The watchful gaze of the cautious citizens followed the visitors all while hiding in the comfort of their home. Everything has changed within the land and even though the adventurers had no idea how they used to be, they sense a huge difference just from how they acted.
A beautiful region known throughout the country is now being wary of anyone who sets foot inside the sturdy gates. It is no wonder they were attacked by the residents. They only want to protect their children.
"What in hell happened here?" Serene murmured.
The six rubies could not help themselves but study the area, everywhere they look, and everyone wears the same concerned expression. And they all took pity at how solemn the atmosphere is. Almost as if they have lost every bit of hope they are clinging into.
"Don't mind them," the child who is guiding them said, "they have been like that for months now."
"Why did the council request a quest so late?" Lance asked.
"I can't answer you that, you should ask the mayor."
"Huh?"
The kid did not answer and stopped in front of an aged man.
"Is this them?" he asked the kid and he nodded.
With his scruffy voice, he ordered them to stay behind him and to not look around and separate from the group. He has a very intense gaze, his hair becoming white but his body suggests he works at the mine as he seems to have a great physique at his age.
"Can I ask one thing?" Lance tried as they followed the man towards a mountain.
"I won't forbid you," the man answered.
"Where are you taking us?"
The man did not answer and just smirked. Lance behind him tilted his head and his brows drew closer together.
"Are you not going to answer me?"
"My dad said you can ask, he never said he'd answer." The child cockily walks with both of his hands in his pockets.
Lance turned to Verin, "tell me I can smack that kid."
"No."
"Dang it!"
The kid turned his head and looked at Lance, sticking his tongue out.
Lance growled, letting his inner lion expose and retorted back with a thundering gaze at the mischievous child.
As the war between Lance and the kid kept going, the group had finally arrived at the middle part of the mountain and was standing in front of a big cave. It was not anything special at all, it looked plain and ordinary. But the two guides wore a smug on their faces.
"Where exactly are we?" Verin asked.
"Just follow me." The man started walking inside without any torch or any source of light.
"Are we not going to the hall?" Serene is becoming irritated.
Her question was answered with silence and the group has grown suspicious, what if they aren't the council's people but the abductor's men? That would explain why the residents were watching them with those eyes.
Is this a bait?
"I have a bad feeling about this." Serene whispered to Lithea who's beside her. She waited for the other adventurer's response but like the usual, she remained silent. And even though Serene can't clearly see her expression, she can sense the person beside her is thinking.
The group had walked further inside the cave, just enough for them to not see the light from the cave's mouth. Now, they are finally out of a light source.
"Where exactly have you taken us, mister?" Lance asked gravely. He's been keeping his cool to avoid conflicts but seeing they were just being tricked, he can't stand it any longer. It does not matter to him if his kid could see what's about to happen but as a leader, his mission is the priority.
The man smirked and looked up.
They all were confused with his actions but when they saw a small hint of light reflected on his eyes, they followed him; they were all at awe with what they saw.
The dull cave suddenly lit up, bluish crystals surrounded and filled the whole cave. The sparkling stones brought life inside, giving a sense of relaxation to whomever watched their sparkle dance around the cave. But if one would look closely, it wasn't just a blue hue, there are times the naked eye would capture a hint of pink and purple amidst the ocean of crystals.
"Wow," Serene couldn't blink and close her mouth from its beauty.
"So this is why they call this land the richest of all," Verin said, can't stop admiring the surroundings.
Thenea was confused, if they have all of these minerals and riches, why are they still living in such a way? And why did they not request for higher ranks until now? She understood it is a dilemma they wanted to figure out themselves, but to drag it for months, it is questionable and suspicious to her. Unless they could not figure it out.
As the walk further, with the help of the crystals, they can clearly see where they're walking; they were met with six tunnels.
They all sighed and left puzzled.
"What's this?" Lance sighed, losing his patience.
The man chuckled, "we just need to choose the right tunnel."
"And if we choose the wrong one?" Serene gulped.
"Well," the man grinned eerily, their hair at the back of their neck stood, "there are a pool of lava, thousands of spikes, venomous snakes, bottomless pit, and of course, poisonous gas!"
Their eyes twitch as the older guide revealed what's behind the tunnel with much enthusiasm and glee.
Viv growled and readied his knives, he's been sensing from the beginning how these two loves to prank and play with those who they are tasked to guide. Now that they're brought into a crisis, he decided to take matters into his own hand.
Thenea stepped forward and swings her hand with her staff at hand, blocking Viv. He knew too well what this meant, this isn't the first time she stopped him from doing something impulsive.
"It is okay, Viv."
"You got a fiery one, eh?" the man chuckled loudly before slapping his son's back.
"Go on, son, we should not keep them waiting."
The boy obeyed and put his fingers inside his mouth, whistling loudly as it echoed inside the cave. All of the sudden, a winged round lilac object appeared in front of them.
As it has a movement with the speed of sound, Serene, Thenea, Lance, and Verin all screamed.
"What the heck?" Verin lost his composure.
"I got it!" Serene summoned her lasso, long thin thorns popped, covering it.
