"A pity that you will die today Lisa cloven." The eye rumbled back and Lisa gulped softly.
She didn't get it! Why was everything here in the underworld trying to get her? What exactly did she do to any of them!?
"I know this might be a weird question but how do you speak when you have only an eye?." She didn't know when the words came out of her mouth and she internally prayed that she wouldn't make it angry. But in her defence, her question sounded completely rational.
Meanwhile, the large eye couldn't believe it. Never in a million years of him being here had anyone asked such a..he didn't even know what to call it!.
Even he didn't know where his voice came from. He actually just naturally said those lines whenever someone came here.
Not wanting to look weak, he spoke
"You dare look down on me peasant!?" The large eye thundered back and small cracks started forming on the ground which scared Lisa to no end.
"Of course not..I just wanted to test if you had a great patience oh great seer." Lisa smiled nervously.
The eye didn't seem convinced but nevertheless, it blinked and the cracks closed back.
"To pass this door you need to answer two riddles from me. But note that, no one except his Highness knows the answer to these riddles."
Lisa fought the urge to role her eyes. Like seriously?.
"Of course, bring your worst." She forced a smile on her face when she noticed how the eye narrowed at her.
"The first riddle goes like this. I am something, I can be happy, I can be sad, I can be broken, I can be fixed, I can be vengeful, I can be forgiveful and I can be played with, I can be protected. What am I?"
Lisa blinked. What in hell's name was that? It could be anything!. No..she had to think carefully. She already had a few guesses on the answer.
It could either be emotions or the heart? She wasn't sure.
"Just how many tries do I get for this riddle?" She asked carefully.
"Only one." Was the simple answer that came next.
She frowned. Emotions was everything except protected and the heart fitted all this descriptions.
Well..it was something or nothing.
"My answer is .. the heart." She held her breath and closed her eyes, half expecting to be killed on the spot but nothing happened. Opening her eyes, she stared at the large eye which seemed genuinely shocked for some reason.
"That is correct." Announced the eye and Lisa jumped in excitement.
"Yes!" Her getting the first one meant there was still hope for her to leave here alive!. She steadied herself and got ready for the next riddle.
"The second riddle I'm sure that you will not know it. It goes like this; I am something, you heard me before and then again. Afterwards, I die, until you Call again.What am i?"
Lisa was completely lost. She didnt want to give up so early but her mind felt completely blank. One wrong answer could lead to her death.
Now that she thought of it, the forest of Unknown didn't seem so bad anymore.
What could possibly be the answer? Something that dies until you call it again..
She got it!
"The answer is an echo, you can hear it before and then again. Afterwards it dies until I call it again." Lisa put up a hopeful expression and looked at the eye which seemed flabbergasted.
"You may have won this time but I won't let this happen again." Finally, the eye shut back and the large spooky door opened to reveal a dark narrow passage.
Was that it? No instructions? Or words of encouragement?.
"The forbidden library draws close." A whisper fluttered in the air and once again Lisa was reminded why she was here.
Not having any other choice, she walked into the dark passage and the door closed with a loud thud. Entering the room, she met a gigantic space which was filled with hundreds or even thousands of book shelves. Never in her life had she witnessed that many books being kept in a single place. It took her breath away.
"Okay whisper, I'm here, what exactly do you need in this place?" She questioned.
"The book I seek for is over there, it lies within the heart of here."
Lisa nodded thoughtfully. The heart meant it's in the middle. Guaging the size of this place, she estimated that this was going to take a while.
Not wasting anymore time, she started her mission. Each shelve she passed made her intrigued to want to try each book as they were represented in different colours but presently she couldn't because time was not on her side.
She wasn't sure but after walking for about an hour or so, she spotted a shining light that beamed from behind few shelves.
Quickly, she ran towards it and released a sigh of relief when she spotted a breathtaking white and golden book, open on what seemed like a glass table.
Slowly and carefully, she approached the book to see it open. Curiosity took over her and she tried to flip the book but it didn't budge.
Only that particular page was open and it seemed like the pages were not planning to move forward or backward. Lisa leaned in as her eyes scanned the page that was open.
"The guardian couldn't believe what was happening." She started and frowned.
Why did this feel so familiar?. Getting more than interested, she continued.
"He had tried his best, he had fought all foes but still the celestial council caught up with him. Now he was left with a choice, it was either to go back up or-"
"Lady Lisa!"
Lisa froze on the spot. There was only one person that called her like that. Turning around, she stared at Theodore who had a complicated expression plastered on his face.
"What are you doing here lady Lisa? How did you even enter?" He asked surprised.
Lisa didn't know what to say, was she to say that a whisper led her here? Now she felt like a thief caught in the act.
Casting a weary glance around, he spoke" We have to get out of here now, before his Highness returns." He turned and walked out and Lisa didn't have to be told twice.
When they were out of that place completely, they walked out of the underground passage where Lisa met those shadows. Fortunately, they both were not there.
They exited the secret door and the wall returned back to being a normal wall.
"Milady, you have to give me a good reason for being there because his Highness would find out sooner or later and the last person that went in there without his permission isn't alive right now."
Lisa"..."