With the fall of night, the party of inexperienced adventurers was brought east of the protective walls. It wasn't hard to see just where the bounty hunter meant for them to meet: what he thought were two opposing mountains were actually the skeletal remains of beings far too large to comprehend.
On the left was the husk of a dragon, its bones having merged into a mountain of rich stone; across from it rested the bones of a serpent, its ivory rings wrapped around the rival landform.
"Woah," Noah remarked at the otherworldly view, looking up at the colossal remnants that loomed high in the sky, intercepting the moonlight.
Though there was a paved road leading between the mountainous graveyard of giants, there wasn't a carriage in sight as far as the eye could see.
Otto watched ahead with his vision, eyes peerless in perception to a normal man, "Not a single soul on this path. I imagine the rumors of a murderous adventurer party setting camp around here has scared off any travelers."
"Eeeuuu…" Astrid clutched her stave, looking around nervously.
"Keep your eyes peeled, everyone," Noah advised, leading the way down the quiet road.
The passage directly between the opposing dragon and serpent led beneath bridges of interconnected bones, intersecting and forming a labyrinth of the colossal. It led through an upward slope, though any entrance into mines seemed well hidden.
"Where are we supposed to meet, anyway?--" Otto questioned.
"Hey there."
"Woah–" The archer jumped, immediately reaching into his quiver.
A laugh came from atop one of the hanging femurs, finding the bounty hunter dressed like a chalk cowboy sitting leisurely.
"Hey, Billy," Noah greeted, looking up.
The eccentric hunter jumped down, brushing his pants off, "Salutations." Billy tipped his hat with a smile.
Compared to their tense group, the faux cowboy seemed as relaxed as a spring evening. By his estimates, the tumble of a pebble would spur the mage to toss a fireball out.
Billy seemed to sense their tension, easing them with a smile, "I've scoped out the area already. The mines run deep, and our friends are definitely nesting up far inside."
With a gesture like a guide, the experienced bounty hunter stepped aside, showing a hole in the side of the mountain, obscured by dead grass. As the foliage was moved aside, whispers of buried wind groaned from the tunnel.
"Oh, that's…creepy," Noah remarked, staring right down the deep, dark passage.
"I'm, err, can we, well…" Astrid nervously stammered at the sight of the entrance.
Billy stepped in first, snapping his fingers as a sphere of light flickered into place above his palm, "Let's keep it smooth and quiet now, partners."
He followed right behind the bounty hunter, with Astrid tucking herself to him like a child. Behind her was the archer, who kept an arrow tucked along his bowstring like an outlaw ready to duel at any moment.
At the very back, the orc tucked his shoulders to his chest, hardly fitting in the narrow tunnel.
"Listen, these fellas are no walk in the woods," Billy quietly warned, this time speaking without his usual sparkle. "If it comes to it, I'll lend a hand the best I can while I'm working on Cassius, but if I have to save any of your asses, I'm taking your cut–y'hear?"
"Yeah, yeah," Otto brushed off.
From the tunnel, a larger part of the mines expanded itself into a vast, quiet area. The signs of it once being used were clear by the old, chipped carts loaded with minerals. From what he could tell, it was mostly junk rocks, at least, nothing valuable would be left.
"So, the miners just up and left?" Astrid asked curiously, passing a half-mined deposit of ore, finding a pair of pickaxes.
Billy was a fair distance ahead of them, scoping it out with caution, yet holding his relaxed expression, "Well, it's doubtful they just pulled out. Likely a monster attack led them to flee, or in the case of some, a worse fate."
"How deep does this place go? It's huge," Noah wondered, looking up at the ceiling of sparkling geodes that glistened with lapis shades.
"Down a ways," Billy said before turning back. "Alright, here's where our paths diverge!"
"Wait, what–?" Otto spun his head around at the choice of words.
The archer spoke what they were all thinking as the faux cowboy only laughed, bringing his hands together before pointing ahead, "I know for sure Cassius is somewhere through that passage. Leftaways, there's another, righttaways, one more–three in total. Between the four of you, handling two should be manageable."
"How do you know that?" Noah questioned.
The youthful mage answered for him, though seemed a bit taken aback by it herself, "It's mana sensing, still, to be able to read accurately from this far…It's impressive."
"It's nothing special," Billy laughed it off with a shrug before saluting. "Alright, let the fortune of Galos guide us!"
Like a leaf carried by the wind, the bounty hunter was set on his path. For the four, they were left in the middle of the abandoned cave, with two directions to choose from.
"Alright, let's see…Redrum, go with Otto," Noah decided before pointing to the elven mage, gesturing her over. "Wanna help me out, Astrid?"
While she was more than happy to join him, the archer could not look any more displeased being paired with the orc.
"Hold on, hold on! No way! Astrid and I have always worked together–" Otto protested.
Redrum didn't verbally resist, though it was clear by his silence that the idea of being stuck with the sharp-tongued elf wasn't very pleasant. It was nothing Noah didn't expect, only having to briefly laugh off the rejection of the idea.
"That's exactly why it's important we get used to working with one another. If we're going to make this world, we need to trust in each other's strength," Noah said, putting his hand on the mage's shoulder. "I'd say you're pretty used to fighting alongside your brother, but you're both suited for ranged combat."
"Yeah, there's a lot of times I've had to take the front…" Astrid quietly said.
"Wait, wait–that sounds way worse than it is! Sometimes I'd be in the front–I swear!" Otto did his best to save his reputation, though certainly earned some looks.
"Right…Well, that's why I think you and Redrum will pair well together–if, you get over whatever you're still holding onto," Noah suggested.
Otto glanced over at the orc, "A…meatshield?"
"Well, I was going to say a tank, but whatever works," Noah said before looking around at the three. "If you aren't comfortable with this, then we'll find a different way."
"No, you're right," Otto exhaled sharply before turning his gaze to the towering orc. "Listen, big guy, as long as you give me the space to take aim, I'll make sure we handle this."
"I'll do my best," Redrum assured.