As I pondered my return to the main road, something caught my eye – a unique house.
As I approached the once captivating dwelling, its exterior retained a charming and inviting design. It still seemed to effortlessly meld with the lush Shire landscape, appearing as though it were an extension of the earth itself.
The overgrown gardens that surrounded it, however, hinted at a long period of neglect. Sunflowers drooped, roses withered, and daisies struggled to bloom amidst the encroaching weeds.
The front entrance, featuring the round door within gracefully curved stone arches, remained a unique and picturesque focal point. Although weathered by time, the wooden door retained traces of its warm, inviting hues of green, red, and yellow.
Brass knobs and intricate carvings adorned it, their former grandeur softened by the passage of years. Above the door, the lantern that had once bathed visitors in a welcoming glow remained unlit but still intact.
I was fascinated by this unique house and I unconsciously approached it, It felt like some unknown power was drawing me to that place, I tried to open it but I was not expecting much at first but to my surprise, it opened easily.
Stepping inside the deserted house, the atmosphere was markedly different from the inviting charm it once exuded. This house is smaller than most, so I have to crouch down just a bit to walk inside.
The main living area, once a cozy haven, had succumbed to abandonment. The low, gently curving ceilings now seemed oppressive, and the warm wooden panels on the walls had lost their luster.
The central fireplace, now cold and lifeless, stood as a silent reminder of gatherings long past. The inviting armchairs and sofas, once adorned with soft, earth-toned throws, were now covered in dusty sheets. The plush rugs underfoot were faded and worn, bearing the weight of forgotten days.
The windows, once exquisite, were now coated in a layer of grime and neglect, allowing only feeble, filtered light to penetrate the gloom. The cozy reading nooks and writing desks, where hobbies and passions once thrived, were strewn with abandoned projects and covered in cobwebs.
The kitchen, once a hub of activity, now lay in disarray. The air, once filled with mouthwatering scents, now carried the musty odor of neglect. Round dining tables, set with colorful pottery and mismatched chairs, stood as silent witnesses to gatherings long gone.
The bedrooms, once private sanctuaries, had fallen into disuse. Family photographs and cherished mementos were hidden beneath layers of dust, their stories lost to time.
What astonished me more was that the once beautiful, now abandoned house was the skeletal remains of someone who was still sitting near the fireplace, I am no skeleton expert but this skeleton's remains were smaller than usual, it was just around four feet tall.
I approached it slowly and cautiously and a few things caught my attention The first was one of the hands of the skeleton was on its pelvic region, a posture that seemed peculiar. Secondly, its other hand clutched something tightly like it was a very precious item to them, and finally below its foot was something familiar.
My eyes were drawn to the object – a spherical crystalline ball with a captivating blue hue. Its diameter measured about 7.5cm (approximately 3 inches), and at its core, an intricate symbol of two white drops was etched. As my fingers made contact, I felt an odd stickiness, and no matter the angle I observed it from, the two white drops symbol remained unchanging.
It's another one of those Blue Balls, does that mean this guy is another one of the fallen soldier?
When I found the first one I was not sure what to think about it but now I found another one of the Blue Balls, I have Two Blue Balls now, should I start looking for the rest?
If I remember correctly there were about seven of these blue balls and I have two of them, then five remaining, Maybe I will look more into them when I have time.
Returning to the skeletal remains, the puzzle of the figure's small stature weighed on my mind. No matter how I pondered, the only conclusion I could draw was that this individual must have been very young.
Following my curiosity, I decided to gently pry open the other hand of the skeletal remains, which had been tightly clenched. Surprisingly, it was remarkably easy to do so. As I loosened the grip, something slipped from the skeletal fingers and began to roll away—a small spherical object.
With a soft clink, it came to a stop, and I approached to pick it up. To my surprise, it was a ring. I took it into my hand for closer inspection.
