"Not even Narthasil's root mixture could hold back your power! I know! I know what it is! I never thought it could manifest in a human being!"
Theryn knelt before Kaen, looking up at him admiringly.
The old alchemist was astounded; it was as if he was looking at a legendary figure.
"You know my power?" Kaen asked, astonished by the statement.
Theryn grabbed his staff and used it to stand up. He placed a hand on Kaen's shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"There was a time when magic could not exist without the Void. The universe is seeking its balance again! I had to save you! It was my destiny! I had to save the bearer of the Void! Uahahah!"
Kaen took a step back as Theryn could not contain his hysteria.
The old alchemist knew the Void; perhaps he could have helped Kaen better understand its powers. Theryn was his only hope for finding a way out of those endless tunnels, even though he might not be the most reliable source of information.
"So? Are you going to get me out of here? Do you really know a way out?"
Theryn stopped suddenly, his expression changing. He began to touch his beard with one hand, and fear crossed his face.
"I know the way out, but I never made it. I don't think anyone has ever made it. Not since the beast was born."
"The beast?"
Theryn continued. "You said the guards were looking for you. Didn't you wonder why they didn't follow you down here?"
Kaen could find no answer.
"They didn't do it because of the beast!" Theryn pointed his staff at the ceiling for no reason. "There's only one way out of these tunnels. Miners coming from the countryside outside Drosven Hollow used it. The problem is that it's currently guarded by a powerful magical beast. A Cravenn."
Kaen listened.
"The Cravenn is a rare magical creature that can only be born under special conditions." As he spoke, Theryn walked over to the desk and lifted a dusty book. He opened it and quickly flipped through the pages until he found the right one to show.
"Crystals of mana must break and the mana in them must mix with carcasses, bones, rotting organs, and any organic substance that, when alive, possessed the desire to kill. All this must take place in a complete absence of light" he explained, pointing to a page in the book he had written that contained mostly strange drawings and incomprehensible scribbles.
"I defeated a mutant mage created by an Archmage before coming down here. I don't know how big or powerful the creature you're talking about is, but if you help me solve the low-light problem, we could give it a try" Kaen replied.
Had Theryn interpreted his encounter with him as a sign of destiny, he would not have hesitated to accompany Kaen on his venture, no matter how foolish it seemed.
"I will help you, boy! Whatever it takes! I saved you; you spared my life and showed me your power. If fate wanted us to meet, then my time in this fetid cave has come to an end! Ahahah! Come on! Let's eat something before we leave!" Theryn exclaimed in reckless joy.
Kaen relaxed his nerves. There was a chance that by killing that man, he would gain more Fragments of Null, which are useful for increasing the level of resonance with the Void. However, in his current state of disorientation, the wisest choice was to leave the man alive.
At least until they escaped from Drosven Hollow.
Theryn began rummaging through his things and, within minutes, found a pot to use in the oven. He used it not only to cook materials for his elixirs, but also to feed himself.
Kaen could not tell if everything Theryn placed in the pot was edible. There were mining insects, such as beetles and worms, as well as herbs and strange roots. The result was a shapeless, stinking mush that took on an even more disgusting appearance after half an hour of cooking.
"Here, eat!" Your strength will return with this, I assure you!" Theryn exclaimed with satisfaction. He handed Kaen a bowl of slop and began eating his own with appetite.
Seeing that Theryn also ate his own slop, Kaen began to eat as well. It was one of the most disgusting meals of his life; the dry bread he occasionally ate with Riven was a hundred times better.
A little over an hour later, Kaen was full and had replenished his energy. The disgusting meal prepared by Theryn had worked surprisingly well. His limbs felt strong, and his muscles felt toned, as if he had rested for a whole day.
"Never underestimate the power of alchemy, boy. I use it all the time, even when I'm cooking!" Theryn remarked with satisfaction. Meanwhile, Theryn grabbed a bag and began stuffing various tools and ingredients inside, preparing to leave.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" he continued.
Theryn walked out the front door of his hiding place and began rummaging through a pile of metal tools and junk in a nearby room.
"There it is!"
He returned to Kaen and handed him a rusty old sword.
"It may not be a weapon worthy of an army general, but it's better than your pickaxe" he smiled. "I found it years ago next to a dead body. It must have belonged to a lost adventurer like you."
Kaen grabbed the sword and examined it carefully, looking from hilt to blade.
-------------------------------------
[Weapon: rusty sword]
[arcane powers: none]
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The Null Sense skill recognized that the sword was not magical, but simply a standard, rusty weapon.
"Thank you," Kaen replied. He inserted the blade into his belt.
"Well, we have everything we need to leave. Farewell, you smelly old cavern! I will flee this place or die trying! Puah!" Theryn spat on the desk. Along with the reddish saliva, a tooth flew out.
"We must go now, boy. Are you ready for the Cravenn? I have never known anyone capable of defeating such a creature. Are you ready to die?"
Kaen looked out the door, past Theryn. He was about to plunge into the darkness of the cavern again, but this time he was not alone. A strange guide would accompany him on his escape.
The strangest guide ever.
"Yes, let's go."