Here comes chapter 2, rewritten! Read and review!


/.--… -./ Amethyst \.-.-.. -. .-..\

At the entrance, Crystalriver struggled to pull the door open.

"Let me try that," one of the Hermits said scornfully to her, pushing her aside. She fell, and stood furiously, leaning on a frowning statue of a lion as she rubbed her ankle.

Suddenly, the lion began to move. It shook out its sandy mane and stood up, roaring.

"Have I fallen asleep again? I cannot keep doing that!" it admonished itself.

Then, it saw Crystalriver, and its eyes widened. "Have you come to visit his majesty, King Sharen the Third?"

"Uh, yes, yes, we have," she replied. On her face was an expression of great puzzlement and amazement. Distantlight was amazed as well. Here was something from the ruins, moving and talking! How much it must know about the civilisation. They could ask it a thousand questions about the place, and find out what they needed to know…

But I don't want to take a short cut. I'm sure the rest want that too, to fight, not to take the easy way out.

"First, let me check you for poison," it said, eyes glowing white. The guild members glanced at each other.

With that, the lion gave a nod of approval. "Now," it commanded. "You must put on these earrings." Earrings immediately appeared all over the ground. "A huge guard spell veils the castle. Anyone stepping within it without my approval will die."

The lion had been asleep when they found it. Did that mean that the archaeologists who had come before had not put on earrings?

Maybe, that was how they died.

"Eww…Earrings!" he heard the same Hermit as before exclaim disgustedly. "I'm not wearing them!"

"You must, stupid Metalclaw! Unless you want to die?" a female Hermit shouted back at him.

"Easy for you to say," Metalclaw muttered, before clipping them on.

Distantlight put on his earrings as well.

"Soon, and maybe, I will take you meet his Majesty," the stone lion continued. "Only maybe."

Does it know…that his master is already…dead? Does it know how long it's been?

The lion's voice interrupted. "His Majesty is too great to be bothered by visits by mediocre folk," it boomed. "You must pass his tests first. Once you pass three tests, you will be allowed to visit him. And they will not be easy at all."

The Chief Bandit in their team grinned, raising his shiny dagger. "At last, a challenge," he said.

Crystalriver glanced around.

"Alright, we're ready!"