She took a stance and readied her arm and relaxed her wrist to catch the fast creature easily.
"NO!" the echoing pitch of the child's voice rang inside their ear.
Serene almost slip when he screamed.
"Don't hit Poong!" he cried.
Everyone raised their brows, "Poong?"
The boy ran towards the slimy creature, he spread his arm to let it dash towards him, and hugged the creature called Poong.
"If you kill Poong, we will have 1% chance of taking the right tunnel!"
When Poong heard the child talk about killing her, her eyes widened and she kept flapping her wings, tears forming in her eyes.
"Poong, poong, poooooong~" the slime went frantic.
The little boy grabbed the slime and stroked it, "there, there."
"That thing," Verin pointed at Poong using Thenea's staff he stole when the creature surprised them, "is the one to lead us from here?"
"Yes," the boy nodded.
Viv tried to take the staff from Verin but the swordsman placed his hand on the shorter guy's face, making him unable to reach the staff.
"I thought you guys will guide us," Thenea said, wanting to clarify things.
"Yes, but the slime's senses were connected to the mistress as she's the one who created them," he explained, "and the mayor controls the changes as well."
"I see," Serene nodded, "but what's the reason it changes?"
"You will see," the boy let go of the slime.
"Poooong poooong~" the jelly creature flew towards the furthest right tunnel and spins around.
"Poooong~"
The boy walked towards the slime and turned to the others, "this is the one."
He held his hand out for Poong to land on, "thank you Poong."
The slime smiled and wiggled into the boy's arm, "pooooong~"
Although hesitant, the group walked inside and the creature, Poong, served as a light when it glowed so bright as soon as they entered the pitch black tunnel.
"What kind of creature is it?" Serene asked.
"I am not quite sure," the boy pondered, "but it is the mayor who made them."
"I'm sorry but I have been wondering," Lance raised a brow, "who is this mayor you speak of?"
"Ah," the child's father broke his silence, "it is what we call the council who governs us."
He deliberately walks at the very end to make sure no one gets left behind.
"I hope your mayor's not scary," Thenea smiled.
The father and son chuckled, "don't worry, she's kind."
The adventurers all had one thing in their mind, 'the council's a she?'
"Yeah," the father seemed to have remembered something, "she not only personally did the investigation herself, but she did not rest just to find those missing children."
Lithea tilted her head, 'a council who leads the investigation?'
"When she arrived at a dead end, she had no choice but to ask for help."
The boy looked down, his slime pet kept bumping into him to comfort him.
"Pooong~"
The father formed a fist, "we really need you to find our children, adventurers."
Lance nodded, "don't worry, we will do everything in our might to find the culprit and save the children."
Although they know promises couldn't solve everything and they are unsure if everyone was safe, it still gave them hope. And it drives the desire within the rubies to save every single one of them, as well as capturing the person behind this.
Amidst the sensitive conversation they were having, Poong suddenly spins free from the boy's grasp and flies higher and higher, lighting what's in front of them. A tall, white door with eccentric moldings that frames the door. Its engravings so unique, the artistic side of Thenea knew it would be hard to replicate.
"Whoever designed this door deserves a treasure chest," she blurted out.
The father and son duo snicker at her comment, they were used to people's overboard compliment to their out of this world interiors. But what awaits the adventurers behind the door, will leave them in so much awe they would forget the mission they came for.
"Welcome to the Land of Scorpion's Council Hall," the two guides opened the heavy double doors in sync.
"Pooooooong~" Poong twirls in the middle of the doors as it emits faded cyan colored rays of light.
The adventurers squinted their eyes to fight off the beam but the excitement won over them and still tried to peek at the door opened wide on them.
Each of them stepped inside and what greeted them was something they hadn't expected. The rumours did not do this hall justice, their reputation of being the riches precedes what they are witnessing at the very moment: crystals of all color popped everywhere inside, polished ocean marble floor, you can see your reflection clearly. A floating bookshelves made out of clear glasses can easily be spotted from where they are, their archive only has an invisible barrier, making everything inside visible from everyone. It also makes the space even bigger. Mirrors are hanging and floating everywhere along with crystal orbs and cubes which create rainbow hues all over. The walls are all painted white, their signature gold unique moldings completes and complements the whole building's interior.
But what left the ladies at awe is the crystal stairs; a mixture of milky quartz and rose quarts is the candy out of all designs seen inside. Even the table and the chairs around it are made of clear crystals wrapped with white fur.
"What kind of world is this?" Thenea whispered as her eyes took in the sweetness of the interior.
"Land of Scorpion sure does not live up to its name," Verin commented, earning an eye roll from the child.
"If you're done tearing down the hall with your eyes," he sneered, "follow me."
Thenea noticed how his father isn't with them any longer.
"Is your dad not coming?"
"He has things to do," he started coming down the stairs but the rubies didn't budge.
"We have no time to dally, either you follow me or get lost finding your way."
Lance once again looked at Verin, "please, can't I?"
Verin only laughed and dragged Lance down by his neck, "now, now, keep calm."