Chapter 5

Upon boarding the woman's ride with Frederick, we were swiftly transported through the storm towards her home. The relief of ceasing our arduous journey on foot washed over me, as my legs began to cool down from the pain. The anticipation of staying there, even if only for a short while, filled me with joy.

"And here we are!" declared the woman.

Upon reaching our destination, we discovered that our accommodation was a dome-like house constructed from animal skins, nestled within a cave. Behind it lay an abyss of pitch black darkness, with traces of sand scattered along the edges. The fresh air gently caressed our nostrils, while the gusts of wind blew sand in our direction. The only sound that resonated in our ears was the howling of the wind.

Nevertheless, a smile adorned my face as we finally arrived at our destination, escaping the relentless sandstorm. The woman turned towards us and announced, "Alright, let's head on in. I'll be preparing some hot beverages inside."

Frederick and I eagerly responded, nodding in agreement, "Sure! Absolutely!"

She grinned at us and replied, "Great!" Turning back towards her tent, she beckoned us to follow. "Let's go!"

As soon as we dismounted from the creature's back and entered the cave, we brushed off the sand from our bodies before stepping into the woman's tent. Once inside, our eyes scanned the surroundings.

To be honest, the tent was slightly cluttered. Clothes, utensils, books, and papers were haphazardly stacked against one another and leaned against the walls. The teapot set adorned the rounded wooden table, while a bed covering laid on the floor.

The pleasant aroma wafted into our nostrils, soothing our minds momentarily. It was a surprise to me, as I had anticipated that cluttered homes would have an unpleasant smell, yet this one smelled delightful. The only sound that filled the room was the silence that reverberated in my ears.

As we observed the woman removing her shoes by the door, we followed suit and joined her at the table. Her chestnut skin, eye color, and lovely face were revealed as she took off her scarf and goggles.

Turning towards us with a bashful smile, she apologized, "Oh, please excuse the mess in my tent. It's quite cluttered."

"It's perfectly fine," Frederick and I reassured her as we settled on the floor near the table.

“Presently, what kind of refreshment would you like me to get ready for you both? Hot tea? Cocoa? Cappuccino?" she asked.

"I believe hot tea will suffice," Frederick responded.

"And I'll have a Cappuccino, please," I added.

"Hot tea and Cappuccino, coming right up!" the lady declared as she utilized enchantment to suspend the tea kettle and invoke a fire spell to warm it. Turning back to us, she inquired, "So, what brings you to a place like this?"

"We are in search of someone," Frederick explained.

Curiously, the woman raised an eyebrow, alternating her gaze between us and the floating teapot. "Who are you looking for?"

"A woman named Aldora. Have you seen her recently?" I inquired. "She was abducted by a cloaked individual, and we are trying to locate her."

"I haven't come across her, unfortunately. But I am familiar with the cloaked man," she revealed.

"Really?!" Frederick and I exclaimed, leaning in with anticipation.

"Yes... he and his armed force crushed my town not long prior. He took my small brother and claimed the life of my grandma," she unveiled.

"Oh... I'm at a loss for words," Frederick expressed with a somber expression.

"I’m truly sorry to hear that," I added, my own expression mirroring his sorrow.

Cindy requested to be called by her name and assured us that everything was fine. She then informed us that she was currently in pursuit of the person we were looking for and knew the exact location.

"Is that so?" I exclaimed in surprise.

Cindy turned serious and confirmed that she indeed knew where to find Aldora and offered to help us in exchange for our assistance.

I concurred, promising to assist her in return.

Cindy nodded in agreement and we continued our conversation over hot drinks before retiring for the night. I was eager to finally rescue Aldora.

As Cindy led us towards Aldora's location, she used her glowing green hand to dispel a sandstorm that had been hindering our progress.

I was filled with determination to save Aldora and seek justice against the mysterious figure in the hooded cloak. Despite the intense heat and sandy surroundings, I was focused on the task at hand.

The desert landscape seemed endless, and the heat was overwhelming. I longed for a break, but we pressed on.

I tried to conserve water and stay cool, but exhaustion began to set in. I eventually fell asleep, holding onto Frederick for comfort.

Frederick woke me up when we arrived at our destination. Surprised, I asked if we had really reached our destination. Cindy confirmed that we had indeed arrived. As I took in the sight before me, I was awestruck.

In front of us stood a foreboding castle, shrouded in darkness and surrounded by a sea of lava. The eerie sight was intensified by the presence of flying monsters, their roars echoing through the sky.

With a determined expression on my face, I realized that this was the moment I had been waiting for. It was time to rescue Aldora and escape from this treacherous world.

Cindy began chanting a spell, her hand moving in a specific motion. Once she completed the spell, she turned to us and said, "Alright, let's go inside."

"Right!" Frederick and I agreed, following Cindy into the castle. As we ventured deeper, we searched every nook and cranny for Aldora, but she was nowhere to be found. We encountered numerous enemies along the way, but our efforts seemed in vain.

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of Aldora in a room without a door. Without hesitation, I dashed towards her, but Frederick quickly intervened, grabbing my wrist and pulling me away just in time to avoid a deadly trap.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed, catching my breath as I watched the trap retract back into the floor.

"Phew, that was a close call!" I said, looking up at Frederick with gratitude.

"You're welcome," Frederick replied, a smile on his face.

Realizing the danger that lay ahead, Cindy stepped forward and used her magic to neutralize the traps. We stepped back, allowing her to work her magic. As the room was engulfed in white light, the traps vanished, and Cindy turned to us with a serious expression.

"The path is clear," she announced.

Despite Cindy's assurance, I remained cautious, my gaze fixed on the floor. Slowly, I cautiously moved forward to test if the traps were truly deactivated. Frederick, on the other hand, walked confidently and emerged unscathed.

Feeling a sense of relief, I continued walking towards Aldora, who laid in a cave. I heard Cindy gasp and turned to see her reuniting with her little brother. A smile spread across my face as Cindy and her brother embraced, and Frederick joined me in our mission to rescue Aldora.

We saw all seven hostages in the cages. They were lying there inside and hoped that the rest remained alive.

Shouting her name though, Aldora groaned and slowly got up from the ground, gazing up at me and Frederick. "Finn..." She then turned to Frederick with a puzzled expression. "And you are?"

Frederick introduced himself and added, "I'm here to rescue you along with Finn and..." He paused, glancing back. "Cindy is also part of our group." Aldora and I turned to look at Cindy and her brother enjoying each other's company. “We'll get you all out of here.”

"I get it..." Aldora grinned some time recently a vile chuckling filled the room, causing Frederick and me to be mystically pushed absent from Aldora, colliding with Cindy.

"Ah, welcome, welcome, welcome," a familiar male voice greeted us, "It's quite a sight to see you intruders make it this far..."

I widened my eyes for a second. No way! I've heard that voice before.

After we all recovered from the sudden movement, we turned towards the sound and saw the same man as before. His laughter only fueled my determination as I shot him a fierce glare, gritting my teeth in anticipation of the upcoming battle. It's him! I knew it was him! I couldn't wait to face him as I unsheathed my sword from its scabbard and lifted the shield for protection.