Ch23: Darkness and Charmless
Once we finally landed on the shore of the island with the dark ruins, our group went forward and found that even the undead horrors of zombies and skeletons seemed to have a thing for Angelica. The only enemy that wasn't entranced by her appearance, however, was a Lesser Demon, who attacked us on sight while mumbling gibberish. "Oookay... I had no idea what he was saying, and I'm a monster, so that's saying something," Angelica said, her nerves showing.
We finally reached the top of the area and found that the ruins in front of us were coated in a dark, foreboding light. And who should we see going into the entrance but Dhoulmagus himself! He looked at us, smiled, and cast a spell with his one hand before limping into the Dark Ruins with his one hand on his heart. "Okay, let's go into that place and after him!" I said as I traveled in there first, everyone following me as I did so.
We ended up being in complete darkness and, by the time we thought we had found a way out, we exited back where we started, a group of 3 different soldiers there that weren't before. "Well, that was... odd..." Stella frowned. "Did you just go in there?" the one mage girl asked. "Yes we did... I take it that you're the group of soldiers sent by Cash and Carrie?" I asked them, which I could tell shocked them. "H-How did you know that?" the one with the sword asked. "Because the bartender told us in secrecy. Don't worry, we haven't told a soul about what happened to Golding and we don't plan on it," Angelo frowned to them.
"Well, what did you find in there?" the mage girl asked again. "Well, we tried going in after Dhoulmagus... but some foul dark magic blocks our path... there's no way in hell we can get through..." Angelica sighed. "Wait... I think I remember something about that... there was a magic mirror that I heard was in Argonia... one that could shine light that could pierce through darkness. If we can get that mirror, then we can bust through this dark magic seal," the one that looked to be a healing mage said. "Well that's good to know! So we need to go to Argonia then? Angelo, if you would?" I smirked at him. "Got it... we're going to go get that mirror... I suggest you guys go and head off to Baccarat to let them know of this. We'll be back with the mirror and we'll see to it that Dhoulmagus is killed," Angelo said to the group as he activated Zoom and we were all transported to the gates of Argonia.
Once in Argonia, the sun began to rise up and our group wasn't tired in the slightest. "If you're wondering why you aren't tired at all... it is because of my magic sustaining you guys," Angelica smirked. "Really? Heh. No wonder I didn't feel sleepy at all last night," Jess giggled. "Well, I think we should talk to the King about this matter," I smiled as I led our group to the front doors of the castle and the guards looked at us with a frown. "Excuse me, but we were hoping to speak to King Pavan please?" I asked the guard. "Hmm... judging by your looks, I'd say you lot are here to take up the job he posted. Go on in! The King will surely be pleased to see you," the soldier smiled as he let us through, Trode included! His look really was fooling everyone!
"Well, never thought I'd be allowed in the castle with my disguise on. But, hehe, it's time that we talked to the king about whatever this 'job' is, so we can have the mirror as payment," Trode smiled. I smirked as well and led our group up the stairs and into the throne room, where we saw that Pavan was sitting there and mulling things over with his chancellor. "Hmm?" Pavan asked as he looked at our group with an eye of uncertainty. "Sorry, your Majesty... did these visitors trouble you?" the Chancellor asked. "No... I can't quite put my finger on it... but I think I've seen that one person on their team before on a wanted poster... it's probably nothing," he said.
"Greetings to you, King Pavan," I smiled as I bowed my head gently. "What have you come here to talk of, travelers? Judging by how you have an elf, a warrior, a Templar, a female monster, a wizardess, a bandit, and a king with you, I'd say you are very important," Pavan smiled, Red groaning when she was referred to as 'bandit'. "Well, your majesty, we wished to ask for a certain item you might have, a magic mirror. We need it in order for us to stop a murderer from continuing his killing spree," I said to him. "Really? But this magic mirror is one of our family heirlooms. I can't just give it away to someone, even if it's for that kind of cause," Pavan frowned.
