Silence settled down between the Baron and Ruiki, Ruiki's legs swinging as he stared at them.
He noticed that Ployer was a bit shorter than him.
"What do you want, Ployer?" Ruiki asked, seeing a faint smile on Ployer's face.
"What do you think of Rose?" Ployer said, taking off the sapphire ring on his middle finger as he held it near his eye.
"Secretive, isn't she?" He looked around with the ring, spotting Rose and Hardwick who were talking near the frozen spire.
"But she could've been cautious you know, instead of acting all mysterious, she could've escaped on her own," Ployer looked down, a bitter expression on his face as he patted his plump stomach, "But no,"
"She decided to carry all of us — dead weights, especially me," Ployer said, putting the ring back on his hand.
"You're rich," Ruiki suggested.
"Wealth is below one's life, Ruiki," Ployer said, looking at him. "Tell me, why did you help that mercenary,"
Ruiki looked ahead, at Hardwick, who was laughing brightly talking with Rose.
"Because..." Ruiki trailed off, his voice suddenly sounding more certain. "I wanted to."
"Truly the blood of the Williams," Ployer said with a grin, noticing the scowl on Ruiki's face, "Doing everything on their whim, looks like despite your circumstances, you've inherited the same qualities,"
"Your mother was as such too—"
"Enough," Ruiki interrupted with a huff, his voice a bit louder, "Get to the point,"
Ployer raised an eyebrow, in compliance . "Very well, let me tell my honest thoughts to you,"
"She can't be trusted." Ployer said, clenching the debris beneath his hand tightly. "She's unpredictable, probably the strongest in our little group, and the most mysterious,"
"Most importantly, she isn't that cripple or you— whom I could trust with my life."
Barlet chuckled at the look on Ruiki's face, which seemed to say something along the lines of: "Are you nuts?"
But ignoring the look, Barlett continued. "Since we don't want to be backstabbed or used as a sacrificial offering, I suggest we co-operate or come to an agreement — me and you,"
"Cooperation and agreements are between people of equal standing," Ruiki shook his head, "I don't have to comply, especially when you could be buried here for good."
Barlett said amusedly. "Ofcourse! But don't think the secret of your family will stay with yourselves then, I have plenty of contingencies you see."
Ruiki jumped lightly and stood up, dusting his clothes as he went forward, saying,
"I'll think about it."
"Sure you will!" Ployer said with a bright smile, already knowing the young man's answer.
...
Ruiki went up to Rose and Hardwick, seeing them chat harmoniously in such a damp place made his brows twitch.
"You two are close?"
"Members of our Brigand are always close," Hardwick said, huffing on his palms. "Besides, what use does being detrimental bring here? Nothing. Live, laugh and enjoy!"
Ruiki shook his head, switching his gaze to Rose. "We should move soon,"
"Let's search this place first," Rose said, shaking her head. "If we don't find any of the keys we need, we will go back and conduct a small search near where the prison collapsed before heading towards the exit."
"We need supplies, more so now since there are goblins and such roaming around."
Ruiki nodded, the explanation was reasonable. "But going near the area where the prison collapsed is suicide, it would've drawn many hideous creatures due to the free-flowing magic,"
Rose nodded, not disagreeing.
"You search the frozen parts, while me and James will search near the rubble."
"Okay," Ruiki said, wandering off.
...
The area near the frozen spire wasn't exactly big, almost the size of a very large hall, but most of it was covered in ice, the ponds themselves half frozen.
What if the keys are thrown into the lake? Ruiki mused inwardly, thinking whether he would take a dive or not.
Except for the frog-like creatures, most of the fishes and piranhas that had resided in the lake had almost died, thus it was harmless.
Piranhas, ancient creatures... Currently, it was rather rare to see aquatic animals, although not as rare as the ones in land.
The wars between the Superhumans and monsters had already destroyed a lot of plant and animal life, the Kingdom of Shattered Stars being a rare variety for actually having abundant plants and animals.
Still, piranhas were the ancestors of the famous redwings, a rare sight to see even in the Kingdom of Shattered Stars.
Nonetheless, Ruiki continued, looking at the ground where some dry ice lay — reasons unknown, as he searched for metallic lustre and such.
He didn't have any trouble walking, as except for the frozen spire and the lakes, not much of the ground had frozen, a weird occurrence, he thought.
Wandering about with cautious eyes, Ruiki stumbled upon a two-fingered size key with an intricate design, frozen solid near the spire.
Ruiki whistled, drawing the others' attention.
"I've found one," he shouted, Rose and Hardwick coming to take a look while Ployer looked at him in amusement near the rubble.
"Awesome luck, man." James praised as Rose brought the greatsword down, breaking the ice and carefully retrieving the key.
Looking at it, though, the key shimmered in a purplish-lustre of inscribed enchantments as Ruiki tried to read it.
"Doramon?"
"Doraemon," Rose corrected, giving the key to James.
"You know how to read enchantments, ancient ones?" Ruiki questioned but Rose merely chuckled, not answering his question.
Showing off like that, Ruiki commented in his heart, feeling derisive. She isn't scared of my spells nor the baron...
