Protector of the Enchanted

“Why would you even want to come along?” I ask, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. It doesn’t make sense. Especially since the look in his eyes at the mention of those relics seemed closer to disdain.

 

“As it happens, I find myself intrigued by the prospect of finding a treasure.” He says the words with a smile on his face, yet the mocking tone hidden within them confuses me even more.

 

Finding a treasure?  I don’t think that’s it. If you really wanted to find something, you wouldn’t start looking only when others were doing the same. His reasons were different, I could sense it. But what?

 

It would probably to find that out if you let him come along. The thought cuts through the confusion, allowing clarity to follow after.

 

I suppose that’s true. People tended to reveal their intentions when their lives were put at peril, and they did say this was going to be dangerous. Besides. Although I can’t decipher his intentions, I can tell he doesn’t mean us harm. I don’t think it would hurt to take him along.

 

“So,” He speaks, breaking the silence, “What do you say? Will you agree to let me come along?”

 

“Of course.” Gem replies with a smile, “It would give us a better chance of actually accomplishing our task.”

 

She sounds very sure of that. Meanwhile, I can’t give my answer right away. Underneath the weight of his expectant gaze, I hesitate. Not because I don’t think Gem’s right, but because of the weight in my stomach. The weight created by the sinking suspicion coming with us wherever this led might hold bad memories for him.

 

Nobody who didn’t have a bad experience with a particular thing would hold such disdain for it. Maybe a relative of his got hurt because of it? That look is one I’ve seen in children who refuse to go down certain streets because they would rather not remember the pain they held.

 

Yet he wants to come with us anyway.

 

The thought is not the only thing contributing to the answer I give. Another is the feeling I got when he said we should go on the journey together. The way he phrased his question. I got an odd sense of déjà vu, as if those words were familiar to me. I want to know why.

 

“Alright,” I answer at last, “We’ll go on this journey together.” His eyes widen, as if that wasn’t the answer he was expecting. Gem squeals a little in delight, before putting her hand out towards the middle, motioning for us to do the same. I place my hand on top of hers, not having the heart to disturb her happiness.

 

As soon as his hand touches mine, I feel a sort of electric shock go through me, a warm feeling where our hands touch. Withdrawing my hand in an instant, I look up to meet his wide eyes, rubbing my hand doesn’t erase the phantom sensations. What was that?

 

“Are you alright?” Gem’s eyebrows furrow in concern, “What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing. I’m fine.” I smile to emphasise the ‘fine’ part. “Anyway, let’s go. Which way do we go?”

 

“Is it close?” Gem adds in.

 

Nodding, he moves towards the middle of the moss bed. He taps it thrice. Immediately after the third tap, the moss parts to reveal a staircase, much to my surprise. I feel my jaw dropping a little, as my wide eyes meet with Gem’s. We both turn to the smug bastard who didn’t just tell us that the easiest way there was right under us.  

 

He grins. “This path is one that leads wherever the user need go. It’s much faster than walking.”

 

“How does it work?” My curiosity overrides the disbelief. Gem mutters something most likely rude underneath her breath, so I just ignore it.

 

“Magic.” He states simply, “You cannot control it.”

 

“What if it takes us to a place even more deserted than here?” What if it malfunctions and doesn’t do as it’s supposed to?

 

“That’s just a risk you’re going to have to take.”  He tells me, seemingly answering both the asked and unasked question. I suppose he’s right on both accounts.

 

“Alright.” I finally sigh. Gem is already walking towards the rail of the winding stairs, waiting for us to follow. “I suppose I’ll have to trust you.” My eyes move to meet his, a wry smile pulling my lips. “Just don’t make me regret it.”

 

Don’t make me regret believing in you. Don’t give me a reason to doubt my instincts after following them for so long. Don’t let me regret trusting that you won’t harm us. So many different meanings in the last sentence. I’ve had too many people letting me down.

 

A part of me thinks it would be worse if he did the same. Just as it would with Gem. I hope she doesn’t give me a reason to regret trusting her as well. It’s a thought I’ve been trying to drown. And I’ll continue to do so. She doesn’t need to know. Not when it might soon disappear. Not when it would only hurt her.

His eyes search mine, as a hand goes to take one of mine. He pulls it up to kiss the back, as if reading the thoughts from mine. “I would consider a failure if you did.” The words are spoken softly but sound like a solemn vow. Even as he gives me a playful grin to make light of them.

