Blessed Clay 6 – The underground mine

Uklag looks down the shaft. After finding the hidden entrance in the cellar he almost fell down the hole, which would have likely been the end of him seeing that he couldn’t even make out where it stopped. A fairly dumb **** all things considered.

However, he didn’t so all is well. Uklag looks around in the small room. All it contains is the shaft and a wind, which connects to a couple of ropes that hang down the shaft. Doesn’t take much to guess what is going on here. Uklag starts to pull on wind and after a few minutes of work, a wooden platform arrives on the top, together with an empty cart.

“That will be useful.” Uklag says and steps on the platform. “If you two would do the honours.” He says. The twins get to work with unhappy expressions, physical labour is beneath succubae in their honest opinion. However, Analea isn’t one to ignore her masters wishes and Aelana keeps her aggresive remarks to a minimum for the moment.

Uklag yawns as he slowly descends into the mine. Countless books throughout the ages have spoken about blessed clay and its wondrous attributes. The material can only be found in tunnels under the earth and seems to regrow naturally. Its origins are unknown but it has many uses, the most widespread of course being using small amounts of it for holy houses, churches and palaces.

Uklag can feel on his own body why. As he descends he feels the aura of the blessed clay descend on his mind, making him feel regretful of past actions. ‘Annoying, really.’ The warlock things as the platform reaches the ground.

A tunnel network used by Estara and the empires before it spreads before him. Luckily for him being used for several millennia also means that everything down here is mapped and well-signposted. He grabs the cart and follows the first sign.

“How do you dare come here?” The very world seems to ask him. “Because I can.” Ukalg simply mumbles and pushes onwards, the light of his staff keeping the darkness at bay. “What gives you the right to break minds and enslave people?” Uklag chuckles, “I give me the right, who else will?” “God.” “There is no god; there are only more and less powerful beings.”

The world becomes silent, only Uklag’s steps echo through the tunnels. “Why do you fight?” “Everyone else keeps trying to keep what is rightfully mine.” “By what right?” “The right of the strongest of course.” “What will you do if you meet someone stronger than you?”

The silhouette of a woman appears just outside the circle of light that his staffs create. The outline reminds Uklag of home, of someone he has both left behind and was left behind by. He takes another step. “I will simply become even stronger, nobody will ever stop me from gaining more power. My goals are absolute, my will is absolute, my power is absolute and soon my life will be endless. You can play your games with my mind, whatever spirit you are, but one day I will find you and break you like anyone else that dares to impede on my mind.”

The silhouette disappears. Again, the world becomes silent. Finally, the blessed clay comes into view, the blue-greyish material sticks to the wall and emanates a soft glow; Uklag raises his hand to rip it of the wall. “Turn around on your path, at the end lies only your enslavement to greater powers.” The world warns him. “Let them try.”

An hour later he is back at the surface. “That was trippy.” He says to the twins and they make their way back to the base.