A Zombie's Path to Power

"This is a waste of time!", whined the young Colwyn, "We don't need to work with this nerdy brat!"

Resisting the urge to scowl, Rio maintained her calm smile and aptly replied. "I'm eighteen, So that means we're actually the same age, or can you not count that high?" Much to Colwyn's anger, she phrased it like an actual genuine question, and not as if she was making fun of him, which was arguably worse.

Ignoring the bickering apprentice's, Both Oz and Netra huddled around the aged map. The ancient temple hidden in the mountain had been discovered by a mining village, and due to the time constraints on this task, two knights and their squires were sent to explore the lost hall instead of the usual one.

"...Rio come have a look at this," Called Oz, the thorn knight was proud of his squire. He had every right to be, of course, Rio was considered a Genius. So he would often bounce ideas off of her despite the girl's lack of "on hands" experience.

Shuffling over, Rio ignored the insults Colwyn hurled at her and look over the map of the cave. "They miners only discovered a ventilation shaft and not the main entrance?"

Oz nodded, "The door to the temple is still lost somewhere, when we enter it'll be through here," he said as he pointed at the vent. " and we'll have to enter one at a time due to the narrow slope of it."

"I imagine in the order of: One knight, me and Colwyn, then the other knight. So that way if there's something waiting for us in the temple you can deal with it?"

Before either Netra or Oz could answer, Colwyn had gotten bored of being ignored and finally spoke up. "Why are we even rushing like this? Let's just wait for the miners to find the actual entrance and enter through that."

"Were you even listening earlier? A few miners tried entering themselves and need to be rescued, if we wait any longer they could die." Responded Rio, this time failing to keep the scowl of her face.

Netra didn't say anything. And that was starting to annoy Rio, it was her responsibility to discipline her apprentice, but all she did was watch them with a coy smile.

"Why should I care what happens to some miners." Said Colwyn, twirling his long blond hair between his fingers. "They'll just die in a few years anyway to dust inhalation or something."

The thorn knight frowned, Rio felt a vein on her head strain with anger and Netra still didn't say anything. Continuing on, Colwyn said "And if you're scared to take the vent, we can just force some 'volunteers' down first to make sure it's saf-"

Everyone went quite as Rio slapped the blonde boy, a red hand print already appearing on his admittedly handsome face. "Oops." Said Rio in a calm voice, "I didn't see you there."

Turning red, Colwyn exploded in anger, "What the hell is your problem! They'll be dead in some accident anyway!"

"If we're lucky so will you." Said Rio with a chilling coldness in her voice, "Scum like you has no right to condemn others."

Nodding in pride, Oz let out a smug smile and said, "She's right Colwyn. We took an oath to preserve humanity, we are obligated to help them."

For a short moment Rio felt happy before Netra turned to her. "Of course, while there is no oath about hitting an ally, it's still a poor way of making friends."

Keeping silent, both squires hung their heads in shame. Before either of them could muster up the courage to apologise, the carriage drew to a sudden stop in front of a mine.

Jumping off the carriage, Netra left with Colwyn who made sure to stick out his tongue at Rio as he left. To ashamed with her previous display to act out, Rio silently endured it and climbed out behind Oz.

Making sure they were out of earshot, Oz leaned in and whispered "I don't blame you for that, Rio, the little snot had it coming,". Rio didn't say anything but just silently nodded in response.

She knew Oz was just attempting to comfort her. After all, he knew that her family had worked in mines just like the ones they would be rescuing today. Except her family didn't have anyone come to rescue them.

Joining back up with Netra and Colwyn in front of the cave, they group was met by an older man whose face was covered in coal dust as he came limping out of the cave.

Observing him, Rio noticed that there was no apparent injury on his leg, so it was most likely an old injury of some kind that never healed properly. It was a shame, but here in the western continent poor towns like this couldn't afford to have a doctor help.

"Sir thorn knight, Lady scorch knight." Greeted the man by placing his balled fist over his heart, the official salute of the Sunchaser's. "I am so pleased that you were able to come. My own son is trapped down that mine, he is the only family I have left, I beg that you save him."

The miner kept a stoic face, but even Colwyn could tell that he was close to breaking down in front of them.

Rio glanced at Oz, who gave a subtle nod of understanding. "We'll move quickly," Oz assured the man.

Netra took charge of preparing the group. "Colwyn, Rio, you both know the formation. Stay close and stay alert."

Colwyn scoffed but said nothing, his earlier bravado now muted by the gravity of the situation.

The narrow ventilation shaft was every bit as suffocating as Rio had feared. With only a faint glow from the enchanted crystal tied to her belt, she squirmed her way through, dirt crumbling around her. Ahead, she could hear Oz's armor scraping against the stone walls, and behind her, Colwyn's muttered complaints.

"Why couldn't they have built bigger vents? Who was this even designed for? Rats?"

"Quiet," snapped Netra from the rear. "You'll alert every predator down here to our presence."

The shaft finally opened into a cavern. Rio pulled herself free, inhaling the stale air. Her light illuminated jagged stalagmites and the remnants of stone pillars, many missing chunks or crushed.

Oz helped her to her feet and pointed to a faint trail of footprints in the dust. "There. Likely the miners."

"Or something chasing them," muttered Colwyn, earning an annoyed look from Rio.

The cavern widened into what appeared to be an antechamber, the remains of an ancient doorframe barely visible under layers of moss and dirt. Symbols carved into the walls seemed to shimmer in the dim light of their crystals, the script unrecognizable to Rio.

"Old magic," muttered Netra, her tone unusually grim. She crouched beside the nearest pillar, running her fingers over the symbols. "This temple might be older than any of the maps suggest."

"Fascinating," Colwyn said dryly. "Let's write a history book after we don't die."

"Enough," Oz snapped, his tone sharp. "Rio, what do you think?"

She hesitated, scanning the room. The air felt heavier here, oppressive, like an unseen force was pressing down on her chest. "The miners came this way," she said finally, pointing to a set of tracks leading toward a dark corridor. "But there's something...wrong. There is supposed to be four miners but there's five set of foot prints."