Magical Ascension Chapter 28 (Patreon)

The portal was at chest height and after we all climbed into it. We entered the tiny pocket realm that was likely going to collapse within the next week or so without our interference. But now once we cleared the resources out of this realm and killed any monsters within it. It would likely collapse within but a few days at most.

I looked around and I felt Furina all but pushing against me as she almost hid behind me as I took in the dull grey sky above us that matched the Fog that came from the Great Lake but instead of being misty or cloud-like. The sky above us was like painted grey with little fissures of black spatial energy leaking into it.

'Its already leaking spatial energy from the void into the realm. Yeah this realm won't be too much of an issue.' I thought as I knew that the lifeforms and treasures within tiny realms were what gave them life and if this realm was all but dead then that meant that the occupants and the treasures within were going to be less valuable/magically powerful.

"Furina, Jake have your summons begin scouting out the realm." Keqing called out and then she continued after taking a breath. "I will do some closer scouting while you guys stay near the portal."

Staying by the portal in case of issues like running into a stronger monster was always the smarter choice but we still needed to see what was actually in the realm so while Keqing took off in slight jog Furina's ghostly summons and Nahida who I resummoned also went in different directions of the rather dead hilly plains we were on.

Furina, Lalatina, and I walked up to one of the taller hills and looking outwards I frowned slightly seeing almost nothing brown rising hills that broke up the small valleys and flat areas that were probably once rivers or swamp land.

 But the ground had dried out and become hardened dirt. But as I wondered what we should even be looking form Nahida spoke out as she was in her cuter human form. "Master... There are deep caves beneath us with life in them. I found some cave moss that glows and other plants?"

I blinked hearing that and then nodded as it made sense as should the resources of note be minerals, plants, or some underground based monster... They would obviously be underground where there was still water.

"Alright, Nahida you make a tunnel with your roots for us to get into those caves while we wait for Keqing to return." I spoke as I reached into my pocket to take out the short-range comms clicker and then I clicked it creating a blue light on all of ours which meant for us to try to regroup so when Keqing felt the clicker vibrate endlessly she would come back if she wasn't dealing with something.

Though while putting it away I made Furina grunt as I accidentally hit her slightly with my arm as I went to put the clicker in my pocket making me mentally sigh as Furina was obviously not in the right fucking head space for coming into here. And was clearly forcing herself to be here so that Keqing and I didn't bully her or make light of her.

Or in Keqing's case... Probably beat her over the head with a ladle.

Either way, I couldn't exactly comfort her here especially with Lalatina being here which would make her more defensive so I just silently wrapped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her head against my chest while Lalatina took back out her little fold out chair and a book to read while we stood guard.

After a few minutes Keqing made her return with her purple hair bouncing with each step she took as she jogged over to us. And without looking out of breath much at all she quickly asked. "What is the situation?" 

I pointed out the underground tunnel systems beneath us that were made by monsters or was an underground river system that still had signs of life and she nodded saying with some annoyance. "Yes, even as I made sure to climb several different hills. No matter where I looked there was no life on the surface so it must all be down below."

With that, a slight groan rang out as Nahida pulled my leg in warning as her roots made a last stretch to open up a steeply angled tunnel down into the ground as the tunnel system was a good ten meters below us.

Seeing the dark tunnel in front of us I felt Furina shaking slightly even though she was deep measured breaths and I knew this was hitting... Literally all the fucking trauma buttons she had but with her weak body that literally couldn't run for more than a hundred meters.

It's not like we could leave her behind here on the surface as it wasn't like Lalatina had any real way of protecting her.

"Alright, let's go," I said giving Furina's waist a squeeze in support.

As there was nothing I could do. We couldn't leave her behind and more importantly... If she wanted to become a powerful mage she needed to get over it. It fucking sucked and it was callous but if she wanted to be great she couldn't allow herself to mentally collapse at entering a tiny realm or a dark hole in the ground.

In answer I felt Furina grab my pocket and she with surprising stability in her voice demanded. "Jake aren't you going to offer a lady a hand in getting down into that hole?" 

I smiled hearing her trying to put up a strong front and said easily. "Alright alright princess." And Keqing raised an eyebrow as I picked Furina up in a princess carry making the blue haired girl squeak out in surprise as I called out.

"Nahida lower us down into the tunnel please." And from beneath my feet were thicker roots that picked me up slightly and like an escalator slithered downwards into the hole with Furina shaking in my arms as our vision was consumed by utter darkness until I glowed with golden light to form my astral spell to provide light to my surroundings.