It was a dark night, perhaps too dark for comfort. No stars were out and the
moon showed only the slightest sliver. But this sliver seemed as if it were
trying to shine its brightest, like a beacon to guide the missing stars back to
where they belonged. Despite the moon’s efforts, the stars did not return, as
if fearing the events that would follow that night.
"Ok, you guys ready?"
"Let’s just get this over with."
"YEAH! Let’s go, go, go!"
"Can we get something to eat first? I’m hungry…"
"Why do we have to sneak in? Can’t we just bust through the front door?
It’s less confusing that way."
"How ‘bout not?"
"No."
"It wouldn’t be so confusing if you didn’t lose that map, Sil!"
"Don’t maps usually locate the kitchen?"
"If you guys like the map so much then…" Sil said, searching through her
bag. "Oops."
"Don’t tell me you lost it."
"I didn’t lose it. I misplaced it. There’s a difference!" Sil shot
back.
"She lost it."
"Hm…"
"So, no food then?"
"So we don’t have a map and Res’s hungry. Great."
"Correct."
"Who cares? Let’s go!"
"Can we just stop by a town and restock? Pleeeease?" Res complained.
"Eh heh heh heh..." Sil laughed, hysterically.
"What, ‘eh heh heh heh’?"
"I would know not."
"No laughing like that, Sil! You’re giving me the heebie jeebies."
"What’s there to be scared of? As long as I get to eat later." Res
scoffed.
"Eh heh heh heh… sssscared, aren’t we… Ryiiiikie?" Sil hissed,
stretching out certain syllables.
"Stop that, Sil. And Ryikie, silence."
"Yeah, what Paiske said. Everyone, let’s mosey."
"Just make sure she doesn’t laugh like that again!" Ryikie whined.
"The faster we get this done, the sooner we eat." said Res, eagerly.
"Hey hey hey! Who died and made you boss? …. Oops. Sorry." Sil said,
regretfully.
"Put that aside." Paiske said.
"Now’s not the time for that. Wait till we’re done with this area and
then we’ll talk."
Silence enveloped the five, as if even nature could tell what Sil had said
wrong. He broke off from the huddle of the group, motioned and whispered,
"Let’s go."
"Oooo... you made ‘im angry..." Ryikie whispered.
"Yeah, he’s super scary when he’s pissed off." Res responeded.
"No... he’s not angry. I don’t know, but he’s... disappointed?" Sil
whispered.
Right before the group stood a huge tower, placed on top of a castle, at the
summit of a mountain. They stood at the back door, but even then, the gang could
feel the darkness of the tower, looming over them, laughing. Ryikie and Res
stood closest to the building, marveling at its size. Both looked up
simultaneously.
"Looks like what they say is true." Ryikie stated.
"What?" Res asked.
"A castle a day keeps the soldiers at bay."
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