Eldritch Guidance-Chapter 111 – The Sacrificial Hiding Spot

“Elves stand as one of the most renowned examples of generational mutants, known across the western continent for their striking beauty and seemingly timeless youthfulness. Distinctive in appearance, elves were easily recognized by their elongated ears and slender physiques. Most elves possessed hair in shades of gold or pure white.

“While elves could be found in various regions, the Gix Empire boasted the largest population of this ethnic group. Within Gix, they thrived as a distinct and influential community. Scholars and historians regarded elves as living proof of the unintended consequences of Obsidia’s experimentation, their traits originating from arcane tampering.

“During King Fredrick's ambitious pursuit of immortality, the creation of elves was hailed as a monumental achievement. Designed to be an immortal race of humans, these beings were initially celebrated as the pinnacle of Obsidia’s science and magic. Their creators, convinced of their success, named them Elfhiem, a term derived from Old Obsidia that translates to Eternal Youth. Over time, this name evolved into the modern term "Elf" or "Elves."

“For many years after their creation, it was widely believed that the elves were truly immortal, a triumph of King Fredrick's vision. Their ageless beauty and lack of visible aging reinforced this perception. Unlike ordinary humans, elves exhibited none of the outward signs of aging: their hair never grayed, their skin remained smooth and free of wrinkles, and they were spared the thinning or loss of hair. To a casual observer, an eighty-year-old elf appeared indistinguishable from one in their twenties, perpetuating the myth of their eternal youth.

“However, long after King Fredrick's death, it was revealed that elves were not, in fact, immortal. Their actual life expectancy was no greater than that of an average human. The illusion of immortality stemmed solely from their mutation’s suppression of visible aging traits. Beneath their youthful appearance, elves aged just like any other human, experiencing the same decline in physical and mental faculties. They were equally vulnerable to conditions such as arthritis, cognitive decline, hearing loss, and other age-related ailments.

“Despite the well-documented evidence to the contrary, the belief that elves possess a longer life expectancy than ordinary humans persisted among many—elves included.”

—“The Generational Mutant ” By Robert Joseph

While Joe had been racing through the tunnels in search of the ritual circle, Mike and the rest of the team were locked in a desperate fight for survival aboveground. The slimes attacked relentlessly, pouring out from alleyways, storm drains, and even leaping from rooftops. They came from every direction, forcing the team to form a defensive semicircle near the car.

Mike stood at the forefront, summoning and launching a relentless barrage of earth bolts laced with necros energy, his attacks splattering slimes into gelatinous heaps. To his right, Crowley channeled his own necros magic, unleashing waves of corrosive energy that dissolved the creatures on contact. On the left, Rell swung his conjured chains like whips, each strike disintegrating a slime into nothingness.

In the center of their formation, Alan held a bag of fungicide vials, acting as a crucial support. Whenever a slime got too close, he hurled at them, the liquid splashing onto the creatures and stopping them in their tracks. The chemical stench filled the air as steam hissed off the sizzling remains of the slimes, adding to the chaos of the battlefield.

Despite their combined efforts, the horde kept pressing closer. Every time they thought they had a moment to breathe, another wave of red slimes would emerge, their screeching cries adding to the oppressive tension.

Then, as they braced for yet another surge, something unexpected happened. The slimes halted mid-attack, their bodies quivering as if in pain. A sudden, deafening chorus of shrieks erupted from the creatures—a sound unlike anything they had heard before. It was piercing and unnatural, the unmistakable death cry of the pursuer slimes.

The team instinctively paused, their weapons and spells ready, unsure of what would happen next. Then, before their eyes, the slimes began to change. One by one, their vibrant red hues dulled, fading into translucence. Their once-malevolent forms collapsed into harmless puddles of inert rot slime, lifeless and harmless.

For a moment, there was silence, save for the heavy breathing of the team and the faint sound of dripping slime. Then, realization dawned on all of them.

Mike: “It’s Joe,” Mike said, his voice filled with relief. He lowered his hands, the remnants of an unfinished spell dissipating into the air. “He must’ve found the ritual circle and taken it out.”

Alan glanced around at the now-lifeless remains of the slimes, his grip on a vial of fungicide loosening.

Alan: “Whatever he did, it worked.”

Rell coiled his chains back into their resting state, his expression tense but relieved.

Rell: “We should regroup with him as soon as possible.”

With the immediate threat above neutralized, the team took a moment to steady themselves before preparing to head down into the tunnels to find Joe and finish whatever task remained.

