The Lost Runner

Chapter 9: We finally progress

I pulled him into a hug. He smelled like ... I don't even know but it was familiar ... comforting.

'Of course we don't hate you.' I whispered in his ear. 'Now we should get moving before the mosters find us'

'Okay' He said, his voice shaky.

We separated and I scooped up my sleeping-bag rucksack and drew my sword. Silvyr sort of appeared behind me, ready to go. Arocraes stood up, walked to the dark corner and seemingly conjured up a bow and quiver of arrows.

I took a deep breath and followed Arocraes into the gloom of the tunnel.

We walked in silence for awhile, just collecting our thoughts and finding our way, when, suddenly Silvyr yelped.

A small, green ninja-like figure appeared. Its eyes gleamed gold in the darkened corridor. Jumping off the walls, it seemed to be aiming at all of us, trying to kill I guessed.

My heart was racing. Adrenalin pumped through my veins as I pointed my sword at the creature's throat, as it had now settled to hanging off the ceiling like a bat. I was ready to slaughter it. Anything to protect my companions. I turned, my sword still on the creature and saw Silvyr doing a thing I thought was impossible. He held his hands out in front of his face, as if ready to catch a ball, but instead of a ball or even just plain emptiness there was a glowing ball of light. It shone silver like the moon, illuminating the corridor and casting a strange glow over the boys' faces. He thrust out his arms - and I jumped out of the way - and obliterated the creature.

'Elf magic. Alf Seidr' He whispered.

I nodded, recognising that word. I was now curious to see if I had Alf Seidr too. It sounds - and looks - epic.

We arrrived in a new chamber, dark and dusty, full of cobwebs. Silvyr conjured another ball of light and this time gently pushed it up into the air, filling the room with a ghostly-grey light, but still leaving us with the ability to see. I observed the large mosaics on the roof and across the floor, feeling some odd connection to them. I couldn't figure out what scenes they were supposed to show, but in the one across the floor there was lots of red and orange, almost like a fire, one that destroys civilisations. One that is filled with deceit and evil. One of horror...

'Fi! Are you listening?' Arocraes snapped me out of my thoughts.

'Oh um no sorry, I was lost in thought. What were you saying?' I responded, feeling guilty.

'You have been staring at that picture on the floor for the past quater of an hour. Are you feeling okay?' He asked

'I feel a connection to this picture, almost as if I created it. It depicts a deceitful fire, one that wrecks civilisations. We need to stop this from happening.' I said, still not peeling my eyes away from the tiles.

'Elves live for thousands of years, several millennia aparrently. For all we know you could've. If you only had your memory' He said, in a faraway tone. 'But we should keep moving. I feel negative spirits here' he continued in a sharp voice now.

'Right.' I hitched my bag onto my back more securely and took a deep breath, I sure was musty here, and hard to breathe. Each breath dried my throat more.

'Silvyr!' Arocraes shouted, alarm in his eyes.