Book Three Chapter Thirty Five: TT_Maus

Book Three Chapter Thirty Five: TT_Maus

The party was deposited with all the usual pomp and ceremony of teleportation into the middle of a wide corridor. Qube had never been inside a mausoleum before thered been a small graveyard in the village where all the parents were buried, but that had been outdoors. The idea of storing the dead indoors made her feel almost cramped. She wasnt even sure what was stored in a mausoleum was it where all of a persons inner loot was held? Was it filled with sacks of coins?

The gravestones made sense to her theyd just had small plaques for the Potentials to stand around at and remember that they had no memories of their parents but presumably some people wanted more upright plaques but why would someone need to keep a bunch of names inside a special house, separate from the other names?

Presumably there were ghosts involved in some capacity. Perhaps the mausoleum was to keep them trapped, like with the ghost that had given them Aurora Abode?Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Now Qube thought about it, she wondered how the ghost had even managed to post a sign to the Adventurers Board. If she could have left the house to go to the board, then she could just have easily gone to fetch her sword. Shed physically penned and pinned a note so she could manipulate matter. Unless shed dictated it to someone? Perhaps someone who wasnt brave enough to go get the sword themselves. Begrudgingly, Qube had to admit that this made sense.

She still hadnt completely forgiven P. Charlemagne for tricking her into owning a house.

While she had been busy pondering the death rituals of her culture and the practicalities involved for ghosts seeking closure, the Chosen One had been busy studying the walls. They were made of a fancy-looking wood, with several large drawers carved into them, embossed with shiny gold lettering. The Hero frowned, and tapped on the wall.

The wooden walls were nothing like anything Qube had seen before. Unlike the normal properties of a wall, these ones looked odd, almost undefined. In a way, they reminded her of that time theyd broken into Construct Crossroad, and it had looked like an unfinished model of a town. It almost felt like she was looking at them with her eyes crossed or something.

The coffin in the middle of the crypt was also made of wood, but this wood looked sharp and shiny, seeming to reflect the light in a way designed to draw attention towards it.

Have they not actually finished the texture on this or something? the Chosen One muttered to himself. The others in the party had spread out among the space, each of them examining the walls and drawers with interest.

I thought the Devs made this, Qube confessed. You mentioned they made the gravestones outside.

Well, yeah, but that doesnt mean they finished making everything, the Hero said absentmindedly. Sometimes mistakes happen, or they get stuff wrong. Especially with the time constraints theyre under.

Everyone in the party had stopped to look at the Chosen One, who didnt seem to realise what hed said was important. Instead he was trying to open one of the stuck drawers.

So some of the things in this world are a mistake Qube said.

Would the Devs be seeking to correct their mistakes? Sencha Bard asked the Chosen One.

Not in this world, the Hero replied. Its pretty much locked off.

If the Devs could make mistakes that was very different from things happening that they didnt expect. That occurred with anything you made. But if they were leaving things unfinished, or making mistakes, then that meant

Lights exploded within Qubes mind as a horrifying thought struck her.

What if that meant that the Golden Prophecy could make a mistake?

The Devs had made the Golden Prophecy. The Devs could make mistakes. Therefore, the Golden Prophecy might contain mistakes.

Her entire worldview was rocked. All her life shed grown up under the shackle of the Golden Prophecy. It had dictated her actions, her thoughts, the very trajectory of her existence. It was the hope of her people, the text by which they would be saved.

And it might be wrong?

Even when shed met the Devs and realised they werent all-powerful, that had been permissible in her mind, because theyd been confused about the direction their creations offspring had gone. Thered never been the slightest hint that the creation itself might have been flawed.

She would have to review everything she had ever based her decisions off of and search for any hint that the Golden Prophecy had been leading her astray. Nothing would ever be the same. Even if it turned out that the Golden Prophecy was completely perfect, the notion that it might not be correct, a thought that had literally never crossed her mind before, had been born, casting a shadow of doubt over everything.

Perhaps, then, we should trust our own instincts and push past its suggestions? Sexy Screamy Spider Lady suggested. I have noticed the grip of it has loosened over time.

The Chosen One, having finished examining the coffin, looked up at the group. Qube felt herself stiffen, as if shed been caught doing something wrong. But they were right. There was the possibility that the Golden Prophecy wasnt perfect and they should discuss it.

Still, as he looked at them clustered together away from him, whispering to each other, he looked almost hurt. The expression was gone so fast Qube couldnt be sure shed even seen it, and there was no trace of it as he loudly stretched and approached the group.

Is it something about the Temple? he asked cheerfully. Or should I give you guys some space?

Its about the Golden Prophecy, Qube replied. But we dont want anyone Evil to overhear it. She deliberately didnt mention the word Dev, just in case that drew their attention to this conversation.

Or anyone else, Sencha Bard breathed, so quietly Qube couldnt be sure if hed even meant to say it out loud.

Eh, I wouldnt worry about it, we are literally made to defeat Evil, the Hero said, clearly seeking to reassure them. So whatever happens, well just deal with it like we always do. Plus, theres only like a verse or two to go, isnt there?

Sometimes the Hero made it all too obvious he hadnt grown up in the village! Almost without thinking, Qube quoted:

Then find in times endless halls

The echoes of their lost ones calls.

To slay what once was so adored

So what was lost can be restored.

Are you sure theres only one Temple left? Sexy Screamy Spider Lady asked. Every other Temple only takes up two lines.

Sencha Bard waved away her concern. The first stanza also deals with a single location. Naturally, for symmetry, the last stanza could deal with a single location as well.

Do not forget that we must also travel to the castle and release the king and queen, Definitely Bad Guy said.

Sencha Bard nodded wisely. The Grand Vizier was once adored by them, so it implies he must be slain so they can return to ruling over the kingdom, he said.

Qube snuck a glance at the Chosen One, expecting him to look bored, or have started to entertain himself while they discussed lore. Instead he was staring grimly at the ground. He jerked his backpack off his back and rummaged around in it, pulling out the crumpled Golden Prophecy.

He bent over the paper and scanned through it a few times, a frown gathering on his brow. He stole a quick glance at Qube.

[Snacks], he muttered. He shoved the sacred text back into his backpack and straightened up.

Well, like I said, whatever is thrown at us, well just roll with it, he declared, his voice slightly strained. The important thing is that we work together.

That sounded more like something Qube would say. She blinked at the Hero. He gave her a rueful smile, no sign of the concern hed had a moment before.

Sorry, kinda stole your line there, didnt I? he asked, his smile increasing until it was his normal lopsided grin. Guess youre a bad influence on me.

As she looked at him it occurred to Qube that, in his own way, the Hero had his own version of her Understanding Smile.

A terrifying thought.