Descending into the basement of the unfinished building, the group was immediately enveloped in darkness. The damp air was thick and oppressive. Rell and Crowley conjured glowing orbs of light, the floating spheres casting an luminescence that danced across the unfinished walls and scattered construction materials. Mike relied on a flashlight, its narrow beam cutting through the shadows, while Alan stayed close to Father Crowley, drawn to the comforting glow of his light.

The basement offered no immediate sign of Joe, but the faint glisten of a slime trail on the floor caught their attention. Without hesitation, they followed it, their footsteps echoing softly in the confined space. The trail led them to a crumbling section of wall, where a jagged hole had been carved through to reveal ancient masonry. Beyond the breach lay one of the city's long-forgotten underground tunnels.

They pressed onward, the atmosphere growing heavier with every step. The slime trail twisted through the passageway, leading them deeper into the labyrinth. Eventually, the narrow corridor widened into a vast underground storage room. The space was ancient, its walls lined with decaying crates and barrels, relics of a time long past. The faint scent of mold and old wood mingled with the stale air, creating a suffocating cocktail of rot and age.

Mike’s flashlight beam swept across the room, and his heart skipped a beat as it landed on a figure sprawled on the ground near the remnants of a ritual circle.

Mike: “Joe!” Mike shouted, panic flooding his voice. Without waiting for the others, he broke into a run, his boots crunching against the gritty floor.

The scene around Joe was grim. The ritual circle, once vibrant with the eerie glow of aether crystals, was now smudged and broken, its power evidently extinguished. The mummified corpse at its center lay silent, its grotesque features locked in eternal decay.

Mike had braced himself for the worst, his heart pounding as he closed the distance to Joe. But as he reached his partner, he froze, momentarily taken aback. Joe’s eyes were wide open, unblinking, and fixed on some distant point beyond the room. His expression was unnervingly blank, his gaze empty and distant, like a man lost in the echoes of a memory or a nightmare he couldn’t escape.

Mike: “Joe?” he said cautiously, kneeling beside him.

Joe: “I’m fine… Just tired…”

After shattering the ritual circle and witnessing the last of the slimes revert, Joe had stood in the stillness that followed, feeling the weight of the world settle on his shoulders. The frantic rush of adrenaline that had driven him through the chaotic moments of battle suddenly began to drain from his body, leaving an intense, overwhelming exhaustion in its wake.

His legs had felt like they were made of lead, the tightness in his chest from the constant rush of panic and fear now replaced with a deep, burning fatigue. And then he had suddenly collapsed on the floor to rest before the rest of his team showed up.

The weight of everything—what he'd seen, what he'd done, and what he'd narrowly escaped from—began to settle heavily on his mind.

Mike: “OK… But you need to get up, we still have work to do,” he said while reaching down to help Joe back to his feet.

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After the chaos had finally subsided, Joe’s team began methodically searching the underground chamber, their initial relief giving way to curiosity and investigation. The space was vast and cluttered, the kind of forgotten place that bore the marks of both ancient utility and recent habitation.

The chamber appeared to have once served as a storage house, likely for one of the ancient wizards who had worked in Graheel long ago. Dusty crates and barrels were stacked haphazardly against the walls, their contents hinting at their purpose. Inside some, the team discovered intricate glassware—beakers, flasks, and other vessels—that seemed suited for alchemical experiments. Though covered in layers of grime, the craftsmanship of the items spoke to their bygone value.

As they ventured deeper into the room, it became clear that the space had been repurposed at some point into a livable environment. A single, modest bed was tucked into a corner, its mattress sagging with age but still intact. Nearby, a wooden table was strewn with loose sheets of paper, many of which were covered in barely legible scribbles and diagrams. A chest sat next to the bed, its contents revealing a mix of practical items: spare clothes, canned food, and other essentials that suggested someone had lived here for an extended period.

But the most significant discovery came when Crowley opened the storage chest and pulled out a familiar orange prescription bottle. The label on it was clear: “Danny A. Ooel”. The antidepressant medication was still partially full.

Mike: “This confirms it,” he said, holding the bottle up for the others to see. “Danny was living here.”

The implications hung heavy in the air. The team exchanged glances, each processing the discovery in their own way. This wasn’t just a hideout—it had been Danny’s refuge. He had lived here, likely alone, surrounded by relics of a past he might not have fully understood, while struggling with the weight of his own reality.

Crowley knelt by the bed, running his hand over the dusty blanket.

Crowley: “Poor child,” he muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with regret.

Crowley had encountered stories like this before—accounts of the homeless stumbling upon forgotten underground chambers and transforming them into makeshift homes. These hidden spaces, abandoned by time and memory, often became sanctuaries for those with nowhere else to go.

