The guards took a look at them, using some strange memory to check them for any abnormalities. After they were cleared, the gate opened and the group was let inside.
The inside of the stronghold was, well, a war camp. The fortress itself turned out to be much bigger than it appeared from the outside.
What looked to be hundreds of awakened had set up tents to shelter in, and campfires were littered around. The ziggurat itself was most likely reserved for masters and saints.
The captain, whose name Eleazer still didn't know, led them to a small empty spot in the massive fortress. They were then provided tents and some basic necessities. After setting up, the leader went to talk with some other captains.
Eleazer, the archer, and the mage were left sitting in a circle, and it was quite awkward. I mean, what do you expect when you put a lazy extrovert, and two seeming introverts together. Eleazer kept observing the camps.
After a while, it was quite clear to him that a sense of unease had spread throughout the ranks. Messengers ran in and out of the temple itself, and captains would enter and exit occasionally. He had a bad feeling.
After about 30 minutes, the captain returned. His face, which was previously neutral, carried a grim expression. The sinking feeling intensified.
"Bad news. The higher ups have issued orders for everyone to stay on full alert tonight. Rest now, because that's all the sleep you'll get."
Looking around once again, Eleazer saw other captains informing their squads.
'It appears that my nightmare will start soon.', he thought.
While it was still midday, Eleazer knew he had to sleep. Laying in his small tent, he couldn't sleep. As much as he had prepared over the years, he was also worried. After all, reading about a monster in a book was very different from seeing one.
All of his combat experience was against a human. Monsters were not contained the way humans were - the human body had physical limitations.
Eleazer found himself thinking about the past. In the end, he was never someone special. He lived his life, each day spent improving himself, but he was a mortal.
There was no spell, no aspects, nothing. Now that he had come here, was he happy? Or did he miss the mundaneness he had grown accustomed to?
'Tch. Useless thoughts.'
With that, he drifted off to sleep.
Everything faded to nothing.
.
.
"Rise and shine!" a loud shout woke Eleazer from his sleep.
Exiting his tent, Eleazer saw the others already gathered around the campfire. It was dark, maybe 7 or 8 at night. Other soldiers were also getting up and preparing for the night to come.
Nobody knew exactly what was going to happen, at least nobody who was a mere awakened, but anyone with common sense could tell it would be a bloodbath.
The fortress seemed to be scarcely populated, it felt too empty. Torches lined the walls, and more torches were scattered throughout the camps. From his current position, Eleazer could see 3 of the 4 walls that stood as a barrier between them and the horrors dwelling in the Hollow Mountains.
Turning his attention back to the group, he noticed the lack of conversation. How boring.
Just like that, time continued to pass...
Eleazer stifled a yawn, but suddenly paused. He thought it could have been his eyes playing tricks on him, but he could've sword one of the torches on the walls went out for a couple seconds. No, it was better to assume the worst.
The problem was that the guard was still standing there, nothing appeared to be wrong, and nobody else gave any signs that they noticed.
'Weird.'
He almost missed it. If he hadn't been already looking towards that area, perhaps he wouldn't have seen it at all. The camp closest to the wall went dark. The darkness, however, couldn't completely hide what happened within.
The moment the torch went out, the awakened started clawing at their skin, mouths open as if in a silent scream. Then they stopped, and the light from the torch once again appeared.
This time, others noticed. War horns blew, and all hell broke loose.
Immediately, the light from the torches all throughout the stronghold started flickering violently, and one by one they were distinguished. Darkness descended.
As if in response, light flared form the temple, allowing Eleazer to regain some of his sight. He could now make out vague shapes, climbing over the walls and tumbling down into the fortress.
That was the least of his concerns. When everything had gone dark, Eleazer heard it. The archer, who had been to his right, collapsed upon the ground, and seemed to be struggling against something.
When light returned, Eleazer grabbed his weapon, and immediately thrust it straight towards where the archer had been. He heard the sound of sword piercing flesh, and the Spell whispered in his ear, as if trying to tempt him.
[You have slain an awakened monster, Parasitic Dweller]
[You have received a memory: Tears of Despair.]