Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 31 - 22 News from the Institute_2
31: Chapter 22 News from the Institute_2
31 -22 News from the Institute_2
“And this.” Dylan waved a Falcon Shield pulled from the Lava Lake towards Catherine, “Your shield is all battered and torn by the kids, you might as well use this one instead.”
“This is…” Catherine noticed something strange, cautiously took it over, gently flicked the shield face, and exclaimed in disbelief: “A Magicsteel Shield?”
“I have no idea.” Dylan shrugged it off, “No one knows what kind of steel it is.
More than two hundred years ago, some idiot broke in here, shouting a whole bunch of nonsense before attacking the kids.
He sent three poor little ones back to the embrace of lava.
We ended up frying him in the lake, but this shield didn’t melt.
I kept it as a collection.
It looks pretty much like your shield, so I thought I’d give it to you.
Is it useful?
If it’s not, I don’t have a different shield for you.”
“Too useful.” Catherine hesitated, “But it’s so precious, I shouldn’t accept.”
“I just don’t like this human habit of yours.” Dylan grumbled impatiently, “You helped me and ruined your weapons in the process, I just happen to have a replacement, so I’m giving it to you as compensation.
As for it being ‘precious’ and whether you should accept it, friends don’t fuss over these.”
Remembering Pannis’s previous description of the Fire Element’s temperament, Catherine laughed in realization, “I’m the one not acting like a friend.
I’ll accept it, thank you, my friend.”
Dylan quickly tempered his rage into joy, split into a wide grin, “That’s the right way to be a friend.”
“What about us?” Pannis chimed in nonchalantly, “Do we get any gifts?”
Dylan gave Pannis a look, “You guys didn’t break anything, so no gifts.
How about a passionate hug from your big sis as a present, eh?”
“No thanks, I don’t fancy being seen as a pervert with burnt clothes.” Pannis seemed to be a tad more cheerful in the company of the blunt Fire Element, even cracking a small joke before saying, “Let’s just ask you a few questions as our present.”
“You should have said that sooner.” Upon hearing Pannis’s words, Dylan moved to a corner by the waterfront near the wall, sat down, and transformed from the bottom up into a big dancing flame, groaning comfortably, a voice from within the flame asked, “And your question is?”
“Did you just say that two humans cast spells on your children?” Catherine was surprised at Dylan’s transformation into a flame and almost forgot her question.
“Yes, didn’t I mention that earlier?” The flame responded with a slight flicker, “There were two humans, one tall, one fat, and the other thin, both wearing the same type of cloak.”
“Do you remember their faces?”
“Nope.” The fire wavered, “Unless they leave a particularly deep impression, we’re not very good at remembering human faces.”
“What about these two?” Catherine pulled out a sketch and unfurled it before the flames.
Out from the flames appeared Dylan’s face, she glanced at the sketch, “Yes, these are the two.
They both seem to be mages, devoid of any life signs, they probably wouldn’t be attacked by magical creatures while wandering the caves.”
“So, have you seen them before?” Catherine probed further.
“Not that I can recall, if I had, it would definitely have seemed strange and I would not forget.” Dylan replied with certainty, “Why, do you know them?”
“They’ve attacked other adventurers in these caves a few days back.” Catherine explained, “And I suspect that the recent strange happenings with the Cave Dwellers and the wolf packs returning to their dens early could be related to them.
They’re up to something for sure, and I think they will be back.”
“That much I don’t know.” Dylan, in her flame form, said in a languid tone, “Though I do hope they return.
Prepared to face the wrath of the flames, they won’t get the chance to release any spells at the kids again.”
“One more question.” Pannis, seeing that Catherine didn’t have any more questions, cut in, “Have you ever heard of a research facility here a long time ago?”
“Research facility?” Dylan echoed in confusion, “What is that?”
“Ah…” Pannis was stumped momentarily, unsure of how to explain, he made some gestures before resigning, “Just think of it as some kind of man-made structure.”
“Man-made structure?
Never seen it.” Dylan, her upper body now taking shape within the flames, shook her head, “As you know, we rarely leave the Lava Lake.”
“That’s a shame.” Pannis said, disappointment in his tone, “This is the reason why we decided to venture here; we’ve been searching for this man-made structure.”
“Wait.” Dylan cut Pannis short, “How long ago did you say it was?”
“I don’t know exactly, but it was a while ago.” Pannis indulged, “I reckon, at least seven hundred years ago.
We found out about the large scale appearance of demonic creatures here just over six hundred years ago.
It stands to reason that there wouldn’t be anyone foolish enough to set up a research facility in a place full of demonic energy, so it has to be at least seven hundred years old.”
“Let me think, let me think.” Dylan’s upper body dissipated back into the blazing flames once more, leaving only a head bobbing above flame, face donned with a thoughtful expression, “I think one of the older folks did mention it once while telling a story.
There was such a man-made structure, massive and enclosed by a metal wall.”
“Do you know where it is?” Catherine asked anxiously, “Finding it is very important to us.”
“I have no idea.” Dylan bluntly doused Catherine’s hope, “Like I’ve told you, we hardly ever leave the Lava Lake, how would we know?
However, I do recall the elder mentioning that the structure was built in a place where we can’t go.”
“I see.” Pannis gave a shout of realization, “Thank you, Dylan.”
“You got it?” Dylan shot Pannis a bizarre look, “Even I don’t know where I was referring to.”
Pannis pulled out the hand-drawn map from his bag again, pointing at a few spots on the map, “There are thirteen abnormal temperature points in the lower caves; six are of low temperature, out of which one is suspected to be buried under a cold stone vein deep underground.
The other five are caused by unknown sources of Cold Energy emanating from underground.
Your elder said it’s a place you guys couldn’t reach, so it’s definitely one of those five cold energy concentration points.
That significantly narrows our search scope; Dylan, you’ve been a great help.”
The head bobbing above the flames hardly concealed the joy of helping friends, her face wore a satisfied smile, “Glad I could be of help.”
“One more thing.” Pannis glanced at the unmoving Vivian, “It looks like we won’t be able to set off today; we will have to stay here overnight.”
“No problem.” The Dylan-transformed flame sprang up in elation, danced above the Lava Lake, exclaimed, “Everyone, we have guests tonight!
Quickly, prepare for a bonfire party.”
Pannis shrugged, helplessly explained to the ladies, “They, uh, like the festive mood, they are always like this.”
“Seems like they are fond of bonfire parties.”
“Actually, they just like being the bonfire.”
