Cave of Echo- 'Double Trouble'

Arin looked at the sun dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues. He watched it fall, not to appreciate the scenic beauty, but to use the sunset's direction to pinpoint west. With no compass on hand, he etched this new bearing into his mind, calibrating his internal sense of direction. It was important for him, as the constellations in the night sky were completely alien to him, making it difficult to navigate through Dark Wood at night. Although he had told Ashley that he had explored Dark Wood, it was a lie. He had traversed across Dark Wood for sure, but had not explored it.

There was a reason it was called Dark Wood. It was not just because the canopy of big trees blocked the moonlight, thickening the surrounding darkness; there was also an unnerving stillness that hung heavy in the air of the forest. The quiet itself felt strange, almost as if it were alive. Occasionally, the deafening silence was broken by a distant howl, a sound both eerie and unsettling, amplifying the forest's unsettling aura.

Arin was in a dilemma: whether to first visit the Castle or check the Cave of Echo. He was pondering this when suddenly he heard a rustling of dry leaves from behind. He promptly turned his head to look behind, but there was no one.

However, Arin could not shake the feeling that he was being followed. Actually, he had had this feeling for quite a while. But now he was almost certain that he was being followed by someone. He decided to use his Scrying Skill to pinpoint the location of his unseen stalker. This was the same trick he had used in the sewer to locate the Ratmen. But this time, he got the notification that his Scrying Skill was being resisted. Although he could not locate the follower, he was now sure that someone was indeed on his tail.

Arin checked his options. He could use 'Dread Howl' to launch an attack. As it was a mass spell, he didn't need to know the exact location. But given the enemy's ability to resist his 'Scrying,' he wasn't sure Dread Howl was enough to subdue him. And even if the stalker didn't attack and decided to run away, it would just increase his problem. Because the person shadowing him would inform his employer of Arin's true nature.

Arin dropped the idea of going to the Castle in this situation and decided to head for the Cave of Echo. The occasional snapping of twigs or rustling of leaves behind his back reminded him that he was being followed. This was good for Arin. Now his goal was to go against Ashley's advice and venture to the deeper levels of the Cave. The pursuer would either stop shadowing him and return, or if he still followed, Arin would find an opportunity to strike and an excuse to kill him.

As he approached the cave following the direction provided by Ashley, Arin was a bit surprised. He had expected a mountain cave. But rather it was a subterranean cave. Its mouth gaped open like a dark maw in the earth. It had a certain allure, promising both mystery and peril, treasure and trouble. There were strange, luminous fungi sprouting around the entrance, whose fascinating textures, brilliant patterns, and otherworldly glow hinted at the strange world awaiting adventurers below. In contrast, there was also a skeleton laying sprawled near the threshold, acting like a silent sentinel, a stark warning against venturing into the unknown depths.

This juxtaposition made Arin's heart skip a beat in excitement. He collected a stick and started gently brushing the mushrooms with its tip. A rather simple-looking mushroom generated a hum when touched by the stick. He did not pluck them, as it was not his actual objective right now. He decided to descend. He was alert to every sound originating behind his back to ensure he was being tailed. And he was still being shadowed.

Ashley had warned him to be alert for critters around the cave. But there were none. He wondered if it was similar to what had happened in his earlier adventure in the sewer, where an already established cult had cleared the area of all critters.

"Whatever," he said, taking out the rope from his backpack, tying it firmly to a rock, and climbing down to the lower level. There was a risk that the pursuer might trap him inside the cave, but he always had Zulkarnash to call for help.

This inner part of the cave was a vast, echoing chamber, probably the reason behind its name. A faint glow from bioluminescent fungi cast an otherworldly light, illuminating the glistening stalactites and stalagmites that seemed to reach out toward each other. The damp air carried the sound of distant dripping water, creating a rhythmic, almost hypnotic echo. Arin kept walking towards the interior. And as he had anticipated, he heard a 'thud.' His follower had taken the bait and made a soft landing as he went further. But even his experienced soft landing could not suppress a loud echo in this Cave of Echo. But Arin pretended as if he did not notice and kept walking. Arin's fingers were itching to summon his necromantic powers, as the ever-watchful stalker kept shadowing his every move; but he suppressed his urge, as he couldn't risk exposing his true nature.

Suddenly, a low, menacing hiss reverberated through the chamber. Arin imagined it was again one of Nahun's acolytes- another great serpent, like the one he had encountered in the sewer. "Not again," he sighed in frustration. However, from the darkness, instead of another serpent, emerged a giant centipede. As it swiftly slithered into view, Arin could notice its segmented body glistening with moisture. Its innumerable legs clicked against the stone, and its venomous mandibles snapped in anticipation.

Arin was at a great disadvantage. He could not use his magical power while being watched. So, he decided to depend on his 'Simple Weapon Proficiency,' which was at Adept Level, as well as his past life's muscle memory of a street fighter. Arin drew his twin daggers, their blades gleaming with a faint, eerie light. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the centipede's initial lunge. The stalker, staying hidden in the shadows, was most probably watching intently and taking notes, unaware of the struggle within Arin.

The centipede struck again, its mandibles aiming for Arin's throat. With a swift, practiced motion, Arin parried the attack, his daggers slicing through the air. He spun, aiming for the creature's softer underbelly, but the centipede's armored segments deflected his strikes.

Arin's mind was racing. He was desperately searching for a way to turn the tide. He knew he couldn't use his dark magic openly, but now he wished there was a way for him to harness his powers discreetly. As he dodged another attack, he got an idea. He realized the pursuer might not risk following him closely amidst the brawl and would rather prefer watching from a safe distance. So he needed an opportunity to cast his spell where the stalker couldn't notice him. He started talking as well, so that when he chanted, the stalker couldn't differentiate the incantation from his battle dialogues. "You filthy critter, you dare to attack me!" he shouted at the centipede as he allowed the creature to drive him toward a shadowy corner of the cave, where his pursuer's line of sight was obscured.

"Take this," "I will kill you," "You are nothing," "May shadow consume you," "Go to hell," and so on he kept blabbering with each blow he made and dodged. Then he took a risk and jumped in front of the centipede so that the giant creature would block the pursuer's vision. Promptly, with a quick, subtle gesture, Arin invoked the 'Life Drain' spell, whispering his incantation under his breath, "Essence drains, life wanes." To Arin's surprise, a faint, almost imperceptible dark green mist began to seep from his fingers, weaving through the air towards the centipede. He realized that the Life Drain spell he had cast was a weakened form of the original. However, it was just enough to sap the creature's vitality without drawing attention.

The centipede's movements grew sluggish, its attacks less precise due to weakness. Seizing the opportunity, Arin lunged forward, his daggers striking true. He pierced the creature's tough exoskeleton, driving the blades deep into its body. The centipede writhed in agony, its legs flailing as it let out a final, gurgling hiss.

As the creature collapsed, Arin stepped back, catching his breath. He glanced behind, hoping his deception had gone unnoticed.