Advent Noion

12

they sneak outside of the cavern prison, following aufri's guidance to the exit, through arches of flowstone, dimly lit pools of helix water, and across floating rafts of calcite.

aufri shushes the pair from ahead, "shhh!"

a voice calls out, "glory!"

fablio's voice, "tonight... toniggghtt!"

another voice, "hahaha!"

a raspy voice declares, "when the bridge is taken care of, we can really control this town!"

a harsh voice, "you're a genius! the master plan!"

the raspy voice, "haha!"

a deep, booming voice, "the master plan!"

another voice, "to the master plan!"

a voice cries out, "to glory!"

glasses clink and everyone can be heard drinking.

-

he scratches his head, "master plan?"

she looks confused, "what the hell were they talking about?"

aufri panics, "what if they destroy the bridge?"

he shakes his head, "it doesn't sound good... but what business is that to us?"

she nods, "i've had enough adventure today. let's go back to the inn."

he laughs "ha, finally! that sounds like a good idea for once."

aufri worriedly repeats himself, "wait! what about the bridge?"

she shrugs indifferently, "who cares?"

he shakes his head, "not me."

-

they recline on the floor at the inn, trying to sleep in vain.

she grins, looking at him, "jfion, how do you plan on giving aufri my underwear?"

he nervously looks away, "uh, it was our only option to get aufri's help..."

she laughs, "ha, answer my question."

he looks at her, surprised, "won't you just give them to me?"

she withdraws in horror, "eh, no way!"

he looks to her legs, contemplating something, "perhaps i'll just take them when-"

she grimaces, throwing a pillow at him, "like hell! forget about that! i'll get lepa to kick you out if you even try."

he shudders, "i can't survive without lepfna's brew... consider it forgotten."

-

they decide to visit lepfnanbol's spirit-house resting near the warehouse to hand over their gathered herbs and soon find themselves drinking the night away with his latest brew.

lepfnanbol stands up, "...ya bet, and we might even be leavin tomorrow!"

she smiles, "where to, lepa?"

lepfnanbol nods, "embiorka village! it's just a few a days over the bridge if we-"

he interrupts, his face turning pale, "the... the bridge?"

lepfnanbol stretches, yawning, "ahh. ya heard right, etla bridge."

they sweat, glancing nervously toward one another.

lepfnanbol heads to another room, "i'll be goin off to bed now, ya need to lock the hatch when ya leave for the inn, and don't forget to-"

she interrupts lepfnanbol, "okay, lepa! nighty night!"

silence.

she looks to him, anxiously, "lepa said we will cross the bridge... it will be fine, right?"

he smiles, laughing nervously, "haha... yes! i'm sure the bridge will be good to cross..."

-

aufri pops open the floor-hatch, shouting, "there's a monster! the bridge has a-"

she steps on the hatch, "shut up! lepa's asleep and i'm trying to get drunk!"

she crashes back onto the couch.

he rolls over, half-asleep, "the... what... a monster?"

she shrugs, "who knows-"

aufri pops the hatch once more, pleading to her, "master, you gotta help me!"

she laughs, "ha, why is that?"

aufri thinks for a moment, smiling, "because i helped you!"

he nods, eyes shut, "mmmm... does seem fair."

she scoffs at aufri, "helped? yeah, you helped in exchange for my underwear! i'll help only if you forget about your perverted deal, both of you."

he thinks momentarily, before nodding his head, "uh, sounds good."

aufri smiles, "master, lead the way!"

she kicks him, "you lead the way, you little bastard! i don't even know where the bridge is."

aufri rubs his injured head, proudly declaring, "ow! okay, i'll lead the way!"

she kicks him again, "stop with that, just go already!"

aufri cowers away from her, "ow! okay! i'm going, i'm going!"

-

aufri points excitedly, "see! there it is! a monster, i told you!"

he steps back in awe, "it's huge!"

a collossal spirit-barnacle has embedded itself onto the bridge, completely blocking the path to the other side, with a mouth tentacle as thick as a tree dangling about above, glowing brightly.

she cranes her neck looking up at the beast, "ah! what the hell is that thing!"

aufri cheers for her, "master, go beat it up!"

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aan