Hunter of the Evernight-Chapter 834: Center of a subterranean cavern

The manor seemed rather odd, though Alex couldn’t quite figure out why.

Perhaps it was because it seemed to have been mostly built out of ivory or the fact that it was decorated with not just paintings but the heads of several creatures, ranging from mutants to Cryptids.

In any case, Alex chose not to pay too much attention to these things for the time being as Arwen led him, along with Ana and Elena to meet with the manor owner in his art room.

They found him seated on a short stool, with a paintbrush in one hand and a palette in the other.

With all his focus on his work, Alex chose not to say anything and instead gestured for the others to wait while he moved to stand not too far from the owner, his gaze fixated on the painting.

Staring at the artwork, which seemed to be a rendition of a beautiful night sky and a field below it, Alex recalled that he had not yet had the time to ask Arwen if she recalled his paintings.

He wanted nothing more than to have images of the things he reminded himself of over and over again.

It would make it easier to believe that he wasn’t just delusional, and he knew that with time, if he did not get his hands on those images, his subconscious would end up forcing him to let go, which was something he couldn’t let happen.

Soon, the owner paused, just as he was about to apply the final stroke to complete the painting.

Taking a deep breath, he dropped his brush and palette, at which point, Alex spoke up. "You don’t wish to finish it?"

"... I’ve been working on it for quite some time now. I guess I just don’t want to see it completed just yet."

"Understandable. But it’s best to finish it, it deserves to be finished."

Letting out a sigh, the owner intoned. "I guess you are right."

Then, he picked up the brush and applied the final stroke, causing the painting to seem as though it had come to life.

It was truly a breathtaking sight.

"You are quite good at this." Alex praised with the owner turning to face him.

"You paint?"

"I dabble."

"I would be more than happy to see some of your works."

"Unfortunately, I don’t have any on the ground. Perhaps some other time."

"Of course." The owner remarked as he got to his feet and put his hand out for a handshake with Alex taking it.

"You may call me Bartholomew." The owner said with Alex replying.

"Nice to meet you and I am..."

"Orion." Bartholomew calmly said. "Apys already told me."

"I see," Alex remarked, taking a moment to glance at Arwen who responded with a sheepish smile.

"Well then, I believe you aren’t here just to talk about my paintings."

"Unfortunately not."

"That’s fine, so what do you want to know?" Bartholomew inquired as he withdrew his hand and placed his paintbrush aside before making his way over to a corner where a bowl of water and a cloth were kept.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Just like I told your friends, not at all," Bartholomew remarked as he washed his hands in the bowl of water.

"No idea?"

"All that I know I’ve already told your friends," Bartholomew remarked. "We are in a subterranean cavern, though I can’t say if this cavern is in Eventide or somewhere else."

"I see." Alex pursed his lips. "How long have you been here?"

"Honestly?" Bartholomew asked with Alex nodding, prompting him to respond. "I can’t remember. The last thing I remember... are eyes."

"Eyes?" Alex raised a brow. "What kind?"

"I have no idea. Anyways, after that, I woke up in that house."

"Have you tried to keep track of time since getting here?"

"I tried to but it’s quite difficult to do so, I think I stopped after the first month."

"And how long has that been?"

"Quite some time, I’d reckon," Bartholomew replied as he picked up the cloth next to the basin and wiped his hands.

Alex glanced back at the ladies, only to discover that they wore the same expression he did.

One filled with worry.

They couldn’t afford to be trapped here.

Taking a moment to regulate his thoughts, Alex remarked. "Do you plan on leaving this place?"

Bartholomew chuckled. "Do I plan on leaving this place?... Of course I do."

"So why haven’t you?"

"Oh, I’ve tried, I promise I have," Bartholomew replied. "I think I’ve done so a hundred and twenty-four times, give or take. It was on my last attempt that I came across Apys."

"I see."

"Unfortunately, escaping is easier said than done."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked with Bartholomew letting out a sigh as he intoned.

"Follow me."

Then, he made his way over to her, into another kind-sized bedroom.

Then, he walked to a drawer and took out a large parchment before handing it over to Alex, then, he made his way over to the changing area in the corner to change his clothes that had been stained with paint.

"What is this?" Alex asked with Bartholomew replying.

"A map, I used twenty-five attempts to draw that, so you’d best be careful."

Alex opened the map and checked it out, quickly discovering with some chagrin just how massive it was.

It was almost equivalent in size to Sklaviunt and judging from some areas that seemed unfinished at the edges, Alex had a feeling the map wasn’t complete.

"Have you guys seen this?" Alex asked with the ladies nodding in response.

"I see."

Pursing his lips, he quickly discovered a few things about the map.

Firstly, Bartholomew had taken the time out to record the possibility of encountering monsters on the map and it seemed the further from the manor one was, the more likely they were to encounter monsters.

Secondly, the manor appeared to be at the very center of the map, which was odd and caused Alex to begin to ponder about the origins of the building.

Who had built it?... Why had they built it?... Was there a reason it was built at the center of the subterranean cavern?

Perhaps it would be wise to begin his investigation in the manor before shifting his attention outside.