As I held the Ring in my hand, its appearance was both intriguing and unsettling. It seemed like an ordinary golden band, unadorned and unremarkable at first glance. Yet, the longer I looked, the more I became entranced by its peculiar allure.
The Ring was a circle of pure, radiant gold, and it felt surprisingly weighty for its size. It was as though it carried the burdens of ages past, and its surface was smooth, cool, and almost silky to the touch. When I turned it in the light, it shimmered with an eerie, inner glow, like a tiny, captured star.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed faint markings etched into the inner side of the Ring. The characters were slender and mysterious, written in a script that felt ancient and otherworldly. They seemed to whisper secrets that I couldn't quite grasp, an enigma meant to be deciphered by those with knowledge beyond my own.
It was this very mystery that made the Ring so captivating and yet deeply unsettling. Holding it, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in the presence of something ancient and profoundly powerful. It was as though the Ring held the essence of both light and shadow within its unassuming form.
As I turned it over in my hand, I couldn't help but wonder about the secrets it held and the promises it whispered. The Ring was a paradox, a symbol of both temptation and impending doom, and I couldn't deny the profound sense of foreboding that washed over me in its presence.
"It was precious, my precious."
The words escaped my lips involuntarily, as though some unseen force had compelled me to utter them. I blinked, suddenly aware of Truck-Kun's voice breaking the eerie silence.
"What the hell are you doing inside there?" Truck-Kun's abrupt question jolted me back to reality.
I blinked, trying to shake off the strange enchantment that had held me. "What was I doing till now?, I... I went inside that weird little house as if I were possessed by something. I'm coming back now. We have more to do, and it's starting to get dark," I stammered.
But as I turned to leave, doubts gnawed at the corners of my mind. Why had this ring seemed so precious to me? What had possessed me to utter those words? The mysterious pull of the house flashed through my memory, and I couldn't help but wonder if the ring was somehow connected to it.
Should I leave it here? The thought crossed my mind briefly. But then, the allure of the gleaming gold was too strong to resist. I decided to take it with me, slipping it into my pocket. It looked like pure gold, and perhaps I could sell it later for a tidy sum.
Then feeling a sense of urgency, I made the decision to burn down the unique house along with the fallen soldier, just as I had done with the previous one. This would ensure that the secrets of the fallen soldier remained hidden, known only to me.
With the ring safely in my pocket, I cast one last look at the enigmatic house and its silent resident. Then, I turned to make my way toward the exit. However, my departure was abruptly halted.
As I was on the verge of stepping outside, an intense, blinding white light materialized before me. It was as if something had teleported into my path, and the radiance was so dazzling that I had to shield my eyes with my hand.
Minutes dragged on, and the brilliance gradually waned, revealing a humanoid figure at the center of the receding light. I patiently waited for the light to vanish completely, eager to discern the identity of the being that had emerged.
Once the light had completely dissipated, the figure that had been concealed within it became fully visible. To describe it as a sight to behold would be an understatement. This presence commanded both respect and wonder in equal measure.
He was a tall figure, with a regal bearing that made him seem larger than life. His attire consisted of flowing robes in a deep shade of gray that seemed to move like wisps of smoke, adding an air of mystery to his already enigmatic persona. A long, majestic beard, as white as freshly fallen snow, cascaded down his chest in a cascade of wisdom.
But it was his eyes that truly captivated me. They were a piercing, almost hypnotic shade of blue, like twin sapphires that held the weight of ages in their depths. They seemed to see beyond the surface of things, delving into the very souls of those who met his gaze.
His staff was never far from his side, a gnarled and ancient piece of wood that was as much a part of him as his own limbs. It was a symbol of his authority and his mastery over the arcane arts, and it had a weathered, well-traveled look that hinted at the countless adventures he had embarked upon.
I stood there in speechless astonishment at his sudden appearance and his sage-like demeanor. However, before I could gather my wits or utter a word, he abruptly assumed a T-pose and bellowed something with thunderous force, "You Shall Not Pass!"