I'd seen it happen to others, too: men who were captured alongside me, sold into servitude, only to lose their minds within a year. They became hollow-eyed husks, drooling and giggling at nothing, their spirits completely shattered. The thought of ending up like that sent a chill down my spine.
No. Hold on a little longer, I told myself fiercely as I hoisted the monstrous pack onto my shoulders. Just a little longer and this will all be over.
We set out once more into the winding stone corridors of the underground maze. Elfriede led the way, her torch high and her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Her three companions followed close behind, chatting in low voices about the anticipated treasure. I trailed at the rear, weighted down by what felt like a mountain of gear—packs, tents, cooking pots, spare weapons, loot… my shoulders ached constantly from the burden. Still, I obediently set to work, unloading gear and assembling the camp. My hands moved efficiently, arranging bedrolls and canvas, stacking firewood, and lighting a small campfire with flint and tinder.
Up ahead, Elfriede was briefing the others. "We need to get out of these ruins today," she said briskly. "According to our information, an altar chamber should be near here. The relic we came for will be there. We grab it and depart immediately. Understood?"
Her comrades murmured in agreement. The relic prospect excited them; I could hear it in their voices. Supposedly, it was some precious, ancient object—valuable enough to warrant a high-level Silver-rank quest for retrieval. I didn't particularly care. Altars, relics, ancient gods… none of that mattered to me.
But getting out of here today? I cared about that.
I thumbed the edge of the coin pouch hidden under my belt, reassured by the faint clink of silver within. By my calculations, even if today's haul earned me only a modest bonus, I would finally reach a total of silvers. Thirty silvers. The price of my freedom.
Hold on, I urged myself again, nearly giddy at the thought. Just reach the surface and endure a bit longer. By tonight, I could be free.
Our party pressed onward through the claustrophobic tunnels. The silence of the labyrinth was broken only by the crunch of our boots on grit and the occasional dripping of water seeping through the stones. After perhaps an hour of walking, the tunnel widened, and Elfriede held up a hand to halt us.
"Quiet," she whispered. The rest of us froze.