Chapter Text
Artis Artisian really isn’t sure about this. All in all it’s one of Fidan’s more crazy schemes, and Artis is really hoping Dain or Teb will say something. Because here’s the thing. Artis and Dain and Teb and Fidan have known eachother for three whole years, ever since a disastrous group project in the first year that got them landed in detention, and if Artis has learned anything in that time it’s that Fidan despises cowards. And, well, Artis doesn’t know if opposing himself to sneaking through a hidden door that Fidan found while stealing food from the kitchens makes him a coward. He doesn’t think it does, however, Fidan might. And the other thing, the thing that’s complicating matters so frightfully, is Artis is even more afraid of Fidan disliking him than he is of any magical doors.
”It’s probably just food-storage anyway” says Dain but Artis can see his gray eyes are widened with interest. He’s certainlynot opposing himself, then. That leaves Teb, however as is customary for breakfast, he is half asleep in his porridge. Artis takes a deep breath.
Fidan is… Artis and Fidan are complicated. At first they really didn’t get along. Artis was quiet, nervous and honestly quite antisocial, and Fidan was the stark opposite. Where Artis had come from a small, quiet household living only with his mother, Fidan had arrived the third of her seven siblings to attend Wildcliff, and brought with her all the energy and noise of a home filled with children and cheer. Artis had thought she was absolutely insufferable, and he is pretty sure Fidan didn’t know he existed.
It had been a friendship built on coincidental meetings. First, the group project with Dain and Teb, where Artis finally found a voice. The disasterous execution was caused by pretty much all of them in equal measure, though Fidan had felt especially bad for suggesting the topic: capturing and studying Monty the cat who neither of them had realized a) belonged to one of the Independent Researchers and 2) was incredibly proficient with his claws. They had slowly grown from strangers to reluctant friends, a trend that only increased as Artis was assigned to tutor Fidan in history and biology after the first midterms. As it turned out, they had a lot in common and frequently wasted their study sessions by simply talking and getting along. And, as they say, it was all downhill from there.
Smoothly leading to this moment, right in the middle of breakfast rush where Artis is unsure because Fidan just suggested breaking and entering a hidden door in the kitchens and she’s smiling so brilliantly Artis is helpless to do anything but nod along. Fidan takes this reluctant acquiescence as rousing endorsement, as she is wont to do in most situations and her brown eyes sparkle conspiratorially. Artis smiles carefully back. Nothing to do but hope it really is just food-storage, then.
——-
”Holy shit! Guys, it’s some kind of tunnel!”
Artis quickly glances over his shoulder as Fidan exclaims, worried despite the long corridor between them and the Reliquary that someone might have heard her. Nothing answers but echo, and when he looks back Fidan’s already casting Light and stepping through the stone door. Teb shivers at his side, but moves to enter after her. Artis sighs, swallows down anxiety and tries to focus on the small tinge of excitement he feels at figuring out what exactly is down that hallway. He can’t exactly go back now.
So, as it turns out, the space definitely isn’t food storage.
Artis is having difficulty processing the sheer sight of what lies before him. They have followed the tunnel all the way to a staircase. A massive room carved almost entirely in rock and most certainly centuries old, if Dain’s geology expertise can be trusted, surrounds them. The staircase is perhaps best described as massive, spiraling down from the ledge they had stopped at into darkness below. Artis feels confused, intrigued and pretty much terrified but he pushes down the fear and looks to his friends. Teb is shivering in the cold but looks absolutely enchanted, repeatedly running a hand through his curly brown hair as he mutters about treasures and artifacts.
He’s always been, well, Artis doesn’t want to say obsessed because he cares for Teb a great deal and honestly his passion is as inspiring as it is occasionally worrying, but fascinated by objects. As long as Artis has known him Tebathe has been a collector, of anything from shiny rocks to books and even toys. Going anywhere near a market with the boy always ends up a disaster, however Artis somehow always manages to find something for himself that ends up being really useful at the same time so he can’t be too upset. Not that he would be, anyway. Tebathe is a kind person and the best listener Artis has ever known. Which is why he’s presently shrugging off his school robes and, careful not to trip in the darkness, draping them over his friend’s shoulders. Teb’s mumblings pause for just a moment, long enough for Artis to catch an uttered ”thanks,” before Teb wraps the robe firmly around his shoulders and continues onward.
