The Golden Chalice

✰✦✰ Chapter 15 ✰✦✰

✰✦✰ Chapter 15 ✰✦✰
" Oblecus Isle "

THE NEXT MORNING flew by and before I knew it, we were back on the ship, on our way to Oblecus Isle.

Now, I hadn't ever been to the isle itself but I'd heard plenty of stories. Essentially, it was a massive amusement park, circuses and rides and fairs scattered across the wild isle. Colourful lights that struck your eyes and might as well have blinded you. That was me being hyperbolic, but not really. Usually people visited with their children for holidays that lasted a day or two, at most, but if you stayed longer than that? Not only would the isle drive you insane from all the mischief caused by quite literally anything and the constant riddles, but death would be waiting around the corner.

People had killed themselves before because of it, claiming that they couldn't handle the hallucinations the magic on that isle made people see. It'd stemmed from the isle's Olympian—Ides—who'd been known for fooling even the Olympians back in the day. Over the centuries, people had attempted to muffle the madness, but his spirit was too strong—too sprightly.

Its misery caught people in its web, somehow hooking them to the belief that they needed Oblecus Isle. I assumed it to be part of whatever made them go mental.

So, to hear that Miles was from there explained a lot of his psychotic behaviour. But it also made me wonder how the hell he got out. This place birthed horror stories each sunrise.

The six of us jumped onto the docks from our ship, receiving a few odd glances from people dressed like clowns and even curious, colourful animals. A warm breeze wafted through the air with the scent of candy floss and sticky lollipops. It made me ill. My stomach churned, as if my body knew what this place had in store for me.

"Are we seriously being looked at like we're the strange ones?" I asked, shielding my eyes from the sun.

"To them we are," Miles said, handing a worker some gold for having let us dock our ship here. "People usually come here wearing costumes, it's what we know and do."

"I'm not wearing a costume," Sarinne stated flatly.

Miles's lips curled into a cruel smile, like the thought of her dissatisfaction from having to wear one brought him more happiness than being back home. Then again, he didn't strike me as the type to have had a real home. There was little I knew about him. "Tough luck, Astor. It's happening."

She shot him her deadliest glare but held her tongue. We began weaving our way through the colourful town. Stands of exotic food from every country across the globe were tucked beneath rollercoasters with screaming, costumed children. The grassy paths under our feet glowed with the hue of the sunset that hung in the sky, perfectly befitting to the manic music that played across every bend. And as of that moment, I couldn't really understand how its isle's residents went insane when all they could see, every day, was beautiful scenery and feel the warmth of the sun soaking their skin.

Soon enough we'd arrived at a costume shop and entered, the bell ringing as we did so.

Suddenly, a tall woman with pale blue eyes and dark hair stood before us. "Hello, visitors," She cocked her long head. "You're new to town. Why don't you have a look around and get those ruddy clothes off you, eh?"

"We don't need help," Miles snapped at her, his dark eyes flashing.

Jacks glanced my way with raised eyebrows and I mouthed a slow, "Wow".

The woman regarded Miles as though she recognised him before her gaze slid to the rest of us. "Please don't hesitate to call for me if you're in need of any help."