Online In Another World

"Even that didn't work…?" Melisandre questioned.

"I think I understand what's going on," Emilio said, holding his hand to his chin.

"Yeah? I'm all ears," Everett said, waving his hand from the sparks of pain.

Looking at the colossal seal of fog around the area, Emilio explained what he'd come to understand, "I'm not experienced in this, but I read about it in my journal recently…this is a barrier spell—specifically something made from runes or inscriptions."

"I could've told ya that much," Everett added.

"That's not just it," Emilio continued, "Spells like this can be altered and have their properties altered to strengthen in some ways and weaken in others. It's a sort of law of equivalent exchange."

"Is that why it doesn't actually harm us when we touch it?" Melisandre asked.

"Exactly," the young mage nodded, "Whoever cast this barrier made it so that it can reject us from leaving it, but it can't actually do anything to hurt us. Still…it's powerful. A barrier this strong needs more restrictions."

"So, is it even breakable?" Yuna asked.

"I was thinking…but, you all might not like this answer," Emilio said.

As he looked around, he could tell they were arriving at the idea he was lingering on, which became unsavory now that the situation became mysterious,

"What is it?" Everett scratched his hair.

"If this barrier is unbreakable, it needs an "anchor point"—and to truly empower a barrier, the best restriction would be putting that anchor within its walls," Emilio explained.

"Let me guess: this 'anchor' is somewhere in the cabin?" Yuna asked as her tail flicked.

"…Precisely," Emilio nodded.

They all had the same question in their minds now, turning to look at the lodge that now sat there more ominously than ever: who wanted them to be trapped there?"

"Whoever is responsible for this is getting a pair of knuckles to the mouth," Everett smiled, hitting his own palm.

"Easy there, tiger," Yuna said, "We're in enemy territory now—we need to keep a cool head."

It felt like just one thing after another within the world-class trial, wearing them all down slowly, though Emilio knew the only choice was to push on–especially in the troublesome situation they found themselves in now.

"It doesn't have to be a bad thing, right?" Melisande asked.

"How do ya figure?" Everett raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe somebody knew we were coming and lowered the barrier for us, then put it back up…like inviting us in?" Melisande posed the question.

Though there was some logic to it, ultimately, they all knew it was simply something that sounded too good to be true.

"I'd like to believe that, but going off of what we've encountered here so far…" Emilio told her.

"Yeah, I know…I'm just trying to think positively," Melisande nodded.

Approaching the front of the lodge, they all stopped before the ominous door that remained closed. In contrast to the boarded windows, it was left sparkling clean with a shiny, copper handle awaiting.

Just as Everett was about to grasp the handle, he was stopped as Emilio stepped in front of the larger shielder.

"One second," Emilio said.

Kneeling down, he summoned a ball of air into his hand, swirling into verdant mana before placing it against the ground.

"Rift of Extension."

It was a technical usage of wind magic that didn't tear through flesh or crush bone, instead using the gentle, far-reaching nature of the element to slowly sweep across the floor, slipping beneath the door and scouring the interior of the lodge.

He had to keep his eyes closed and maintain focus in order to concentrate on the 'sixth sense' through the wind he extended.

"...Hmm," Emilio thought.

"Anything?" Melisande asked.

After finishing his scouting spell, he stood back to his feet with a droplet of sweat sliding down his cheek.

"Well…something," he said.

"What is it?" Yuna looked at him with her feline eyes, folding her arms over her chest.

"I didn't feel anything at first, but after I got halfway through the room…It just stopped. I couldn't press any further," Emilio explained, looking at his hand.

"I don't know magic humbo-jumbo, but that sounds eerie," Everett said.

It didn't bring much optimism to the group, but there was undoubtedly no other path ahead of them but the mysterious door sitting mere inches away.

He glanced back at Everett, seeing if the shielder would lead the way, but after no volunteer, he decided to take the vanguard, "...Here goes."

