Seekers of the Stone Maker

Myla thought back to her school days in Lunaris. The VerdantKnoll Guildhouse had many options for study, and after a bit of time, one would take an apprenticeship with a mentor in a specific field. Myla studied hard and learned all she could. When it was time to choose, Yla’s vision came, and she left in the middle of the night.

While unsure how an apprenticeship would have gone, she imagined this would have been similar. Medusa had a wide array of various components that she had foraged. The woman could obtain many things, from animal parts, plants that grew at the entrance, and even items that the basilisks had brought. Some, she imagined, came from the victims sent here by Aramore, specifically some of the cases of equipment and various items that might have been found in one’s pockets.

Myla tried not to think too heavily about it. Instead, she observed Medusa take out wooden and stone instruments. As she worked, she explained what she was doing, would start the project, then hand it over to her to finish. In time, they crushed the garlic after cooking it, added the extra ingredients, and then placed it all into a cauldron with a heavy liquid. They stirred for two hours, and Myla watched as it slowly turned from a liquid to a paste. Now finished, she instructed Myla to place them into various jars.

“You use it as a salve. Apply it to the skin, and the effects of petrification will be reversed after a moment.”

“Thank you. These seven jars will be very useful. But, if you already have control over the basilisks, why do we need them?”

“Because my control only goes as far as they can see me and hear my instruction. All creatures have their own mind, and if they are hungry, they might choose to disobey my commands. It is better safe than stone, love.”

“It is appreciated. Thank you for teaching me how to make it. If we find more of the components, we could even come back with more and free some of the others trapped down here!”

“I would like that, child.”

Myla looked over to her sister. She was sitting against the cave’s wall, watching them.

I’m just making sure we’re safe.

From Medusa?

Yeah. We just met her, and I’m still a little confused.

Medusa’s face turned to Lyla. Myla was unsure of how she could sense them around her.

“I understand your caution. I assume you have a question you’ve been worried about asking, child.”

“I do, actually,” Lyla answered as she stood up and walked closer to them. “There are the basilisks, and it would explain how people were being petrified, but why didn’t they stay up here with you? Why didn’t they try to run? What happened to everyone else that has been sent here?”

“It would be best to show you than to explain.”

Medusa stood and walked towards Rhokhishi.

“If you would assist me, please?”

“What do you need?”

“I can tell you are strong. It resonates in your voice. I would like you to hold my arms behind me.”

“Miss?”

“It’ll only be for a moment, but I want to ensure we are all safe.”

“Okay.”

Medusa turned and placed her hands behind her. Rhokhishi grabbed onto her wrists and then nodded when she felt ready.

“You, now,” She spoke to Lyla. “Come in front of me and take this blind off. Only do so for a moment, then place it back on quickly.”

She walked towards Medusa, and Myla could sense the worry in her sister. The rest gathered together, only a few steps behind, and watched. Carefully, Lyla reached around the woman’s head, untied the blindfold, then grabbed it from the front.

The blindfold was red, but Myla had not thought much about it. Now, away from her face, she could tell it was covered with blood that had dried throughout her time here. Inside, two pieces of mirror with jagged edges were placed. Medusa’s face was covered in scars around her eyes, where the mirrors had cut and pierced her skin over and over. Myla wondered why someone would do this to themselves.

Her answer came quickly. Medusa’s eyes became red, and the color of her irises disappeared. Her face became contorted, going from calm to anger. Her teeth seemed to grow and sharpen in her mouth, where she snarled and, like a rabid animal, foam began to appear at the corners. She fought against Rhokhishi’s grip but was unable to free herself.

The cover on her head came loose, and Myla stepped back as she saw that her head was covered in snakes connected to her skin instead of hair. They writhed and fought out, rising around each other, twisting, and trying to bite outward at Rhokhishi and Lyla. Lyla moved forward and quickly placed the blindfold back on Medusa, placing the mirrors in front of her eyes again. The snakes calmed back down, and after a few seconds of heavy breathing, she slumped against Rhokhishi’s hold.

Lyla tied the blindfold around her head, placed the cover back on top, and stepped back. Within a few seconds, Medusa’s rage had subsided. She kept her head down and seemed to be focusing on her breathing. Rhokhishi let go of her wrists, and the woman kneeled, keeping one of her hands up in front of her, to let them know she was back to her normal senses.

“I was not always a monster. Cecille made me this way after she blamed me for Alric’s death. Then, she told everyone my magic caused this and drove me away from the village. She found me, trapped me here, and I fought, petrified, or killed anything that came here for over a decade. It wasn’t until a mirror was found in one of their pockets that I returned to myself. I have done my best to save others but I cannot always guarantee safety. People see me and become terrified. Some travel further down or try to leave, but they can’t. In the end, they all died or turned to stone.”

Rhokhishi kneeled next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You are no more of a monster than any of us. It wasn’t your choice to kill, and when you did, I can feel that you defended yourself as you had to. We have done the same before.”

“Your words are kind, but as you travel further in and see the number of people I have harmed, you will not be naive. I am a monster.”

Medusa stood slowly, her body seemingly weakened by the change. She walked the few steps towards Lyla, giving a nod as if to say thank you, then turned to face the rest of them.

“If you are to find Trista, I shall take you where I can. Stay close to me, and we shall try to make it down and out alive.”