Mage Lynch yawned, drawing the attention of the surrounding group of Drow. At this tense moment, even the well-informed Matron Batana was on edge, yet this human mage was lazily yawning?
It wasn’t that Lynch did it on purpose, but he was genuinely weary of the recent underground life. Since his injury, he had been living underground, no longer touching the green grass, feeling the soft earth, and had long lost sight of the azure sky. Others might still return to the Surface World in their dreams, but Lynch had already abandoned dreaming for the Eye of Insight and the ability of sleep thinking.
However, he was, after all, a resident of the Surface World; the Underdark was not his homeland. Originally, in Spider Cave Dwarf City, or even in Hanmosidun Gray Dwarf City, Lynch could adapt. But Ratris City, in particular, made him feel oppressed. Dark Elves, unlike other underground races, are greatly weakened by strong light, even losing their sight temporarily. Therefore, all Drow cities are devoid of any light. Mage Lynch had to constantly use his Eye of Insight to see his surroundings, leaving him exhausted. He started longing for the warm, gentle sunlight and the fragrant, balmy air.
Zilvra gently patted Lynch’s shoulder without saying a word. They were silently advancing, and even if someone had to sneeze, they needed to hold it back without making a sound. The female Drow blinked at the mage, nodding her head as a way to encourage him.
Batana was already not fond of the Adviser Mage, and it only worsened now. If not for Zilvra’s strong recommendation, recalling her daughter’s knack for discovering talent, or the fear of other Dark Elf Families leveraging the mage’s knowledge and power to expand their influence, Lynch would have never suddenly risen from a mere Traveler to the family’s adviser. For someone from the Surface World, the Dark Elf Matron always harbored strong suspicion. Especially now, it seemed Zilvra was quite taken with this man, often seen together during this operation. One wonders if this human mage used some Charm Spell on her daughter, and if it’s indeed so, then he must face the wrath of the Drow!
Now, the entire Dark Elf army was positioned just below Ratris City, advancing through secretively dug tunnels, forced to endure the smell of dust and decay accumulated over a long period of disuse. The gentle footsteps echoed in this enclosed passageway, everyone prepared for battle. Meanwhile, above them, within the Dark Elf City, was a different scene altogether.
The entire city was eerily silent, not a single sound was heard, even the usually bustling market was deserted and quiet. Across the street, one could hear the "woo woo" of the subterranean cave winds blowing, like a ghost murmuring at one’s ear.
The giant Flash Gold Stone atop the Black Crystal Tower still operated, emitting a soft light to help the inhabitants of the Dark World tell time. But today, it seemed as if everyone in the city had vanished; no one raised their head to look up. The light of the Black Crystal Tower shone alone on the empty city, casting long, faint shadows behind the buildings.
Stone-leg Boss peered out from the inn, scanning the street in front of his shop from left to right, then swiftly pulled his head back in and shut the door tight. He had never witnessed such oppressive atmosphere, with no one outside, yet the city was engulfed in the immense pressure of an impending storm, inescapable and suffocating. Now, only a spark was missing.
Batana led the team and quickly returned to the First Family’s residence through the secret passage. She dispelled multiple layers of magical defenses, swung open the tightly shut doors, reinstating herself on her own domain as the First Matron. However, contrary to her expectations, everything here was unchanged, just as when she had left. The entire castle was deathly silent.
The Dark Elf team swiftly dispersed, forming small groups of a few people, rapidly patrolling this labyrinth-like place. The core family members immediately headed to the Audience Room, the heart of the entire compound, where they prayed and communicated with the Spider Goddess.