Protector of the Enchanted

Turns out, following directions from any source can be difficult. In hindsight, the idea of going three-hundred steps to the south was easy enough, but the reality has proven otherwise. I sigh. Neither of us wants to admit just yet.

 

“How many more steps?” I ask, having lost count at around a hundred-and-fifty.

 

“Another thirty or so.” She pauses. “I think.”

 

Deciding to take her word for it, I shift to another a topic. It’s one I’ve been considering ever since we had a direction to go in. I’d forgotten it in the chaos of Gem being drunk and then the surprise encounter with those things. A possible solution to our problem. Now, how to mention it…

 

“Gem, do you have any ideas about what information to ask for?” It seems to stop her in her tracks. Slowly, she turns towards me, a wide-eyed realisation enters her mind. I’ll take that as answer enough.

 

My lips twitch. “Were you just going along with what I said?”

 

“Yes.” She sighs. Then, pinches the bridge of her nose. “It’s become somewhat of a habit.” Another sigh, muttering something else underneath her breath. Then, turns her head to me in question. “But why did you ask for directions to information?”

 

“It just slipped out.” I hesitate for a moment, before deciding to just tell her. “Probably because I was thinking of something earlier.”

 

Her head cocks to the side. “What?”

 

“It’s a little silly.” At her expression, I sigh. “I thought of a maybe solution to the problem?”

 

A glimmer of excitement enters her eyes. “You did?”

 

“Yes. It has something to do with the legend we heard the other day.” At her disbelieving look, I feel the need to explain myself. “I know, it’s probably filled with lies. But, I also know that any story is based on at least a little truth. And if those things are really as powerful as they are implied to be, then they might be able to break your curse.”

 

“And that would mean we’d have a better chance to helping those captured faeries.” She nods in understanding. But there’s still a hint of scepticism in her face.

 

“We could always ask whether it’s real.” If this source of information is really as absolute as we’ve led to belief.

 

Gem still looks like she doesn’t really believe it would be any use, but there’s a glimmer of hope in her eyes. As if she’s already starting to think it might work, but afraid of being disappointed. The next second, a hopeful smile is lifting her lips as her eyes sparkle.

 

“It’s at the very least worth a shot.” She starts to turn. “Come on, I think we’re close to getting there.”

 

Amongst ancient ruins, sat seven royals, each with a parchment in their hands. They’d all gotten the same message; ‘if you want your kingdom to prosper then you must find the treasure.’ The treasure, they were told would be something far beyond any of their imaginations. It was also said to be a perilous journey.

 

Boar-headedness was a trait they all had in common, none could stand to let their kingdoms suffer in the slightest. As fulfilling as their lives had been, they yearned for more, a part of them wanting to race head-first into danger. They missed it, the thrill. They remembered how it had felt to overcome the challenges that had stood in their paths.

 

Many knew their names, but few knew of their true pasts, all believing in the tales that been passed around. Even fewer knew that they were not content with where life had placed them. They felt like the ancients had given them a chance to go beyond themselves with this quest. However, none knew who had delivered this challenge.

 

Mysterious means had been used, that was for certain, judging by how the being had managed to evade their guards. Apparently, infiltrating castles and strongholds were of no trouble for them. If their curiosity hadn’t been piqued, they’d be inclined to find them and deal with them for that very fact. No one should be able to be that silent, at least not without having great power.

 

Why would they not have simply found this treasure on their own, perhaps it would have needed less effort. The situation smelt somewhat fishy, yet the gathered were too caught up in their dreams to notice the oddity. Their pride winning over their minds, making them miss the obvious, the only way someone would give up a treasure is if it were one too perilous to obtain.

 

If they had known what was to come, they would never have agreed to it. But alas they did not know. Having decided their chances of survival were better as a whole, they grouped together, burning the parchment as a symbol of their agreement. They started their journey unaware of the horror that would soon befall them.

 

We really should have known this wouldn’t have been as easy as implied. On the bright side, we were heading in the right direction. And Gem was spot on with the steps. He just failed to mention that those directions would only take us to a place where we would be teleported to the region of the forest the cave was in.

 

Now, we’re in the same situation we were in before, except worse. This time we have no map to follow back. The trees all look the same, and I can’t even see the sky with how tall they reach. We’ve been walking in circles.

I swear I’ve seen that rock ten times now. When I point this out to Gem, she joins me in staring at it. Neither of us says a word as we silently stare at it. Maybe it’ll spontaneously open a portal or something.

 

Or maybe I’m just losing my mind.

 

Brushing off that intruding thought, I force my mind to focus on the current situation. It wouldn’t do to let panic cloud my judgement. It’s never been very helpful when I have.

 

“Maybe It would have been better if I just called Blaze.”

 

I must not have been as quiet as I thought, because Gem is staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You want to do what?”

