As the meeting concluded, the group dispersed, each member energized by the day’s successes and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Sanvra stayed behind, her gaze thoughtful as she looked over the map. "[This is only the first attempt,]" she murmured, more to herself than to Lassim. "[But what a powerful beginning it is.]"
Lassim, despite his exhaustion, felt a wave of happiness wash over him. He had come to this strange, dark world in the midst of danger, then became captured while feeling like an outsider, but now he was going to be able to hopefully win over their trust through his efforts to get back home.
He glanced at Sanvra, who was packing away her documentation tools. "[Thank you, Sanvra, for believing in me and not immediately eating me.]"
Sanvra smiled, her eyes meeting his, "[It is I who should be thanking you. You have brought us more than any quick meal could provide; you have brought us hope. Also, sorry about that… Some members of the hunting team would eat their own limbs if necessary. Hopefully the changes in the mana can return us to having more normal diet preferences in our tribe.]"
The pair then made their way back to the central gathering area where the rest of the community had received the news and the joy was spreading.
The usual somber mood up until now had lifted slightly. Food, though still scarce for the next few days, was shared more freely from the cleansed storehouse tonight. The community coming together in a rare moment of kinship and celebration.
That night, as Lassim lay down to rest in a makeshift bed in his hovel, the soft whispers and conversations of the underground didn’t sound quite so ominous and predatory tonight. Instead, they were like gentle background noise that filled the air with a low hum for him to fall asleep to.
~~~~
The next morning, in the cavernous underbelly of the Drow realm, a renewed sense of purpose stirred the hearts of its denizens.
The successful cleansing of their first sanctuary had not only revitalized a small part of their land but had also ignited a flame of optimism that spread like wildfire through the community.
With Lassim’s unique abilities proving effective against the corruption that had plagued their realm for centuries, the Drow rallied behind him and Sanvra, eager to contribute to a cause that finally seemed to hold a promise of salvation.
Their next major target was going to be the ancient water source of the Drow, long since abandoned and tainted by the pervasive corruption.
When the corruption had set in to this water source, their community had switched to using makeshift wooden storage tanks that were coated in clay. This then allowed them to fill them with snow and then continually heat them until they filled to the brim with drinkable water.
Guided by Sanvra and accompanied by a team of eager volunteers, Lassim approached the old spring, which was located deep within a labyrinth of tunnels that had once upon a time flourished with the echoes of running water.
Right now, there were only light dripping sounds from excessive humidity causing water droplets to form and then fall from the ceiling as they got closer to the spring.
As they made it to the spring, Lassim took a moment to assess the situation, his eyes scanning the dark, stagnant water that pooled beneath a craggy overhang. The water exuded an odd, faint red glow; a clear sign of the corruption.
The pool itself was fairly large. It covered a massive 100 meter area, but had a mouth in the back that seemed to feed into it. Further back from that mouth would be a light stream, which was the main source of the water in this cavern.
They’d eventually need to find a way to cleanse the source of the problem affecting the entire stream, but until then they could block off the stream and just cleanse this portion repeatedly as it got used up.
Some of the members had brought along some wooden planks and ropes to block off the stream’s mouth from the rest of the cave. They worked to get it set up quickly.
After they gave the signal they had finished, Lassim took a deep breath. He then extended his hands, summoning his lightning in a controlled manner. The electric energy danced across the surface of the water, sending ripples through it.
The sensitivity of the electrical current’s favor to fully charging through the water made it slightly difficult for Lassim to adjust and target the corruption across all of it at once.
At first, the water hissed and steamed, reacting violently to the lightning. But as Lassim continued, focusing his will and energy, the water began to visibly clear, the corruption receding like a dark stain evaporating away.
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Sanvra and the volunteer Drow watched in awe as the water transformed before their eyes, becoming clearer with each passing second.
When Lassim finally ceased nearly 5 hours later, the spring, for the first time in countless generations, was pristine, reflecting the flickering torchlight like a mirror.
Sanvra approached the water’s edge first. She cupped her hands, scooping up the clear water, and brought it to her lips. Her eyes closed in appreciation as she took a slow, deliberate sip.
"[Incredible...]," she whispered, her voice tinged with emotion. "[It tastes so much better than the melted snow—pure and invigorating.]"
One by one, other Drow stepped forward, each taking a moment to drink from the newly cleansed spring.
A young Drow, who had never seen the water clear in his entire lifetime, exclaimed as he drank, "[It’s like drinking a cool breeze! Is this really the same water?]" His astonishment was met with laughter and nods from the older members.
Another Drow, an elder who remembered the spring from her youth, before the corruption took hold, took her turn.
