Chapter 28: The Unexpected Visitor
As the blinding light from the gem faded and the rumbling subsided, we found ourselves standing in the same chamber. The ominous vortex of dark energy was gone, leaving the air oddly still. But something was off. The ancient, eerie atmosphere had shifted, replaced by a strange sense of normalcy that was almost unsettling in its abruptness.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," Sam muttered, breaking the silence. "All that noise and drama, and we didn't even get a boss fight."
"Maybe we did it?" I offered, looking around. "Maybe we sealed the darkness, and now everything's just… fine?"
"Fine?" Professor Ainsley raised an eyebrow. "We just barely survived an ancient curse, and you think it's fine?"
Before I could respond, there was a soft pop behind us, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone clearing their throat. We all spun around to see a figure standing in the middle of the chamber—a man dressed in what could only be described as the most outdated and flamboyant wizard attire imaginable. He had a tall, pointed hat with stars and moons embroidered on it, a flowing purple robe, and a staff that looked more like a fancy walking cane.
"Ah, there you are!" the man exclaimed, a broad smile on his face. "I was wondering when you'd finish up with all that sealing nonsense. Took you long enough!"
We stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Who… who are you?" Professor Ainsley finally managed to ask, clearly trying to maintain her composure.
"Me?" The man waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, just a humble guardian of these ruins. Name's Cedric the Conspicuously Casual, at your service!" He gave a theatrical bow, nearly knocking his hat off in the process.
"Conspicuously Casual?" Sam repeated, incredulously. "Is that a title or just a lifestyle choice?"
"Both!" Cedric declared with a grin. "You see, I've been guarding this place for, oh, centuries now. It's a bit of a drag, really. Nothing much happens here. So when I sensed you lot bumbling about, I thought, 'Ah! Finally, some excitement!'"
"Bumbling?" I echoed, feeling a bit insulted. "We weren't bumbling. We just saved this place from ancient, dark forces!"
"Yes, yes, quite impressive," Cedric said, waving off the comment as if swatting at a fly. "But you know, back in my day, we sealed dark forces before breakfast and still had time for a good nap. You kids today—always making a fuss."
Professor Ainsley pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly exasperated. "Cedric, if you're the guardian, why didn't you do something when the darkness started to break free?"
Cedric gave a nonchalant shrug. "Oh, I would have, but I was in the middle of my afternoon tea. Can't let it get cold, you know. Besides, it looked like you were handling things well enough."
"Handling things?" Sam said, incredulous. "We nearly got sucked into a vortex of doom!"
"Ah, but you didn't!" Cedric said, wagging a finger. "And that's what matters. You see, a good guardian knows when to step in and when to let others prove their worth. Consider it a learning experience."
"A learning experience?" I repeated, still trying to wrap my head around this bizarre encounter.
"Absolutely!" Cedric continued. "You've all done splendidly. Now, I suppose I'll have to report this to the higher-ups—though I haven't spoken to them in a few centuries, so they might've forgotten about me. No matter!"
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, and before I forget, here!" Cedric pulled a small, intricately carved box from inside his robe and handed it to me. "A little parting gift. Consider it a token of appreciation for all your hard work."
I hesitated before taking the box. "What is it?"
Cedric winked. "Open it later. It's more fun that way." With another exaggerated bow, he turned to leave. "Well, my work here is done. I'll be off now—probably back to my tea. Good day to you all!"
And with that, Cedric vanished in another soft pop, leaving us standing in the chamber, stunned into silence.
Finally, Sam spoke up. "Did that really just happen, or did we all collectively hallucinate?"
Professor Ainsley sighed deeply. "I have no idea. But one thing's for sure—we'll need a good, strong cup of coffee after this."
As we slowly made our way out of the ruins, I couldn't help but chuckle. After everything we'd been through, a whimsical wizard with a penchant for tea was the last thing I expected. But in a place like this, I was beginning to learn that the unexpected was just part of the package.
And as we left the ancient chamber behind, I couldn't help but feel a bit lighter, knowing that even in the darkest of places, there was room for a little bit of absurdity.