The End Of Silence And Innocence

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“What, so…that’s it?” Vann asked, tilting his head curiously, “We’re done?” He sounded skeptical as he crossed his arms.

“Hmmm.” Yul hummed as he walked forward. With a wave of his hand the flames at the foot of the enormous door went out, allowing him to get close enough to trace his fingers over the intricate carvings on the metallic gateway.

“What does ‘Hmm’ mean?” Vann asked through half lidded eyes. Yul ignored him and continued to study the door, walking along the foot of it until he reached the center. Tilting his head, he frowned, slowly feeling around the inside of a large notch in the middle of Metal gate.

“Interesting…” He muttered, taking his hand back.

“What?” Vann asked, crossing his arms in impatience.

“Can’t you see?” Yul asked him, raising an eyebrow as he turned around to look at the two standing behind him, “There’s no handle or anything we can use to get through. But this-” he pointed at the notch in the door, “Seems to be the key to opening it. Or the ‘key hole’ to be more precise.”

“So in order to proceed we need the key to this door.” Blue stated, speaking for the first time in a while, “Which I would suspect is hidden somewhere within the Dungeon.” She said calmly. Yul nodded in agreement.

 “It’s gonna be hidden or well-guarded. Or rather, its pieces will be.”

“It’s pieces?” Vann asked.

“Yeah.” Yul sighed, turning slightly to glance at the door, “I’ve seen enough doors like this to know we’re looking for a puzzle key.”

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FABLES of FANTASY: 14

THE END OF SILENCE AND INNOCENCE

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“A Puzzle Key?” Blue asked, cocking her head. Yul turned to look at her, crossing his arms.

“It’s a rather clever, if annoying, challenge often found in dungeons like this.” Yul told her, “Basically they key itself is some sort of puzzle item found somewhere within the dungeon.” He sighed, scratching his head under his hat, “So even if you manage to find the key itself, unless you’re able to solve it you can’t go any further.”

“So what’s the plan then?” Vann asked. Yul shrugged, raising his hands.

“Split up and look for it.” He replied, “Not much else we can do.”

“Uh-huh,” Vann replied with half lidded eyes, “And look where?” As soon as the words had left his mouth the cave rumbled as if the stone walls around them were emitting a low groan. Vann immediately dropped into a fighting stance while Blue grasped the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it in a moment’s notice. Yul, however, did nothing, simply raising an eyebrow as he glanced to the side, noticing sections of the rock wall lowering into the ground, revealing torch lit tunnels hidden behind them.

“I’d say that answers that.” Yul said calmly as the nine new passageways simultaneously opened all around them. As the last of the secret doors disappeared into the earth the caves rumbling quieted, leaving the three in silence.  Without turning his head Yul glanced at the golden door behind him before his  eyes shifted over the multiple tunnel entrances around the room.

The sharp clap of his hands broke the silence.

“Well then!” he said cheerfully, “Let’s get started then!”

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