Left path

The four adventurers stared at the cave in silence of a few seconds. The knight was the first to speak up:

- Well, the flowers aren't going to come walking to us, are they? - Said Edward and laughed a little bit. He closed his helmet and covered his face completely before adding. - We should split up, too. The cave is enormous, and we don't have much time before the flower blooming time ends, right magic man?

- He is right. We should get going. - Said the magician.

- So, who is going with who? - Asked the beast girl.

- Come with me, Louise. We will go to the right path and clear it. If we find any flowers, we will let you know. If you find any ghouls, attack. Don't hesitate. If they are too many. Come to us, we are the muscle here. - Said Edward.

- And you with me, Ms Elyrielle. I know this cave from my master's tales about his travels here. I can protect you as well if necessary. - Said the magician and looked away from Elyrielle's eyes. He looked a little red again.

- That sounds good to me. - Said Louise.

- I think this is a good plan for the moment being. Don't worry, young magi-, I mean, Mr Leonard. - Said Elyrielle and grabbed her staff firmly.

- It's settled then. You go to the left. Scream for ua if you need us. - Said the knight and entered, followed by the beast girl.

- I will lead the way Ms Elyrielle. Please, follow me. By the way. Thanks for calling me by my name. I really appreciate it.- Said the magician that extended his right hand to Elyrielle.

- I'm happy to help Mr Leonard. I'm sorry, I'm just used to speak in a formal way all the time to everybody. I will do my best to call you all by your names from now on. - Said Elyrielle and gave her right hand to Leonard. They shook hands as true friends. Leonard felt Elyrielle's long and thin fingers touch his. And her soft and warm hand touching his. "Such a Lady's hands," thought the magician.

He got out of his thoughts and finally let go of Elyrielle's hand. He got his little jar where the fair was, and the green light from it lightened up the whole cave entrance.

- Now we can go. -Said Leonard with a smile.

Elyrielle nodded, and both entered the cave. Immediately, they saw two possible paths. Their designated path was the left one. The fairy's jar illuminated their path. It looked pitch black. They could now only distinguish the stalactites from the roof and the moldy stones from the floor. All with a green neon light that the fairy emitted.

As they progressed, Elyrielle looked at the surroundings. There were several scratches at the walls and floor. Bones of different species (even some destroyed beyond recognition) adornared that already creepy narrow cave tunnel.

After several minutes walking in silence, the magician said:

- So, you said that you know these flowers. Right?

- Indeed. Over centuries, I've met many magicians, elves, and even witches. I learned one or two tricks because of that. This led me to know of the existence of the night shimmer. -Said Elyrielle.

- So, you know how to find them? - Said the magician. Really interested. He never met anyone who knew all kinds of magic. Maybe Elyrielle was a better option as a master than his old master.

- I might now a trick for the occasion. - Said Elyrielle and raised her stuff to make light. She illuminated the room even more. Now it looked as if a whole sun appeared inside that cave. Suddenly. She stopped moving. Her ears moved in different directions as well as her eyes. She said nothing.

- What is going on Ms Elyrielle? - Said the magician. He could sense that something just changed in that cave right then right there. - Ms Ely-

- Shush! - Said Elyrielle and covered the magician's mouth with her elegant hands. - Wait.

They waited for a few seconds. Then, he heard it too. What seemed to be an odd sound. As if someone were lamenting for something but really softly.

- Ghouls.- Finally said the magician in a whisper.

- Yes. We must go there but carefully. They are usually really attracted to these flowers. If we find them, we will find the night shimmers. - Said Elyrielle.

Leonard nodded, crouched with Elyrielle and both started walking slowly towards the sound. She turned of her staff's light as well.

- They would spot us really quickly if I keep this light with us. I'm sorry that I made such a naive mistake. - Said Elyrielle. She felt really ashamed. That was because of the fog, probably. How could she do something so stupid? They were lucky that those monsters were a little far... for now. Her ears pointed downwards, and she felt her face warm up.

<< SHAME >>

- Hey! Don't be so hard on yourself Lady Elyrielle. This quest is hard. Is normal that you are nervous. I'm nervous too! - Said the magician as he petted Elyrielle's head.

- It's okay. I'm really sorry that I've acted like that. Let's follow the sound. In silence.

They moved a few meters, almost in complete darkness. Only the sound of their steps and breathing echoed in the cave. Then, something unexpected happened.

- Is anyone there?

Both froze in place. Ghouls are incapable of speaking. Not words, phrases? whole coherent sentences? Impossible.

- What is that? Is not Edward. Who?...

- Hey! I know you heard me! Please! Help me! - Said a raspy, unknown voice.

- We need to check it out. - Said Elyrielle.

- What if it is dangerous? Let me go first. - Said Leonard. - Let me walk in first.

- Okay, but first let me put a shield on you first Mr Leonard. - Said Elyrielle.

