The Explorer's Quest

Shambhala

They docked the ship and the group disembarked one at a time, each person stepping onto the surprisingly sturdy dock. Once Johnny set foot on the dock he immediately looked up the stairs, leading up the cliff and to an older figure staring back down at the group. He was unable to notice all the details with how high the figure was, but he figured it was probably a man, and knew that it wasn't welcoming them. He felt awkwardness fill his body, he wanted to tell the others but somehow he couldn't get the words out of his mouth. Besides, everyone would eventually notice the man anyway.

Once everyone had gotten off the ship and they had finished tying it up so it wouldn't float away before they needed to get back on it, they too had all noticed the man staring down at them. One of the mercenaries pointed up at the man, and Brutus began the climb up the stone steps. Cautiously they approached the man, hands on their guns ready to defend themselves. They had learned by now to never let their guard down; at this point, anything was possible.

"Excuse me," said Brutus, "you wouldn't happen to know whether or not there is a particular temple around here?"

Now that they were closer, Johnny was able to make out the fine details of the man: he was nearly bald, a few silver strands of hair sprouted out of his scalp. A long beard hung from his face, hanging down by his stomach. His skin was dark brown and sagging, it drooped off of his face and uncovered chest. The man was literally skin and bones. He was wearing a long, red skirt that covered his legs and he was barefoot.

"Anything? A fortress maybe, something that looks around seven-hundred years old?" The man himself did look seven-hundred years old, so there was that.

He pointed far behind the group, looking way beyond the lake to a large fortress in the distance hidden behind the fog. "That one," he said, revealing his mouth of decaying teeth, "Do not go in."

Brutus looked from the fortress back up to the man, puzzled. "Why?" he asked.

The man turned around and slowly walked further into the monastery. With the slow and lazy wave of his hand he said, "Come. I will tell you." There was a mark on his back, a large tattoo of a swoosh that looked like a backwards 'S' with a line through the middle of it.

"Johnny, I want you to come with me. The rest of you go back to the ship," said Brutus.

Johnny followed Brutus and the man, the rest of the group groaned in disappointment. Hugo emerged from the group, stomped his foot and said, "Hold on, I got you here. I climbed up and down that cliff so we could find this treasure, I think I deserve to come with."

Brutus dropped his shoulders and exhaled slowly. "I gotta hand it to you Hugo, you have guts. I've seen the potential you hold, it's a shame you're playing for the wrong team." Hugo stepped forward but Brutus finished what he was saying. "This is for me and Johnny only. Perhaps you will have a more important role on the next expedition." He turned back around and resumed following the old man. Hugo clenched his teeth in anger, he had been just as important as Johnny in this expedition, if not more useful. And the fact that Johnny did nothing to help angered him; he just stood there and watched Brutus reject him with a sorry look on his face.

The two followed the old man through a wide pathway made of cobblestone surrounded by luscious plants of all sorts of colors. There were green plants, pink trees, blue and yellow flowers, and many blooming fruits. The air was warm and welcoming, the birds overhead sang tunes of blissfulness, a small stream on the side gave comfort. There were small houses and huts filled with other people, children who also looked to be over seven-hundred years old, but yet were still youthful. This was paradise; this was Shambhala.