The monster bats!
The darkness!
The lady!
No! This is a dangerous place.
The woman kept coming closer.
"Stop right there or I attack!" Frank warned.
"Is that how a man welcomes a beautiful lady like me?" She mischievously asked.
"What is a beautiful lady doing in the pits of who- knows where this place is? You are no lady!" he maintained his stance. Nothing would surprise him.
"Oh really! Stop being silly. You can see I am a lady, and a beautiful one too. Of course I live here. Is it a crime where one chooses to live?" She endeared. Slowly she continued roping him in.
"Look! I know where you are going and I can help you!" she offered.
"How do you know where I am going?"
"Nobody comes this way if not going to the Crystal of Light Springs! This path only leads to the Crystal Of light Springs!"
Crystal of Light Springs was the place he was directed to go in his quest of finding Noel. He didn't know what it looked like or where it was found. Only through Zu Shi's guidance was he able to reach this far. But Zu Shi had not mentioned the appearance of any woman.
Frank silently pondered, how does she know the Crystal of Light Springs? Who is this woman, really?
"Are you a guardian of the Springs?" he asked out loud.
The woman smiled.
"Follow me handsome one! I will help you reach your destiny safely!"
Frank hesitated for some minutes. The woman turned and walked away a few steps to the edge of light. Frank kept observing her and trying to make up his mind.
'Follow her or not?"
"Come on handsome, you don't wish for more monster bats to get you there undecided, do you?"
Frank looked around and then decided to follow her. He maintained a safe distance between them and kept the light shining at its full intensity. They walked in silence, going forward through the tunnel and passing through various corners. After a while the lady began speaking again.
"What brings you handsome man to this underworld?"
"um..mm" he stopped. Is it right to tell her? But she's helping me. No! I can't risk it.
"I just want to see the Springs. So much is said about it that I would like to witness myself!"
"That's so courageous of you!"
From her tone, she didn't buy the lie. She definitely knew more than Frank thought. They reached a folkways and she turned to the right path. Frank stopped. His PDA had indicated that when they come to a place where the paths divide he was to go left. That would be the right path. But the lady was leading him towards the one branching to the right. She noticed that he stopped and she turned around.
"I think we should go this way!" he said politely. The lady stared at him then slowly moved back to where he stood. Frank had returned the blades back to his cube and he instinctively prepared to get one out in case he needed it. The lady reached him with a smile. She stopped only a few inches from him and their faces almost touched.
Frank felt uncomfortable. He had never been so close to any woman except once when he was with Noel. He unconsciously moved a step back.
"Seems like you know your way around here, and so you won't need me! Is my company so irritating?" She paused as she laid her hands on his chest.
What is she doing. No I can't allow it. He quickly pulled her hands away from him.
"What are you doing, handsome?" her voice had changed and became icy like a hiss.
"Step back!" He shouted. He heard this hissing very well and all his senses rose to an extremely high alert. The woman was again moving closer and Frank switched the blades into a long sword. She stopped and in that instant a green dust engulfed her with a plop sound. Within seconds crazy hissing sounds filled the tunnel. Frank held his sword tightly looking into the rising dust.
The green smoke suddenly turned into a huge green python with its v-shaped tongue wavering in the air. Frank took some steps back to position himself. His eyes didn't leave the two fangs on the python's mouth. He calculated its strength and speed as it coiled then rose up standing on its tail. The python was ready to strike. He waited.
It brought down its head upon him and he quickly jumped to the side with his sword slashing at the serpent. His movements had improved during sword practice and he was swift enough to inflict a deep cut on its side. Dark red blood started oozing from the cut. But the serpent did not give up. It turned hand slithered towards him again.
Frank maintained his stance with the sword raised up. The snake observed him and calculated its move. As he waited, suddenly he was thrown off his feet! He did not see the wagging tail of the snake as it came from the sides to slash him. Before he recovered he was hit again and flung against the wall.
Puff!
He hit the wall and fell on the ground with a thud. Slowly he pinned the sword on the ground and managed to stand up.
Not intending to let the serpent near him again he quickly unleashed a succession of fire balls on the snake. Several hit it while it managed to dodge a few. He continued raining upon it with uncountable balls of fire until it lost focus and was swaying randomly. When it looked daze Frank ran to it with his sword raised high. Before the python turned its head towards him Frank's sword had cut through its thick fleshy neck. The head disconnected from the rest of the body.
Frank didn't wait but ran towards the left path. The snakes huge tail was still wagging from side to side and he had to avoid being crushed again by it. He turned to the left safely and co tinned running. He could see ahead what looked like a passage into the open.
Finally coming to the light ahead. He was awestruck at the beauty ahead of him. It was a huge water fall with crystal clear water falling into the depths below. What made it more attracting was the numerous multi-coloured rays that infused with the water giving it a dazzling appearance. In deed it was The Crystal Of Lights Springs!
From the instructions he had received, Frank went to a higher ground where a table- like structure was. He stood at it and the Springs was now ahead of him. The wristwatch on his arm started glowing again. An intense Ray of Light emerged from it and flowed towards the spring. A rejoinder ray from the spring emerged and the two rays met, forming a beautiful beam. The beam grew and suddenly burst forth towards Frank. He didn't know what to do but shielded his eyes.
At that instant he felt himself floating in circles of warmth. He tried to open his eyes but he couldn't. He was floating now at a rapid speed and everything around him became blurry.