The Meeting Room
Thorius, the Knight of Light, placed the map on the table, and Zafira began explaining it -
Zafira: "Near the castle, there is a forest called the Forest of Whispers, or as it is known, the Whispering Forest."
Ralyors: "Why is it called that, Zafira?"
"Because it contains a kind of creature, Ralyors, that whispers your name in the voice of someone with you. And if no one is with you, then in the voice of someone you know. If you respond... it kills you."
Ralyors: "And why can't we fight it?"
"How could you when you can't see it?"
Ralyors: "It's invisible?"
Zafira: "Yes, it's invisible. It's a hidden entity."
She added: "So we will pass through the forest without speaking to each other at all. Understood? Not even a single letter."
Everyone responded: "Understood."
Thorius: "But why did King Aldwin build his castle there, Zafira?"
Zafira: "How uncultured you are! It is an ancient castle! He didn't build it; there were kings before him, of course. And that forest didn't exist in his time. It appeared by the magic of the wizard Wedlaton the Third forty years ago. He used one of the three most powerful staves to keep people from looting the castle, because it was originally the castle of an abandoned king. Not just any king, but one of the strongest and richest in his era."
Raes the thief: "And they only started looting it forty years ago? What amateurs."
Zafira: "Yes, because people were afraid of the ghostly sounds and screams in the early past century."
Ralyors: "Alright then, what comes after we cross it?"
Zafira: "We stand before the gate."
- Very funny… What do we do then, Zafira?
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Everyone went to their rooms, but Ralyors and Zafira stayed discussing the plan -
Ralyors: "Come on, Zafira. We have an important day tomorrow. Let's get our rest for tomorrow."
Zafira: "But before that, I wanted to ask you something, if you don't mind."
"What is it?"
"The Red Sword… the Devil's Sword. It might be there, but why are you so certain?"
"It's a long story… you probably won't believe it."
"Tell me, and I will believe you, I promise."
Ralyors: "First, I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier at the table. I was a bit agitated."
"It's alright, everything is fine."
"Do you know the great wizard Loran?"
"Who doesn't? He was the last owner of the Devil's Sword before the Red Sorcerer."
"Yes, after he was defeated by the Red Sorcerer, the latter took the sword from him. Most likely, the sword is in the castle."
"Yes, I know that, but what makes you so sure?"
"I'm not certain, but I heard from my mother… her grandfather is Wizard Loran."
"Your mother's grandfather?! You're his descendant? Loran's bloodline!?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know he had descendants."
"He does, and here I am before you."
"Well, who am I to doubt you? But you said at the table that you hate magic. How can that be when your grandfather was one of the greatest wizards in history!?"
With a tone of pain and anger: "Zafira, we've talked enough."
"Sorry."
She says to herself — (I must find out the reason.)
Just before the break of dawn -
Raes: "Dawn is near, and what awaits us is the secret of a whole century!"
Grok: "No harm if it elevates our status!"
"And the money, don't forget the money."
Thorius: "Zafira, explain the plan, please."
Zafira: "First, we will move toward that Whispering Forest in a diamond formation like this:"
Raes: "And why?"
"So we know if anyone spoke or not. And even if someone among us speaks, do not respond. Understood?"
Everyone replied: "Understood."
Zafira: "Alright, now after passing through the forest and before entering the castle, there are two possibilities: first, that the gate is open — this is unlikely but possible. Second, that Wizard Wedlaton the Third has sealed it with a spell, and we hope he hasn't, due to the power of his staff."
Ralyors: "And if he did use his staff?"
"It would be very hard to open. We don't have the strength to match a wizard like him. That staff of his is certainly one of the three most powerful. Do you expect we can overcome it so easily? We might if he cast a weak protection spell, but due to his power, it would take us ages. And I don't expect him to use a weak spell."
Grok: "And what after entering the castle?"
"We don't know the nature of the castle, or its internal design. So we will find out upon entering. And what is life without some risk, my friends?"
Grok: "Yes!!" — in his deep voice — "And if there are traps in the forest, I'll blow them up and protect you!"
Raes: "Yeah, but don't blow us up with the traps."
Everyone laughed, but then they realized the gravity of the situation they were in -
Thorius said after that: "The kingdom depends— no, not just the kingdom, but the whole world! If possible, the danger of this Red Moon is unknown, and we don't know what it might do."
Ralyors firmly said: "It doesn't matter who depends on us. What matters now is the castle and what lies within. Those screams are no good sign."