Sacred Blessings

The Underground : Homeward

The next morning, Tana awakens first to find Hunter fast asleep in his bed on the other side of the room. She took her clothes that she had removed; shoes and socks. She carried them to the doorway and sat her shoes down. While still hunched over, she decided it would be a good opportunity to put her socks back on that way, she would be sure not to wake Hunter. She returns from the hall near the door and grabs the katana from the Hunter's sash to clean and polish the hilt as well as tend to the blade's edge. She takes the blade from its sheath and holds it up and looks at it straight from tip to hilt. Noting that the blade was a bit tarnished, she decided to polish it as well while she was polishing the saya. The sharpening of the blade's edge would have to wait till Hunter wakes up. Tana moved from where the katana had been lying over to the pack so that she could find a cloth and oil to polish them with. As she was pulling things out of the pack, Hunter, who had been awake since she squatted over the pack, began to rise without making much sound. At this point, Tana turns around and is startled to see Hunter, who she was trying not to wake, standing in the window behind her.

"Tana, come over here please.", says Hunter, "Could I ask what it is you are looking for?".

"Yes, master..", says Tana, "I am sorry to displease you, I was looking for a cloth and oil to clean and polish the katana with. I can't seem to find any oil in the pack..."

"We will have to pick some up before leaving town today. Do you need anything else?", asks Hunter, "Also, if you aren't dressed please do so now. We have many things to accomplish today."

"As you say", says Tana, "I will pack our things as soon as I finish getting dressed. Please do as you wish until I am finished master."

Tana began by putting the katana back into its scabbard and placing it on the table where Hunter had laid it the night before. She then began getting dressed. Whilst she was getting dressed, Hunter was sitting in the window looking outward at the street below, thinking to himself how bizarre his first dungeon raid was going thus far. He had only meant for it to last for a single day, but here it was now the second day. He had only meant to explore the first few floors. He decides that the best course of action for them to take is to go to the underground guild that he had overheard about during the supper the night before. Maybe the guild could help them reach the top or atleast point them down the fastest and safest routes upward. With this in mind, Hunter also decides it would be best to gather a few more potions and things after visiting the guild.

"Are you ready to go, Tana?" asks Hunter as he is sliding the katana into the sash.

"Yes Master, everything is packed away and ready to leave." says Tana, getting ready to put the pack on.

"Allow me to take that bag today Tana." says Hunter, reaching to grab it from her, "I feel much better this morning. Also, we shouldn't be doing any fighting today."

"As you wish, Master," says Tana reluctantly, walking towards the door as if she just wanted to be of some use.

"Tana.?" asks Hunter, "Though I am carrying the bag, we will be heading to the market after visiting the guild. I'll let you pick out anything you want. Sound good?"

"If that is what you wish," says Tana, whilst trying to contain her excitement.

"And I mean who could blame her? She's never been anywhere other than that room.... for who knows how long. So to commemorate the experience, it should be something that she will wear, use, and or keep safe for a long time. A head band? Necklace? Shield? Earrings? Wait, can she even wear earrings? I guess we will have to make a stop or two and see what she decides to get." ~ Hunter

(* Author's Note ~ Sections such as these will appear more often throughout the book to give insight into a character's thoughts and actions. These sections are internal monologs. *)

 " OK Tana, lead the way to the front desk, then to the guild hall." says Hunter, "Once we're there we will get the safest route up, and possibly an escort."

"This way," said Tana as she began leaving the room, "Master, please pull the door when you exit. I will flip the sign on my way out."

"That I can do." says Hunter jokingly, "When we get to the desk could you ask them for a map of the city and where the guildhall is located? I have the key to be returned to the clerk for our room as well."

Tana and Hunter exit their room, leaving nothing behind other than the sheets which Tana had neatly folded and placed on the edges of each bed. They make their way downstairs to the desk to return the key and get the map. Tana had no problems reading the map or getting directions. They left the Inn and made their way down the Underground City's streets to the heart of the city, which on the map was also close to the middle of the dungeon, from what Tana could tell. They bustled along busy little streets until finally they had reached their destination. The Guild was quite different from all of the other buildings around it. The front door was made out of various different monster bones. They were smooth and polished, glistening almost like ivory. Hunter, who had taken the lead from Tana at this point in time, was now on his way up the gradual sloping steps to the doorway.

"Tana, please stay close to me. If you feel the need, you should hold onto my sash." says Hunter, "Not saying anything will happen but rather not test it. I can feel some powerful people inside."

"Understood," says Tana.

