The Golden Key

10. LINDER SILVER

"Ana, Ana Cindine, you dare return without completing your mission?" Cendrick growled, toying with his sword.

"I'm sorry, my lord," Ana apologized, fear in her eyes as she knelt to beg for mercy.

"The girl I asked you to bring me ended up dead because of your carelessness," Cendrick accused.

"My lord, it was the creatures. They killed her," Ana explained.

"That's exactly why we need the key – to put an end to those creatures," Cendrick said.

"Pardon me, my lord. Give me another chance," Ana pleaded.

"Give me one reason why I should spare you, Ana," Cendrick demanded.

"I have important information you must know," Ana said.

"What could be more important than the Golden Key itself?" Cendrick asked.

"My lord, the Blue Arrow..." Ana said suspensefully.

"What about it, Ana?" Cendrick pressed.

"She's back, my lord. I saw her," Ana revealed.

"Linder Silver!!" Cendrick exclaimed in a terrifying tone.

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"Where are the creatures I sent to attack the humans earlier?" Xanthous asked his servants.

"Master, I captured the girl, but she somehow escaped," the demon replied.

"I'm not talking about the girl. I had a backup plan in case you failed. I sent other creatures to attack them. But my question is, where are those creatures? Why are you the only one who has returned?" Xanthous demanded.

"Dead, master," the demon replied.

"How? Don't tell me those humans killed them!" Xanthous exclaimed.

"Master, I would also be dead if I had followed my brothers to fight. But I wanted to... immediately, they were killed by a blue arrow," the demon explained.

"Impossible!" Xanthous shouted, lost in thought. "Master!" the demon said, noticing Xanthous's distress.

Xanthous's eyes widened in shock. "She was dead!" he exclaimed. "Her arrows were destroyed! No, it can't be! We won't be trapped again!"

He paced back and forth, his mind racing. "Linder Silver, the Blue Arrow... I thought we had eliminated her. But if she's back... "

The demon watched his master's agitation, unsure of what to say. Xanthous's plans were unraveling, and the creature's failure had brought them to the brink of disaster.

"We won't be trapped again!" Xanthous repeated, his voice rising. "We must find a way to stop her, to destroy her once and for all!"

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Laura's curiosity got the better of her. "Klein, you never told me you had a girlfriend."

Klein winced, still reeling from the shock. "It was a long time ago, Laura. A painful memory."

Linder suggested they leave, but Klein hesitated, still holding Meddy's corpse. "We can't just leave her here."

Linder reassured him, "We'll prepare a memorable burial for her tomorrow."

Klein's grief turned to desperation. "Is there nothing we can do to bring her back?"

Linder's expression was somber. "I'm afraid she's gone, Klein. But if we don't plan something to defeat these creatures, you'll lose more friends and family."

At Laura's granny house, they laid Meddy's body on a plain table, covering her with a white cloth. Klein turned to Linder, confusion etched on his face. "You died. I saw you die. But now you're alive. How is that possible? And you're a warrior?"

Linder hesitated before beginning her tale;
Millions of years ago, I once led a formidable army of warriors. Our arsenal featured a unique arrow that consisted of great powers, and its significance was deeply personal, tied to our very existence. My city, once a peaceful haven, was shattered when creatures emerged from nowhere, seeking power and seeking to annihilate us all.

A sudden and unprovoked attack caught us off guard, resulting in significant losses. Despite our valiant efforts, the creatures persisted, reviving themselves after each defeat. Xanthous, a half-human, half-horse leader, attempted to end the battle by destroying our arrows, unaware that this would also seal our fate.

As our arrows fell, I began to succumb to a slow demise. However, I managed to escape and encountered Jonathan Crane, a powerful warlock. He possessed a silver box and sought my blood and remaining arrow. Though I believed all was lost, Jonathan revealed he had secretly preserved one of my arrows.

Through his magic, Jonathan merged our blood and transformed the arrow into a golden key adorned with mystical symbols. This key held the power to banish the creatures and secure our realm.

After Jonathan Crane banished the creatures, the people of Shire coveted the key. Cendrick Patterson, Shire's leader, desperately wanted it and created an army to obtain it. However, Jonathan Crane hid the key by sending it to the future and created a warlock book that only the gifted could read.

Klein asked, "How was I able to meet you then?"

Linder revealed to Klein, "I was sent to the future by Jonathan Crane, where I met you for the first time. But I was dying due to my arrows and couldn't tell you the truth."

Klein inquired, "But why?"

Linder replied, "Only Jonathan Crane can answer that."

Klein asked, "How are you back with your arrows?"

Linder said, "The key is part of me. Immediately after it was unlocked, I was able to come back."

Klein asked, "You said only the gifted can read the warlock book, but I was able to read it. How is that possible?"

Linder revealed, "You're a descendant of Jonathan Crane."

Laura asked, "Why doesn't Klein have warlock powers?"

Linder responded, "Some things I don't know, only Jonathan Crane can answer."

Klein asked, "Where is Jonathan Crane?"

Linder replied, "I don't know."

Klein found it hard to believe, but Linder assured him, "It's the truth."

Klein questioned, "Why didn't Dalai Lama reveal anything about my ability to read the warlock book?"

Linder explained, "Dalai Lama hinted at it logically, but it wasn't his role to play."

The group discussed finding the key and the warlock book. Linder asked, "Where is the warlock book?"

Laura responded, "Is with Dalai Lama"

Klein asked, "How do we find him?"

Linder reassured them, "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."