“What do you mean you solved it?” Scholar asked again “Was there some clue down there?”

  “No, it’s written on the ceiling. Well, I presume that is the instructions to progress right there” She pointed.

  “Damn. How did I not… Hmmm… I suppose my light doesn’t quite reach as far. Even yours needs to be close to spot that.” Scholar peered up at the script, hurriedly pulling out his tablet to note down what he saw in a corner. The whole surface was looking extremely cramped with chalk symbols at this point as she wondered how he could even decipher what he had written.

  Just then, the glow from Ash’s club began to fade.

  “Recast that would you?” Scholar asked, still scribbling.

  “I can’t. No Will.” Ash tiredly stood, lifting the fading club up closer to allow the lizardman to scribble down as much as possible before the light died.

  Then they were left in the darkness, only the dim light from Scholar’s finger preventing them from being completely unable to see.

  The three of them stood for a moment, staring into the darkness surrounding them

  “I suggest we leave.” Spear said after a while.

  Ash was about to protest, but realised it was likely for the best. She did need a good while to rest and recover her resources and they didn’t know what else the ruin might throw at them in the meantime. Ash had though this room cleared after all, but then she stepped on a new spot on the floor and triggered the pit trap.

  Extracting themselves from the temple was slow going, with only Scholar’s finger light to help see, they had to be especially careful. This was especially true through places like the puzzle room, stepping on the tiles in quick succession as they struggled to make out the individual squares.

  Each step closer to the entrance brought with it a little more natural light and less tricky traps so they did soon emerge into the sunlight. It was barely even mid-day. They all spent a moment breathing in the fresh air and gazing across the jungle before then slowly made their way back down and towards the village.

  Ash took the time to check over some of the notifications she had dismissed thorought her fight. The kill notifications had been condensed for her.

  You have slain 32 level 2 bone amalgam. You have received 160 exp!

  You have slain 6 level 3 large bone amalgam. You have received 150 exp!

  With her 10% boost, that now put her on 358/12500, a small chunk on the way to level 5. Her stats had increased with her level too. Meaning she had new maximums of 44 Hitpoints, 40 Stamina and a whopping 108 Will.

  Then there was the progress on her skills and affinities

  You have reached level 18 in Arcane conduit

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  You have reached level 6 in Glow

  You have reached level 8 in Frost touch

  You have reached level 5 in Flame Burst

  You have gained level 3 affinity with Fire magic. More Kinetic abilities are now available.

  You have reached level 20 in Great-hammers. You are now Journeyman level in Great-hammers. Skill selection unlocked.

  You have reached level 19 in Arcane conduit

  That was quite a few skill levels from the fight, but she supposed she did have to use them quite frequently in the tense combat so some progress was expected. It definitely seemed the skills progressed faster through true application rather than when she merely trained with them. Also, now she was even being offered a skill selection for reaching journeyman level with her weapon.

  Yet before she could focus on that, on the way through the jungle, something unexpected came to greet them.

  “Ash! Ash?” A voice called out through the jungle and the three of them approached.

  “Hello?” Ash replied, coming around a knot of trees to see Kara the guardswoman. She was stood at the nearest corner of the ruin and was calling for her.

  “Oh good, you’re here.” Kara said hurriedly. “We need you, all of you, back at the village now.”

  “Why? What’s up?”

  “Just a few minutes ago,” Kara replied “Vidar returned from scouting the jungle. “He says he spotted Lizardmen. Ones from the other tribe.” She clarified, nodding to Scholar, “The appear to be gathering, most likely they are about to attack. I was sent to fetch you if I could. I was calling or a few minutes. If you hadn’t come… I was probably going to head back soon. Who knows if they are attacking already!”

  “Alright. Let’s go.” Ash said, trying to sound confident to the clearly worried woman. She gripped her maul in two hands, feeling it’s weight. Her stamina had recovered at this point, much of her will too. But her health was hovering around half. Not ideal for a fight so soon.

  Life is never ideal. Ash thought. You just have to take it as it comes and make do.

  The four of them hurried out of the jungle and into the village. It was eerily quiet, and Ash soon found out why. All of the non-combatants had huddled together in the main hall, whispering softly to one another, while the rest were gathered on the far side, by the gate where the Lizardmen had attacked before. Where Eric had fallen.

  Everyone was there, Hestia, Lance, Ama, Jori, Vidar and Stavos all arrayed in a half circle, tensely and quietly conversing with their sights set on the jungle ahead. With the four of them that made ten defenders. Just ten for the whole village, and that was assuming Scholar could fight, and that he and Spear would even fight for them.

  “Oh good, you’re here.” Hestia sighed with relief upon spotting them approach.

  “How many?” Ash asked worriedly.

  “I’m not certain. More than a dozen. Most likely around two.” Vidar replied grimly.

  “So, Ash.” Stavos spoke to her directly, gesturing to the pair of lizardmen behind her. “How do your companions feel about negotiating?”

  “Against such a force, I believe negotiation would be a prudent course of action.” Scholar hissed out in common, surprising the village leader a little with his much-improved grasp of the language. “It is likely what you faced before was a patrolling scouting party. This will be a stronger force.”

  “Very well, I did suspect as much.” He nodded “Hestia, dole out the potions. These are to be taken immediately if it looks like there will be a fight.”

  They were each handed a deflection potion, even Scholar and Spear being given one. Hestia quickly explained what they did, stating that they would block a single instance of up to 14 damage now. Clearly, the woman was already improving with her new specialty as that was quite the increase from 10 before.

  “Let’s hope we don’t need them.” Lance said dryly, accepting a potion and pocketing it.

  Almost the moment the last potion was handed out, Vidar raised his crossbow, pointing it towards the brush. There was a whistling sound and a black shape sailed out of the jungle, the point of the javelin slamming into Stavos’ hastily erected barrier. A moment after, the green scaled figure of a lizardman burst free from the leaves, followed by another and another, and another. Each one charged straight for the gate.

  The savage tribe had arrived, and they looked to be in no mood for negotiations.