Grasping the cold handle, he twisted it slowly before opening the door that let out a drawn out groan of old wood.

They were each on guard, ready for something to jump in and attack, though what was found beyond the door was frighteningly normal: a small room awaited, holding a couch, washed-out paintings, and wooden floorboards.

"Huh? There's nothing," Everett lowered his shield, stepping in after Emilio.

Yuna kept her daggers in her hands, walking in, "Don't let your guard down either way."

The floorboards creaked beneath every step they each took, though after Melisande stepped in, the door slammed shut behind them.

While Everett jumped like a frightened cat, Yuna was ready to strike, though there was nothing behind them.

Emilio kept his staff raised, easing his shoulders though paranoid as he glanced around the minimal room, "...This place is giving me the creeps."

"Yeah…is it just me or is it oddly clean?" Melisande asked.

"That's what I was thinking. It's like there's a maid living here," Everett remarked.

As they carefully looked around, Emilio began moving towards the red door situated at the back of the room before turning around at the distinct sound of a "CLICK".

"What was that…?" Melisande asked.

They each looked over to the source of the noise: Everett was frozen, looking down at a false floorboard he had stepped onto.

"...Uh, that doesn't mean something bad is about to happen, right?" Everett nervously asked.

Before any of them could make a move or respond, the walls themselves clicked before black gas began to spew out from unknown sources.

Poison?! Emilio guessed.

"Argh! What is this?!" Everett said, covering his nose, "It stinks like death!"

Yuna seemed disgusted by it the most, though dealt with it silently by pulling her scarf over her nose.

"I'll dispel it! Hold on!" Emilio shouted.

As he lifted his staff to begin conjuring wind, he felt a wobbliness throughout his body when trying to focus his mana.

Wh-what…? I feel so lightheaded all of a sudden, he thought.

It was exemplified when he tried invoking magic, finding the sickness growing to such intensity that he nearly gagged when attempting to force the spell out.

"Ngh…!" He held his head.

"Emilio! Hey! Are you alright?!" Everett called out worriedly.

From what he noticed, the others weren't subject to the same symptoms as he was, prompting him to yell out as he noticed Melisande about to try the same idea he had.

"Don't…! There's something tampering with our–"

Just as he figured out what the nature of the black gas was, his warning was interrupted as the false flooring beneath each person opened up into separate holes.

"Waaaah-!"

They each fell, split-up and and dropping into unknown tunnels leading directly downward into unknown depths.

What is this?! I'd fly out, but…I can't focus my mana at all! That gas is still in my body! He thought.

He found himself plummeting down an unlit tunnel of smoothed stone, sliding down it as it curved around into a jarring path, making the sickly feeling inside of him amplified.

…Gas that sickens magic users? Is this like what those slavers used? He recalled.

Though the nature of it was hardly at the top of his problems as he focused on his destination that he couldn't prevent himself from falling to, trying to grab onto anything to try and stop, but helpless to inertia now.

Shit…! He thought.

What he feared was a large fall at the bottom of the swerving tunnel, though what awaited him once reaching the bottom, feeling his stomach sink from the sudden feeling of being thrown into air, was an unlit room with a pool of liquid below.

With a splash, he landed in the pool of liquid that was too thick to be water, able to be discerned as dark in color and smelling of putrid copper.

"Gak–!" He coughed out.

It was up to his waist, though he felt his boots stepping on something squishy beneath that led him to begin puzzling together what he was swimming through.

What is this…? He questioned.

After a few moments, it became clear what it was that he was walking waist-high in: old, lukewarm blood.

"Ueghhh…!"

The immediate reaction from him was gagging, though he covered his mouth before gagging turned to spilling bile, doing his best to compose himself, given the horrific scenery he found himself in.

What kind of place is this…? This is under the lodge? He thought.

Fumes of the black gas were still in his body, but he was able to at least summon a small flame for light, casting away the shadows that swallowed the rancid room in darkness.