Chapter 11: The Stone Forest

Peering into the holes, it would showcase to be a dark area, though this time without a proper light source. Annoyed, the two would get their spells again to shed some light, being given a few seconds to react to what they saw: A silhouette of a figure, their leg being badly damaged, running away from the two who brought such light into the scene. A figure that they swore looked to be the same as the walls. The golem itself, the very same which was haunting the mineshaft and scaring the miners away with his wails and cries. Knowing this knowledge, the two went after the figure, trying to see what he was, where he was going, and what he was doing, all while being cautious in such uncharted territory.

Such territory was like the jaws of an animal: Stalagmites that pierced upwards in the same manner as trees, Stalactites that sprawled downwards to cover any holes that the previous set wouldn't cover, making the entire location feel compact, devouring even. The figure that slinked away into such canines of the cavern would be moving diligently, hopping to and fro on each corner, finding such pockets of space to maneuver properly without a single hint of hesitation. Without a single feeling of being distracted. An experience one knows all too well. Harvard and Zazel would desperately try to catch up, maneuvering themselves in the same fluid motion as what it was doing, how it was able to weave around like thread across the constructed stone jaw that makes up the part of the mines, but even they have a stumble. The would have to pause themselves and try to move somewhere else, keeping their wits end through their travels. It wasn't enough, however.

The golem was far more experienced. It, nay, He, was more experienced than what any of the two would be when stepping into the mines. The golem's mind was merely just a piece of the caverns at this rate, and it would be evident with the two seeing such movements that can't be traced properly.

Harvard would try to alleviate this with a gamble. A card in hand and aiming towards the figure, he would try to see if he can bind the golem down. The problems however, are more innumerous than one would perceive. Combining the idea of doing such a stunt in near darkness, with the only light source being from Zazel's sigils, adding onto it the actual location in question outright prohibiting such a clear and straight aim, and lastly the creature being so ahead of them, that even if the 2 situations were averted, it could very easily end up missing and instead capture one of the very stalagmites or stalactites, which would incidentally slam them into the walls without prior knowledge. Zazel himself at first would actually openly try to explain how such an idea is bad and could most likely get them murdered, yet the demon saw something that hasn't been present. Something he didn't expect the child to do in his mostly wonderous and outright masochistic motions of being a hero.

Focus.

The Card Magician was trying to take aim despite of all these issues, most likely fueling his own imagination. Zazel simply sighed and went along with it, knowing that no words would be able to convey the situation as a whole, though does set up a sigil when worst comes to them. With a silent agreement, the child took aim, being steady with his shot in tying down the runaway construct. Mere footsteps were echoed from their heavy motions, the silhouette disappearing more and more into the darkness. Without nothing short but luck, Harvard would fire that spell. Chains in different length extended and curved slightly to fit the boy's trajectory, with Zazel picking up speed so as to guarantee the capture. Silence is what they were responded with, and to an extent, the boy felt as if his gamble didn't pay off.

That was, until a tug was sensed. A beam of hope that brought the children towards each other. They looked towards one another in a brimming smile, absolutely ecstatic at the results. Such excitement quickly turns into terror, as they would quickly realize what is about to happen next. A violent tug that pulls the two forward, they would be subjected to the jaws at full force, forcing the both of them to react quickly. They expected to actually capture the likes of the golem, and didn't realized that by doing so, they allowed the golem to attack back with his pure strength alone. Such pure strength made sure to pull and swing the two across every part of the walls, floor, and ceiling of such a chamber. It required near-lightning reflexes to even survive against the supposed trap they put themselves in, being dragged away to what's essentially a barren location. An empty section in the mines where folks never explored before.

All while crashing and slamming each other in the mine's canines in the process.