Kyra looked around .
"Where is Conrad?" She voiced out.
The two suddenly stopped arguing. "I haven't seen him since ". Avyanna said as she turned to Levi who was now resting against a tree, closing his eyes.
"Are you seriously asking me. I'm not his keeper." Levi replied sarcastically "Besides I have others things on my mind that I'm thinking of. Don't disturb me" .
"Your probably dreaming of boobs and panties" Then Avyanna waved her hands erratically . " Don't tell me! Whatever you're dreaming of must be weird and dirty."
"You can join in Levi invited her jokingly , though I'm not so sure I can squeeze you in . It's a little crowded in here." Levi mockingly teased her.
Kyra wasn't even listening to their batter. She was concerned about Conrad.
He always tended to stray from a path .Kyra thought.
OR
Maybe he went to cool off or wanted to check something out.
He was human after all and they were prone to curiosity.
The sun was at its highest point in the sky. Kyra searched everywhere , but there was still no sign of him.
Avyanna was beginning to get worried.
"Conrad! Come out. It isn't funny!" Kyra yelled for the umpteenth time. Though Levi had put on a false mask of unconcern , his conscience was beginning to prick at him. Had anything happened to Conrad ? . Was he in trouble or ...
Was he dead?
Kyra and Avyanna reached the conclusion that maybe Conrad had just walked ahead , waiting for the others to catch up. The trio began to walk fast, as Kyra kept calling Conrad's name.
But there was still no answer.
A small object glinted on the ground covered by dust. Levi squatters while the other two girls stood behind him. He retrieved and examined it. It was a gold casing of a bullet.
Kyra grabbed it from him. "Its Conrad's. He is not too far away from here. Something or someone must have tried to attack him". She added.
Kyra held the casing close to her chest.
She was coming to rescue him. He had always been by her side when she needed him the most.
And above all , Because that was the oath they swore to each other.
$^$^-{"}%^=&=^-%-&=&=&
It was Levi that first heard Conrad's voice.
They all looked up and saw him at the peak of a mountain.
"What the hell ?!!!" Avyanna exclaimed.
"Trust me ..." Conrad pointed to what he sat on. " It wasn't this tall when I first got here ".
Levi scoffed.
"Get down from there, then!" Kyra spoke loudly.
"I wish I could ". Conrad replied. " I've been trying all day but I still find myself in the same place."
Avyanna was in deep thought. "Step back". She motioned to the others .
They both moved backwards.
She formed a series of symbols with her hands and said with her hair billowing behind her "Release!".
Nothing happened .
"What was the display for then?" Levi said.
Avyanna stared at her palms. "There is no spell I can't break , but this Levi , This is magic that I've never seen before. Its power and enchantment is too difficult to break. It could take like a million years to break."
" Oh my God!!!!!! Don't tell me I'm going to die here.!!" Conrad shouted down in fear
"Calm down " Kyra reassured him.
"Yes , you're aren't going to die... Well probably ?" Avyanna said in doubt.
"That's NOT HELPING!!!!!!!!" He yelled.
"So what are we going to do?" Kyra kept her hands akimbo.
Levi was looking through the ground as if he had lost something. "Hey , are you okay?" Kyra asked him.
Levi didn't answer her, but instead patted the ground and nodded to himself . He placed his hand on the ground and thrust it deep into the soil. With great effort , which was unusual to him, He removed his hand and dusted casually on his shirt.
The ground began vibrating as the mountain that Conrad was pacing about on gradually began to change into something that Kyra had never seen before
All this was happening admist exasperated yells from Conrad.
"Seems your dear friend just kicked the hornets nest ". Levi shook his head in disapproval.
"What is that?" Kyra asked.
"A Sphinx. I have never seen a real one. Head of a man and body of a lion and feet of a bird . It has not been for so long that it has been forgotten by most . Stories say it is a merciless and treacherous monster that's an expert in devouring both body and soul. Woe unto any of its prey that wanders into its territory, The enchanted rock poses an unsolvable riddle for its victims. As the word 'Unsolvable ' Already explains , Since the victim cannot answer the riddle, (s)he is devoured...
"How Can we fight it?"
Levi laughed. " It is impossible to defeat the sphinx. It is ancient magic. Conrad is
a lost cause . I'm not quite ready to die but if you still insist , you two can go ahead and dig your graves ."
Kyra looked at Levi shocked how could you just give up on your friend like that?Kyra then faced the sphinx. " No matter. We still have to try to get him back. we have to try and save our friend "
"We could just get another person with brown hair and little bravado and call him Conrad . Its not that hard! "Levi argued.Avyanna glared at Levi
"You don't mean that, do you?"
Avyanna stood by Kyra. "I'm with you."
"All this inspirational nonsense is making me sick." I love my life. He seated himself against a tree and turned to his side .
"Roll Initiative " Eva said.
Su ling squealed in excitement "This is gonna be good.
"Roll"
"6"
Kyra launched the first attack. She took out five arrows and positioned them directly towards the monster. She took a deep breath
"Fiery arrows of destruction!"
She let go of the bow and the arrows whished through the air. It was headed straight for the sphinx when it just fell to the ground.
Kyra's eyes widened. She called them back while Avyanna decided to give it a shot.
Roll'
'5'
"Eight seals of the Naradine spirits!" That Was one of her biggest dowels yet. It was sure to end the monster.
The sphinx didn't move a muscle ...
Because it has none .
And worse ...the blast didn't even affect it. It didn't make a dent .
"The sphinx is invulnerable to any attack and the only thing that can destroy it is itself." John read Eva's note. "So all that was just a waste". He grinned
Avyanna stepped back , panting for air so as was Kyra.
"Seems we can't fight it without dying..." Kyra said.
"I just told you that !" John complained while the others ignored him.
"The only way you can defeat it, like I explained earlier..." Levi said with his back facing them. " Is to answer its riddle. We have only one chance. The wrong answer turns us all into to that thing's meal. And I'm not ready to become anyone's lunch ." He ended
" We have got to give it a shot . Lets hear the riddle. " Avyanna continued."I've had my own fair shares of riddles and puzzles so it can't be that hard, can it?"