Claire found herself being led down some steeper ground that opened up into a tunnel. The edges of the tunnel opening were fortified with stone pillars, which had intricate etchings carved along them in some masterful designs of nature, mountains and depictions of strong-armed dwarves, one holding a staff and the other a hammer. Both of them wore circlets the staff wielder's was bolder and more drastic in appearance than that of the dwarf holding the hammer.
"This is our road." Ignatius explained as they got closer. "Not all of it is underground, I know many of you humans have tendency to fear the dark, especially the females of your kind."
Claire bristled at this comment made by the dwarf. "You know that's awfully rude a comment to make to someone you just met, Iggy, and extremely misogynistic."
"Well excuse me," Ignatius replied sarcastically, "Forgive me for misunderstanding, there's no need for fancy words, you're still far too unlike our women." Ignatius started to jump up ahead now, putting Claire in the dust as the entered the tunnel or road as Ignatius called it. "And don't call me Iggy!"
The tunnel was dark and Claire stumbled to keep up with Ignatius who moved quite fast for having such little legs. She started to fumble in her satchel for her light, she never had an opportunity to use it, but her dad always used to make her carry one around. Claire had just grasped it when light flared up ahead of her. Ignatius had lit an orb of bluish green flame in his hand.
"You may find my comment insulting, but there is the fact that humans can't see in the dark like we can." He said, hinting at apparently he had no problem in the dark and this light was just his own mercy towards Claire. Adjusting to the light and observing the stone walls around her, Claire decided to ask some questions relevant to the situation.
"So, Igg-Ignatius," She corrected not wanting to annoy him while she was asking for information. "What kind of spell were you trying to cast on that boulder?"
"It was the beginning of some alchemical and transfiguration spells I needed to use."
"So why crack it?"
"I needed to know just what type of rock it was and if it was compatible with our overall goal."
"Which is?" Claire prompted.
"Classified." Ignatius finished.
Okay, that was awkward. Claire thought to herself as they now walked in silence down the tunnel. Weren't you supposed to be able to tell what kind of rock something was just by looking at it? Maybe there were some properties she couldn't see because she wasn't a dwarf, or magical, or maybe geology was a lot more complicated than she thought.
The tunnel began to swoop upward after a little while longer of silent walking, and soon the glow of daylight began to filter in and the Ignatius' spell-light was no longer necessary for her to find her way. The "road" really did look like a road now, well road to a dwarf, cobbled pathway to a human. The land looked more like they were nearing inhabited area and Claire noticed that they were much closer to the base of the mountains then they had been previously.
"The road goes under terrain that would be more difficult or time consuming to pass through topically." Ignatius offered when he found her staring at the scenery.
Claire just let out an "oh" in response to that, the whole thing was still sinking in but with more effect now that she was just walking around in a dwarf-made structure with an actual dwarf and then another question popped into her brain.
"Hey, Iggy, I know I offered to help fix what I messed up, but what exactly can I do to help fix it?" She slipped up on the name and was hoping he wouldn't mind. She was really fond of her nickname for Ignatius and wanted him to let her use it.
"Well I'm not precisely sure," He ignored the name, "The rock that's compatible with our purpose is rare and cant be contaminated once the spell sequence, or ritual is the proper term for it, starts. I'm not sure that particular boulder can be fixed. But I'm sure we can find something for you to do."
They continued walking and they started seeing sparse stone huts and what looked to be taverns, they were all quite small compared to Claire's versions of houses and restaurant, but that was to be expected with people so much smaller than her, their scale would be smaller, if only a little bit, than hers. Claire even started noticing other dwarves, though not many.
"Where is everyone?" She finally asked as they started getting deeper into the town/city. The base of the mountain was coming into view and she could vaguely see that something large was carved into it, almost like a building that was part of the mountain itself. Actually, it looked like that was just it.
"They're all volunteerin' at the manor, that's where our headquarters is."
Headquarters? This must be a major thing I'm involved in then. That must be what was carved out of the mountain side. How has no one noticed any of this? Do they use magic to hide it?
"I want to introduce you to Mintten, he's our Grand Chief Mason of the Turnip Clan, my cousin."
"No long and over glorious name to add to his title?" Claire teased him.
"He does not take part in our tradition..." Ignatius grumbled under his breath. Claire could not help but giggle, obviously this trait of Mintten's bothered him deeply.
And within minutes they had come before the intricately carve mountainside where there was a definite bustle of life and shouts. Plenty of them stopped short to see the giant human entering with their Grand Chief Warlock and Claire almost stopped short just because of the crowd of people she was likely to trip over.
"Come along," Ignatius huffed impatiently. He led Claire through the crowd and up to the main entrance way where another dwarf, dressed much more like a skilled worker and had muscled arms and a broad chest compared to Ignatius' ornate hat and burlap clothes had just sent away some dwarves with orders.
"This is Mintten," Ignatius said shortly, "Mintten, this is..." Ignatius fumbled a bit.
"Claire," She offered realizing she had never introduced herself.
"This is Claire,"
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