 

Ignoring the tone, my mind starts to seriously ponder the thought. “Aren’t dragons able to reach anyone they’ve smelled. I remember Alphard mentioning it.” The name seems strange on my tongue. “It would let us see the area from a wider view.” I see her eyes twitch at that for some reason.

 

“Putting aside that you apparently want to fly that thing,” she says, once again pinching the bridge of her nose. She fixes me with a stern look. “You want to call a dragon into a forest?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“What if he sets it on fire?” She throws her hands up in the air, the words echoing from how loud they were said.

 

“He won’t.” I have no doubt. “He’s more sensible.”

 

“That thing is not sensible. He’s an utter demon who’d absolutely set the forest on fire and let it blaze to the ground.” Rude.

 

“Don’t talk about my dragon that way.” I say, but can feel my lips twitching at the frustrated look she sends me. It’s very funny.

 

“He’s not…Are you absolutely….” She sighs. “Never mind. Let’s forget about the dragon and focus on finding this cave instead.”

 

Seeing that she doesn’t want to keep on talking about this, I just nod. I can always bring it up again later. “Maybe we should try and see if we can find someone.” It’s unlikely, but a better idea than trying to find the cave on our own.

 

“Alright.”

 

Ultimately, that idea doesn’t have any more success than the previous ones. Now, we’re even more lost. I think it’s time to take a break. We’re only getting more dehydrated by doing this. I’ll think of something else after we sit down. This is too much walking for so early in the morning.

 

Glancing through the area, I catch sight of a space that’s a slightly better resting place than the rocky ground beneath us. Underneath a tree, there’s a healthy bed of moss, wildflowers sprinkled between clump of green. A charming sight, and one that’s as close to a soft seat as it gets in the middle of nowhere.

 

It’s been such a wild start to the day. Much stranger than any morning I ever had on earth. Nothing comes close. It should make me want to start moving so I can find a way back sooner. But. I glance to the side; I think I like having someone beside me more.

 

Gem sits with her back leaning against mine, lost in thought. It feels strange. But not uncomfortable. I find myself simply enjoying the silence and the smell of nature. It’s oddly peaceful. For now, that’s enough.

 

Frantic footsteps rush across the marble floor, trying to avoid the onslaught of people rushing in each direction. Her heart beats loudly in her ears, she didn’t know where she was. It was just not too long ago that she’d followed her new foster mother to the shops, and now she was nowhere to be found.

 

Trying not to cry, she kept searching for a familiar face, but none could be seen. Everywhere she looked were giants with blurry faces, not giving any attention to the little body trying to look around them. They were too busy on their phones to notice her tear-filled eyes, too busy with their own families to even spare her a glance.

 

Without anything else to do, she sat curled on the floor near the wall of a busy restaurant. She wondered if her foster mother had even noticed she was gone, the last one hadn’t. It was only when her agent found her outside the door, did she notice her absence. They’d moved her immediately after that, for which she was grateful.

 

Five years old was enough to know her way around, or so she’d been told. Now alone, in an unfamiliar place, she doubted the truth of those words. She didn’t feel strong. She felt scared. Scared that she’d never be found, that no one would come looking. Maybe she’d have to stay here forever.

 

The sky had darkened, but no one noticed her at all. With every passing moment, disappointment and fear encased her heart. She’d been forgotten, like a jellybean thrown to the ground. She didn’t understand why this was happening, she’d tried her best to be good. Why did everyone keep abandoning her? Was she not good enough?

 

Just as the last embers of hope were about to be extinguished by the dark, a voice relit them into flames. “Hey little girl, what are you doing over there?”

 

“Hey girl, what are you doing over there?” A voice from up above broke the silence. And the memories replaying in my mind. Looking around, it was unclear where it had come from.

 

Gem didn’t seem to have hear the sound. Was she that deep in thought? Or was I imagining things.

 

“Did you hear that?”

 

That broke her thoughts, “Hear what?”

 

I know I didn’t imagine it. It seemed too real to be an auditory hallucination. Shaking my head, I turn my head towards the sky. It sounded like it came from above.

 

“Hello! Who said that?” Silence. “I know someone did!” More Silence. This is so frustrating, maybe I should find the source another way.

 

Maybe that’s what this is about. True, this might be part of some game, wouldn’t be the first time that has happened.

 

Squinting my eyes, I search for anything that could possibly give something away. The rustle of leaves overhead reaches my eyes, my head shoots straight up, but whoever’s there seems to have hidden themselves very well. Ignoring Gem’s bewildered look, I take a step forward, and use all my strength to kick the tree.

 

Crash! The branches rustle loudly as a large form tumbles down from between them. Groaning the form rubs at their backside, probably sore from the fall, before turning towards me. Familiar blue eyes locking with mine, his hair dishevelled from the fall, not being able to cover them.

 

“What are you doing here?”