I followed the wierd creature through the forest surrounding the village. I got quite familiar with the area during my stay at the village and was quite confident that there was nothing in this direction for days. But old caves and an old hunting ground.

Where the hell is it going? I wonder.

Not long after I had that thought, the ball stopped. I ducked behind the nearest tree, trying to make as little sound as possible. It had stopped in a small clearing that was surrounded on all sides by wierd black trees. I started to wonder if it got stuck, as it was just sitting there without any movement. I was going to move closer to investigate but then I felt a vibration in the ground. It got more and more violent during the next couple seconds. I looked at the ball and my eyes widen in amazement as I see it start to sink into the ground. The many arms sticking out of it were folding inward, almost like they were trying to hug the ball. I can only watch as it sinks away. Before the ball can completely sink away I remember that there is an old cave nearby and I hoped that's where it was sinking to.

I leave as fast and as quietly as I can and head in the direction of the cave entrance. I was in this area last week hoping to find something to sell and found this cave. Of course when I get there it seems to have gotten a really creepy makeover. There were skeletons crushed and spread around. Patterns smeared in blood and what I hope is pigskin, sitting on an altar with a statue of a weird imp with what appears to be a wooden club between his legs. I didn't really want to know so I didn't inspect it any closer. I chant some detection spells on myself to check for any traps or alarms set up, and found a couple. They were created with some really corrupted Mana so for most people it would be impossible to dispell it. Unless you had some real expensive crystal to absorb it. I am broke so I obviously didn't have any crystal. However, what most people don't know is that corrupted spells have to be extremely specific. They can only do exactly what you tell them to.

The corrupted spell on the cave entrance was set to alert the people inside about any human intruders. So, me being an elf can just walk right in. The fact that this spell is here though gives me a bad feeling. Only the mad guild uses corrupted magic, and them being here is bad news. The mad guild used to be a guild of researchers called the ivy scholars. They focused on trying to find ways to enhance themselves using magic. They had found some promising spells that were meant to evenly spread mana around their bodies and improve their ability to cast spells. But after they cast the spell the mana surged through them, corrupting them. Changing them into something no longer human. They went on a rampage destroying everything around them, eventually being killed off by the king's army. They didn't find the bodies though.

As I go deeper in the cave I wonder why they came here? Then I remembered the villagers and I feared the worst. What if they are trying to summon a demon. Demons were eradicated before I was born as they are extremely aggressive and hate humans, but will kill anyone. If they brought the demons back there's no telling how many people will die. And if they figure out it's my fault I WONT GET PAID. The fact that I could lose my entire reward on this job was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I unsheath my sword And keep it ready.

As I walk I start to hear a slow chanting in what couldn't possibly be a language. In front of me is a large opening in the cave, obviously hollowed out with magic. The walls are saturated with gross, black and gray looking mana. Almost thick enough to see with the naked eye. In the large room were around 40 robed figures all chanting that nonesense, situated around something which I can only describe as a hole. It wasn't a pit, it didn't seem to go anywhere. It was just a pitch black hole. I didn't know what they were doing and I didn't want to know. I just needed to stop it, but my normal spells won't do anything against this many people.

I reach into my pack and pull out the most expensive thing I own. Cost me more than I spent on my sword, a tiny orange marble. I regretted it but I needed to use this. I put it on the ground and filled it with my mana. When I thought it had enough I stopped and picked it up. I brought my arm back and aimed, then tossed the small marble with all my might at the center of the circle. The marble floated in the middle of the group and then flashed and crumbled and fell into the dark hole on the ground. None of them even seemed to notice as I cursed my guildmaster name in every language I knew.

THAT BASTARD TOOK MY DAMN GOLD COINS AND GAVE ME A CHILDRENS TOY!!!

Oops. I inadvertantly shouted.

Every single one of their heads turned and looked at me.