Artis, not wanting to be left behind, hurries after, down the winding staircase two steps at a time.
——-
”Power from Progress, Progress from Might, Might from Reverence, Reverence from Power” Fidan recites aloud, crouched on the ground next to the Hatch.
Teb hums thoughtfully. ”A poem, perhaps? Or some kind of warning.”
Artis isn’t looking at the Hatch. His eyes flit nervously between the four massive statues that surround them. He can’t quite shake the feeling that they’re looking at him, even though their faces are shrouded in darkness and they’re statues honestly Artis stop being such a baby. He swallows thickly, gripping his wand tight and keeps his eyes on the darkness while his friends investigate.
”It’s sunken” Dain exclaims, voice laced with confusion and surprise. ”There’s no other explanation!”
He’s crouched by the edge of the Hatch, running his hands over it as he speaks and trailing patterns in the dust. Artis hurries over, followed closely by the others.
”There’s no gap, no ridges, no nothing!” Dain’s voice is breathy and shrill, caught somewhere between excitement and fear. ”The way I see it there’s two explanations. Either this place was built by some kind of super-advanced society with masonry that’s out of this world or…”
”It’s sunken?” Fidan is dropping into a crouch beside him, bringing her light down to inspect the ledge in more detail. Artis knows he’d be useless at identifying whatever they’re talking about, so he keeps his eyes trained the closest statue; an imposing-looking lady seated on an equally imposing throne.
”Well,” Fidan stands back up and dusts off her pants. ”There doesn’t seem to be a way to open it at any rate. And I’m super curious about what’s in those tunnels over there.”
She hums, playing with the ball of light as Dain gathers his things. ”A sunken hatch and an unexplored ruin, huh? This is shaping up to be a real adventure, don’t you think?”
Artis can’t help but nod in response.
——-
As it turned out, the various tunnels held only further questions. After a ghastly experience with a chamber crawling with bugs which Artis and Teb had unanimously decided would remain resolutely unexplored (Fidan and Dain hadn’t needed much convincing), and another strange dead end room with three seemingly unopenable urns, they’d finally come upon a room where they were making some progress.
”They’ve gotta be some kind of tests,” Dain says, leaning against one of the chamber walls. ”My guess is magical prowess. See this here-” he gestures to the large bronze ball, neatly placed on a plinth in the middle of the room. ”Seems tailor-made for some kind of transmutation exam, don’t you think? Telekinesis and the like.”
Artis nods slowly. ”So, what? We’ve found some kind of abandoned exam dungeon?”
Over by the plinth, Fidan and Teb are deep into a debate on whether it’s possible to push the ball up the slope with sheer force, or if they should employ some kind of magical solution. Dain and Artis had been given the task of investigating the room for further clues, though they had quickly declared it barren and given up the search.
”It’s at least worth a try!” Teb declares, taking a resolute stance and beginning to chant the words to the spell Dimension door. The air swirls and thickens in front of him, dust and grime whipping up from the floor as Teb begins to fade into the darkness. The giant ball, however, is staying resolutely corporeal and Teb eventually has to admit defeat, slumping against it with a sigh.
”Well, that may be so,” Dain continues, giving a vague gesture of encouragement at Teb’s slumped form. ”But it’s not part of Wildcliff, no way. The school’s not nearly as old as this place.”
Artis furrows his brow. ”What, then?”
Dain shrugs with a grin. ”What do suppose went on here before it got turned into a school?”
The question lodges itself in the very back of Artis’s mind, a small prick of distraction as the rest of him puts his energy in to convincing Fidan that unleashing a chaos bolt almost definitely wouldn’t provide enough momentum to propel the ball up the slope.
In the end, as is usual for them, the most outlandish of their proposals turns out to be the one that works. It involves fastening a rope to the top of the slope with Teb’s Mage hand, which Fidan immediately climbs without any greater difficulty, holding it taught as Dain picks up Teb and settles him on his shoulders before turning to climb the slope himself. Teb, fully focused on maintaining a Floating disk beneath the ball, almost falls off at least twice, but in the end they reach the top.
