Vanishing Hills

Kaito’s group begun to leave the prince’s quarters. A shadowy figure is waiting for them too and is now stalking them listening to what they are saying.

Akim: so where are we going now kaito?

Kaito: so this is the plan guys, given the fact that zarki-san give us a valuable hint. We should exploit that remember the old wise hermit that can answer any questions?

Yska: yeah i know that, my sister told me s story about the vanishing hills where that old wise hermit appears. When the magic school is about to start. She says people are vanishing from that hill and it’s very dangerous that’s why some people don’t go on that hill.

Akim: hmm that sounds interesting is there a monster living on it?

Kaito: i don’t think the knights would allow that there’s a monster living there. I bet its just a good old trick for normal people to stay away to that hill. There’s only one way to find out..

Akim: yeah let’s go! Don’t worry yska just grab on my shoulders when you are scared.

Yska: oh yeah want to grab my poison arrow? Just you guys know I’m actually in hunt of most poisonous thing in the world that one of my dream. To have a poison arrow that can kill instantly. *looks at akim*

*they laughs*

Kaito: I’m just thinking now what i want to ask! Whether whats the princess likes on men or how to get a lady or where can i buy a love potion! *daydreaming about the princess*

Akim: *sigh* i knew your question must be all about the princess, i don’t want my question to be magic school related i got some personal questions too.

Yska: you guys are really hopeless okay its my question that gonna be about the magic school. Kaito you always says princess princess do you even knew her name? And please stop acting like an in-love obsessed 40yr old it give me the creeps just an advice. I bet your “princess” will not like people acting like that.

Kaito: *shocked* *cried* oh yeah.. I’m sorry i felt like I’m not really myself when i saw her. So what’s her name? i didn’t even thought about that all this time I’m thinking of her.

Yska: Her name is jisoo. Princess jisoo.

Kaito: what a lovely name! Thank you yska!

Akim: see this is exactly why we need a lady in our group, to keep us in track in a lady point of view!

Kaito: yeah i felt like myself now. I wont be eaten my princess jisoo thoughts from now on! I’ll focus my wisdom and attention to our goal as your future guild master I’ll be better guys.

Yska: yeah whatever I’m just glad you accept my advice and actually change instantly.

*they laughs*

While they are heading near the vanishing hills foot they are blocked by the group of 15 thugs hanging around the entrance. They extorting anyone that wants to enter or just plainly rob them.

Akim: oh no this smells trouble.. their faces looks like they wont do anything good. Is this became drug dealers meeting place or what. *laughs*

Kaito: just standby they looks like normal thugs to me. They might even have a knife. Be on your guard guys let me talk to them.

Yska: they don’t look too intimidating to me they just got the number.

*The thugs approach kaito*

Thug 1: ohh i remember this newbs they are with the prince on welcome ceremony, and they got a big chunk of rewards i hope you bring some for us..

Thug 2: bring it out boys unless you want to get hurt!? *playing with butterfly knife*

Thug 3: you got some quality lady here huh what you three wants to do on the top of the hill? Probably some kinky stuff.. let us join!

*The thugs laughs*

Akim: *whisper* what should we do kaito?

Kaito: i guess we don’t have a choice, we cant let them follow us on the hills. Yska stay back we got this.

Kaito: okay last chance how much you guys need to let’s us get through?

Thug 1: all of your money! Dummy!

Kaito: you know where from the lawless zone right? I want to get this done as peaceful as possible. You know true criminals and monsters wont treat you they just pounce.

Thug 1: you think you will intimidate us because you’re from the lawless zone? Capital city is not different newbs if you think we don’t bite take this. *about to stab kaito*

Suddenly the heard a voice the homeless old man that is living in that area says stop it or else! The thugs run away and leave kaito’s group alone.

Homeless: *chuckles* that guys need some spanking they are extorting and robs everyone that came here.

Kaito: thank you for saving us sir! What can we do to help you?

Homeless: no problem young fellas! Nothing its ok i just scared some wanna be thugs thats all.

