Collapsed Earth

Though the dawn of a new day had arrived, the dreary weather refused to relent. The ruined bar was alive with busy knights, chattering about both the latest gossip and demonic reports. They greeted Gabriel only to later leave him with a wide uncomfortable girth.

"I can't wait for all this to be over." Anita yawned, nursing a steaming coffee in her hands.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and sipped at his own caffeine brew, taking in the bitter scent that came with a stale sour aftertaste. Sleep deprivation had adrenaline simmering in his veins, and he was eager to get things done. If only Sareena had been as eager as he was.

As though on cue, muddied boots stomped through the entrance, Sareena's dirty blond hair bore droplets from beneath the flimsy rubber hood. "You're up already, High Paladin?" She grinned with a salute.

Behind her was a frail-looking man, with dainty wrists peeking through flowing sleeves. The large Crest of Solas hung from his neck and the fabrics of his robes had to be carefully tied up to avoid the grime and mud that no doubt coated the roads.

"Ah, is that the sweet scent of coffee that invites me so?" The man hummed as he practically glided across the wooden floors to the brew that sat upon the counter. "I must confess, my day does not begin until I've had a cup." His laughter was uncomfortably high, yet to even look Gabriel or Anita's way as he focused on the scent of the cheapest cup of coffee Adros had to offer.

"Good day, I'm Anita Javanis. You must be the demon specialist that Paladin Sareena spoke so highly of!" Fatigue was hardly able to put a damper on Anita's cheerful disposition and Gabriel found that he couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing.

A sparkling light twinkled in the Xillandrian man's eyes. A typical scholar type, Gabriel found himself thinking. "Yes, that is I, Yevans Lindert at your service." He reached over for Anita's outstretched hand and shook it with too much excitement for Gabriel's liking, "I've heard that House Javanis takes a lot of pride in their current heir."

Anita laughed, "There's nothing really special about being the heir to a fading line. Your research sounds a lot more interesting!"

Right, as if Anita had any idea what this research entailed beyond the most superficial of knowledge. If she did then color Gabriel surprised. His interest in the chattering pair was completely lost and he couldn't help but send the regional Paladin a silent glare.

She shrugged in response, knowing full well that his quiet commentary had been about the headache inducer that was now blabbering away with his assistant. "My men and I are going to be tracking down that last Voracious Eater, and cleaning up whatever other mess we come across. I know you're not here to sweep up demons so I expect that you'll be remaining cautious with your investigation."

The topic of conversation was welcoming, much more so than whatever it was the other two were engaged with. "Correct. It is not my intention to cause a disturbance. Though, should you acquire assistance with the demons, I am not against lending aid."

Sareena smiled, please with the High Paladin's response, "Well, good to know we don't have a fat lazy ass parading around as the big boss of the knights. But don't bend your back over for me, High Paladin. I will have you know, my team and I are quite competent."

"I wasn't doubting your abilities."

"Hey! Are you two done already?" Anita shoved her presence between the two paladins with a glowing smile, Yevans next to her didn't look very innocent either.

Gabriel glared and held back his tongue. Luckily Sareena was there to laugh and chide, "We were hardly the ones blabbering about an idle conversation. Anyways, don't mind me because I won't get in your way, as long as you don't get into mine."

With a final salute, the trio bid their farewells with Sareena and headed out into the endless drizzle that plagued the desolate town.

"Forgive me, I shouldn't have been so rude High Paladin. I haven't even introduced myself." Yevans chattered while the walked. He really should have spoken up back in the bar because now Gabriel was much more interested in the rumble in which Retre sat than the words that spewed out of the demon expert's mouth.

Still, he couldn't seem too rude, "It's fine. I've read your report on the town." He responded curtly.

The bar, along with a ring of buildings that stood along the west side of the town remained relatively unharmed, especially in comparison to the destruction that laid waste to the majority of the structures that once stood there. Houses reduced to mere rubble, piles of crumbled stone and splintered wood rested against fragments of a wall that still remained standing. Aside from the pita-patter of rain that drummed against the earth, no sound of animals lingered to mourn the passing of those that once lived there.

"I wonder what happened to all the people…" Anita knelt down next to a muddied doll pinned beneath a long fallen plank, her voice forlorn.

Yevans frowned, "When Voracious Eaters attack they leave nothing left of their victims' physical bodies. It's obvious some terrible atrocity occurred here but as you could see, not even a single drop of blood remains of those that once lived here."

"It's so eerie."

Gabriel paid their conversation little mind, the carnage left by demons was not what he wished to investigate. They trekked on, mud squelching beneath steps made heavy with rain. As they approached the center of the ruins, the destruction only got worse and worse, until the very earth beneath their feet threatened to break from the scars of wreckage.

Anita squealed, tripping over an abnormally large gap in the ground and almost barreled into Gabriel.

He clicked his tongue at her, reacting just in time to catch her before she sent them both tumbling in a puddle of gunk and rubble. "A little more awareness will do you well."

She smiled her usual at him, with a mirthful twinkle in her eyes but it was only for a moment. "Oh Solas look! What in the actual world is that!?" Eyes widened into two round circles as she pulled herself back from Gabriel's form. Yevans, who was a few steps behind took the moment to climb atop a small hill of dirt and junk for a better vantage point.