As he pieced together the scene, it became painfully clear that Danny had followed a similar path. The scattered belongings and the personal touches—the bed neatly made despite its worn state, the table covered in papers, and the modest collection of daily necessities—painted a somber picture.

Joe approached the mummified corpse with a grim expression, his steps echoing faintly in the quiet chamber. He crouched down, carefully checking the desiccated body’s pockets. Sure enough, he found what he was looking for—a worn wallet containing an ID card. He pulled it out, holding it up to the dim light conjured by Crowley’s magic.

The name on the ID confirmed it: this was Danny.

Joe’s jaw tightened as he stood, the weight of the discovery settling on his shoulders. He turned to the group, holding up the ID for them to see.

Joe: “It’s just as I suspected,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. He gestured toward the corpse. “This...this is Danny. He was the willing sacrifice for the ritual that summoned those slime creatures.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as the team absorbed Joe’s words.

Mike ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mix of disbelief and anger.

Mike: “I still can’t believe… someone would choose this?”

Joe nodded solemnly, slipping the ID back into the corpse’s pocket out of a quiet respect.

Joe: “It seems that way. The ritual circle, the blood-painted markings, and the presence of his body here—it all lines up. Whatever drove him to this, whether desperation, coercion, or something else entirely, he offered himself to fuel the magic that unleashed those creatures.”

Crowley stepped closer, his brows furrowed in thought.

Crowley: “If he was truly willing, then he must have believed there was no other option. Something—or someone—pushed him to this.”

Rell: “Jixi” he mumbled the name of the person they were still looking for.

Joe crouched beside the ritual circle, his eyes tracing the intricate symbols painted in dark, dried blood. Many of the markings were unfamiliar to him, their arcane shapes hinting at an ancient and sinister magic. His brow furrowed as he took in the ominous craftsmanship, each line and stroke radiating a sense of malice.

He scanned the circle more closely. Written within the formation, carefully inscribed among the runes, were dozens of names—each one meticulously added to the ritual's design. He leaned in, reading through the names one by one, counting them under his breath.

Joe: “Seventy-two...” Joe muttered, his stomach twisting.

He stood up straight, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on his chest. His voice cut through the tense silence as he spoke, anger and dread lacing his words.

Joe: “Seventy-two names. This ritual wasn’t just about a few deaths—it was set up to kill a heck of a lot more people than I thought.”

Alan, standing near the makeshift table in the dimly lit chamber, squinted at the faint, uneven scribbles on one of the papers scattered across its surface. His face tensed as he held it closer to the light conjured by Crowley and called out.

Alan: “Hey, guys! I found something. I think it’s a note from Jixi!”

The urgency in his voice drew the others’ attention. Joe rose from where he had been inspecting the ritual circle and crossed the room to Alan’s side. Alan handed him the paper with a cautious expression, and Joe began scanning the writing, his brows furrowing as he took in the contents.

Clearing his throat, Joe read aloud:

"All the preparations are done, and the ritual is ready. Just lay down in the center of the circle and swallow the pill I have provided. Once you do, you will die, and with your death, you’ll finally be free of the despair and memories that have haunted you. And those who tormented you will all suffer. But, only take this pill if all four aether crystals are glowing. If they are not glowing, that means there is no aether flowing into the circle, and if you swallow the pill while it’s like that, you’ll die without getting your revenge. If the crystals are not glowing, come tell me at the bunker I’m hiding at, in the basement of 455 Takva Street, and I’ll come correct the ritual for you."

The note was signed with a simple, ominous “J.”

As Joe’s voice trailed off, the room fell into a heavy silence. Mike clenched his jaw, his fists balling at his sides.

Mike: “So, Jixi was orchestrating all of this. Manipulating Danny, preying on his pain...twisting him into a willing sacrifice.”

Crowley crossed his arms, his expression dark.

Crowley: “This isn’t just manipulation. It’s calculated evil. Jixi ensured Danny would believe his death was some form of revenge and an end to his suffering. And using his despair as fuel for a ritual like this...it’s monstrous. This is something only a cultist would do to someone”

Rell tilted his head, his sharp gaze narrowing.

Rell: “455 Takva Street. That’s not far from here. This note practically spells out where Jixi’s hiding.”

Joe nodded grimly, folding the note and slipping it into his pocket.

Joe: “If Jixi’s still there, we’re going to make sure they don’t get another chance to pull something like this. Let’s call in the calverley. We’ve got a bunker to raid to do.”

The team exchanged determined glances, each silently steeling themselves for what lay ahead. The shadows of Jixi’s plans loomed large, but they were ready to shine a light on them—and put an end to this madness for good.

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