In Memoriam - An Unus Annus Fanfiction

26.03 - 03/26 - Going on an internet scavenger hunt

Annus had not paid much thought to how the person that could helped them might look like. It would have been a strange thing to think about. Of course, there was a blurry picture in front of his inner eye. Probably a rough-and-tough type like Hansen, or some sword swinging adventurer, or maybe a young boy with white hair and red streaks. To be fair, he had not expected the latter, yet it was who was waiting for them downstairs.

»Greetings,« the boy introduced himself. »I am Rouge. Nice to meet you.«
They shook his hand and returned the greeting. Annus tapped Hansen on the shoulder and asked him to speak in private for a second.
   »He is a literal child.«
»He is young, yes,« Hansen nodded. But he is one of the most skilled hunters out there. He's a great shot, and he's been everywhere. If anyone can help you, it's him.«

Fine. Okay. They had seen weirder stuff. He certainly looked the part. And from the way he and Unus were talking, he knew his stuff.
»So you come from another plane, correct?« Annus heard the boy say as they returned to the table.
»Yes,« Unus confirmed, »and we are looking for a way to go to the physical plane.«
The boy leaned back, playing around with a silver ring on his index finger. »That won't be easy. There are no direct ways, I'm afraid.«
   »What about indirect ones?« Annus asked.
»That might be possible. Or maybe,« Rouge leaned forward, »maybe there is a way. There is a terrible beast on a mountain full of fire, not too far from here. The one who slays it is supposed to have a wish. But the way there is difficult and full of danger.«
   »Difficult and dangerous is something we're used to,« Unus responded, earning them a smile from the boy. »If there's a chance, we'll take it.«

Rouge barked a laugh. »I like you two. Fine, I've been looking for an adventure.«

They set out around noon, heading west towards the mountains. Soon, the ground became rocky, and rose steeply. Although he was much smaller than them, they had difficulties keeping up with Rouge. He seemed to float effortlessly over the difficult terrain. The road, if you could have called it that in the first place, disappeared underneath flowers and grass and weeds. Large grey rocks speckled the meadow like overgrown sheep.
They came to a halt in front of a large stone wall, stretching into the sky like a four, maybe five story building.
»We have to get up there.« Rogue explained, as if he was talking about a casual family trip.
   »Up there?« Unus asked, running his hands over the cold and frightingly smooth stone.
»There is a hidden path somewhere,« Rouge said, much to their relief. »But until now I have not found it. I have searched every inch I could reach, and every stone, but alas, I have not been lucky.«

Annus stepped forward, helping his friend examine the cliffside. »Do you feel this?«
Unus stopped running his hands over the stone. »Yeah.« There was something behind the stone, and it was powerful. At first glance, it had reminded him of Dark, but it was different. Warmer. Bigger. Less murderous.
He looked over to Annus, who had closed his eyes. The stone began to vibrate under his touch, and Unus pulled his hands back. A crack formed vertically in the stone. The two halves slid open with surprising silence.
Rouge lifted an eyebrow. »That's a new one.«

Annus looked at his hands, trying to make sense of what just happened. »It must have reacted to Darks blood,« he mumbled.
  »So whatever's waiting up there, it's from the Upside Down,« Unus concluded.
With an uneasy feeling, they began climbing the stone stairs that had been revealed by the secret entry.