Kaito gave him 5 gold coins anyway because he appears to be homeless and he knows what it feels like he saw many guy like him in his hometown.

Homeless: thank you young man! Good luck on your journey..

They proceed to hike on the hill it is about 200 meters above sea level got a forest at the too with a shrine. It overlook the capital city.

*they reach the entrance of the shrine and now appreciating the beauty of the city*

Akim: *puff on his pipe* man i like to camp in her in the night i bet its so more beautiful.

Kaito: yeah the capital city is so big when you look from here. I wonder how many adventurer is hunting for clues to the magic school right now.

Yska: i used to see this birds eye view in the forest. The difference is its a huge concrete jungle the magic city I’m watching right now.

Kaito: so our time is running out let’s enter.

Akim and yska: yeah!

When they about to enter the gate an old man appears and look like his the caretaker of the shrine and the forest. Apparently there’s an entrance fee of 5 gold coins.

Akim: hmm i guess every move in the capital city got a “fee” it seems.

Yska: it’s just small price to pay imagine what can we gain here right.

Kaito: yeah we can always hunt for more gold coins akim. Don’t just reserve your money for ladies of the night.

*they laughs*

Old man caretaker: you can now enter young adventurers. Enjoy the 500 year old shrine and forest that is well taken care of the 5 gold coins you pay is for the maintenance of the place. Bless you young adventurers.

They proceed to enter and saw the trees really look old they are tall as 100 meters and really thick about 20 meters in diameter. When they get near to the shrine they notice a line apparently the shrine still close and the old wise hermit is on his way. The shrine is gorgeous full of ancient monster designs from 500 years ago. A dragon, beast tigers, ogres any many mythical creatures that is a myth on this day.

The line up people is about 15 adventurers waiting in front of the shrine.

Kaito: *surprise* woah so people really get up early to see the old wise hermit huh.

Akim: i just hope he’s not a fake guru or something. *laughs*

Yska: by the look of the people her they somehow heard the story of the old wise hermit i guess.

After a moment they heard the entrance gate to shrine got closed shut. Then the shrine door opens. The old wise hermit appears.

Old wise hermit: looks like i have plenty of company here in early hours today. As the saying says early bird gets the girls first. *Laughs* you guys can now enter 1 by 1. You don’t like other people hearing your request right?

Akim: i never heard that saying before so that’s why he’s called a wise man huh. I already like him so far.

Yska: its early bird gets the worm first dummy. He just make his own saying all hunter must know that saying. I must say he got at least broad knowledge.

Kaito: *laughs* He’s just like akim when he grows old i guess.

Yska: pretty much.

*they laughs*

After a while people come and go out of the shrine the men are disappointed and women are screaming and red faced when they got out.

Kaito: i wonder what’s going on inside that shrine. *laughs* the man are not satisfied women are blushing.

Akim: i think the answer is just overwhelming to them.

Yska: i hope so. What’s our plan who goes first? It’s not like a torture chamber right they’re still came back alive.

Akim: yska-chan thoughts can be bit dark sometimes..

Kaito: ofcourse I’ll go first we just got same questions to ask right? Where can we find clues about magic school something like that?

Akim: yeah i bet we can have more questions later we just disguise right.

Kaito: i guess if it can work he’s old wise hermit i don’t think he would be called wise is he can be decisive easily.

Akim: you have a point..

Finally the line dwindled and now its kaito’s turn. He enters the shrine.

Old wise hermit: oh a young man! You guys go after i finish with the ladies.

Kaito: but sir we just pay 5 gold coins to enter ask you a question.

Old wise hermit: i don’t really do business with men.. the entrance fee is for sightseeing and for maintenance didn’t the caretaker told you?

Kaito: *sigh* we got after the ladies right sir?

Old wise hermit: yes sure..

*Kaito leaves the shrine disappointed like other men*

Akim: what happen kaito?

Kaito: apparently he says he don’t do business with men.

Akim: what!? I keep thinking about what i want to ask for 3 days now. *became depressed too*

Kaito: but he says he will after the ladies is done.

