Okay! I'm back baby! Reborn! Like a phoenix!... And with that out of the way here is next chapter in the story. I'm going back to writing fics so next chapter should be much faster than this one.
But do enjoy my sweat and blood. :-)
"Ahhh... How much longer are we supposed to travel until we reach that blasted dungeon?!" says in frustration Arthur.
It's been 3 days since leaving the capital, 3 days of traveling by day and camping by night.
At the antics of their prince, the knights could only smirk and smile seeing their leader in such childish mood. During this travel, those that did not know his highness and those that knew him only by his reputation discovered just how much human like them prince Arthur was. He did not care for social status, nor for formalities. At the start of the travel he told his men;
"From now on we will be protecting each other back so I would ask you to do not care much about my social status as a prince. Right now I'm just as you, in service of the crown. Meaning: if any of you thinks of rescuing me from a dangerous situation in which you could lose a life, don't."
- Is what their prince said but, knowing that he treasured their lives more than his own, was a reason any knight would gladly give up his life for him.
As for the prince, he was leading them on his horse, behind him both Denis and George respectively on left and right.
The dungeon was supposed to be in the middle of an old forest where 1 of the most beautiful sites in whole Empire was located, the lake Avalon.
Many legends surround that place but which is true and which is fiction remains a mystery. The only ones to know were people living there, unfortunately, those were just as mysterious as the land they were living on. The locals were less than friendly and as long as they paid taxes, they were left in peace. Knights that traveled there for that purpose are accompanying their prince as well to do not ignite worries in hearts of townsfolk.
"We should arrive tonight in town your highness!" shouted 1 of the knights that regular visits this town.
"Ehh... Very well then..." to say Arthur was bored was not the truth. First time outside the of capital, it was great to see his homeland an in new perspective.
"Sooo... How are we going to approach the dungeon my lord?" asked Denis.
"Hmm... Let us rest for tonight and we shall enter tomorrow at the first sunlight."
"Still, there is the problem with locals. We don't even know if they will let us get close t the lake, not to mention village even." said George.
"Even if they won't we will just go to the lake and wait there for sunrise. But first, we will talk to them and try to reason with them."
'That's what I said but it is true that people of that land are an unknown to me. It may prove difficult to talk it out.'
While still deeply in thoughts the remaining travel was coming near the forest of ... which beyond lies the village. As they were closing in on the forest the young prince noticed a green pointy figure near the boundary of trees and decided to speed his horse a bit to discover exactly what it is.
At his movement, all knights responded just as their prince did. Speeding up to the figure, now it was evident that it was a hat - a green pointy hat which was worn by a blond young woman that looked at her twenties or so, wearing a green cape which had a bit of dust on itself and other then that mostly white cloths along with brown boots.
"A-a person...?" asked Arthur as he got off his horse to see the person closely.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!" shouts George; "Please stop! We do not know if it's a trap set by thieves!"
Not listening to his aid, he approaches what appears to be corps of a human. At first, he unclips his sheeted sword and starts pocking the body. After repeating the action a few times, he puts his sword back and touches the body, at which it grabs young prince by ankle and scares the hell out of him.
"WHHHAAAAAA!"
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"Wa..." after letting out that scream young prince heard a low voice, looking down he heard it again but more clearly now.
"Water..."
... It seemed as the 'bandit' was, in fact, a dehydrated traveler...
"Your Highness! Are you-!"
"George, could you give me a sack of water?" asked Arthur.
"Ee... Of-of course." without another word he handed him his water and prince tried to apply water through travelers mouth. He did not know if it would help but still tried.
After a minute he stopped and the travel started to regain some movements in his body, but she had yet to recover conciseness.
"George! Would you mind taking 'her' with you?" asked Michael.
"Of course." answered.
As George had begun to take 'her' he looked more closely and was a bit taken back by his assumption.
"Em... My prince..."
"What is it? Is she too heavy for a Knight of Round?" asked half-jokingly Arthur.
"No it's just that it seems 'she' is a 'he'."
After another hour of travel through the forest, now with additional 'weight', the party is starting to reach their first destination, the village near the lake where dungeon had appeared.
As the line of trees ended and houses of villagers appeared Arthur could feel an uneasy feeling beginning to dwell in him and his men.
The moment they passed the borders of village townsfolk started to exit their homes and gather at what seemed as towns square where a very tall lamp lighting the entire area was standing.
With there arrival their, all the villagers were already gathered and they certainly did not seem to like the situation. But before they could do anything an elderly man dressed in simple brown pants a white shirt covered by the brown vest and blue coat with shaggy grey hair that covered his eyes stepped forward to meet the party but was intercepted by two knights who were the ones to always visit this village.
