Chapter 532: Entrance of the inner palace

Sofia woke up to Pareth drying her tears with a handkerchief. The others asked if she was alright.

“I’m... I’ll be alright. We should get going.”

Not wanting to go over what she had just gone through, Sofia pushed the others to quickly enter the next room, though she mentally thanked Pareth as she did.

The next room had another closed door, but no pedestal, nor anything else, really. Just an empty room with a door. Once everyone was inside, the group heard footsteps from beyond the door. They were coming closer.

In an instant, everyone got ready for battle.

An undead? Sofia wondered, feeling the runes from [Runeforged Overlord] covering her bodyreact a little.

The door slowly opened, revealing the creature standing behind: a dried-looking blue-skinned zombie with short horns and a strange black light in his eyes. He wore clean gray robes inscribed with black line runic patterns, and was carrying a lit oil lantern.

[Guardian of Sorrows - Level unclear]

Unclear? It’s an Exidian zombie? Has he been waiting in here for thousands of years?

The zombie stopped, not crossing the door, his head slowly turned, as if scanning the group.

“Do both children wish to contend?” the zombie said in a cold and monotone voice carried by mana, speaking in a fluent common language.

Maybe he hasn’t actually been waiting here, then?

“I already have the locket and intend to let this sibling have a keepsake of her own,” Ihuarah answered the guardian.

Are divine artifacts called keepsakes? Maybe just for Sorrow? It’s quite fitting.

“Very well. Step forward, daughter of Sorrow,” the zombie ordered.

Sofia felt a bit tense, but she had a rune up in case of surprises, so she could afford to take risks. Taking a few steps, she walked in front of the group, stopping just two meters in front of the blue zombie.

“What is your name?” the zombie asked.

There were a few possible answers but Sofia said what the zombie most likely wanted to hear, “Vakariazrehafin of Sorrow.”

“Welcome to the palace of Sorrow, Vakariazrehafin. A test of your might awaits beyond,”the Zombie announced, before he looked past her to address the others,“Those who wish to participate may enter the other doors,” the zombie explained, as six more doors appeared on the room’s walls out of nowhere.

“What’s beyond these doors?” Everelle asked nonchalantly.

The zombie took no offense and simply answered, “You will face a test of your own, and get a singular opportunity to help or hinder Vakariazrehafin through her trials. Rewards await the worthy.”

“Alright, I’m game,” Everelle said, walking to stand next to the closest door. Ihuarah had not needed the explanation and was already in place in front of another one, but Pareth, Bookie and Cinthia were still hesitating, albeit for different reasons.

“I suppose my skeletons cannot come with me?” Sofia asked the zombie, feeling Bookie’s uneasiness at the simple thought of being separated.

Health : 822 762 / 822 762

Stamina : 204 212 / 204 336

Mana : 5 022 238 / 5 022 238

“Looking good. Everything’s ready, two unlife runes up... Let’s get the saint set out, while I’m at it. And since there’s no one else around anymore, I can let the Lumian light flow again.”

As a last preparation, Sofia summoned a shadow sprite, “Because Bookie had to go on his own, you’ll be my scout for today.”

After taking a deep breath, Sofia opened the doors, the space around her becoming dark.

Sofia was immediately faced with a huge room that looked like it was taken straight from the interior of the holy-see, but if it had been built with dark brown bricks and black stone instead of white marble. Tall lit candelabras were everywhere, providing light to the unnaturally dark chamber, flooding the place with the strong permeating scent of melting wax. Walls were covered in religious texts and carvings in Sorrow’s honor, and the middle of the room was occupied by a giant golden statue on an imposing square platform. The statue was that of a kneeling woman wearing ample robes. She held her head in her hands, both of which were mostly obscured by the place’s strange darkness which was stronger near the ceiling, dozens of meters above.

After taking a few seconds to appreciate the sculpture, Sofia’s attention went back to the engravings on the walls, which reminded her of something she would have rather not been reminded of.

I wonder if scripture is looking at me through these religious texts right now. Get a good look at me getting stronger, you stinking pile of shit. This is what you’ve done.

Even the ceiling was covered in details and paintings, but the darkness made it impossible to properly appreciate.

Lastly, tens of zombies in gray robes were standing silently in front of the statue, their back facing Sofia. Each of them held a candle-holder with a lit candle. Identifying them returned nothing. They looked to be of various shapes and sizes, with some Exidians, Dwarves and Elves in the mix, but mostly humans.

Although the zombies were silent, muted chants reached Sofia’s ears from further away.

As the zombies weren’t reacting to Sofia for the moment, she took the time to observe the room some more.

My light isn’t spreading at all, and my dark vision isn’t seeing shit. I’ll have to rely on those candles for light...

My mana senses... Work well anywhere there is light?

Sofia was standing in darkness at the moment, as there were no lit candles near the door. Her mana senses started from inside her, then stopped at the surface of her armor, and started again a few meters further, where there was light. It felt really strange, almost like having a big hole in one’s vision.

The zombies all had quite a bit of mana, maybe around two hundred thousands each, in Sofia’s estimations.

They can’t be too high level with only that much. They also don’t seem to have noticed me for now. Perhaps they are not even hostile?

Do I need to sneak around or kill everything in my way? How should I even start?

Let’s not start any fights for now.

Checking on her link with Pareth and Bookie, Sofia felt that Pareth was moving quickly.

It looks like someone’s already fighting.