???

We're getting deeper into the forest but the cannoyt-like, borruca-like, and other animals that looks so dangerous are not moving at all. Morning Dew still used to follow me behind grabbing my clothes and is about to scream. This guy is unbelievable. "It's okay, they are safe. They are not moving, you see." I teased him and I chuckled. You really are a coward Dew! Be like me! I want to be a Knight so I can be strong! Well, being a squire is one thing but becoming a Knight is really impossible. An elusive dream.

"Oh! I can see the entrance of the cave from here! Let's hurry Morning Dew! So we can give the hunted animals and feast on them later!" I told him haughtily. "Yes!" He replied quickly.

We ran until we are in the opening of the cave but a Dungeon of Monsters is such a lame way to intimidate children like us. What I can see is a magnificent cave that looks like a haven of crystals. I can see a lot of colours from the outside. How much more if we go down deep, yes? I looked at Morning Dew and pointed the insides of the Crystal Caves.

"No, Twig! We need to hurry and give these lifeless creatures! It's barely night time. People might remember us being away for so long, they might initiate a search party! I will get another punishment and.. and.." perturbed and upset, he began counting how the townspeople will do to punish a misbehaving child.

"Alright! Stop blabbering now, worrywart! You should start aiming high, Dew. We're almost young grown-ups. Quit being such a girl! We need to be squires! We. Need. To be. Squires! Understood?" If we don't do this, how can we leave our status being the sons of serfs? We need to dispel the doubt that we can't do anything, that is.

"Huh! We can't even pay for our independence. When we turn 15 Luners, we will be serfs like our parents! No one can change that." Refuting, as if he can read my thoughts. "I can." I retort loftily. My resolve is indestructible. We just need to keep going until we reach our sweet goal.

"Oh, really? How?" negating all my answers. How can this guy not have that same level of resolution?

"With these crystals! I will get each one of them and sell them with other merchants next season at the festival!" I replied and pointing to the gorgeous crystals in front of us.

"Stop daydreaming, you idiot! Serfs are not allowed to sell anything in the market." Ignoring the gems in front of him, he starts crouching on a rough and shaggy like uncombed hair, unkempt meadow grass.

"Says who? I can be a squire, I know! And I can ask Sir Lyol to sell it for me." Still not backing out. I arguably said it.

Morning Dew stopped talking for a while now while lying down the grass. He is certainly an easy guy to speak to. Well, we were born at the same time. That may be the reason why we share the same intentions periodically. He's an honest childhood companion for a reason. Oh! I am slamming these crystals like a soft rock with my blade. I got 7 colours from them. This should do it!

I am nearly done obtaining the eighth when the earth starts trembling. It even felt heavy every quake. This is the first time we experienced this tremor so strong. Now I know how difficult it is to collect precious metals underground. You'll never when this would happen. Dew jumped preparing his things when the cave unexpectedly opened wide radiating a blinding light from inside. It's like there is something more rare gems inside. But! But it's shaking so bad! Oh, God! But It's like the cave is summoning me. My body is... My body is walking towards the light.

"Twig! What are you doing! Let's go!" He said while looking daggers at me. This might be the first time I saw him so alarmed. "Dew, help me!" I replied immediately.

"Twig! Stop with your pranks! Let's go!" I can see that he's very annoyed now but I really meant it.

"Dew! I can't change the direction of my body. It's walking on its own!" I said.

"Damn! Hold the rope tight!" Agitation can be heard from his coarse voice.

This is creeping me out. I can't hold the rope but Dew wrapped it my body but the force is still so strong for him that he was not able to pull me out of my situation. I am sweating profusely, terrified what's transpiring with me. Dew glanced at me and wrapped the rope in his body too.

We are easily dragged inside, even though we tried our very best to walk oppositely.

"Steady now! Dew! Let's escape out of here!" I thought he heard me but he's also walking very hard not to get devoured by the cave or the light, whatsoever that thing is! Demon! Yes. It is a demon! I heard mother saying demons like blood to fulfil their desire to eat. Will they also like the animal's blood? Especially the Cannoyt and Feral? I don't know! But!

"Dew! Hand me the basket!" Still caught up with the force pulling us in. Morning Dew still can't hear me begging for the basket that the animals he is carrying but we're tied with the same rope. Fortunately, he caught a glimpse of the rope while I was tugging it.

"Give me the basket full of Ferals! Hurry!" Wait! Where's my blade? Damn! How can I get the blood of these guys now? I haven't noticed the blade since the cave opened. How careless of me not to keep the only thing that can keep us from possibly dying.

Slowly, we are being dragged inward. Inch by inch until we reached a couple of meters inside this godforsaken place, I witnessed something more intricate than that of the gems I obtained earlier. Golds. This place is impressive, yet so dangerous! In addition to that, we are still struggling to go outside but the cave is not letting us out. How unfortunate. If only I was stronger. If only we didn't go nearer. If only I...

I opened my eyes but what I can only recognize is a completely stark, spacious, and creepy windowless chamber of whiteness. It's not overwhelming but calming. Although it may look bizarre, it's neat and striking. I don't think this is the cave we were towed inside. There is no one here except me and a flower. Huh? A flower? Why does it have to be a flower all of the things that I can see here? And where is Morning Dew?

I tried walking inside the room and it feels like I am walking in a soft and fluffy pavement. It's like the floor is covered in unprocessed kinds of cotton. Especially this flower. This lavishly elegant and multicoloured flower. Wait. That's the same number of colours of the gems I have. There's red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Perhaps this is because it grew in the middle of the cave where plenty of colours are everywhere or is it because it's warm here? I don't know anymore. One thing I know, I am stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a flower! A flower! I suppose I can eat that or what? Now, let's stay calm and check for any possible exits.

Damn! Is there a way out? Is this a room... of clouds? Huh.

This mishap is like a nightmare yet a likeable dream. I mean, no ones here. It's not dangerous here but I wouldn't consider this as a dream. Although I am worried about Morning Dew, I can't find him here. Where can I find that guy where I see nothing but a small flower? Alright, think. So, this location should be the cave. If this is the centre of the cave, and everything is neutral, I should look for a small hole or anything that can help me escape and slowly hike our way outside, but what if there's plenty of dangerous creatures outside this room? How can I fight them with a fist? This is truly a deplorable turn of event. It makes no difference if I stay here to die or fight my way back.

It's been a couple of hours since I poked around every nook and cranny of this room searching for a hidden switch to something that can open anything.

Yet I failed. What in the Gods bone is happening here? Is this the paradise that my mother told me about? The afterlife? What a cliche. I can still feel my warm hand and I can still hold the gems. I can see my breath coming out of my mouth. Wait, it's cold? Is it winter here? But I don't feel like any hint of coldness here. I am still fine. My body still sweats like its spring but my puff of breath signifies otherwise like it's very cold. Am I...., nervous? Hey. This is not good. It isn't really palpable or tactile but was rather weird and absurd and totally illogical and could only be described as nonsense.

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#IntoTheUnknownWorld

MakulotNaBuhok x Einvee

?2020