"Where am I?" Ethan said as he stared back at the gleaming red eyes in the dark.
"Hahahahahaha!" A deep laugh resounded, making the entire place rumble.
Ethan staggered back and grabbed a bony status that he can't make out what it was.
"You're not supposed to be here!" The voice yelled again.
"I never wanted to be here, but perhaps you wanted me here, and that's why you pulled me in," Ethan yelled back, holding whatever he was holding tighter as the place rumbled once more.
After the rambling, Ethan said, "Can you put on the lights? These red eyes aren't making it easy for me."
"Don't give me orders!"
"By the power vested in me as a dragon prince, I command y--"
"Alright, I'm not doing it because of your stupid order but because," he paused. "I can't see well in the dark."
A thud sound echoed, and a huge light bulb lit up, giving the place a yellow light.
Ethan closed and snapped his eyes again when the light flashed.
His eyes first went to the stature he held.
"Really?" He pulled his hands from the human skeleton that still had flesh on some parts and live eyeballs intact in its bone skull.
Ethan can't tell if it's a male or female.
He gazed around. The eyes were red, slit-shaped diamonds stuck to the wall on both sides.
Ethan's nose twitched. He used his clean hand to cover his nose.
"This place reeks," Ethan said. "How are you even staying down here?"
No answer came.
"Why am I even asking? You might as well smell as bad, if not worse, as this place." Ethan looked ahead.
He saw a box-shaped, transparent glass with a dirty rag placed inside it.
But the faint blue crystal lights coming from the rag drew his attention.
Despite the yellow light bulb, the blue crystal shone brighter.
Ethan slowly walked towards it. He walked cautiously. After all, whatever was speaking to him before might have placed booby traps everywhere.
The closer he got to the crystal, the further the distance would increase.
Ethan gazed around again. He was back at his starting point.
"Is this some sort of magic?" Ethan mumbled aloud. He had never seen magic being used; he had only read about it in books, though he knew it might be possible.
"Hey, whatever you are, if you're not giving me anything can you take me out of this place?"
No answer came.
"Did he just imprison me?"
His theory was not far-fetched since he was made aware of the numerous enemies the dragon race had. Or is it his stepmothers that have finally decided to make a move?
Ethan shook his head. He looked at the crystal that gave him a headache just by staring at it.
Since he can't just sit around, he decided to keep on trying to get the crystal.
His guts told him that whatever it was would be something useful. Maybe it might make him stronger to take all his brothers out.
This time, instead of walking, he ran at full speed. He noticed something when he got closer to the crystal. It used no magic, but he found a black, short creature standing behind the glass container.
He started moving back again, but this time, he was thrown back with full force.
He slammed his body to the ground.
Ethan wipes the blood trickling down his lips. He had suffered more falls than this, so he knew this wouldn't kill him even if it happened 10 times.
"No need to hide again. I have seen you already," Ethan yelled.
"Hehehehe! You got me." A dwarf with black skin and two human heads that constantly bump into each other said
Other than the black skin and two heads, the dwarf looked like any human being.
The dwarf wore cavemen's animal skin robes that looked like rags.
The dwarf used his hands to fan the flies circling his head.
The dwarf grinned, showing his blunt black teeth as he stared at Ethan.
Ethan's jaw fell to the ground.
"So all those loud voices were coming from you...you little thing," Ethan said finally.
"Don't call me a little thing, bitch; I ain't no little thing."
"my bad. You look really small, that's why. Either way, I want that crystal." Ethan pointed at the glass box beside the dwarf.
"You want this shiny thing?" The dwarf tilted his head to the side, but it didn't go well as the other head moved to the other side instead.
"Yes, I want it."
"Then you would have to go through me." A giant sword appeared in his hands, and he pointed it at Ethan.
"Alright, let's do this." Ethan charged in.
The dwarf spun the sword as he dashed at Ethan while smashing the air.
"Dwarf, look at your momma." Ethan pointed at the side.
"Momma?" The dwarf said in a daze as he stared at the side.
Before he realized it was a distraction, Ethan had already grabbed the crystal, but it vanished.
----
Present.
"What happened?" Ethan mumbled as he opened his eyes and sat up. He saw Ileus and Noah kneeling by his side.
"You passed out," Noah said.
"Are you OK?" Ileus said in his robotic voice.
"Are you sure you're not sick?" Noah furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm ok." Ethan stood up, tapped his spatial ring, and changed his dirty uniform.
Noah and Ileus watched Ethan with a doubtful gaze.
"I'm ok, guys, stop looking at me like that," Ethan said.
Ethan started walking out of the forest, leaving a confused Noah and Ileus to stare at his back.
They walked back to the academy, and after showing their student ID, the security allowed them in.
Earlier today, Ethan had decided to go for a run to clear his head, and it has done just that. He felt calmer, and his brain cells could think straight.
After a bath, Ethan sends a message via his phone to Noah, Ileus, and Layla.
They all met at the canteen. They already knew why he had called for them, so they looked forward to what he would say.
Ethan drummed his long fingers on the table.
The others stared at him with expectation.
Ethan realizes all the stares. He sat up and looked at everyone.
"have decided..."
"Decided what?" Noah smiled.
"To rescue Helen."
****