Eldegarde

Chapter 9

     I looked around my bed to see if I can find anything out of place. As my brushed my candle holder, I look to see that one candle holder seems to be more loose than the rest of my candle holder. My fingers felt around the candle trying to see if there is a way to open whatever it may be. I pulled the holder down, and a small compartment opened and a neatly rolled up scroll with a neatly tied ribbon. I untied the ribbon and unrolled the scroll and began to read.

     To find the key I used, go to the Hall of Portraits. Take this with you.

     Once I finished reading, I made a mad dash to Mila's room.

     "Mila?" I called out, peeking my head in.

     "Yes?"

     "Did you find a clue?"

     "No. But I did find this passageway. And by the looks of it, it has windows."

     "Windows?"

     "Yeah! Want to go check it out?"

     "Sure."

     Mila stepped into the passageway first, then I did. It seemed like a long walk since we were only going straight. Remembering about the clue, I told Mila, "I found a clue in my room by my bed."

     "Was it out in the open or under something?"

     "From a hidden compartment by my bed. There was a loose candle holder."

     "What is written on it?"

     "The note told me to go to the Hall of Portraits."

     "Let's see if we can get there through this way. It usually takes a long time to get to the Hall of Portraits."

     We walked for a bit before slowing down to light pouring in from the opposite side of the windows. Mila and I walked closer to the source and found out that it was an entryway close to the Hall of Portraits. The both of us quietly made our way out of the passageway and slipped quietly into the halls.

     "Okay. Here's the plan. We search for every portrait to see if we can find any clue about the key. Sound good?" Mila asked.

     "Yep."

     "Also, if you hear anything coming towards us, we either bolt, or hide."

    "Understood."

    We split up and began working to find the key. I looked at the walls and windows, trying to find anything about the key or related to the key. I stared off into space as I racked my brain for answers. But when I came back to my senses, I saw a portrait that looked kind of off. When I got closer, I realized that it was the portrait of Eleanora.

    "Mila," I whisper shouted.

    Mila looked at me before walking over.

    "Can you see if you can find anything off about the portrait?"

    "Sure."

    After a little while of looking, Mila turned to me and told me, "I think I know

where this is. Follow me."

     She turned and walked down the opposite way we came in from. I asked her where she is taking us and she merely responded with, "To a place I found by accident. It's surprising really. It's not dusty even after a century."

    We fell into a comfortable silence after and just focused on our surroundings. A little while later, we stopped in front of a greatly decorated doors. We each grabbed a hold of a golden handle and pushed the doors open. The moment I stepped into the room was when I felt like I traveled back into time. I looked around and spotted a sword leaning against a bookshelf. Walking towards the sword, I reach out to feel the carvings on the hilt and the sheath.

     "I found it!" Mila exclaimed happily, snapping me out of trance.

     I look over to see Mila holding a glass sphere secured by golden wires.

     "How would we know if this works now that we found it?" She asked.

     I stared at her intently.

     "Do you want magic?"