Artis’ gaze followed his friends as they put the plan to works, except somewhere around when Dain first began climbing the rope his vision goes fuzzy and just for a second, an instant he’s somewhere far, far away. When he returns, the whiplash is so intense it leaves his heart racing and legs trembling and somewhere, hidden just out of sight, a voice whispers take them.
Take them, and free me.
From the slope high above Fidan cheers triumphantly as the metal ball rolls onto a switch. Down below, Artis Artisian is moving toward the plinth and it doesn’t quite feel like his hands are his own when he reaches down into a newly opened compartment and picks up a yellow, gleaming orb.
Might has been recovered the whisper chants and Artis blinks awake in startled confusion, feeling as though he’s just resurfaced from being submerged in water. When he looks down, his hands are trembling and he feels rather nauseous. The Orb of Might lays heavy in his hands.
——
Artis sleeps uneasily that night. He keeps waking up, gasping for breath, feeling inexplicably like he’s running, though he doesn’t know from what. The artifact from the hatch is placed neatly on his bedside table, and sometimes when Artis opens his eyes he feels like it’s watching him. Following him.
They hadn’t explored much more of the cavern that night. Teb had been exhausted from casting such heavy magic and Artis hadn’t been able to hide his discomfort for very long, either. Fidan may be completely stubborn, but she wasn’t unreasonable and even she had conceded they had seen plenty enough for one night. She had made them all promise to come down again, though, and every time Artis thinks about that his stomach squeezes with fear. He can’t help feeling like they woke something terrible with their explorations. They escaped with their lives once, but that’s no guarantee they’ll keep being lucky.
When the sun rises in the morning, Artis feels his exhaustion like a heavy weight, pressing his limbs firmly down onto the mattress. When he gets up to get dressed, he thinks he sees something other than his reflection, just for a moment. He shudders, covers the mirror with a blanket just in case.
As he makes his way from his dorm to breakfast, he remains acutely aware of just how many dark corners and nooks he passes. Hiding places, for him or for something else.
He lasts the entire morning, spending first and second period listlessly scribbling notes even though he can barely hear his professors speak over the racing of his own heart. It’s a sunny day, and that helps. Fidan catches up with him in the hallway on the way to lunch, and that helps too. Artis feels a bit more like himself when he listens to her ramble about the newest adventure novel she’s picked up. He’s never quite appreciated Fidan’s ability to keep a conversation going with minimal input from anyone but herself before. He certainly does now.
He’s got third period with Dain, and he’s never been more relieved to see his friend waving at him. They sit down next to eachother and Dain places his geology book in the middle of the table since Artis forgot his this morning and neither of them say anything more but Artis, inexplicably, gains some of his focus back all the same.
Hanging out with Dain is the best remedy for stress that Artis knows, so when class is finished and Dain suggests they skip fourth period and go outside, Artis immediately agrees. He doesn’t even bother to check what his fourth period is, and he knows Dain probably didn’t either.
They wind up walking down a small pathway behind the newly constructed Zoology building, in an area that’s as close to secluded as you can reasonably get without climbing down the mountain. Dain and Artis come here reasonably often, usually during exam periods to chat or play cards and forget about the looming threat of school for a little bit. There’s a small tinge of coldness to the breeze and leaves that are just beginning to turn yellow hang above them in huge clusters. Somehow, even though there are more hiding spaces than ever before, Artis doesn’t feel as compelled to search them anymore.
Dain’s laugh is bright and easy as he tells Artis about an incident from his first period class and Artis responds in turn, feeling lighter with every step. Eventually Dain stops, sets down his school backpack and procures a deck of cards. He doesn’t mention the Hatch and Artis doesn’t know if it’s because he noticed Artis’ discomfort, wouldn’t put it past him- Dain is more perceptive than he’s given credit for- , or simply a very lucky coincidence. Artis doesn’t bring it up either, and they sit in a companionable silence playing cards until the sun goes down and dew starts to gather on the ground around them.
———
When Fidan asks Artis if he wants to study after school the next day, Artis knows for sure they’ve conspired without him.
She doesn’t even bother denying it either, which makes it all the more infuriating (and endearing).
”You got freaked out down there. Frankly, I don’t really blame you, it was dark and creepy as all hell. Besides, I need help with history.”
