Going Feet First Ch. 03

Enough light came off this pillar to bathe the entire chasm in blue light while hundreds of crystals in the ceiling did as much to emulate a night sky as they did shine random beams of light back toward the ground of the chasm. Around the central pillar was a wide moat of water, fed by three steady waterfalls sourcing from the roof of the cavern.

Around the circumference of the chasm were thousands of lights from the countless houses carved both into the stone and built out of it. Several prominent, walled off fortresses, some still under construction, were built up as well. Each of these was evenly spaced apart in the circle, as though their owners had evenly divided the cavern up amongst each other.

Hundreds of homes and buildings were built up around these fortresses, spreading outward like small castle towns and the central pillar. Farms, or an underground equivalent of farms, were built around the moat that surrounded the central pillar. In addition, a large area of buildings and stalls were also built at one end of the moat, something Galen could only assume to be a new market place.

As for exits from this cavern, there were three tunnels visible from where Galen stood; each of them wide enough for a pair of tanks to roll through side-by-side. One was located not one hundred yards away from the outside of the Sun-Kissed compound, the other two were at either end of the chasm on Galen's left and right.

Having been overwhelmed with the size of the cavern and the many small beginnings of a new city, Galen almost didn't see the Castle being built into the central pillar, the walls that had been erected and the single bridge that crossed the moat leading to it.

"Faerssune was once the beginnings of a part human and part Dwarven city. But a century ago, many were killed off by tainted water and the rest left. Fifty years ago, Jrastra stumbled upon the cavern here, and lay claim to it in the name of our queen, our Val'sharess. Since then, we have been building and growing steadily."

"Why is Redding at war with you?" Galen asked as he awed at the central pillar.

"They believe they still own this subterrane. But they abandoned it, we claimed it. It is a city in its infancy, with resources the likes of which we had never seen. We will not lose control of it and give up forty years of sacrifice to pathetic human brats."

Galen only nodded in agreement as he rubbed his left arm, the entire limb tingling to no end as it emitted an uncontrollable white glow from around his vine tattoo. Dreek chuckled softly at his visible awe of the city, as did Keetle. Despite his rapture at the divinity of the city, one thing still held firm inside the soldier's mind, a thought that, no matter how distracted he became, never fled his mind.

I'm coming, Celia. Just a little time is all I need and then nothing will stand in my way.

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Author's note: Thanks for reading! I do enjoy reading comments and receiving feedback, both positive and critical, so feel free to let me know what you think and I'll be sure to reply!