Chapter Three

The lord and his guards were taken aback as the smoke enveloped the creature. Observing the scene, I was left bewildered, uncertain of what had just transpired. Was it the bracelet that caused this? Regardless of the circumstances, I felt a sense of relief for having been spared. The lord then turned to me, brandishing his staff and shouting in an unfamiliar tongue.

Presuming he was instructing his guards to pursue me, I swiftly rose from the ground and scanned my surroundings. I found myself grappling with the decision of which door to choose. However, as the guards advanced towards me, I had no option but to flee through one of the side doors, driven by sheer terror.

My heart raced as I glanced back and forth, anxious to see if the guards were closing in, and indeed they were. Anxiety gripped me, and beads of sweat cascaded down my face. I desperately searched for anything that could impede their progress, but to my dismay, I found nothing. I yearned for a means to hinder their pursuit, feeling increasingly desperate for salvation.

As I shifted my gaze back to the door, I silently prayed that the bracelet would once again protect me from these adversaries. Ideally, it would assist me in making my escape. I knew that pausing at the door to open it could lead to my demise at the hands of the guards, and I was determined not to meet an untimely end.

Upon finally reaching the door, the bracelet emitted a red glow, and smoke began to surge toward it. As I observed the smoke enveloping the entrance, I was uncertain of the bracelet's purpose, yet I was eager to discover its significance. I dashed through the smoke, propelling myself forward while hearing multiple coughs around me. Strangely, I found that I was not coughing, unlike the guards, which struck me as peculiar. Nevertheless, this realization brought a smile to my face, and that was what truly mattered to me.

Once I emerged from the smoke, I glanced back to see it shrouding the end of the corridor. I could not spot any guards, yet their coughs reverberated in the air. Breathing heavily, I felt a surge of joy at having found safety once more. That was indeed a narrow escape.

When I heard the lord issuing commands in an unfamiliar tongue, I took a moment to survey the rest of the hall. All I could see were vacant corridors illuminated by the red light, with shadows cast by the large, oval windows. Doors and red crystals leaned against the desiccated, larva-like walls.

Moments later, footsteps echoed ominously in front of me. I realized I had to flee before I was apprehended and met a grim fate. Facing the doors again, I struggled to decide which one to choose.

In a moment of spontaneity, I resorted to the game of "Minnie-Minnie-Mo" as the footsteps drew nearer. Once I made my choice, I swiftly entered one of the rooms and positioned myself near the door. Standing in the darkness, I refrained from turning on the light, as doing so might alert a guard to my shadow beneath the door.

Upon the arrival of the guards, they communicated in an unfamiliar language. I presumed their curiosity was piqued regarding the events that had just transpired. I lingered for a moment longer, hoping the creatures would depart so that I could make my escape from this stronghold.

“Psst,” a voice, shrouded in mystery, called out.

“Hmm?” I reacted unobtrusively, turning towards the sound, my body trembling from the cold. “Who is there?”

“Do not be afraid, young lady,” the enigmatic voice reassured me, “I am here to assist you in your escape.”

I narrowed my eyes, filled with skepticism. “And who might you be?”

“I will explain everything later. At this moment, we are pressed for time.”

“Why? Why can’t you tell me now?”

“The hentchmen will before long be looking in this room, and I know a way out—a shorter route, if you know what I mean.”

“A shortcut, you say? Do you genuinely mean that, or are you merely attempting to deceive me?”

“I assure you, I am sincere.”

“How can I be certain that you’re trustworthy?”

As the hentchmen started to examine the individual rooms, the voice encouraged, “Hurry. The guards are approaching, and we cannot afford to linger any longer.”

“I certainly do not wish to meet my end.”

“Excellent. Excellent.” Fair as the green light overflowed the room, I turned towards it, shocked as a concealed entryway swung open.

With the overhead lights illuminating the staircase leading downward, I glanced at the figure who had spoken to me. It was a being with reptilian skin, long claws adorning both hands and feet, dressed in tattered black fabric. The shadow of the hood obscured his eyes, revealing a raptor-like beak as he focused his attention on me.

“Come now, young lady. What are you waiting for?” the stranger urged, gesturing for me to approach.

Reluctantly, I acquiesced, glancing back to hear the sound of approaching footsteps. With a sigh, I nodded and hurried towards the hallway. Just in time, the wall concealed itself before the guards entered the room.

As I listened to the guards conversing in a foreign language, I glanced back and noticed footsteps echoing throughout the room behind me, accompanied by an unfamiliar presence. After a moment, I redirected my attention to the staircase, only to find the hallway seemingly endless, prompting me to ponder how long I would be descending. Believing that the guards would not detect us, I prepared to move downstairs, but the stranger placed a hand on my arm and shook his head.

“No, no, do not indeed consider it,” he whispered. “The watchmen can still listen to you, indeed with the mystery wall within the palace. It is advisable to wait until they vacate the room before we proceed downstairs.”

“Oh, alright,” I replied softly, carefully placing my foot on the ground as I awaited the guards' departure. Eventually, they exited the room for good.

Finally, I was free to take off.

The stranger and I traded looks. “Now, let us make our exit,” he encouraged.

I nodded in agreement. “You go ahead.”

“Very well,” he responded, promptly leading me down the stairs as I shifted my gaze between my surroundings and him.

However, something about this individual unsettled me. He bore a resemblance to a dubious character from a dark alley. I questioned his motives for assisting me. What was his true intention? This was a mystery I felt compelled to unravel.

Suddenly, an unusual sound reverberated around us, causing both of us to halt and scan our surroundings. “What was that?” I inquired. “I thought this hall was going to be secure.” I found myself blaming the stranger for driving me into a trap, but he invalidated my claims, demanding he would resolve any potential threat. Remaining skeptical, I kept a vigilant eye on him. Who could say what he might do if I let my guard down?