Led by two Nox Monks familiar with the terrain, Horace followed a hidden waterway overgrown with glowing moss.
The route was indeed winding and rugged. They had to climb slippery rock walls and skirt several bottomless underground fissures, with small underground creatures (Basilisks) occasionally harassing them, but they came through without mishap.
At last, they reached a relatively open underground riverbank. A few Giant Ants clung to the ceiling of a nearby cave.
"Head up from here, and you will reach the surface. The exit lies in a hollow in the northeastern corner of the Eastern Tableland, in the Liurnia Lake Region," the monk guiding him said, pointing at the well shaft.
"There may be an ancient Lava Golem guarding the area, but it usually activates only when someone attempts to damage the well shaft or attacks it. Just be careful to avoid it. Safe travels."
Horace bid the two Nox Monks farewell. The lift beneath his feet slowly began to glow silver-blue, carrying him up toward the surface.
Returning to the surface felt like coming back after a lifetime away.
The warmth of sunlight on his body, the scent of vegetation and earth in the air, and the shimmering light reflected off the distant waters of Liurnia all reminded him that he had returned to the familiar world.
He took a deep breath of the slightly cool air, putting the underground world's eternal silver radiance and damp scent out of his mind for the moment.
Sure enough, the exit well lay beneath a secluded cliff.
At the well's exit, an enormous Lava Golem stood blankly.
It did not move at all, like an actual statue.
Horace softened his footsteps, carefully circled around it, and climbed to higher ground at the edge of the hollow.
Standing on the high ground,