Yoshiro
"Finally you're back!" Aki said as he looked at me. "I told you to not believe whatever they tell you."
I stood up and approached him. "I'm sorry. I..." I sighed and looked around. We are not in the forest of Scelestria anymore. We are in some sort of a cave. The air that fills the place is cold. It's as if we are inside a fridge. Just like the forest of Scelestria, the sunlight never touches this place. Even though I can't see clearly because of the dark I could still hear the sound of the gushing wind blowing the dried leaves away from a certain tree. The only source of light we have right now is Aki's torch.
"Where are we?" I said as I walked near the cave's wall. I brought the torch near the wall and saw paintings drawn all over the place. They look like ancient scriptures, dating back from the age of the Egyptians. I walked around the place and saw that there are even words written in the old alphabet of the Philippines.
"Do you know how to read that?"
"No. But I'm pretty sure this is Baybayin. An old writing system that was used in the Philippines."
I touched the writings on the wall. The inked that was used is still wet. Which means it was written just recently.
"Do you hear that?" Aki asked.
"No."
Then all of a sudden we heard a loud screech coming from the far end of the cave. It sounded like a dying animal asking for help. The screech was so loud that it made me feel dizzy.
"What was that noise?" I asked while covering my ears.
"I think I know where we are, Yoshi." I looked at Aki and saw him walking towards the place where we heard the noise.
"Wait! Where are you going, Aki?"
But instead of answering my question he just tilted his head to the side, asking me to come with him. So I walked towards his direction.
"Is that..." He said astonished.
Because at the end of the cave lies atop a stone mountain is one of the Holy swords of Divinity. The sword of Damocles.
"Who would have thought they kept it in a place like this," I said half laughing.
It is believed that after the great war between Angels and Demons, the seven Holy swords of Divinity vanished from Earth and is kept hidden in a place only the Gods know.
The Seven Holy swords of Divinity includes the sword of Asmodeus, the sword of Alibata, the sword of Arnus, the sword of King Arthur III, the sword of Damocles, the sword of Hercules, and the lightning sword of Zeus. It is said in the book of history that the swords are used to summon the 10 commandments that defeated the Demons in the great war.
"I think I also found out where the screech came from." Aki nervously said as he slowly steps backwards looking up nervously.
Behind the sword of Damocles emerged a real-life dragon. The ground shakes as it walks towards us causing us to lose our balance. The dragon's scales are made out of gold. Its tails have spikes all over it. The head of the dragon is covered with a headgear that looks like one of those worn in the great war. Its wings stood majestic as it roared and breathed fire.
"How dare you humans enter this cave?" It said in a low voice.
"Uhm... We—we didn't mean to enter without permission." I said stuttering. "We are actually lost. We were facing the Covens Sisters earlier but when we woke up we are already here."
It looked at me with a resemblance from its eyes. "So you are..." Just like the sisters, the dragon said something I cannot understand.
"Hmm. Interesting. Tell me human, are you here to retrieve the sword of Damocles?" It asked.
"No, no. We are here to save my father." And as soon as I said that the dragon laughs so hard that the walls have vibrated.
"Forgive me, It was just too funny not to laugh." it cleared his throat. "I am Raj, the servant of Lord Damocles. So you want to save your father, human? I could lend you a hand and give you the sword of Damocles but you have to first pass my trials."
"Uhmm... Raj, sir can we talk for a moment?" Aki asked then pulled me to the side.
"I'm pretty sure that he's not going to let me help you. So you have to promise me you are going to come back in here alive. Okay?" I nodded. "You also have to remember this, the way to the path of life is by searching for the light. You must look for the light."
I didn't understand what he said so I just nodded.
"Are you ready, human?"
I breathed in and out. "Yes."
"Then, " the dragon started chanting. Words written in ancient scripture floats above his head as he stated the words. The ancient scripture moves around my body covering me whole. And then suddenly a black smoke started to form around me. I didn't feel anything as it enveloped me. It's weird but the smoke is comforting. It gives out a warm and soothing feeling. Suddenly the voice of the dragon becomes soothing. It sounded like a lullaby that lulls me to sleep.
Oh no. Fight it, Yoshi! Don't sleep! The trial. I have to pass the trial!
"Fret not my child, for you are about to enter the land of dreams." A comforting voice said out of nowhere. "May you find what you are looking for in the land of dreams."
And then again, just like how it happened with the coven sisters, I fell asleep. The only difference is that I am alone in this one.
"May the truth set you free from your shackles. Now rest my child. The land of dreams awaits you."