Yska: oh yeah that’s good? So I’m the only one can do the job. Don’t worry get the job done.

Kaito: yeah i leave it to you take care and good luck. There’s gonna be a catch if he don’t accept anything in return.

Yska: yeah i keep that in mind.

Akim: if I heard you scream i will busy out through that door.

Yska: better not do that its 500 year old of history. Don’t worry I’m not that jumpy type.

Yska then proceed to enter the shrine.

Yska: good morning old hermit-san. *notice something is strange*

Old wise hermit: good morning young lady. So what can i do for you?

Yska: i just want to know if you have some information where we can find the magic school..

Old wise hermit: hmm yes ofcourse! But first i need you to do something for me.

Yska: what it is old wise hermit-san!?

Old wise hermit: *put his pointy finger together* can i see you panties?

Yska: so that’s the catch huh. That’s why every women are screaming huh. You’re more like old pervy hermit i think I’m done here. I just notice something weird too.. really weird i just thought the homeless old guy and the caretaker also old guy smells the same as you. I don’t know how you do that, my head can’t keep up with the fact. I know my sense of smell don’t lie and i trust it since I’m a hunter.

My instinct tells me when we met you on the foot of the hill you run uphill like its nothing. Changes clothes and wait us to arrive at the gate and you didn’t even look tired or at least sweat a bit. Can you just tell me what’s up old pervy hermit-san?

Old wise hermit: *laughs so hard* it’s been a while since i got confronted and just bombarded with speculations like that since i met my wife. You are pretty clever young lady. Yes you are right i guess my disguise can fool your keen sense of smell huh.

Yska: just drop out the act and just answer my questions please we really need to enter the magic school.

Meanwhile outside the shrine where kaito and akim a man that is rejected earlier return with his older brother a member of the crime family tattooed on his arm. He’s about to charge at the old man inside the shrine so kaito and akim stops him. They says their friend still inside and don’t want to get caught in the fight. Akim draws his spear about to fight the goon.

They got out his way when the goon actually transform his right arm into a mantis scythe and cut akim’s wooden base spear in half.

Akim: what weapon is that!? its sharp as a katana my spear became a broom.

Goon: better thank me i didn’t slice your arm off you newbies stay away from here. You will see worst.

Kaito: let him akim we are no match from him let’s just hope yska don’t get caught in the fight. What was that magic? He’s like an animal human hybrid.

Akim: yeah i thought I’m hallucinating when his right arm molding like a clay then have a insect like carapace.

Kaito: you guys better call a knight the old man is in danger i will give you reward later.

The other men waiting rushes downhill out of fear to call the authorities. Then the goon enters the shrine.

Goon: old man are you the fool that’s fooling around with women and extorting my brother here? *shows his mantis scythe hand* you better come with me we will “extract” all your knowledge in our hideout. You come too young lady you will be a waste to be used by that old man.

Yska: I’m not letting myself be in use by any of you two. What up with your prosthetic arm you think you will intimidated me with that toy? *fires an arrow*

Goon: dumbass this is real! *slice of the arrow as well as the statues clean*

Yska: *shocked* what is that are you even a human!?

Old wise man: wo ho ho! What a rare magic you got there but its on the lower tier of its type its wasteful to use that in a life of crime young man.. Do you learn transforming that on your own?

While the old wise man is talking a huge white sinkhole like appears and it they all fell in it as well as kaito and akim who is the only one outside watching what is happing in the windows they didn’t notice it.

The all vanish into thin air and dorobo the thief is left dumbfounded. He is just watching and listening to them as they leave the prince’s quarters stealing even the information they are gathering. He witness everything on a distance hiding on a tree.

Dorobo: *surprised* hmm this is interesting did i just witness another type of magic. I bet the old hermit done it. So he’s not a pony after all huh. Does he aware of me this whole time? That’s impossible my disguise and stalking techniques are flawless his disguise is a little bit outdated though. Who could he possibly be.

Where on earth did they possibly go? I guess i will just wait here and see what happen next. That group really pique my interest its like they are in the middle of this wacky things that is keeps happening