Artis, of course, doesn’t even contemplate saying no for a second. Fidan’s expression is serene like a glittering lake and Artis has to look away because he can feel his cheeks heating up just from looking at her.
Of course, Fidan is no Dain and she’s not known to easily put aside something she’s curious about. At least it’s no surprise why she’s struggling with her history, especially since she drags Artis along to look up books on ancient archeology for at least half an hour before they even start studying.
They’ve been rehearsing the causes and effects of the Second Dwarven Revolution for nearly an hour when she finally breaks.
”Gods, I wonder what’s down there,” she mumbles, almost absentmindedly, before seemingly catching herself. Her freckled cheeks turn a bit red, and Artis’s heart skips a beat even as dread coils in his stomach.
”Shit, sorry!” She blurts immediately, shifting in her seat and almost dislodging the large book she’s perched on her knees. ”I know I shouldn’t bring it up- I’m just so curious.”
Artis doesn’t know how to respond, wants to reassure her that it’s alright and beg her to forget about it all in one.
”I’m curious too,” he says at last. It’s true. He’s afraid, but undeniably curious all the same.
”Like, I dunno what’s in that Hatch but it’s gotta be important, right? And, like, I can’t find a record of it anywhere, so it’s possible we might have made a genuine discovery here. It’s absolutely maddening to have to focus on, ugh Braccusim XII and some stupid revolutions when there’s a veritable goldmine full of mystery and adventure beneath our feet!”
Artis nods along, soothed by the melody of her voice. Right now, among dusty books and sun rays that make Fidan’s hair shine like gleaming copper, it’s very easy to put the Hatch aside. Sure, it’s dark and creepy, but what evidence does Artis have that it’s actually dangerous other than some feelings and a nightmare?
Fidan turns a page in her book, pouting all the while. Artis doubts she’s actually reading at this point, but doesn’t point it out. He picks up his own tome, An Exploration of The Dwarven Kingdoms Throughout Recorded History, and tries to focus on the subject at hand, but his thoughts keep straying. The more he tries to remember what he was so worried about down there, the more he feels confused and vaguely embarrassed. There was no sign of danger, nothing but shadows and somewhat creepy statues, and damn it Artis is a 4th year now. He’s way too old to be afraid of shadows.
”Well if it’s really distracting you this much we’ll have no choice but solve the mystery quickly so you don’t fail history,” he says with a small smile, delighting in the way Fidan’s eyes sparkle at the words.
”Now you’re speaking my language!” Fidan replies with a grin. Suddenly, though, her expression falls into something more somber.
”You know, if you’re worried you don’t have to go,” she says quietly, almost shyly. ”Like, I know I can be a lot and I really don’t want to pressure you because, like, this isn’t some kind of prank or whatever it’s- well we don’t really know what and that’s kind of the point.”
Artis’s chest feels tight and all he can think is she’s amazing I never want to leave her side, and his throat is tight when he replies, almost instinctively ”No, I want to be there. I don’t want you guys going alone.”
His stomach twists with anxiety as he speaks, as if trying to remind him he’s been trying to dissuade them from going back, but right now in the sunlight and the warmth Artis easily ignores it.
”Oh good, because you’re the best one at evocation and honestly we need you,” Fidan answers, a sheepish smile lighting up her face. Artis feels his cheeks heating up as he returns her smile.
——-
He doesn’t have another nightmare for days, and it’s enough to almost make him believe it’s all just in his head after all.
At least.
Until.
The infatuated one has claimed the Orb of Reverence. How could you have let this happen?
Artis knows he’s standing upright, but when he looks around he sees nothing but dark. He reaches out for something, anything but his arm is heavy and hot against his side and no matter how much he wills it does not move from his side.
Your task is clear
He wants to respond, shout out into the darkness simply to hear the sound of his own voice and know that there’s something to be found there. No matter how much he fights, not a word escapes his closed lips.
Take them. All of them. Free me, child.
Artis’s heart is beating rapidly in his chest, an endless stream of pitter-patter that reverberates in his ears as he feels his breath become short.
It is not too late. Two still remain. Take them, and I will reward you.
Artis wakes up with a start, sweaty and cold and terrified all at once. The Orb of Might glows almost mockingly from his bedside table.