 

“Good.” An uneven smile pulls my lips. “And I need you trust me in return.” This partnership, or whatever it is, won’t work if he doesn’t. You can’t build a relationship of any sort without trust. Whether that’s a friend or family.

 

An odd sort of smile pulls at his lips. “Seems manageable.” I throw him a small glare at his tone. Even as a smile soon replaces it as I read the underlying message. He’ll try.

 

“Then, let’s go.”

 

The path isn’t as straight forward as it first seems. As we got to the bottom of the winding stairs, there’s another set only three steps away. This one goes up, in a swirling motion, leading to an arched doorway. Just as Gem takes her last step, the arched doorway disappears from sight. In front of us is the entrance to the cave.

 

We found it! So, I suppose it did lead us to where we needed to go. A part of me is happy we can finally get the answer. The other part is trying to ignore the baffling sense of déjà vu sinking into my stomach.

 

Just as the group arrived at their first destination, their eyes were drawn to the gigantic entrance of the cave in front of them. It seemed to give off a foreboding air to all those seeking it. The two stone statues on either side of the mouth, adding an otherworldly aura. The statues, of two women pouring water from their vases seemed to blend in with the stream that flowed into the cave itself.

 

Taking the side path inside, none of them spoke a word, the air heavy with tension. Their new companions, seeming relaxed as if they’d been here countless times, when they knew that they hadn’t. They wondered, why then did it seem as if they were right at home. They simply sauntered in as if they owned the place, it made the royals curious.

 

It puzzled them why they seemed to be side-stepping certain parts of the path. Until it happened. One of the royals, ignoring their lead, stepped on a spot they hadn’t. In an instant, a log came flying across the air, almost hitting them straight in the face. They would have been, had they not been pulled out of the way.

 

“Don’t step anywhere that we do not. It may cost you your life.”

 

They all nodded. Perhaps it would be best to follow their lead. They adhered to these words until one of them, getting tired of the slow speed and too used to getting her way, hurriedly stepped forward. Immediately a pit opened up beneath her. She grabbed the closest thing to her, which happened to be her husband.

 

Alas, this was not enough. She only succeeded in pulling him down with her. Soon a chain formed, people clinging desperately to each other, as the last one in the chain struggled to withstand the weight.

 

A laugh rang out in front of them, as shaking her head, their companion whispered something to the man standing beside her. They hadn’t thought to ask them their names yet. A mistake they realised as they clung on for dear life.

 

“Would you like some help?”

 

“Yes! Please help us.”

 

“Alright then,” A soft smile, “Try to swing the last person in the chain up. We promise we’ll catch you.” They did as she told them to, and sure enough they caught her, each grasping one hand.

 

“What now?” A desperate voice asked, sounding less like a king and more like a scared boy.

 

Instead of answering, they shared a look, coming to a silent agreement. They pulled the queen who had slept for a hundred years to feen. Then motioned for her to keep pulling with them, taking care where she stepped.

 

Soon, all members of the party were on their feet safely on the path. The king at the end had a hand on his heart. It had nearly leaped out of its place when he’d been suspended in mid-air above the deep gorge.

 

“Now, be careful where you step.”

 

“Alright.” Too shaken to do anything else, they followed their lead, this time with no impatience.

 

My feet walk forward, as if guided by an unseen force, taking the lead into the cave. I side-step some parts of the path, instinct fuelling my every move. Before I knew it, I was a long distance away from Gem and Ryan.

 

“Where are you going?” Gem call out, “Do you even know where you’re going?”

 

I give her a small smile, staying in my place, motioning for her to come in. I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling to her. How can I possibly explain this irrational feeling? Strangely, Ryan doesn’t seem that surprised by my movements, there’s a slight smile on his face.

 

“Come on.” He says to Gem. “Let’s follow her before she leaves us behind.”

 

She shakes her head, giving him a commiserating smile. “She sure seems like she would.” I give them both a glare, but it only makes their smiles grow bigger. I feel attacked and suspect it’s going to be a constant.

Rolling my eyes, I move to the side to wait but freeze in place when I see it. Gem’s only five steps away from me, but something feels wrong. She’s stepped on the wrong stone. My instinct is proven right as a hole opens beneath her.

 

Having no time to question it, I immediately reach out and grab her hand. Ryan is suddenly next to me, grabbing her other one. Ignoring the feeling once again spreading through me, I focus on pulling her up.