"Elder Zigh! Please do not do anything rash!" says first knight with blue eyes and brown hair that was sticking out of his helmet with a pleading voice.
"Tell the people to go back home, we are not here to fight." says the second knight with brown eyes, unknown color of hair and a stoic expression.
"Bazz, Volt, what is the meaning of this? We have paid the taxes just as usual so I don't see a reason why you would be here." says Elder Sigh to know identified knights as Buzz - Bazzilian Redx and Volt Trikes.
"Sir, we are-" starts Buzz.
"Maybe I should be the one to explain this unannounced visit Elder." says Arthur as he gets off his horse and steps forward to meet the Elder.
"Elder, it is an honor. My name is Arthur and all of us here were sent by his majesty, the emperor who ordered use to investigate the building that appeared near the lake that lies beyond this village." with the end of his explanation a wave of mumbling started to spread between villagers that were saying 'our lake...', 'outsiders enter lake...', 'that cursed building...'.
"I understand, but why should i allow it?" his answer surprised the young prince; "That lake is our sacred ground with only adults allowed to enter, only few outsiders have stepped foot near it, you certainly aren't the ones. Go away, you are not welcomed here." with that he turned away and started to return to the crowd but before he could do that...
"What about the people that are missing?" Arthur question made the elder stop in his tracks and slowly turn around to him.
"How...?"
"All people here are either children or adults. I do not see a sine of youngsters and teens. I guess they entered the dungeon."
"Dungeon..?"
"Yes. The building that is near the lake, it is called that. It makes the people that enter them most of the times never come back. And I can only guess what a magic object of that sizes is doing to a magic field space as that lake."
"?! How!?" asks the shocked elder.
"The great Mage - Marlin had already informed me of the astonishing amount of magoi that dwells in that place."
"... What do you want?"
"I only ask that you let my men and me rest here until dawn and we shall make sure to take care of that dungeon." answers Arthur truly.
"... What about our children inside that thing?"
"I can not promise that they are safe as there is no way of knowing what kind of dungeon it is, but I will try to get them out."
After a moment of silence, the elder answered reluctantly; "...very well. I will allow you to stay the night at the town's tavern and to come closer to the lake."
Elders decision surprised many people and made them question this; "Elder, that's against the tradition!?"
"Quite! Ersa!" with his call a woman dressed in a simple green dress and long light brown hair came forward and said; "Yes Elder?"
"They will stay in your tavern, give them an adequate care. Is that understood?"
"Yes, of course."
"You have my gratitude." says Arthur to the elder with a bow and a calm smile on face.
As all knights fallow their prince and the tavern owner named Ersa, villagers start to disperse to their homes and only a few of them are left talking with elder Sigh.
"Are you sure it is wise to let them in like this?" asked one of men's.
"It does not matter. If they are capable of bringing back our children then it is a risk I am willing to take." answered elder as he remembered his own grandson venturing into the 'dungeon' never to return 5 days ago. As did many parents of young brave people that went inside the cursed dome.
"And in the event that they do not succeed they won't get out either way."
At the towns tavern, the knights were relaxing, already without their armors. Drinking, talking and eating to the fullest in preparation for there mission tomorrow.
As they were at that, both Denis and George were siting at the bar table, George like most knights drinking a beer and Denis having a cup of tea. They did not speak, appreciating the moment of calmness. It had lasted until the tavern owner, Ersa came up to them with the next drinks.
"Your men sure are calm, even though they are going in to that thing tomorrow." says Ersa.
"There like that precociously because of that. They know that this could be there last night like this so there trying there best to make it a memorable one." answers her George.
"Hmmm... But still for the elder to just allow outsiders near lake... His something else, that youngster." said Ersa as looking up at the second floor where both prince and the traveler that they found are resting.
"Hehe... Yup he is something else, that's for sure." says Dennis as taking another sip of his new cup of tea.
At the upper floor traveler was laying still in conciseness, Arthur was sitting near the window reading a scroll that was one of his favorite pieces of literature. It described the adventures of one of the most famous and idolized persons in the world. The one who conquered 1st dungeon - Sinbad.
This was his reason for being here. The thrill, the unknown, the adventure. Everything that he ever learned from this text was going to become true tomorrow. But...
"Is something worrying you young one?" said a calm and kind voice. from behind him.
When he turned the blond, long haired man was sitting up looking at prince with his blue eyes.
"Hello." he says with a smile.
"It seems that your okay now stranger." answers Arthur.
"Yes, I'm sorry for the troubles I may caused you... emmm..."
"Arthur."
"Arthur huh? My name is Yunan, and I'm just a simple traveler."
"Heh... I would appreciate it if you don't lie to me." shots back at him young prince and at that Yunan seemed genuinely troubled at his answer.
