"Well, peeps," I said. "Let's go and see what's what, shall we?"
As I stepped out, I suddenly felt really fatigued. I wondered what was going on, since I had woke up less than an hour ago and felt energized.
"I don't feel so good," said Hassan.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"Tired," he replied.
"Me too."
The others came out of the wagon. From their body language I could tell they were tired.
"I'm sure I slept soundly last night," said Muriel.
"I think it's this place," said Barbara.
"There's a town nearby," I said. "We'd better head over there."
And so we did.
When we got there, the scene was depressing.
"This is Despair Town," said one of the people in this unenergetic voice.
The whole town was permeated with depression. People were either laying about, or just wandering as if they were zombies.
"We were trapped here by the demon emperor," said another person.
"Something's wrong here," said Chamoro. "I think the Dai Maou is somehow draining away the people's will to live."
"I don't think even I can take him on," said Terry.
I felt this creeping despair too. As Duran had said, the Dai Maou Deathtamoor was more powerful than any of the demon lords. How could we possibly face off against someone so powerful, someone who could possibly destroy the Kingdom of Reidock single-handedly?
We just hung around, occasionally talking to these depressing people. A lot of them told us they used to live in the real world until they were somehow brought here, most likely by the Dai Maou's power. They were all surprised when I mentioned I came here willingly to take the fight to the Dai Maou. Of course, they mentioned that there was no way I could possibly defeat the Dai Maou.
Going to this house, I saw this old man.
"I'm Clark Ende," he said. "I used to be a weapon smith in Zaxon Village. I got trapped here during a journey to find the legendary armor."
I introduced myself. "I came here to fight the Dai Maou."
"You are very courageous," said Ende. "But you lack the power to take on the Dai Maou. I have this pipe. If you cann find a way out of here, go to Zaxon village and look for my wife."
I took the pipe, which was made of iron; rust covered its surface. We left the place where Clark Ende was staying. I looked and saw a lady with a smile on her face.
"What's going on?" I muttered.
"I just went to the hot springs," said the lady. "It energizes us."
"Oh really?" asked Hassan.
"Yeah," said the lady. "At least we can forget our troubles."
"We'd better head for those hot springs," I said.
ooooooooooooo
We had to travel there on the ground, since Falshion could not fly in Deathtamoor's realm. It was only a few minutes from town to the hot springs, which was this huge pool. I coulkd see people wading in this pool, which had this huge rock in the center.
We went to the house next to the hot spring. Over a dozen people waited in line.
"I'm surprised that the Dai Maou would allow such a place to be here," said this old man.
"There must be some sort of evil purpose," said Hassan.
"I don't think so," said Chamoro. "This place does not radiate evil."
I waited in line for about half an hour, and then I stepped into the hot spring. I suddenly felt energized. I felt more alive than I did since before setting out for Deathtamoor's realm.
A strong current carried me around the pool in a full circuit. I just let the currents take me around, content.
It was after a few circuits that I saw something in the central rock.
"There's a hole over there," I said. "Let's swim to it."
"Why bother?" asked Muriel.
"Yeah, can't we just stay here?" asked Barbara.
I did feel relaxed here. But I just had to find out what this place really was.
"Come on!" I yelled. "Let's get swimming!"
and so I swam for that hole. Swimming against the current was physically exhausting. Eventaully, I made it in. The hole appeared to lead into a cave. I waited until the others managed to get here.
"Did we really have to come here?" whined Terry.
"Yes:" I said, drawing the Sword of Ramias.
We all walked along the stone floor of this cave, expecting some monster to attack us for lunch.
Instead, what we found was this well with this glowing green mist.
"This might be a trap," said Hassan.
I peered into the well, hoping that a demon would not crawl out to kill me.
All of my senses blurred, and then I found myself breatjhing fresh air.
"Where are we?" asked Chamoro.
I looked at the Magic Map. We were back in the real world.
"Home," I said.
"At least we know how to leave Deathtamoor's realm," said Muriel. "So we go back?"
"We have an errand to run first," I said, hopping onto the driver's seat of the wagon. After we all boarded, Falshion sprouted his wings and took to the skies.
"Where are we going?' asked Chamoro.
"Zaxon village," I replied. "Ende told us that it was in the mountains."
And so we flew around the world, unmolested by monsters. I looked down, seeing oceans, forests, and wide open grasslands.
"Now I wonder where it is," I said.
After a few hours of flying, I saw a village nestled in the mountains.
"Down there," I said. Falshion slowly descended towards this village, which was north of Gent town. We finllay touched ground just outside.
The village was small, with woioden buoildings and plowed fields. The sun was setting to the west.
"Ah, visitors," said a man. "We have not had visitors in such a long time. Welcome to Zaxon village."
"Do you know of a man named Clark Ende?" I asked.
"He went looking for the legendary armaments," said the man. "He has not been heard from since. His wife lives in that house over there. His dog guards the home."
I went over to the wooden house, and this big dog stood in front of the wooden door.
I took pout the pipe that Ende gave me, and let the dog sniff it.
He suddenly barked, and this old lady opened the door.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I have something for you, madam," I said, presenting the rusty pipe.
"That's Clark's pipe," said the lady. "Where did you get it?"
"I got it from your husband," I said. "He's in the Dai Maou Deathtamoor's realm."
"How did he get there?"
"I don't know."
"How did you get out of there?"
"I have a horse than can transport me to Deathtamoor's realm. There is a well in his realm that leads to this world."
"And Clark is all right?"
"Yes."
"Thank you," she said.
"We'll be going back there."
"Then give this to him." She handed us some tools. "He'll be happy to see these."
I took the tools, and then we headed back to Deathtamoor's realm.
ooooooooooooo
After getting on the wagon, Falshion transported us to Deathtamoor's realm, landing just outside the Despair Town. We went to the house where Ende was staying.
"Are those my tools?" asked the blacksmith.
"We got them from your wife," I replied.
"So she's still alive. And she knows I'm still alive. I'll make you something for free. Wiould you like armor, a helmet, or a shield?"
"An armor," I said.
"I'll get to work. You may rest here. You've done so much for me and my wife."
And so we slept here.
ooooooooooo
The next morning, I woke up fully energized. Going outside, the scene before me was remarkable.
This was the same place, but the town looked more alive. Apparently, Ende's cheer had spread through the whole village.
"Wow," said Barbara. "We really made changes here."
"I feel a spring in my srtep myself," said Hassan, putting on the armor Ende had made.
"After we have breakfast, I say we explore further, find out how to get to Deathtamoor," I said.
And we did.