The Newt and Demon-8.10 - Inside a Volcano

The first thing Theo remembered after folding the void in on itself was a falling sensation. Then he felt the heat of the volcano. It was intense enough for him to reflexively create a shielding ward around himself, but it did nothing to diminish the fires of the volcano. An instant later, he was falling on his face, slamming into warm rock and smelling the sulfur all around him.

"I thought I had said to teleport us outside of the volcano, near one of the tunnels that lead into it." Fenian shouted, screaming a moment later, "My feather is on fire!"

Theo knew he had to think quickly. As Fenian had said, they were supposed to teleport to the outside of the volcano and had instead found themselves inside the caldera. They were on a ledge overlooking the swirling pool of molten rock below. The heat was intense enough that those without higher vigor would perish soon. Through instinct, he formed a spell in his mind, combining aspects of a spherical barrier with properties from the Manashroom. He created a field of cold that sprang up around them, mingling with his aura to chill the surrounding air.

Fenian stomped on his hat, suppressing the fire that had sprung up there. Tresk was laughing, rolling on the ground, while both Jan and Twist looked on with concern.

"I can't understate how difficult it is to teleport us to a place where I don't know we're going," Theo said, slightly offended that any of the responsibility for what had happened would be placed on his shoulders. It wasn't as though he was using a precise method of transportation; he was making guesses.

“Well, well, we’re all alive,” Fenian said, scooping up his hat and inspecting it. “Except for my poor hat, my poor brand new hat.”

"I think it looks cool," Tresk said, giving Fenian a thumbs-up.

“Volcano chic,” Theo said idly, looking around the interior of the volcano. Without the shield, they would’ve been dead by now. But with it, they were granted a rare view. “We’re actually inside a volcano. This is weird.”

“I’ve actually been here a few times. Before the first big reset,” Fenian said, looking around. “Elrin used to train inside the volcano. He said it made him stronger, but I’m not so sure.”

“Considering how much stronger he is than you, I think it might’ve worked,” Jan said. “What are we looking for?”

“A few things,” Theo said. “I think we can make the dissolving potion if we find a specific mushroom and a rock.”

"What are the chances we find any of those things here, so close to the surface?" Fenian asked, humming to himself. "Now, if I had to guess, we're going to have to delve deep. So, first we should start by finding a passage and following it downward. If I had to guess, we'll end up under some lava tubes, which I know won't be pleasant. But, as long as we have Theo's lovely little barrier here, I think we'll be fine."

The group searched the immediate area, with Theo expanding the bubble of cold to encompass more of the caldera. Eventually, Twist found a passage carved into the wall of the volcano itself. It was clear that this had been made by the ogres, given its massive size. The temperature dropped significantly when they entered the passage, and Theo couldn't determine whether it was a magical effect or just the heat-shielding properties of the rock itself. Of course, the passage was ogre-sized, meaning the group could move unimpeded. However, that did nothing to alleviate the maze-like quality of the tunnels themselves.

Nothing grew within those first tunnels the group explored, and it was a real pain to move just about anywhere. They would take a turn angling toward the caldera itself and then find tunnels flooded with lava. If not for the cold barrier, they would have been incinerated several times. But thanks to it, they were able to double back and take another path. Still, the progress they made was slow. Theo even considered using his earth sorcerer's core to etch a path somewhere deeper, but he feared hitting another lava tube and ruining what little chance they had to find their way deeper.

"I can't say I'm enjoying myself," Twist said, breaking an hour-long silence that had permeated the group. "I can see why no one ever comes to these cursed islands."

“Wait,” Tresk said, hitting the ground and narrowing her eyes. “I smell ogre.”

They had worked their way up for a while, hoping to find a passage that led deeper. It was against the logic Theo felt in his mind, but whatever. The tunnels were confusing enough that he would’ve taken any approach at this point. Tresk vanished from sight a moment later, and the remaining group fell into silence. The alchemist could feel her scouting ahead, searching for the ogre she had smelled. Fifteen minutes later, she appeared before them.

“Yup. Found a big room with a bunch of fat ogres,” Tresk said, shaking her head. “Also, did I mention this place is hot? Don’t stray from the barrier if you can help it.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“What’s the plan? Should we…” Theo watched as Fenian marched down the tunnel. “We’re just going in?”

“Come, now. I have a way with ogres!”

Theo really doubted that, but he didn't know the kind of high jinks Fenian truly got up to in his free time. Perhaps he really did have a decent relationship with the ogres. There was only one way to find out. They headed down the tunnel and followed the twists and turns detailed by Tresk. She showed them where to go, and eventually, they found themselves in a cavern that opened up from the tunnels. The alchemist had absolutely no idea how she had smelled the ogres from such a distance, but he wouldn't complain. Instead, he left it to Fenian to make first contact.

