable.
"It's the Architect…" Elowen muttered in awe, staring at the creature.
Alistair couldn't avert his gaze. He wanted to go closer, but at the sa ti felt unworthy to do so.
"You've co far to et , echoing ones," the Architect spoke in a voice that was male and female, childish and old. Yet it wasn't grating but rather lodious. Despite the distance, it felt like it was speaking right next to them, and it didn't seem loud like yelling either. "Co closer."
Both of them obeyed instantly, walking through the lush grass. Alistair felt like he was defiling the place with his tal armor. He stepped carefully, trying not to destroy any of the beautiful flowers.
As he got closer to the Architect, he saw that it had no distinct facial features. Or rather, that they were changing all the ti. One mont they appeared feminine, then he blinked and they looked masculine. He blinked again, and they changed once more. Oddly enough, the transition was never jarring, but smooth and seamless. He also noticed that the Architect was floating in his shrine, its marbled toes just a few centiters above the floor.
"We are honored to et you, Voice of the System," Elowen said, bowing low to the Architect. Alistair bowed too, but the creature lifted one of its many arms, indicating that there was no need for that.
"I am no God. Please, raise your heads," the Architect said. "I am most pleased by your arrival. I was hoping that at least one of the echoed ones would find , but it appears I was blessed, as two of you have co."
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"Echoed ones?" Alistair asked. That seed like an odd way to address sobody.
"You'll understand when ti is due," the Architect said and motioned them to move closer. "Let see how far you've co."
Elowen stepped forward without hesitation, but Alistair was a bit more reluctant. The Architect placed its left tree hand on the elf's head and right tallic hand on Alistair's head. It felt cool, but strangely light. He had expected it to weigh him down, but it was no heavier than a feather.
After a minute of silence, it removed its hand and frowned. "Sha. You still do not rember much. Both of you have been secluded from the crucial events."
"Don't rember much? What does it an? Are you talking about my skill ? Do take into account that I'll have to delete the mories of our encounter then as well."
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