Hardwick winked at him from the side, whispering to him, "How secretive, right?" Before he limped off after Rose, following her as Ruiki stood there, feeling wronged.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Ruiki saw the Baron next to him, extending his plump hand,
"Well, how about it?"
...
Click!
A spruce door opened with a click followed by a creek as Rose and the others arrived before a neatly ornamented and decorated room.
"Whoever took care of it, did it well," Ployer commented, satisfied.
Although the room had gathered dust and the sole mirror inside it was cracked, the cupboards and drawers were still in good shape despite being made of wood.
The room surprisingly had a carpet and a round table in the centre, with a sofa being attached next to the mirror.
Looking around, he noticed a quiver carelessly lying on the sofa and arrows scattered across the table.
Rose picked up the scattered arrows and the quiver, handing it to James.
"Here, you can help better now."
James accepted, strapping the quiver across his back. "Still need a bow," said he.
Ruiki went ahead and opened the cupboard as James accepted the quiver.
Creaak~
The wooden cupboard which was still relatively in a good condition left some holes, opened, the sight inside gruesome.
A beheaded man had been stuffed inside like a dirty linen cloth, his legs broken and folded with his severed head lying on his stomach, the blood long dry.
Inside though, there was a shortbow.
As Ployer pinched his nose to the startling bad smell, Ruiki handed the shortbow to James, his expression further hardening to see dried blood all over the polished wooden bow.
"Tch, it's not enchanted," James complained, displeased. "But I guess I'll make do now,"
"You have to," Ruiki replied dryly as he searched the room along with the others, the Baron eventually shouting in surprise.
"I think I found something!" He said excitedly as he tapped around a wall, "This wall is either a trap or a hidden pathway,"
Rose stepped forward, pulling out the greatsword that hung on her back and getting into stance.
She held the greatsword's grip — which was now wrapped with a red cloth — with both her hands as she withdrew back along with the sword, thrusting it with all her might in the next second, her body itself, shooting forward.
Tearing a hole through the wall, she landed on the other side as she gestured that It was safe, Ruiki withdrawing his hands from the magic pouch and James putting the arrow back on the quiver.
As the remaining wall collapsed on itself, the rest of the party headed inside, where a red forcefield laid.
"This is?" Ployer raised an eyebrow, gesturing at Ruiki.
"A trap of some sorts?" Ruiki assessed, looking at the two poles which laid parallel to each other as if like a gate, where they emitted a soft-red forcefield, as if barring entry.
Although the "gate" was only about four feet tall, its width covered the whole room, what lay beyond it, unknown.
Looking around, Ruiki noticed James motioning at him with an arrow, as if saying: "Hey! Why don't I shoot this thing to test it?"
After a bit of thought, Ruiki eventually nodded, "Let's get out of this room and back, maintain a safe distance. James Hardwick will shoot an arrow at this... projection."
The category of such magic fell under wards, but this one seemed ethereal, almost like a projection, causing him to be confused on what to call it.
After everyone had maintained a safe distance, James nocking an arrow into his shortbow, raising it up while one of his shoulders leaned against the wall as he drew back the string.
Twannng!
The arrow whirled past, heading fast into the red projection and disappearing within, its state unknown.
The party waited a while, but even after a minute, there was no response.
Ruiki's lips twitched. "Nothing happened?"
"Nope," Rose said, seemingly disappointed.
"We should... try to test it ourselves?"
"Like sticking a finger or such?" Ruiki's brows twitched, but James seemed to somehow agree with her suggestion.
"I've lost a leg, losing a finger ain't that bad," James said, self-depreciation evident.
"That's too serious, how about we try destroying the walls the poles are attached to?" Barlet proposed, getting nods of approval from the group.
Following his suggestion, Ruiki stood near the walls as he took out the magical pouch he'd found in one of the corpses.
Chain Lightning isn't destructive, Ruiki took out a scroll of the fireball spell. Fireball's better.
Ruiki willed magic into the scroll as the scroll blinked in fiery red, its tip caught on fire.
Ruiki recited the most basic of chants as the fireball hurled itself at the said direction of the chant and exploded upon contact with the wall.
Boom!
Ruiki stood as he closed his eyes slightly to avoid splinters hitting his eyes. Then, as the dust scattered, he noticed the almost intact wall and frowned.
The only layer that had broken was the outer layer, with an intact pitch black layer lying beneath. Observing it closely, Ruiki noticed it was the same pitch-black stone he'd had seen when he had first fallen into the cavern, with inscriptions laid about.
Just what... Is that? Ruiki stood there, having the urge to take all the scroll and hurl it at that damned wall which hadn't bulged, but he calmed his nerves as he stared ahead, a putrid smell lingering in his nostrils as his heart started to beat faster.
"Do not become the darkness you wish to extinguish, O Light."
His head rung, his world spinning as his fingers twitched involuntarily, his head attaining a serene peace amidst the peril of Chaos itself.
What Chaos? He didn't know, but he suddenly felt that the scenario in front of him had changed, twisting and convulsing.