"Based on your clothes I can easily say that you are not Britain born." continues Arthur; "And if that's right, I'm wondering what is an outsider like you doing in center of our nation? Dehydrated and hungry at one of ours most sacred location, near the time that an 'unknown' building appeared just a few minutes from here."
At his deduction Yunan could only simple look with less and less smiling face, it actually looked like he was very displeased with the way he was talked about. After ending his hypothesis a very uncomfortable atmosphere was created between both of them, as know they were simply staring at each other. But that was immediately stopped after a very loud and deep growl that emitted from Yunans stomach, at which the serious youngster started laughing maniacally and traveler developed a very bright pink blush from ear to ear.
"Hahaha! It seems that even when talking about such matters a human organism is very straight with its needs." says Arthur after catching a breath from his laugh. He stands goes over to a table behinds Yunan's bed and brings him a plate of various food at which stranger could not stop drooling.
"Owner brought those for you after hearing the story. Eat, it's certainly not poisoned, I checked." and he shows him an already half eaten apple.
At that Yunan grabs the plate and starts quickly devouring food, but it did not seem like his condition made him forget his manners. His actions certainly surprised Arthur as he only saw such ethic during a royal dinners and banquets.
"Hmm... You're certainly no normal traveler... But I'm not here to interrogate you." said Arhtur after siting back on the chair near window.
"I suggest you take a long rest and leave this town tomorrow. They allow you to stay here as long as we are around, and at dawn we are heading into-"
"Dungeon. Am I correct?" asks Yunan at which once again Michael looks suspiciously at him.
"They are very well know in outside world, and only those with certain qualification are capable of conquering them."
"I know that already." answers lazily Arthur while looking at the moon through the window.
"... Then knowing that you still challenge this task?" asks Yunan after putting a half eaten apple back on plate.
"I can't turn back." says firmly and seriously youngster at which traveler looked at him and when their eyes met, the boys eyes were glittering with something that he couldn't quit place finger on.
"I have read that the first human to successfully enter a dungeon was about my age."
"So? Do you plan on becoming a second Sinbad or something?"
"No. But he gained something through that experience, for him it could be the power of that place but I'm looking for something else in their."
After a while Yunan asks once more; "Then what is that?"
"... Purpose." His answer shocks Yunan as he thought that such young person wouldn't think about such things already.
"For my entier life I have been living in a safe environment, sheltered and brought up only to be used as a tool to expand the empire's borders." he stops for a moment to look at the moon before continuing.
"But this dungeon could give me a new road to walk on. A glimpse of a future where is not only my country but me as... me."
The words of young man echoes in Yunan's mind as this youngster reminds him of a commoner that gained power through the same means but changed along the way, but this one. He seemed to know both the rich and poor way of living yet he kept his self intact while living on a boarder of such ways.
'Oh Ugo, it may seem I found another who is most worthy of power' though Yunan.
"… I hope that you find what you're looking for, but be warned. Dungeon shows many things to humans, you could be made to look into eyes of your deepest fears or live in a heavenly dream…" at his words Michael turned to traveler but he… was gone. Like he was not there, only evidence of his presence being a leftover apple.
"… Traveler Yunan, huh…"
Next morning
As the sun started to rise all 20 knights, 2 close advisers and 1 prince. Total of 23 new dungeon challengers made their way through the path leading to the lake, guided by the village chief.
"…We are here." says the elder at which he points the Great Lake in center of the forest.
The lake it self seemed very holy in a concept of sights in the land of Britain. A vast amount of clear, sparkly light blue water and the greenest trees the newcomers to this sacred place had seen.
But what was unnatural about this picture was a building standing in the center of the lake. A gigantic dome with a front gate based on two columns and stairs that led to that entry.
The sight alone made all knights astonished and paralyzed them in place. But elder Sigh moved forward and showed to a few boats tide to the coast.
"To get their you will need to take the boats." said to the party elder.
Before he could answer Arthue saw something unusual. From dungeon to at least 2m from it the lake's water was darker in color.
"… What's happening to lake?" asks prince.
"… Ever since that building appeared their, lakes water was becoming corrupted. A few of our people become sick after drinking from here and fishes that we catch are either unnatural or unbeatable. Pleas save our people by eliminating that… that 'thing'." said with distaste elder
"… We will do our best." answers Arhtur.
With that elder started to return to village leaving the party to start boarding the boats to approach dungeon.
"It's time. Everyone! Be prepared for anything!" shouts prince to all the knights.
As they approached the entry on boats it shone more brightly and at the moment they touched the stairs after few minutes of pedaling the light overpowered their sight of vision creating a white nothingness.
Soooooo, thats that and see you next time! Leav comments, your follows and fav. if you would like to see more of this story. If their are any mistakes then pleas DO point them out and i will try to corect them.
Groszekace out! :-)
