Before continuing my way, next to me appeared Leaf, shining with a soft and dancing light that illuminated the shadows of the place as if she were a little lost star.
—Hi… mm, this place is completely destroyed —she said while observing the rubble scattered everywhere—. What are you doing around here?
—Hi, Leaf —I replied without stopping—. I'm looking for a princess. I need to make a pact with her… and if I can't, I'll have to kill her to enter the castle of the Lost Empire.
Leaf opened her eyes in surprise, her glow rippled like a flame shaken by the wind.
—Ohhh, I see… but, are you sure this place is for a princess? It looks like it's falling apart under your feet. Is there really a princess here? At first glance, it seems like she's never cleaned this tower. She must hate cleaning with all her heart.
—You're right —I admitted—, but first we must talk to her. She must be up the next stone stairs.
I pointed to the stairs in front of us, barely ten steps away. They were cracked, covered in dust and with such an ancient air that they seemed about to crumble just by looking at them.
Leaf sighed, floating a little higher.
—Well… I have to go. I have things to do. Good luck —she said, waving her hand to say goodbye before disappearing like a flash that dissolved in the air.
I was left alone, with the echo of her farewell.
I took a deep breath and began climbing the stairs.
The first section was long, steep and echoed with every step as if I were walking over hollow bones. Upon reaching the top I discovered, to my surprise, another set of stairs that wound toward what seemed like a fourth floor. Without thinking more, I continued climbing.
When I finally reached the end, I found myself in a long, narrow corridor, and next to it there were two huge rooms… surprisingly tidy, in total contrast with the rest of the tower.
I first entered the room on the left.
It shone so much that for a moment I had to cover my eyes.
Everything there was gold.
Mountains of gold.
Piles of golden dust, perfectly stacked ingots, statues carved with obsessive precision. It looked like the lair of a greedy dragon or the dream of a paranoid king. The air itself smelled of hot metal.
I continued advancing through the hallway until I reached the second room, though before entering I noticed something: next to the first door, right where I hadn't looked, a huge chameleon was staring at me fixedly.
It was almost my size and perhaps a little more. But the most surprising thing was that… it could talk.
—Hey, you! Who the hell are you? —it roared leaning its body forward—. Lady Rapunzel resides next!
I stood still.
The air thickened.
—You are not qualified to see Lady Rapunzel —it continued in a demanding voice—. But it would be another story if you paid a tribute of thirty thousand souls!
—Seriously… thirty thousand souls? —I asked, swallowing saliva.
—That's right. If you don't have them, leave and don't come back.
I took a deep breath.
Damn… thank goodness I defeated so many monsters on the way here. I had exactly that amount… but if I paid, I would be left with absolutely nothing. Not a soul to defend myself. Not one to trade. Not one to survive.
But I had to do it.
—Alright, calm down. I have them. I'll give them to you now —I said.
The chameleon opened a huge dark leather bag, and I deposited all my souls there. Seeing them disappear hurt me more than any wound I had received until then.
—Hmph… Delicious! —it finally grunted—. Go then. And don't be rude to the lady!
—Yes, sir… thank you very much —I replied with a hasty bow.
The chameleon slowly moved aside, leaving free the entrance to some narrow stairs that led to the very top of the tower.
I climbed, step by step, with my heart pounding in my ribs.
As soon as I reached the top, the golden light blinded me for the second time.
She was there:
Rapunzel.
Rampuzer to some.
The demonic princess.
Sitting on a huge throne, with a direct view of the abyss outside. Around her, mountains of golden materials shone as if the sun lived inside that tower.
Rapunzel had the appearance of a normal girl at first glance… but everything about her screamed that she wasn't.
Her green eyes looked like living emeralds, her white skin looked softer than silk, and her blonde hair was so long, so impeccable, so bright, that it fell to her feet and still extended beyond, like an infinite waterfall. Her bangs hid her right eye, giving her an air of mystery that made it hard to look away.
For a princess, her outfit was… minimal.
Barely three strips of black cloth, thin as sighs:
One wrapped around her chest.
The other two crossed in an "X" over her waist and pelvis.
The only more conventional thing was the black cap she wore on her head, decorated with a yellow insignia of a bird spreading its wings and a black cross engraved on its body.
She was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
The stories that spoke about her had not exaggerated. Her beauty was a deadly trap, a forbidden song capable of stopping any man's heart.
—Who are you and how did you get here? —she asked without moving from her throne—. What did Chameleon do to let you in?
—Uh, well… the…
She didn't let me finish.
—Well, it doesn't matter —she said with a disinterested gesture—. I'm in a good mood and I forgive you. Besides… Behemoth, the strongest beast of all, will arrive soon to become my pet!
Her enthusiasm was so great that I could almost see it vibrating around her.
But something was wrong.
Behemoth… that beast was the same one I had faced in the mine.
It could never arrive here.
I had to say something.
I had to get her attention.
—Ah… how envious —I whispered, making my voice sound loaded with admiration.
Rapunzel smiled immediately, a smile as sweet as it was dangerous.
—I know, I know. I'm glad you understand… But why hasn't Behemoth arrived yet? How frustrating! Those useless pigs… maybe it's time for them to become feed. —Then she looked at me fixedly—. Do you want more of my attention?
There it was.
My chance.
—Yes, my lady Rampuzer… I desire more of your attention. Would it be too much to ask to make a pact with you?
Rapunzel let out a long and musical laugh, almost mocking.
—So you want to enter a pact with me? Hehehehe! Don't you know I'm the demonic princess Rapunzel? I forbid madness.
—I don't care, my lady Rampuzer —I said, without looking away—. I'm willing to do anything to have a pact with you.
Her eyes shone, evaluating me.
—Huh… so you're serious? —she whispered, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin on her hand—. Alright, I'll entertain myself until Behemoth arrives. I'll enter a pact with you… it seems you have a good amount of souls with you. But there's a condition.
She leaned forward, her hair falling like a golden river.
—In the south… in the Helsa desert, there is a beautiful rose called Desert Rose. You must bring it to me. Only then will I recognize you as a man worthy of pact with me.
Bring it to me before Behemoth arrives.
My moods change quickly.
—Alright, my lady Rampuzer —I affirmed with determination—. I'll go get the rose right now.
Without wasting time, I turned around.
I knew this mission would be difficult… but it was also the first door toward a pact with one of the demonic princesses.