The group pressed forward, their collective footsteps echoing faintly against the walls of the Ruins. The air grew heavier with every step, the tension thickening as more monsters began to appear.
The first encounter came swiftly—a pair of Froggits leaped into their path, their tiny frames quivering, yet their eyes gleaming with resolve. They croaked loudly, releasing small bursts of white projectiles that arced toward the children.
Kaeltherion drew his blade without hesitation. "They want a fight? Then I'll give them one."
Velthara placed a hand on his arm. "Kael, stop. We don't need to kill them. Let me try."
Velthara stepped forward, her confident smile softening as she faced the Froggits. "Hey there, little guys. We don't want to hurt you. How about we all just walk away?" Her voice carried an almost hypnotic charm, and for a moment, the Froggits hesitated. One lowered its gaze, but the other launched another attack.
Kaeltherion scowled. "See? Words don't work on everything." He raised his weapon, but before he could strike, Zalthirion intervened, creating a shimmering barrier of golden energy that deflected the projectiles.
"Patience," Zalthirion said calmly. "Let them choose peace."
The Froggits croaked again, this time retreating slightly. With one final glance at the group, they hopped away into the shadows.
Lymtherion exhaled in relief. "That wasn't so hard. Maybe we can make it through without spilling any more dust."
But as they continued, the encounters grew more frequent and intense. In the next chamber, a Vegetoid emerged from the ground, its leafy form twitching erratically as it unleashed waves of spinning green projectiles.
Syltherion darted to the side, her agility unmatched, dodging the attacks effortlessly. "This one's tougher! What now?"
Xelthara stepped forward, her voice steady. "Let me handle it." She knelt slightly, lowering her weapon. "Hey, we're not your enemies. You're just scared, aren't you?"
The Vegetoid twitched, its attacks slowing. "Eat... your... greens!" it muttered, releasing a single green projectile that hovered harmlessly near Xelthara. She reached out and touched it, and the Vegetoid relaxed, sinking back into the ground with a quiet "Thank you..."
"See?" Xelthara said, turning to the others. "Sometimes all they want is understanding."
Not all encounters were as peaceful. When a Loox appeared, its glaring eye fixed on them with hostility, Kaeltherion didn't wait. He struck with precision, the creature dusting instantly.
Velthara frowned. "You didn't even try."
Kaeltherion shrugged. "Not everything deserves a second chance."
As the encounters continued, the group began to splinter in their approaches. Kaeltherion grew more aggressive, opting to fight monsters without hesitation, while others like Velthara and Xelthara attempted to reason with their attackers.
The path led them to a larger room, where Moldsmals and Migosps awaited. The Moldsmals swayed lazily, their gelatinous forms undulating, while the Migosps chittered, their spindly legs clattering against the floor.
The group moved cautiously, each member preparing for what was to come.
Velthara raised her hand. "Wait. Let's try talking first."
Kaeltherion grunted. "Fine. But if they attack, I'm not holding back."
Velthara stepped forward and addressed the creatures. "We don't mean you any harm. We're just passing through. Can you let us go peacefully?"
The Moldsmals wobbled, seemingly unbothered, while the Migosps hesitated. For a moment, it seemed the encounter might end peacefully.
But then, a Migosp launched a sudden attack, its sharp legs clashing against the ground. Kaeltherion didn't wait—he charged forward, slashing through the attacking Migosp, its body dissolving into dust. The other monsters fled in terror.
"Was that necessary?" Zalthirion asked, his tone stern.
Kaeltherion sheathed his blade. "If you hesitate, you die. Simple as that."
The tension among the group grew as they pressed on, each encounter forcing them to confront their differing philosophies. Would they continue down the path of peace, or would Kaeltherion's growing aggression steer them toward a darker fate? The choice was still theirs to make, but the fractures in their unity were becoming harder to ignore.
After a moment, they enter a chamber, a small one with pillars in the middle, and a sort of bed of yellow flowers in the middle of the four pillar little room, where a white ghost was laying up down, resting. While saying loudly "ZZzzzZZzzzZZzz", trying to fake being asleep.
The group stopped in their tracks, the small chamber's atmosphere growing heavy with an unusual mix of melancholy and calm. The faint sound of the ghost's fake snores echoed in the space, and the children exchanged curious glances.
Kaeltherion: "What is that thing? A ghost? Should we get rid of it?"