"That, my friends, is the Collapsed Earth."

It should come as no surprise, after all, reports upon reports had described the phenomenon. Though truly, it was entirely something else to behold the sight in person.

The ground dropped suddenly into a gaping abyss, its mouth a black bottomless void. A putrid aura seemed to rise from the place, Anita's face grew paler with every encroaching step she took to its ledge.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Her voice echoed the nausea that built and bubbled within Gabriel's gut. While he tried as he could to school his features as he continued his investigation, peering cautiously into the endless fall, Gabriel was not immune to the feeling of a swaying world. He suddenly wanted to sit down but denied himself of such luxury.

Yevans remained aback, refusing to come any closer than he had to. "Do you see the claw marks etched into the ground? They should, if reports are correct line the sides of the chasm."

Gabriel knelt to investigate farther. An inexplicable gravity seemed to be pulling him into the ebony vortex below. Perhaps fear had inspired his imagination, but Gabriel was never a man to affected in such a way before. He cataloged the thought as he ran his fingers along deep sets of rakes within the dirt, carved by some gigantic beast. Similar patterns ran down into the depths, one could only imagine the scene of an army of demons crawling out of the Earth.

"As you can see, the Voracious Eaters really did good work upon this town. A tragedy really, but hardly a mystery that needs a genius to solve." Yevans huffed, arms crossed.

Though, Gabriel found that he wasn't entirely convinced. He stepped away from the cliff side, dizzy from the effects of corrupted mana so dense and thick. "What was here before?"

"Pardon?" Yevans called, still a few meters back from the ledge.

"What was here before it was destroyed?", Gabriel asked again. He gazed upon the wreckage that dotted the horizon, noticing a jumbled clutter of what appeared to be pickaxes and shovels. There was a metal casing of the driver's seat of an excavator peaked out from the rubble and mud. Gabriel approached, attempting to wipe away the grim that hid away the clunky label that once decorated the machine. Unfortunately rust and wear had already laid claim to whatever that was once there.

"I'm sorry, sir but I'm not quite understanding your question… Do you mean to ask what it was that the demons destroyed here?" Now that the High Paladin had retreated from the cliff edge, Yevans and Anita were quick to join his side once more.

"Looks like they were in the middle of something." Anita mused as she bent down to investigated a shiny stone caught between rusted planks and flakes of concrete before picking it up and pocketing the thing.

"I found that the documented maps of this area were oddly outdated. Not to mention, the rubble that remain of the Collapsed Earth's surrounding are barely recognizable either. I wish to know what once stood here."

"Is such information really of importance?" Yevans appeared hesitant, tugging at his outrageous sleeves.

Meanwhile Anita tilted her head innocently as she surveyed the ruins in Gabriel's footsteps, "I do believe this place used to be a mining town, isn't that correct?"

"Yes, there was once a sizable magicite deposit beneath this location." Gabriel confirmed.

The tension in Yevans's shoulder instantly eased, "Why, if you already knew, sir, why bother asking? Such a thing is hardly interesting information."

"I'd been looking through documents about Retre before coming here. It's curious, how according to official records that there was a significant decrease in mining activities over the last two years. The export of magicite was almost nonexistent prior to this tragedy taking place."

Yevans, the poor fool began resorting to averting his gaze, masking his countenance with the plastic of his raincoat and the light veil of rain, "I really don't see the relevance of what you're saying, sir."

"It doesn't take an idiot to realize that the reported casualties are much too high in a magicite mine that wasn't even supposed to be operational." Gabriel continued, tone accusing.

"That is certainly strange, however-"

"I don't suppose you might know where the magicite procured here was being sold off to? Clearly, it was done off records for whatever reason."

Yevans's face transformed from ghastly pale to a bright steaming red. With teeth gritted, he refuted, "I don't understand why you would be asking me these questions, High Paladin! Surely, Paladin Sareena should be able to tell you what you need to hear in regards to those things!"

Gabriel wasn't impressed. "Well, weren't you the one that supposedly wrote that comprehensive report on this incident?"

Yevans stomped his feet in frustration. "These accusations are absurd! I only investigated information relevant to the Collapsed Earth tragedy!"

"Then perhaps it should have occurred to you how narrow your search had been." Gabriel stated coldly, unimpressed by the scholar's flapping mouth. Anita, who watched the two with observant gazes was no doubt measuring just the right moment to step in between.

But her thunder was stolen when a knight ran towards them with panting breaths, "High Paladin! Lady Javanis! Master Lindert!" His shouting stole their attention, particularly Yevans who snapped his head, eager to rear away from the ugly conversation they had earlier.

"Oh dear…" Anita sighed, clearly bracing for whatever dire news that was about to befall them.

"Report," Gabriel commanded.

"Sir." The knight saluted, "Paladin Sareena is currently engaged with a Voracious Eater. She requests your aid, the situation is dire."

"How horrible!" The relief in Yevans's voice stood in notable contrast with his worried words.

"Oh, that's certainly troubling, I suppose that means we have to fight," Anita whined.

Gabriel bore away his annoyance and ignored them both, "Understood. Lead the way then."