Game On

Chapter Ten: "The Platinum Crystal Knight"

Sean watched the large blue phoenix guild pass them with fascination. The guild had almost one of every race. Whenever they passed a scared child or person, one of the members made an effort to stop and give them some money or comforting words. It was a small relief that the game hadn't turned everyone into the worst versions of themselves. Mark tapped Sean's elbow, coaxing him to follow them through town. At the opposite end of town from the mines, set atop of the highest stone steps was a large set of wooden doors that led into the mountain castle. They slowly made their way up the broken stone steps, then slowed to a stop. Sitting beside the set of large doors was person completely shrouded in grey robes. The person held an unlit torch that suddenly blazed to life upon their approach. The person's body made soft cracking and popping sounds as it lifted its hooded head and asked them in a distortedly eerie voice. "Who dares to disturb the tomb of the Platinum Crystal Knight?"

A man with long reddish blonde hair that had braids down his shoulders with beads in them, and eyes so grey that they were almost white stepped forward. Sean swallowed at the sight of him. The man's features were similar to the Aesir but his were much softer and had a striking angelic like beauty. He was even a slimmer build that the hulking muscles of the Aesir race, but still had a body of sculpted lean muscles. Pushing his white furred hood off his head, he announced boldly to the figure. "I do. My name is Kol. Leader of the Blue Phoenix Guild and a proud son of Vanaheim." Sean blinked, blurting out to Mark. "He's a Vanir?" Kol turned to look at Sean, prompting Sean to step shyly behind Mark. A few members of the guild chuckled softly. Mark's face was unreadable as he glanced from Sean's blushing face to Kol's. Kol didn't linger his attention on them because the figure leaned forward and told him seriously. "Save your pretty titles, Vanir. You know not who you challenge. The Platinum Crystal Knight has conquered armies on his own. Imprisoning him was no easy task. What makes you worthy to fight the likes of him?"

Kol straightened up to his full height, his dark runic tattoos shimmering with a soft golden look for a brief moment when he answered with pride. "I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing this for the people trapped here. I fight, so that they may live." The hooded figure tilted his head a little, stating out neutrally. "How very noble of you, Vanir. Let us hope that is not your downfall. How many in your party?" Kol was about to answer but stopped himself. Turning to face them, Kol asked hopefully. "Will you fight with us? We stand a better chance with more people." Mark nodded to him, and Kol turned back to answer firmly. "Everyone that stands before you." The figure raised his hooded head to observe them all, then slowly extended a hand out to them as he stated aloud for all to hear. "Present to me your keys." Kol removed his Crystal key and placed it in the figures hand, then he stepped aside to let others do the same. After Mark gave up his key, Sean approached to give him his key atop of the pile of keys in his hand and gasped. The figure's hand was that of a skeleton, but his bones were made of the same crystal as the key.

Accepting his key, Sean stepped back into Mark's arms. The skeletal fingers curled around the pile of keys, seeming to crush them into a single key as he told Sean from within his oversized hood. "The same fate shall befall you, should you fail. For there are worse things than death... much worse." Stiffly getting to his feet, the figure moved up to the large doors. The large wooden doors had elaborate iron welding on them that all connected to a large triangle lock that also doubled as the handles of the door. In the center of the tringle was a circular ruby with a keyhole. The figure waved his hand over the ruby, causing the golden rim that held the ruby to gold with runes that Sean couldn't read. Beside him though, a giant man that stood no less than seven foot tall, softly read aloud. "A heart as hard as stone. His enlightenment his undoing. Bound to a light unseen." Sean raised an eyebrow, asking Mark uneasily. "Is that a hidden clue on how to beat him?" The giant man chuckled down at them, saying openly. "Seems so. Very sneaky."