The dungeon

Once all of them ate all their breakfast, the group of now five went to the nearest town hall or an equivalent of one to find a quest. Finally, after half an hour of riding on their horses in complete silence, they found a small outpost. The only visible word on the sign read: "Hall" Calanthir took the lead and went to talk. Because "I can pick the best quest for us"

He got down from his horse and went to see the options. Soon, the other four followed.

- I already picked one for us! - Said Calanthir eagerly.

- Which one is it? - Said Leonard nervously.

- This one! - Said Calanthir and pointed out the quest.

- Holly shit! 50.000 gold coins?! What kind of quest is this? - Screamed Edward that jumped to read the quest.

"Resque mission. Bring back my daughter, Melwyn. Her last known location was at the dungeon territory. Specifically, at the dungeon itself. She and a group of adventurers got there a week ago. She sent a help signal with her magician's companion. That was yesterday. I desperately need my daughter back. I will do anything for her. 50 000 gold coins are the reward"

-THE DUNGEON? ARE YOU NUTS? - Screamed Louise and grabbed Calanthir by the neck of his shirt.

- I need money. You do as well. I picked the most paying quest of them all. We NEED that money, don't we? - Said Calanthir and gave a look at Edward. He looked at the floor but nodded.

-We do. I do. Let's do it. - Said Edward.

All of them turned ar Elyrielle, expecting an answer.

- If you agree, I agree. We just need to be really careful. I mean, REALLY careful. There could be deaths. - Said Elyrielle in a serious tone.

- I can protect us if necessary. I promise. - Said Calanthir with a smile.

- Like you did last time? - Said Louise with an angry expression.

Calanthir frowned but quickly went back to smiling again.

- That is on the past young lady. I changed sinse then! Can't you tell?- Said Calanthir with her armes on the air.

Silence responded.

- Are we doing it or not? - Asked Louise.

- Yes... we are. Get ready. - Said Edward with a serious tone.

The others nodded and went to sign for that quest.

- So, you are taking THAT one? - Asked an old witch. She was really old, white hair, lots of wrinkles and a golden tooth.

- Yes, we are. We will be careful. - Said Elyrielle with a smile.

- You must really trust yourself then. Many of us tried it. Only I came back alive. - Said the old witch with a sad tone.

- We will bring back that woman. I will make sure that none of those deaths were in vain. - Said Elyrielle as she petted that woman's shoulder.

Thanks, Elder. I hope you succeed on that.

The four of them got out of the outpost at 12 pm. Edward was at the front, then Louise, Edward, Elyrielle, and finally, Calanthir.

After a few minutes, Elyrielle and Calanthir were far from the others. Elyrielle was feeling tired, she could feel that her magic was weak at that moment. When she glanced at a poddle of water on the floor, she noticed that she looked pale and her eyes were barely glowing. Not only that, her stomach felt so heavy. She felt as she was going to faint at any point. It was the sickness or she was just doubting about herself? Spotty noticed it. In response, he started walking slower. Calanthir was behind her, so he kept up with Elyrielle's pase.

- What are you REALLY doing here your highness? I cannot comprehend it. - Said Calanthir, calmly.

- I want to find my father. There are things that only he can answer for me.

- Why did you choose this group of... people? Why didn't you bring a brigade of royal guards and just took a trip to Ry'kloth in a comfortable way?

<< Because she needed to feel "independent" >> - Said Oberon with a snarky tone.

- Because I wanted to do it myself.

- Okay, I get that. But, why them? They are so useless in comparison to you. Why not hire an elite group to go with you?

-When I said myself. I meant by my own means. Not because of my title, my power, or influence. Make a name for myself that is not tied to the tyrant of a father that I have. - Said Elyrielle. Her tone sounded tired.

- Is there something else that makes you want to do this? Is so, I can go with you. I am far more powerful than all of them together. Choose me. Princess. Choose the wise option.

- I took my decision way before you appeared dear Calanthir. I am not abandoning them. Hard or not, they accepted me. I will not betray their trust because you want to take some pety revenge. Because you want to get back at them after you didn't protect them and took almost all the credit. - Said Elyrielle and turned to look at him with her angry glowing eyes.

