I continued forward along a narrow path that only one person could walk. It was like passing through the throat of a hungry mountain; the walls breathed beside me, rough, alive, with clumps of earth protruding like ancient scars.
Perhaps they had been formed by the tremors that shook the mine… or maybe by the fury of the dragon I had faced before. In that narrow silence, every step sounded like a sigh of stone.
I continued along that narrow path, advancing cautiously, until I finally reached a solitary door. It was an old plank nailed between two rocks, the exit from the Mine. When I opened it, a gust of dry air hit my face. Upon exiting, I discovered I was in a place where the sky was half-dark, as if the clouds had been undecided for centuries whether to rain or simply watch.
In front of me stretched a long path, where only a few thin, twisted trees grew, as if they had aged waiting for someone who never arrived.
I took out my map to orient myself and could see that I was at the Valley Checkpoint, a territory marked with warnings in red ink. Its boundaries were indicated with drawings of bones and notes about creatures that shouldn't exist.
If I went straight —according to the map— I would find the place where Rapunzer, the demonic princess, should be. The ground, though green in some parts, had a desert-like tone, as if it were between life and death. The little vegetation moved with a warm wind that carried a familiar smell: iron, blood and old magic.
I continued forward, advancing over terrain where grass mixed with dry and dusty areas. Eventually I reached a stone wall. A monolith so large it seemed to divide two worlds. But there was no one guarding it. No guards. No creatures. No wandering souls. Nothing. Its silent abandonment gave me more chills than the screams in the mine.
I passed under the arch of the wall and went a little deeper. To one side of the path there was a small stone house. The windows were fogged and the door ajar, as if the inhabitant was hesitating between receiving visitors or hiding forever. I approached, looking for someone who could help me or at least guide me.
Upon entering, I found a man inside. He was sitting in front of a wooden table, with an almost empty bottle of wine. His eyes looked tired, but when he saw me he jumped, as if he no longer remembered what another human being looked like.
—Where did you come from? —he asked in a tone that mixed surprise and fear.
—Ah… sorry —I replied, raising my hands in a sign of peace—. I just needed a little help. Can you tell me where we are?
The man observed me, trying to gauge if I was a threat or a fool.
—This is the domain of the Demonic Princess Rapunzel —he finally answered—. Lady Rapunzel is waiting for Behemoth to be presented to her and she is very irritated. Leave now if you value your life, knight.
—I'm really sorry, but I need to talk to her. Could you tell me something more about… Lady Rampuzer?
At the mention of her name, the man lowered his gaze. He took another sip of wine, as if he needed liquid courage.
—Alright… —he sighed—. The Lady is one of the five Demonic Princesses. Her hair is magnificent… I'm sure there is no person in this world with such beautiful hair. Aaah… I wish I were wrapped in those golden strands… my soiled member shaken by them… hehehe…
The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. It was a mix of devotion, madness and desire. That woman had more power than I imagined.
—Thank you very much for the information, sir. See you.
Without waiting for an answer, I left the place to continue my way. The air outside felt cleaner than before, though it was still charged with a tension that made breathing difficult.
I kept walking until I reached where the map described as the Tower of Ghotel, a name that seemed torn from a forgotten old legend. While observing the stone walls, I noticed a chest hidden behind a collapsed column. When I opened it, I found a magic ring. Its gems emitted a faint glow, like a breath. I didn't hesitate to put it on; I felt a tingling in my arm, an energy that mixed with mine.
After checking the surroundings, I entered the tower.
The interior looked like a broken memory. What once might have been a majestic place was now completely destroyed. The floor was covered with poisoned waters, of the same type I had seen in the mines. The surface of the liquid glowed with a sickly green, reflecting shadows that belonged to no living being.
The columns that were supposed to support the grandeur of the entrance were shattered. It was as if a giant had played with them before losing interest.
I went deeper. And then, deformed figures began to appear. People who had been turned into monsters by the mist that spread through the place. Their bodies were twisted, their eyes empty, their voices guttural. Some seemed to cry without tears as they advanced toward me.
There were beasts of many kinds. Among them, Sorcerer Angels, beings that walked dragging their broken wings while murmuring ancient words. When I faced them, I discovered that all of them were incredibly powerful. Too much. My attacks barely seemed to scratch their corrupted bodies.
There came a point where I could no longer keep fighting. I had to run, dodge, jump between rubble and precipices, flee like a shadow afraid of being swallowed by the night.
I ran up stairs until I reached the second floor… or maybe it was the third; the space was so distorted that I felt I could lose my sanity. There I found an immense iron door that blocked my way. It had runes marked and a mechanism that seemed to demand something.
So I began searching all over the place, moving carefully because there were huge holes in the floor. Each one seemed to lead to an abyss where darkness had no end. The walls whispered, or maybe it was my mind trying to warn me.
Finally, I reached a room where, on the far wall, there was a lever. It was large, rusty, marked by deep cracks.
I approached, took it with both hands and pulled it down. A metallic sound echoed throughout the tower, as if an invisible monster had awakened.
I returned to the upper floor and saw that the iron door was open. I didn't hesitate for a second. I entered.
And there, inside, I found a bonfire. A point of light in the middle of all the desolation, a promise of rest. I approached and lit it immediately.
The flame rose as if celebrating my arrival.