The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 182: Rescue...?

"Knock it off, Gestella. You’re frightening the poor girl!"

In response, Celeste heard the owner of the sinister voice click her tongue.

She squinted as the light of a torch suddenly appeared next to her face. Allowing her eyes to adjust, the Chosen of the Divine Sovereign discovered two cloaked figures hovering a few inches away from her.

The torchlight cast eerie, flickering shadows over their features.

However, contrary to that...

One of them appeared to have a soft heart.

Celeste blinked, unable to process the sudden turn of events.

All she knew was that she had to escape. The mana within her body surged, ready to stun her foes. However, before she could even act, a calm voice stripped her of any will to move.

"It’s okay, child. You’re safe. My name is Clara and you’ve stumbled upon our hideout. Well, stumbled might not be the correct word..."

The cloaked figure on the right cleared her throat.

"Shut up! That damn dirtbag... why did Donovan have to kick the bucket and leave me in charge of this stupid array?! Now, we have a bunch of good-for-nothings on our hands!"

Celeste winced at the volume with which Gestella spoke.

However, her brow twitched as she registered soon as her words.

"Others?"

The question slipped unbidden from Celeste’s mouth.

"Yes."

Clara sighed.

"Gestella over here has accidentally caught quite a few innocents while trying to get us something to eat."

"..."

Celeste’s expression grew blank.

She couldn’t quite fathom how one could mess up that badly. The young lady bit her lips. Perhaps, the only positive to this peculiar situation was that the hunters and Guild members appeared to still be alive.

’Thank the Asterons for that.’

Celeste breathed a sigh of relief.

However, in her reassurance, she forgot about the overwhelming stench.

The young healer choked, bringing a hand to her mouth.

"SHUT UP!"

Gestella’s aura flared.

In her embarrassment, she swiped out with the torch.

Celeste just had enough time to shift her neck. Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t prevent a few strands of her hair from catching fire as they smoked in the dim light. The harsh, acrid scent of burnt hair filled the air.

A brief silence descended upon the three women.

"Are you okay?! Please don’t mind Gestella, she’s an idiot."

An exasperated sigh escaped Clara as she retrieved the torch from her partner’s hand.

The embarrassed woman, meanwhile, was indignant.

"How is it my fault?! She LAUGHED at me!"

Celeste shook her head, not even deigning the ridiculous statement worthy of a response. She lifted her gaze towards the ceiling, watching as shadows danced across old, gnarled roots and time-worn dirt.

"I’m afraid you can’t leave once you have come in contact with us. It’s for you own safety as much as ours. I hope you understand."

Clara seemed genuinely apologetic. The young healer could only swallow her words.

"Come along, now. I’m sure you’ll feel safer in the company of your fellows."

Celeste followed the cloaked women, suppressing her rising dread.

Along the way, she saw large, shadowy mounds. Upon closer inspection, the torchlight revealed that they were mountains of corpses and carcasses. A few were humanoid in nature, but for the most part, it was just a large heap of horrifying monster remains... each submerged in a thick, viscous liquid, similar but darker than human blood.

Celeste shuddered.

Soon, they left the cavern and entered an old, run-down dirt tunnel. From there, the group of women continued walking, their steps reverberating off the walls like the snapping of old, brittle bone. Occassionally, Gestella muttered a light curse as she stepped on a loose rock, while Clara remained silent.

However, Celeste could sense that the latter was keeping an eye on her.

’Blast it.’

After a while, the young lady’s ears perked up, detecting a steady stream of faint murmurs. It was vague and indistinct, but definitely there. Finally, the Chosen of the Divine Sovereign and her two captors exited the tunnel.

Very soon, she found herself in a wide, almost bustling space. It was a cavern, much like the previous one. However, in the centre, set against what seemed like the trunk of an ancient tree, a wide brazier provided illumination and warmth.

To the right, Celeste’s gaze registered some thirty to fourty individuals, all positioned inside an expansive cage made from vines and tree roots. On the opposite end, facing them, a hill of armour and weapons reached for the ceiling, glinting and reflecting the light of the fire.

For the most part, the hunters and Guilds seemed unharmed. Those who were injured appeared to have treated their wounds days ago, based on the dried blood coating their bandages. Various other medical supplies surrounded these men and women.

Resources... that could have only been retrieved from an Outpost.

Celeste’s jade-green eyes flashed, silently processiing the snippet of information. It seemed to her that her captors were not as cruel and cold-hearted as they had first seemed.

’Good. I can use this to my advantage.’

The young healer was in the midst of formulating a brief plan when the warriors noticed her presence. Some failed to recognise her at first glance - her green attire doubtless throwing them off.

Others, meanwhile... froze, their eyes widening in shock.

Inwardly, Celeste hoped against hope they wouldn’t reveal who she was.

However, in the next moment....

"Lady Celeste has come to rescue us!"

A collective cheer rang out from the warriors.

Their thunderous cries caused the ground to rumble and the roof to shake. Dust spilled from the ceiling.

Gestella and Clara both paused, turning to face her.

Celeste internally groaned.

"Seems like I’ve caught a big shot."

Venom laced Gestella’s tone, her smile evident beneath the hood of her cloak.

"Be nice, Gestella. This is all the more reason for you to behave."

Throwing her partner a glare, Clara stopped in front the cage.

She fished out a wooden key from the folds of her cloak, and before the hunters and Guild members could think to escape... she gently nudged Celeste into the cell. At the same time, she deftly removed Celeste’s short-sword and Dimensional Bracelet from her person.

A stunned, palpable silence swiftly formed within the underground chamber.