He ran his fingers over a symbol that had been repeated at least a dozen times. It was shaped in arcing loops around a central boxy formation; like a cube on fire. Felix recalled this same symbol along the walls of the Temple, situated fairly evenly. But it wasn't fire. Something about it was off, like the maker didn't know quite how to draw it. Felix picked up a stylus and scratched the design from memory, adding a small swooping slash across the top. It was crude and rough, only barely scratched into the metal plate.
Yes, that's it. He picked up the metallic strip. It wasn't fire.
It was light.
Abruptly he felt a tug on his Mana, as if something was pulling it rapidly out of his core and into the scrap metal. The shape before him began to glow with a golden radiance, like a piece of the summer sun.
Felix jolted in surprise, dropping the metal with a loud clang. The light cut off.
New Skill Learned!
Sigils of the Primordial Dawn (Epic), level 1!
You've learned to read the language of the ancients, a sorcerous script made of magic. Proficiency increases with Skill Level.
New Skill Learned!
Invocation (Rare), Level 1!
You can invoke the power of sigils, pulling Mana through them to activate their power. Efficiency and channeling capacity increases with Skill Level.
Pit crooned in interest, dipping his beak toward the inert piece of metal. Felix pushed him gently away.
What in the world? Felix picked up the iron scrap again, half expecting it to light up once more. It didn't, the carving unlit and slightly charred around the edges. What caused this charring? The magic?Sigils of the Primordial Dawn is level 2!
Felix shook his head, bemused. This felt...terribly familiar, though the only time he'd seen script like this was in the Temple. Moreover, what exactly were these people trying to do? He looked around. What was this place for?
His gaze landed on the two doors. One was made of that same black metal and led off to the right, and the other was made of a pale wood. That was where the footsteps led.
As Felix walked closer to the metal door, he noticed a row of cubbies in the wall. Tall closets without doors were built into the stone walls, five on either side of the room. In the closest one, he saw a pile of black iron pieces, obviously more material for whatever practice was going on here. The next few were the same, but the last one was great news.
"My stuff!" Felix knelt down and snatched up his leather satchel and sword. The leather was scuffed in placed but remarkably fine, and the bronze blade was similarly unscathed. More importantly, Felix flipped open the bag and rooted around until he found an oblong leather waterskin, then proceeded to chug half of it. The other half he gave to Pit, who lapped it up just as quickly. After that, the two of them tore into the remaining fruit he had stashed away, all in all reducing the weight of the satchel by a considerable amount.
As they ate and drank, Felix kept an eye on both doors, watching and listening for the approach of their jailers. He knew they weren't out, not by a long shot, but it was a much needed respite. In fact, Pit seemed to be recovering swiftly. His wounds had healed for the most part and he was able to move around on all his legs. Felix wasn't sure how, but it seemed Pit had benefited from the recent battle as well. He seemed taller, his legs more gangly.
Then, as he was finishing the last bekta berry, he heard the unmistakable sound of voices coming from beyond the metal door.
They both froze, and Pit's head swiveled toward the sounds. The voices grew in volume slowly, as if they were walking steadily toward the door. Felix shoved the waterskin back into his satchel and grabbed his sword. Pit skulked over to the wooden door, Felix right behind him.
The voices rose to a louder pitch, and Felix sensed a strengthened waft of the rotting stink. It was coming from beyond the metal door and moving closer. It smelled like death and blood. It smelled like the Seven Legged Orit.
Heart pounding, Felix opened the wooden door and slipped through just as he heard the metal one unlatch.
Stealth is level 18!
They made it. With a soft breath of relief, Felix turned and saw that he was somehow, inexplicably in a wild garden.
And the rotten blood smell was even stronger here.