Hunter opens the door and enters the guild with Tana close behind. When they entered the room, Hunter and Tana both noticed the front desk clerk. Tana, who could see the clerk, knew she was just a small woman roughly the size as her. However, Hunter, who couldn't see, could only feel the enormous pressure she was exerting on the atmosphere around her. To Hunter, she felt enormous. To be sure to address her appropriately and to gauge her stature, Hunter used one of his other "abilities" which allows him to use his mana like a fog and blanket a wide area. Using this ability, he can judge his opponents' height, rough weight, breathing patterns and more as soon as they enter its area of effect. Hunter now knew the stature of the front desk woman he knew to address her as a ma'am or madam.

"Welcome", says the clerk, "Havent seen you around town before. You must be from the surface, right?"

"Yes, we are actually here by accident if you can believe it.", says Hunter, "We came here seeking the fastest route to the surface."

"That is correct ma'am.", says Tana.

"Well you all came to the right place!", says the clerk, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sara, and I am the guild leader here."

"Nice to meet you Sara. My name is Hunter, and this is Tana.", says Hunter, gesturing toward Tana standing at his side.

"Nice to meet you both. Hunter, I have to ask. Did you loose your eyes during the accident that led you this far down?", asks Sara, "Also your arm seems to be quite injured. Do you need some medical attention?"

"No ma'am, I have been blind for quite some time. As for my arm, that honor goes to Tana here.", snickers Hunter, as if to tease Tana, "I shouldn't be in need of medical assistance for my arm, but back to the route to the surface. Could you please point out the routes we should take to the top?"

"That won't be necessary.", says Sara, "There is a direct path back to the surface behind me here in the other room. Once you make it this far, there is a portal that is like a one-way door. There is also another area next to the portal which is the landing zone for the guild on floor 26."

"Thats Awesome!", exclaims Hunter in relief, "That's much better than fighting our way back."

"Your guild cards please?", asks Sara, "I need to update your cards. The next time you are here you can accept jobs or get a room!", she exclaims.

"Here it is.", says Hunter, handing over his Guild Card.

"How about yours?", asks Sara, gesturing at Tana for her to provide a card.

"Allow me to explain, Tana is not an adventurer.", says Hunter, "She doesn't have a guild card. Tana, would you like to tell the lady?"

"You see, I am a nine-tailed fox.", says Tana as she removes her hood to reveal her ears, "Hunter is my Master, or Contract Holder."

"I see.....", Sara says, looking at Hunter and then looking down at his Guild Card. "You are only a C rank adventurer? Yet you have a nine-tailed fox in tow.", she exclaims, "How on Earth did you make it this far down to begin with."

"By accident, if you can believe it", says Hunter, "I met Tana here on floor 24.I fell from floor 5 or 6 into the room between levels 24 and 25 to be specific. Tana here was the gate guardian, so to speak. We fought for quite some time. She messed my arm up a bit, but nothing that won't heal. In the end, I ended up trapping her because she was the first beast I met who could speak. I wanted to know more. The next morning she offered me a contract to become my familiar."

"Oh my, that is quite the journey.!" Sara exclaimed as she stamped Hunter's card, "Be sure to say hello to Lady Liliana for me when you get back. When you arrive on the surface you will be in a room similar to this one." Sara opens the door next to the counter and gestures them both inside.

Tana, Hunter, and Sara all stepped inside the room. Sara closes the door behind them. Once inside, they can see a wide, open room with 2 stone gateways. The one on the left has no engravings and is raised one step above the floor level. The one on the right had engravings on each stone with the most decorative stones placed evenly throughout. It, too, was raised above the floor level and had a small pedestal next to it for the guildmaster to activate the transportation. They proceeded to walk to the gate, which led upward to a safe room on the first floor. After they stepped up onto the platform, they turned their heads to look at Sara, who had stopped near the pedestal.

"One last thing before you go.", says Sara, "The next time you come down here you will have to get a new guild card. The stamp is a one-time use. The ink will disappear when you make it to the other side. "

"Thank you Ms. Sara. We appreciate all the help.", says Hunter, "We will be seeing you again!"

"Goodbye, Ms..", says Tana

With that, Sara placed her guild card upon the pedestal where she stood. The pedestal began to glow and hum as if it were alive with magic. The gate which Hunter and Tana had been facing away from was now warbling with power, the portal as black as night. There is an exchange of waves between the three of them and just as Tana and Hunter begin to step through the portal, the runes on the gateway begin to glow and hum louder. Then, as soon as they touched the portal, they were gone, the portal closed and the guildmaster's card clattered back to the pedestal. Sara picks up her guild card and walks back out of the room. Meanwhile, on the other side of the gate, was, as she described, a room much like the one in the guild hall down below. There was only one gate in this room, but it had no engravings, which meant it was only for returns. There was only one door into the room and it was held open by none other than Liliana, the guildmaster herself. She stood in the doorway not saying anything for a moment, her mouth a gape.

"How did you get here?!?", she exclaimed, "Well, I know how you got here obviously, but still. We were just about to send a search party out for you and here you appear. Through the return gate from floor 15 no less."

"About that.", says Hunter, "It's quite the story."