 

Exhausting. Pulling someone up is exhausting. I barely have enough time to catch my breath before more of the ground breaks apart, knocking my legs from underneath me. Before I can fall back into the abyss, a hand reaches out, pulling me towards them. Somewhat shaken, I have no objections as my head rests mere centimetres from his chest.

 

No smile can be seen on his face, seeming strange as I’d gotten used to it being there. His eyes show a lot of concern, too much concern for someone you only met a few days ago. I decide to ignore the thought for now. After all, just saved my life.

 

“Thank you.” I can’t make my voice go over a whisper. I can vaguely see Gem resting against the wall, shaken from the near-death experience. But my eyes don’t leave his.

 

He gives me a small smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, “You’re welcome.”

 

“You saved my life.” I state, still staring into his eyes, “Thank you Chess.”

 

“I told you to call me Ryan.” He replies, ignoring the first part of my sentence.

 

“Yeah well,” I give him a mischievous smile, “I like Chess better. It suits you.” At his look, I add, “Besides, you said we could call you Ryan, not that we had to.”

 

“Touché.” An odd sense of relief goes through me as the smile reaches his eyes this time.

 

Gem gives a slight cough, interrupting the moment. I immediately distance myself from him. Turning to face her, she’s got a small grin on her face, a suspicious sparkle in her eyes.

 

“Shall we keep going?”

 

Nodding, I keep walking, motioning for Gem to follow my every step. I have a feeling I have a better chance of avoiding more accidents than she does. That’s how we walk, her following me behind Ryan, who seems to be letting me take the lead.

 

“Celeste, slow down!” Theo didn’t know what he was going to do with this girl.

 

They’d only just heard news of a monster moments ago, yet she’d already ran off in search of it. It seemed she was even more reckless than he was. Knowing he had no other choice, he followed after. It seemed he was always following her these days.

 

“Come on, Theo!” She called out from ahead, “We don’t have much time.”

 

It seemed that she was correct. The monster raging through the town didn’t seem to care for time, too busy in its rampage. He only just arrived in time to prevent a stray metal object from hitting her. His bow in his hand, he let an arrow fly towards the creature, nicking it on the side.

 

Angered, it ran right at him, at a speed that didn’t give him enough time to draw another arrow. An arm raised to clobber him, only to freeze in mid-air, and fall to the ground in pain. It didn’t take long to spot the reason. Behind him was Celeste, blood dripping from her sword.

 

“You save me,” She started, “I save you.”

 

“I know, love.”

 

She grinned wide as the monster groaned, attempting to stand up, “Now, what do you say we deal with him, together?”

 

“Always.” He made a mental note to help her improve her skills even more. After they were finished.

 

Reaching the end of the path, I see a thin woman sitting on a stone chair, her legs crossed in a lotus position. A mirror sits on one side of the table in front of her, an orb on the other, a bag laying on the ground at her feet. Before we can even get two steps into the chamber, an arrow flies through the air, towards the person right behind me.

 

Without any hesitation I pull him out of the way, taking a step back as I do, making another steps difference between us and Gem. She looks shocked, the arrow did just miss her. Maybe it’s a little too much for her to have two near dead experiences so close together. The anger I sense building his interrupted by his voice.  

 

“You saved me.” He states a strange emotion in his eyes.

 

“Yeah well, you saved me,” I smile, “It’s only right I do the same.” 

 

Seeing him smile in return, my attention immediately goes to Gem. His immediately follows. Her face has grown paler, her heartbeat loud enough to hear. The anger reignites. Whether or not this was a safety measure, she needs to give Gem an apology.  

 

“What’s the meaning of that arrow?” I ask, narrowing my eyes on the sitting woman. Not that it matters if there is an explanation.

Her eyes snap open at the sound of my voice. Her eyes wandering over all three of us to focus on Gem’s ashen face. An apologetic smile comes onto her face.

 

“My apologies.” A melodious voice utters. She waves a hand, and a cup materialises in Gem’s hand. “A drink to calm your nerves as an apology. I swear on my life and powers that I do not mean you harm.” I still don’t find it enough, but Gem seems to.

 

As the colour returns to her face and she steps inside the cavernous room, I decide I’ll let it slide. But she’s on thin ice. Sensing my stare, the strange woman turns her head to acknowledge me once again. Her eyes wander over all our faces before she speaks once more.

 

“Welcome,” Her voice rings in the silence, “I’ve been expecting you.”