The room itself was large, with several pillars in the center acting as support. Stone furniture littered the area, and it appeared to be more of a barracks than anything else. Three ogres occupied the space, just as large as the other ogres Theo had seen during his time in this world. They wore shoddy armor made from rusted and dented plates of metal that seemed to be more the leavings of a scrapyard than that of an armorer's forge. All three turned to the group as they entered the room.

Fenian held his hands wide, his trademark smile plastered across his face. He began babbling in a guttural tongue that must have belonged to the ogres. Theo might have heard a few words from their language in the past, but he couldn't make out anything the man said. Instead, he left it to him, all the while keeping his various spells and potions at the forefront of his mind, just in case something went wrong.

"What do you think they're saying?" Theo asked, cocking his head to the side as he listened to the babbling language.

"Who knows?" Trask said. "But it looks like the ogres are trying to decide whether they want to kill him or eat him. I'm betting they're going to eat him. I hear elf is delicious."

"It looks like whatever he's saying, it's working," Jan said, shaking his head. "That man is truly a man of the people. Look, they're inviting him over to drink something."

Fenian had a grimace on his face as he followed the ogres. They led him to a central place in the wide cavern and scooped a wooden mug of something from a large stone barrel. That was when Theo noticed that the temperature in this room wasn't as bad as the tunnels outside. He suspected it was either further from the center of the volcano or it had some kind of magical shielding.

When Fenian took a drink from his mug, he made a sound as though he was enjoying the drink before turning back to the group. “Help me,” he mouthed before gagging.

“Thanks for taking one for the team, buddy,” Twist said, performing a strange salute. “You’ll be missed.”

“I’ll attend the funeral,” Tresk said, nodding and wiping an imaginary tear from her face.

Fenian became locked in some game with the ogres where he drank too much grog. When he tried to bring attention to the others of his group, the ogres were having none of it. They made the poor elf drink even more, slapping him hard on the back and roaring with laughter. Theo had to use every bit of his will to keep himself from laughing. By the end of it, Fenian’s face was green and he looked as though he would vomit at any moment. He staggered over to the group, swaying as he moved and glaring at everyone.

“Thanks for the assist,” he slurred, jabbing a finger back at the ogres. “They don’t give a alligator’s ass if we’re here, despite the information I had on this place.”

“Really?” Theo asked. “You said they were guards.”

“No, they’re apparently just here to drink,” Fenian said. “This site stopped being holy when Spit went bye-bye. Ogres are weird. They just dropped their god when it vanished.”

“Savage,” Tresk said, nodding with approval. “I like it.”

“But they got them monsters down low,” Fenian said, falling to one side and bracing himself against the wall. “Can you cure alcohol poisoning?”

“Not me,” Theo said with a shrug. He withdrew some Moss Nettle from his inventory, adding it to a flask. He got to work on creating a Stamina Potion with his new method. “But I can make something that’ll perk you up for a while.”

“Please,” Fenian begged.

“What level are you?” Theo asked, mixing his mana with the reagent and drawing all its power out to create the familiar goop.

“That’s a very personable question,” Fenian said.

“He means ‘personal’,” Tresk clarified.

“If I get your rank wrong, you may experience side-effects,” Theo said, watching as the goop finished forming. Now he could dilute it to the strength required for Fenian.

“Guess away, sexy man,” Fenian said, falling over.

Theo dialed the strength of the potion in around Rank 6 to be safe. He guessed Fenian was higher than Level 60, but he hadn’t had too much liquor. The sobering effects of an under-ranked potion should’ve been good enough to get him on his feet without making him feel the bees under his skin. After diluting the potion to the appropriate strength, the alchemist handed over a vial of his mock Stamina Potion.

“Here’s to my good looks,” Fenian said, tipping it back. He paused after the liquid slid down his throat, twitching on the spot for a few moments. After rolling his shoulders, he looked around and adjusted his hat. “I’m not completely sober, but that did the trick.”

“Perfect,” Theo said, helping the elf to his feet. “I’d like to get going before the other ogres turn their ire toward us.”

“An excellent idea,” Fenian said. He tested his balance before giving everyone a big smile. “Now I can lead us to the appropriate tunnel.”

They had to pass through the large room with the three ogres first. Theo averted his gaze as to not catch their attention. They still stood near the big barrel of grog, all laughing to each other and jeering in their native tongue. Just as they passed beyond the ogres, the alchemist heard one say “lightweight,” in the Qavelli tongue.

“I cannot hold my liquor, but I can remember the path forward!” Fenian proclaimed. “Onward to adventure, my fellows!”

New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com