She grabbed her staff, elevated it. Closed her eyes and said:

<< Nallon >>

She opened her eyes shined bright as two beautiful stars and her expression hardened. She was worried that her magic would malfunction again as last time. Luckily, it worked properly this time.

A golden shiny thin layer appeared and surrounded both Elyrielle and Leonard. She smiled relieved this time. "At least I didn't make a fool of myself in front of someone that actually knows magic" she thought.

- Good work Lady Elyrielle! A shield that can protect more than one person at a time? Your magic must be really strong! - Said Leonard, clearly proud of Elyrielle.

Elyrielle blushed a bit and just nodded. Both laughed a little and advanced until they finally found the source of the raspy unknown voice.

It was a poor man that had a missing arm. There was blood everywhere. He had what seemed to be various chunks of flesh bitten out of his body. His skin looked grayish, his mouth looked almost black, his teeth looked crooked and spiky. Approximately 90% of his hair fell out, and his eyes were obviously blind now. He looked Ill thin and malnourished. The arm that he had left was the only part of his body that wasn't completely gray.

- Dear God. - Said Leonard

- It looks bad right? Lucky me, I can't actually see how bad it looks. - Said the stranger.

- Bite wounds. Said Elyrielle in a serious tone.

- Yeah. Those bastards bite hard. They were too many. I just couldn’t do anything. I lost my vision completely yesterday. I think I don't have much to live until I... *cough* I...

- Turn - Said Elyrielle looking at the floor.

- Yeah, right. But at least... I got the goddamned flowers ya know? - Said the poor bastard. He raised his healthy hand with a bunch of dead flowers. They weren't even the night shimmers. - These are the flowers... right? At least I did that right?

Elyrielle and Leonard exchanged a sad look. Elyrielle stepped up and said as calmed as she could:

- Yes darling. They are the right ones. You did a great work. You should be proud of yourself.

- Is it okay if I ask for a favor for you two? I know you don't know me but... please. Don't let me turn into one of those things. I beg you. I feel myself dying. My mind is barely intact *cough* * cough* I can SMELL your blood... It makes me... hungry...

- Elyrielle. Let me handle this. Such a delicate lady shouldn't have to go through something like this. Please step aside. Close your eyes and cover your ears. As a man, I should deal with this.

Elyrielle doubted at first, but in reality. She didn't want to do it. She didn't feel ready for it. So she nodded and stepped back. Even thought she covered her ears, she could still hear everything. Her hearing was, after all, more developed than humans'.

Leonard kneeled down to the side of the wounded man and opened slowly his spell book.

- I will make it quick. I promise. - Said Leonard.

<< Dormitio aeterna >>

The man's heart rate started slowly decreasing as well as his breathing. His eyes started closing slowly. He turned towards the magician and with a sincere smile he said:

- Th... thanks. - And breathed for the last time.

Both did a little prayer and Elyrielle closed that man's eyes. Sad but knowing that they did the right thing, both walked out.

Elyrielle looked at the cave's floor. Then at the roof. She looked for a few seconds and focused her eyes. Her eyes glowed a little more while she did this. Leonard couldn't stop looking at her. He spent his whole life studying to become a magician. He barely did anything that didn't involve magic. Not only that, but he didn't have friends, brothers, sisters or even classmates that he talked to. He just had his goal in mind, nothing else.

He met Edward on his first quest together. He was the one who asked Leonard to join him. He accepted, and they never stopped going on quests together.

Now that he was officially a magician. Not a really good one but a decent one he finally got his head out of the books and started looking at what else was happening around. And now... A beautiful elf, tall, elegant, and refined. Long silver hair carefully braided. Bangs carefully put by the sides that gave her a look of someone younger. And the eyes... Oh, the eyes! Beautiful big and thoughtful golden glowing eyes that gave her such a majestic touch that he couldn't stop watching. He found it hard to concentrate with her by his side, so close to him but out of reach at the same time.

He finally noticed that she was looking at up and down as she walked slowly.

- What are you doing, Lady Elyrielle?

- Look at the stalactites. The look diferent here, right? and the floor, looks moldier than before. But no water visible. This means that there is probably water near here. And these flowers usually grow where there is water. We are getting close to them.

- Wow. Did you come here before Lady Elyrielle?

- No, but I've been in caves like this before. The patterns are similar. Is just a supposition. - Said Elyrielle.

- You are incredible Lady Elyrielle. Really. I'm sure that you-

Elyrielle made a sign for him to get quiet. He did and both stood there in silence. There was a little entrance by the side. Light was coming in from a whole in the roof. And there... there were a few night shimmers. Star shaped, a dark blue color with little white spots that made the flower shine softly in the dark. Yes, they found it... but...

The flowers were surrounded by at least 20 ghouls that were eating a course. And one of them that was guarding the flowers turned suddenly and made eye contact with both Elyrielle and Leonard.

<< HISSSS >>

The other ghouls turned and showed a twisted smile showing all their teeth. A death battle just started on the left path.

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