"Hmm... still, if someone were to be owed a debt by one of us royal birth, we are inclined to repay that debt in any way. So I have a proposal. If you can complete the task, I will allow you the Magic Mirror. Sound fair?" Pavan asked. "Just tell us what to do, your highness, and we'll do it indubitably," Trode spoke, which made Pavan's eyebrows raise. "Hrm..." he frowned as he looked at the Chancellor. "Summon the prince, Chancellor," he said to him. "Yes, your majesty," he said as he went off to find the tubby prince.
"The task I have in mind involves my son, Prince Charmles," Pavan said. "He is to be wed to Princess Medea of Trodain, but in order to do so, he needs to pass the test of manhood by obtaining an Argon Heart from an Argon Lizard. But Charmles has an innate fear of lizards, and as such, he keeps running off. So, Trode and others," he said, his one name word shocking our king immensely, but not so much as what would happen next.
The Chancellor came into the room in a panic and accidentally knocked Trode onto the ground, his crown and scarf falling off in the process, which I could tell shocked Pavan and the Chancellor. "What is it, Chancellor?" the king asked, trying to remain his composure as Trode put his crown and scarf back on his head. "T-The Prince, sire! He's locked himself in his room again!" the Chancellor exclaimed. "Oh come on!" Pavan yelled. "Don't worry, King Pavan, we have a ways with getting things out of tight corridors unharmed," I smiled as Stella instinctively rushed out of the room and into Charmles's. After waiting a few minutes, we heard his screams of terror when he saw the lizard.
"AH! GET IT AWAY! GET THE LIZARD OUT OF HERE!" Charmles exclaimed in fear as he rushed out of his rooms and the guards nabbed him, leading him back into the throne room with firm grips on his arms. "Hehe. Piece of cake," Stella smiled with a smirk as she held the lizard in her grasp. "Uh... why is that lizard floating?" Pavan asked. "Oh, forgive me for not explaining earlier, but we have a certain ally that can only be seen when someone travels with us," I explained. "She's invisible to everyone else, so she used that to her advantage in order to scare Charmles out of his room," Jessica further elaborated.
"Hmm... how very compelling," Pavan smiled as Stella then gave the lizard to Trode. "I'll go ahead and take this lizard back outside now," Trode smiled as he rushed down the stairs quickly, not really wanting to talk to Pavan at the moment. "Prince Charmles, I apologize for the means we had to use to get you out of your room, but this tomfoolery has to stop. You need to go to the Argon Hunting grounds with these travelers and complete your test of manhood," Pavan said to the Prince.
I smiled at the prince as he looked at Charmles and whispered something into his ear. "You better agree, Charmles... or I may just tell him about our little meeting in Baccarat," I smirked, making the prince's eyes go wide. "F-Fine! I'll go, but how do I do this?" Charmles asked. "Well, simple. We will fight together and we will travel together. Nothing could be simpler," Angelo smirked. "So I have to deal with these peons in order to succeed? Very well then... let's go off then," Charmles frowned.
Charmles then left with the guards and he would be told to wait inside of the wagon that Medea had on her. "Now that we're alone, I need to ask you something serious," Pavan frowned. "Yes? What is it?" I asked him. "I've heard Trode's voice before, so I instantly recognized him when he was with your party... but when he fell over and his crown came off... I need to ask, but are the rumors surrounding Trodain Castle hold true?" Pavan asked. "Yes, they do," I frowned. "And what of Princess Medea? Is she well?" "Medea is with other travelers in the Easter Continent, so she wasn't victimized by the curse of Trodain," I said to him.
"Good... the royal wedding will still proceed as planned... but Trode's appearance now... how did he get to become that way?" Pavan asked. "Because the murderous maniac we're after, Dhoulmagus, turned him into his current form and wrapped the whole castle in thorns, even turning the citizens into plant people," I said. "Well, I will be happily honored for you to escort Charmles on his way then... if rumors hold true, then your group seems to have a way with monsters," Pavan smirked. "Thanks, your majesty," I smiled at him. "Please, just call me Pavan from now on. After all, you are working for 2 different royalties at the same time now," he smirked. "Heh. Well if ya count Ascantha, it'd be 3," Yangus smirked.