As the water touched her lips, a tear slid down her cheek. "[To think I would taste this again in my lifetime... You’ve brought us a miracle.]"
The group, invigorated by the water and moved by the elder’s words, erupted into a round of cheers.
Sanvra, looking around at the joyful faces, turned back to Lassim and said, "[See, my star? Everything you purify restores a piece of us and leads us to our future. Let’s keep going, for all their sakes.]"
Lassim, watching the joy his efforts had brought, felt like it was all worth it. He nodded and then took a moment to meditate backup to full power. The density of the mana in the air in the cleansed areas was so remarkable. He figured he would reach Spirit Growth 3 later tonight.
Energized by the remarkable transformation of the water spring, Lassim and Sanvra didn’t pause long before continuing their efforts, this time targeting the Drow’s living quarters.
With each area they purified, the once oppressive darkness of the underground felt increasingly like a home rather than a prison.
As they cleansed each hovel, the impact of their work was immediately visible. The drab, grime-coated walls that had absorbed years of corruption began to brighten, revealing their original stone and earthen colors.
Freshness filled the air, replacing the stagnant, heavy atmosphere that had dominated for too long. The corridors and living spaces, once laden with a pervasive sense of decay, now buzzed with energy and renewed life. The cleansed mana had a significant impact on even the surrounding air, revitalizing it.
With every hovel they cleansed, the mood among the affected Drow community lifted. The halls that no longer felt like tunnels of doom. Elders stepped out of their quarters, breathing deeply the revived air that seemed to roll back the years from their weary limbs.
As they watched him work, Lassim’s interactions with the Drow during this extensive effort helped bridge the gap of mistrust that had initially met his arrival.
His genuine dedication to their well-being, and making sure that he didn’t damage any of their precious keepsakes or other items in their rooms, won over many hearts.
Especially since he was able to speak their language through Sanvra’s memory sharing technique, the tribe started to see him not just as a foreign mortal but as one of their own.
Some even started mimicking Sanvra and calling him their star, which he felt a bit uncomfortable about. They were treating him as if his mere presence was the sign of a guiding light in the night, one that would lead them to somewhere better. He did his best to try and ignore the sense of pressure with the nickname for now though.
During this transformative session, the one Drow from the hunting squad that first captured Lassim, and initially wanted to eat him before being kicked in the stomach, approached him cautiously. The rugged lines of the roots across his cheeks and the intimidating black markings on his face were softened by humility as he stood before Lassim, a stark contrast to his former aggressiveness.
"[Star boy… I was wrong about you,]" he admitted, his voice carrying a heavy burden of regret. "[I’m sorry that at first I saw you as nothing more than potential food... I’m glad Illnara kicked some sense into me and knew to bring you to the High Priestess first. Your actions have brought us hope and you’ve even made my place more in tune with the surrounding nature.
It is more nourishing than any meal I could’ve received. I am deeply sorry for my earlier hostility and I hope you shall forgive me. If you’re willing, we can be friends. My name is Silinrul.]"
Lassim, taken aback by the heartfelt apology, responded with a warm, forgiving smile. "[No need to dwell on the past, Silinrul. You’ve all been through a lot before I got here and I understand it thanks to Sanvra. Let’s have it just be water under the bridge and focus on the future together!]" he said, extending his hand out of friendship.
Grateful for the acceptance, the Drow clasped Lassim’s forearm with his taloned hand, a warrior’s handshake in the Drow hunting team. He gave a nod full of respect as they released the clasp on each other’s arms. As Lassim turned away, he didn’t notice that the look in Silinrul’s eyes was now looking at Lassim with more reverence.
A silent thought and decision went through Silinrul’s head at that moment.
As the day wore on, Lassim and Sanvra managed to cleanse around twenty living space sections of the underground network.
Though progress was significant, the sheer number of dwellings and over 1500 residents meant this was just the beginning. This project would take at least two months minimum for all of the homes at this rate; let alone cleansing the tunnels between each space as well, which would certainly exponentially lengthen the time needed. Then there would be the rest of the underground network as well.
By the time another 5 hours had passed, Lassim’s exhaustion signaled the end of their day, both Lassim and Sanvra were satisfied with their progress. They knew they had barely scratched the surface, with much more to do in the days to come.
"[I shall see you on the morrow, my star,]" Sanvra promised as she wished Lassim goodnight at the entrance of his cave room.
While he was preparing himself to retire for the night, she added with her voice filled with softness, merely above a whisper, "[This is just the start. With every new sanctuary you add into our lives, the more shall see and wish to follow your beaming presence.]" A light flickered in her eyes as she walked away gracefully.