Come with me

Part 1:2

"I want you to give me the key to Soulless Mountain."

The creature just looked at me weirdly. By the looks of it, he thinks my wish is questionable.

"Haha, Maria, what makes you think I have the key to Soulless Mountain?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you have it. Not to mention you are the guardian of the key. How long has it been? Ten thousand or hundreds of years of misfortune just because of that key?"

Creature just shrugged his shoulders at me, crossing his arms. I knew it won't be easy to get the key.

"Well, it doesn't matter if you know about it. As you said, I'm the guardian of it. So young lady choose something else to wish for."

"I wonder who gave you the key and made you its guardian. I'm basically freeing you from the misfortune you have been carrying."

Yet again, the creature just laughed at me. He thinks I'm stupid? I know he's been hunted by misfortune, which isn't so good for him.

"So what if  Nile gave it to me! Your grandfather knew better to keep it safe than let it get into wrong hands. And by the look of it, your hands look wrong."

"Very funny! The key belonged to my grandfather, so that means I'm the rightful owner of the key. It belongs to me! Also, you can't deny the wish as long as I don't break the rules."

"Smart mouth you have! True everything you said is true, but the key doesn't belong to anyone it has its own mind, so if it doesn't choose you, things can go south really fast."

I know that. Grandfather mentioned that the key could make chaos, but since the key chose him, what's the chance it won't choose me?

"Give me the key, and I'll think about consequences after."

Creature thought long and hard. Cedric woke up rubbing his head. He looked around him and saw us. His reaction was the same. He sprung up on his feet, standing next to me again.

"Have you decided?"

Creature looked at me again. His eyes showed regret.

"Fine, here you go. Take care of it."

A bright yellow light came in the eyesight as the creature placed the glowing ball on the ground. Soon, it transformed into a small boy like figure, almost my knee height.

So that's what it looked like. Grandfather always just spoked about it but never really described it. This is interesting.  I reached for the boys small hand as his head turned towards me.

As soon as we touched, the vibration was felt throughout the forest. Soon, growling and houls could be heard.

"I forgot to mention something!" The creature spoke up, looking around our surroundings. For someone with 4 arms and a spooky looking aura, he definitely looked scared.

"What is it?"

"It's said as soon as a human makes physical contact with the Soulless Mountain key, every dead or long extinct creatures come back."

"What! And you are telling me this now?"

"I thought you knew everything! What do you expect? You are literally holding a life source hand! Of course, something is bound to happen!"

As soon as he said that, he disappeared into thin air, and all the mist was practically sucked back into the vase. I placed the lid on it and gave the vase to Cedric, who was stoned in his spot. I took the little g
Glowballs hand and started walking.

"You need to keep it safe. I will need the vase some other time."

"Excuse me, did I miss something? Since when I'm counted in?"

"Since the moment you decided to help me steal the vase."

"Are you crazy? What are you going to do with that thing? Are we really going to Soulless Mountain? Who gave you that idea to go there? Do you know how dangerous it is?"

Cedric was talking so fast in his panicked voice. My ears started to ring. Can he just shut up?

"I know! Just shut up! God, this is exhausting. All I need you to do is keep the vase safe."

"Well, I can keep the vase safe. Just one question what or who gave you this idea?"

"My grandfather."

It was a simple answer that made Cedric stop in his tracks and stare at my back questionably. The Glowball looked up at me as soon as I mentioned my grandfather. Did it understand? Does it remember my grandfather?

"Your grandfather?"

Cedric ran to catch up with me. His eyes were full of questions.

"Yes. He told me to do this."

"You know if we always do as grandfather's say....I definitely wouldn't be here. Anyways, what is your plan?"

"You don't need to know. All you can know is that we are looking for a Babayaga."

"Oh hell no! I am not going to meet that psycho. She literally tried to eat me last time we met!"

"Oh, so you both have history? Awesome! You will introduce us to her. Not a stranger if a friend introduced us."

"I'M DEFINITELY NOT HER FRIEND! She's crazy, old, and ugly. You know she has that massive thing on her nose! When you look at her, all you see is that thing on her nose. It's like you can't look away from it."

Cedric just shivered in disgust. It's quite understandable that it is unfortunate to see.

"So do you know where to find our 'Bony Leg'? Her house on Chickens Leg must look impressive."

"Hell, it's not impressive she's crazy! Of course, I know where to find her, but why do you wanna meet her?"

He wants to know too much. Babayaga is an important piece of this puzzle.

"You know she's wise, and she can give me guidance or at least shine some light on me on what to do."

Lies. I actually need her to bless my and Glowballs connection. If that doesn't happen any time soon, the Glowball will come to its right mind and start resisting our connection. And if that happens well, we know what will happen.

Since Cedric was against me taking the key and going to the Soulless Mountain, I can guarantee he will lead us completely away from Babayaga to break the connection. It's not like that's a good idea. I just simply don't trust him.

"I thought you knew what you were doing!"

"I do. I just need an advice or two."

As we walked through the forest the stars were decorating the sky. Glowball was also walking much slower and yawning from time to time.

"It's getting late, we should find a spot we could spend the night."

As we were looking around I noticed a small shed like thing that was made out from fallen trees. Who could have made that?

As we approached it I signalled Glowball to get in and lay down. Cedric was almost the first one to get in. I checked our surroundings and got in as well.

"Cedric, you should make a protective barrier. And we should rest for now."

It's weird even tho we heard growling and houls as soon as me and Glowball touched hands, no creature made itself present. Maybe we were just lucky to not cross paths with anyone.

I'm tired I should get to sleep and rest as much as I can. With first daylight we will leave to get at Babayagas place as fast as we can. I'm not sure how long it takes for Glowball to understand the situation. So I can't waste any time.

My eyes landed on the Glowball who was already sleeping, his little fist clenching my clothes. Then I saw Cedric who was already sleeping like a pig. Snoring with a little saliva strike sliding out of his mouth.

I laid down and closed my eyes letting the darkness take over me. As soon as I was drifting into sleep, Glowball got closer to me like he was snuggling against me.

Whatever. Let's just sleep.