Chapter 24

Crossing Over

"--Wow--"

"How--happened--"

"Everyone--wait--"

"--Alright?"

"Stefan? Can you hear me?"

A soft hand pulled at his chin firmly. It felt incredibly warm against his skin. He didn't want to open his eyes because he was afraid of what he might see. Clouds? Scantily-clad beings with broad, white wings on their backs?

When he felt her lips pressed against his forehead, he knew he was still alive.

"Iyana," he whispered, afraid his voice might have gone.

"Stefan! Thank Elune you're alright," she sighed.

Helped to his feet by the ever-resilient Molgoby, Stefan gave himself a brushdown, despite there being far too much cave dust on him to be able to brush away. He shrugged and slapped the dust off his fingers.

"So...what the hell happened?" he asked after a moment. All around him, everyone was smiling. He saw the innumerable corpses of the once-hostile crypt fiends. Their eyes were grayed over, some still sizzling from the intense light. Where it gave Stefan a blinding headache, the contraption had melted the brains of the Undead.

So when Geraldros timidly made his way from behind Lyra and Mae to stand before Stefan, the bounty hunter had to clap. Everyone joined in after a tense moment, and all the while, Geraldros was smiling proudly.

Bloody bungler saved my life, thought Stefan.

---

It seemed as if the tunnel would continue on endlessly. Geraldros' device, along with the torches, were the only sources of light in the Nerubian tunnel. Apart from the group's heavy breathing, no sound invaded the quiet peace of the darkness.

"Damnit! How long is this tunnel?" grunted Haydric.

"Not long enough for the Nerubians, apparently," said Stefan. He grumbled as his hair was blown into his face.

"Pft! Damn wind! If it isn't already dark and musty, now there's gotta' be a warm waft of air to pester my sorry arse!" said Fineus, angrily.

When he had to push his hair aside a second time, Stefan realized what had happened. It was no surprise to him that the others hadn't realized it sooner; fatigue numbed the senses with subtle care.

"Fineus...What did you just say?"

"It's the damn wind, Stefan! It's driving me nuts!"

"Wind," said Lyra, suddenly. "Air."

"The tunnel's opening up!" said Mae, excitedly.

As the tunnel curved off, a dull, green light reflected off the many rocks that marred the cavern floor. Rounding the bend, they could see a small circle of light up ahead, where the green light glowed like a large vein of Fel Iron. Another warm breeze washed over the group, spurring cheers of excitement and triumph.

"There!" roared Molgoby.

Their pace quickened. The chance to get out into the open air was the most exhilarating thought Stefan had experienced in the last few hours. Alongside thanking Geraldros for saving his life, of course.

"Anyone know where this leads?" asked Fineus. The Gnome was cautious as ever.

"Out of the darkest crocolisk rectum I've ever had the pleasure of getting pl--"

"Stefan!" whispered Iyana jokingly.

"Sorry. Not a clue. Either way, it's got to be better than getting stuck in a tunnel filled with crypt beasts," said Stefan.

"Speaking of icky things that walk on eights..." trailed off Haydric. His eyes were glued to the tunnel exit, where a large pack of slender, insectoid figures were silhouetted against the green background.

"Damn," muttered Stefan. "I would've taken the toe jam of an ape over these creeps any day."

---

As Stefan and the others drew closer to the pack of crypt fiends with weapons drawn, they were in for another surprise. They weren't crypt fiends at all.

"Nerubians!"

Mae's exclamatory deduction was correct. The ancient spider-humanoids were clad in segmented armor, protecting the vitals and soft spots. Beneath the alien design of the plating, the colorful livery of the class-based Nerubians shown brightly in the gloom. Streaks of gold, pink, bronze, blue, and red striped the many Nerubians that stood before Stefan and the others.

Hands outstretched and palms empty, Stefan presented himself to the ancient race with a broad smile.

"Good morning," said Stefan, hesitating as he attempted to estimate the time of day through the cave exit. He was a little surprised; the day had been young when they had descended into the old tunnel.

"Greeeetiiings, Hhhumaan," hissed the closest Nerubian. It was clad in strikingly brilliant armor that shined in the gloom of the tunnel. Even on all of its legs, the head and torso rose to nearly match Stefan's height. "Yyouuu ssseeek passssage?"

"If you please," said Stefan, politely.

"Prrroove your worth."

The bounty hunter paused for a moment, dumbfounded on how to proceed. But it didn't take long for him to understand. He drew forth the artifact, allowing the Nerubian to inspect it. Faint hisses and whispers skittered across the Nerubian mass as their many eyes fell upon the ancient piece.

"The ancient one speeaaks truth. Asss it hasss beeen..."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Continue onnn...the path isss clear."

The Nerubians scrambled aside, melding into the darkness of the cavern walls. Cautiously at first, Stefan crept forward, toward the green light. The others followed close by, sneaking glances to their sides. But nothing stared back from the darkness.

As suddenly as they had appeared, the Nerubians were gone.