Calanthir, clearly annoyed. Smiled again but said with a sarcastic tone:

- Listen to me. You are losing your time here. I TRIED being nice to you, and you treat me like this. I may tell one of the many reporters that you want to know where you are that you didn't leave to find your father. That you left because you thought that you were better than them. That you threw away your chance of ruling on your own terms. You took the easy way out. You left your husband, your son, your FAMILY. And what for?For pride? For empty excitement? For a new experience outside your privileged position? Fo you really want to probe how good and strong you are? You think you are better than me. But in reality, you are just better at hiding your intentions than me. You shouldn't trust your power that much. Do not say that I didn't warn you, Elyrielle. You had your chance. I will catch up with the others. Talking to you is useless.

Calanthir hit his horse's lap, and he rode off pretty quickly, leaving Elyrielle alone.

She felt tired, old, and vulnerable. Was she overestimating her power? What if her magic fails in a worse situation than before? What if her mind or her body fails? She wasn't that trustworthy. She wasn't that sure about her abilities. Before the fog? Maybe. But after centuries of not going in serious adventures? What if someone got hurt or died because of one mistake of hers?

Her hands started shaking, her eyes filled up with tears, and her mouth shaped an upside u. Her hair covered her eyes , and now let go of her tears. Spotty stopped and licked Elyrielle's hands. In a "Are you okay?" fashion.

<< You heard this random elf and not your father? I told you exactly the same. I can barely believe your stupidity. How come someone this dumb is a part of me? >> Said Oberon as he walked past crying Elyrielle.

Suddenly. An owl came flying. It landed on Spotty's head. It was Hocus. He had a little letter on his peak.

Elyrielle cleaned her tears, grabbed the letter, and started reading it:

" Lady Elyrielle, I noticed that Calanthir came. I remember that you were behind me, not him. I asked him about you, and he said "She was tired, so she stopped to rest" My ass.

I know that is bullshit. If Hocus doesn't come back with a message back, or you don't come back I will go back for you. I hope that dick didn't say anything inappropriate to you. Feel free to tell me if he did. I will certainly give him a piece of my mind. I won't hold back."

Elyrielle laughed. She grabbed Hocus and gave him a soft hug. She petted his head and then put him in his shoulder.

- We will go together dear Hocus. Thank you for your visit. I needed it. - Said Elyrielle with a smile. Hocus hooted in response.

Her hands were still shaking, but little but little, her hands returned to normal. She stopped crying and took a few breaths before petting Spotty's back to indicate that he should continue walking. Spotty nodded and started walking. Sloely but surely the smoothing movement of his horse made Elyrielle feel much better. She might be vulnerable. She might be tired. She might be old. But just giving up was not a choice.

A few minutes after that, she finally catches up with the others. They were all standing looking at something. Nobody talked. The only noise that Elyrielle could hear her horse steps echoing in the forest.

- Is everything okay? - Said Elyrielle worried.

- Look at this. - Said Edward that pointed downwards. They were at the edge of a cliff.

Elyrielle got down from her horse and looked down as well. That was the beginning of the dungeon territory.

All vegetable life was dead. The dead trees loomed like skeletal fingers against the sky, their shadows clawing at the dry ground. No chirp of birds, no other sound beside the wind was present. A few decrepit dragons flied on the sky. Talking about the sky, it was mostly covered of dark clouds. A destroyed couch was lying at the end of the cliff. She could see a big group of vultures flying in circles near a corpse. Or what they assumed was a corpse.

The birds were fighting with ghouls over the corpse. Another group of goblins were heading in their direction as well, weapons at hand, ready to fight for a meal. On the dry land, many skulls of different animals and humans rest partially covered by the sand.

At the end, Covering most of their vission, a huge entrance of a cave imposed with its size. It was the dungeon. Many wooden planks covered uselessly the entrance. To avoid other poor bastards to find the end of their journey at such horrible place.

Edward swallowed saliva and spoke:

- Let's not wait before it gets dark. We should take advantage and go now. Now that those creatures are distracted. Do we all agree?

A unanimous "yes" was the answer.

The five heroes got down from the cliff and went straight for the dungeon. Were they scared? Of course. But they couldn't go back now. Someone was in need. Heroes do not leave someone in need behind.

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