Velthara: "Kael, calm down. It's not even attacking us. Look, it's just... lying there." She approached cautiously, tilting her head as she observed the ghost. "Hey... um, are you okay?"
Napstablook: "ZZzzz... oh... no... I'm fine... I just... need to... rest here... forever... don't mind me..."
Lymtherion: "It's clearly faking sleep. But... it doesn't seem hostile." He crossed his arms, tilting his head. "Maybe we just leave it alone?"
Xelthara knelt down closer to the ghost, her tone soft and empathetic. "You seem lonely. Do you need someone to talk to?"
Napstablook paused its fake snores, its faint, flickering form becoming a little more solid. "... you'd... talk... to me? Really...? I'm not used to... people wanting to stay... they usually just... walk right through me..."
Syltherion: "It's kind of sad, isn't it?" He glanced around the group. "I think we should try cheering it up."
Kaeltherion sighed, gripping his sword tightly but stepping back. "If you're all so keen on chatting with a ghost, fine. Just don't waste too much time."
The others began to speak to Napstablook in turn, offering kind words and encouragement.
Velthara: "You have a really calming presence, you know. It's nice."
Zalthirion: "Your choice of resting spot is... unique. Those flowers suit you, I suppose."
Napstablook's form flickered again, and a tiny tear of ectoplasm rolled down its face. "... you're all... so nice... I don't know how to handle it... usually people just ignore me..."
It floated slightly higher, a faint smile appearing on its transparent face. "I guess... I'll let you pass. You're... good company..."
The ghost floated to the side, clearing the way to the next room. The group watched it drift away, leaving the chamber feeling just a little lighter than before.
Kaeltherion: "Well, that was... different. Can we move on now?"
Xelthara: "You know, Kael, not every problem can be solved with a sword."
Kaeltherion: "And not every ghost gets out of the way just because you're nice. Let's just keep moving."
The group continued forward, their encounter with Napstablook lingering in their minds—a strange yet peaceful moment in the midst of an increasingly tense journey.
They walk a little, and have to decide between continuing through the left, or right. After they go to the right, they enter a very small room, with much webs, a sign, and two big webs down. The sign says "Spider Bake Sale".
The group entered the small, web-filled room, their footsteps crunching faintly on the thin strands beneath them. The sign in the center caught their attention, its words clear despite the tangled mess of webs around it:
Velthara: "Spider Bake Sale? What kind of place is this? A bake sale in a dungeon?"
Kaeltherion: "Sounds like a trap. It's too small, too obvious." He narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to the sign but keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Lymtherion: "I don't think it's a trap, Kael. Look." He pointed toward the two large webs on the ground, where piles of gold sat glimmering faintly. Small signs above them displayed prices:
7G for the smaller web. 18G for the larger web.
Xelthara crouched beside the smaller web, tilting her head as a faint movement caught her eye. A tiny spider scurried across the threads, carrying what appeared to be a miniature pastry.
Xelthara: "It's... real. They're actually selling baked goods."
Syltherion chuckled softly. "Bizarre, but kind of impressive for spiders, don't you think?"
Velthara: "What's impressive is how they expect us to pay for food we can't even eat. Does anyone even have gold?"
The group exchanged glances, unsure if they should even attempt to interact with the setup.
Syltherion: "Maybe it's worth trying. We've been running into monsters everywhere. What if buying something here actually helps?"
Kaeltherion: "Or it just feeds the spiders so they're stronger when they try to ambush us later."
Zalthirion knelt near the larger web, his calm demeanor steady. "We're not here to judge their methods. If their intentions are peaceful, it might be a good idea to support them."
Velthara: "Fine, I'll chip in, but only for the smaller one. I'm not wasting everything we have on this."
The group pooled their resources, gathering just enough gold to place on the smaller web. Almost immediately, the tiny spiders descended, their movements swift and efficient. They carried a delicate spider-shaped pastry to the center of the web before retreating into the shadows.
Velthara picked up the pastry cautiously. "Well, it's... cute, I guess. Do we try it, or save it for later?"
Kaeltherion: "Save it. If it turns out to be useful, we'll need it when things get worse."
They decided to tuck the pastry away for now, noting the room's strange yet oddly charming ambiance before continuing back to the main path. The encounter with the Spider Bake Sale left them both curious and slightly unsettled—just another oddity in the ever-unfolding mysteries of the Ruins.