Chapter 14: (part 1- the beautiful world outside the cave)
After leaving the grand library, I once again saw the mountainous piles of remains from the enemy's who had fought with one of the guardians, the "crazed watchdog." Its skeleton, armor and his great heavy sword still in front of the giant black door.
"Ha...haha... This place still stinks like crazy" I said while laughing
I picked up some swords from the piles of skeleton corpses, but some were still too heavy for me to wield and in very bad condition.
Then a sword caught my eye. It was a bit dull and chipped, but the handle was still good. It looked like it could still cut things. I decided to take it with me.
As I held the sword in my hand, I gave it a few practice swings, feeling the weight and balance of it. The handle was worn but sturdy, and despite a few chips on the blade, it still looked sharp.
With a flick of my wrist, I tested the sword's movement, feeling the satisfying swish through the air. I couldn't help but smile as I held the weapon in my hand, thinking to myself, "This sword is just perfect, It has the perfect weight and has the best condition than the rest."
As I walked further, I saw the two other big pathways. One was blocked by a wooden plank held in nailed by swords but some were destroyed because I entered once, and the other was blocked by boulders. Continuing on, I finally reached the huge door that creaked open once more.
There I saw the massive statue of a humanoid figure with long hair, four arms, a blindfold, and one hand outstretched beneath the glowing cube floating above it. The cube emitted a soft, star-like light and there were the stone figures of people that are horrified below surrounding the massive statue trying to save their selves.
"This place still the most beautiful~"
The cube, with its six square faces, eight corners, and twelve edges, once again transformed into stairs leading me to another path. As I step on the stairs it sparkle like stars.
"Hmmm...? Where will this path lead me now? It's different from where I've been before."
I finally reached the entrance of the path, and the cube transformed back into its original giant form.
As I followed the new path, the first thing that greet me is skeleton corpse "Wow, this is truly the warmest welcome I've received since stepping foot in this fascinating world of yours. Comparing that to what I've encountered, human skeletons now look like a dog's toy in comparison to them," I expressed gratefully. I said proudly.
I also came across some old used traps that had been left behind by previous people that enter here. Among them, I saw several corpses scattered on the ground. It made me wonder whether they were adventurers, warriors, knights, or wizards.
Each corpses had an arrow penetrating their head or body, and the others doesn't have arm or leg maybe because of traps that sliced them, but the corpse at the very front seems weirder than the others they are all in kneeling position.
Their skulls are cradled in their bony arms and laps, with a sword on their right side. It looks like they have given up completely and accepted that they will die in a way they cannot change. They chose to end their own lives to show that they have lost and can't fight anymore, as a warrior's way of honoring themselves, by cutting off their heads.
They were wearing armor and a small pouch attached to their clothes and armors where they can put their items.
There I was intrigued, so I grabbed one of the old letters pouch. The silk where the pouch was made was already too old, so when I tried to carefully tear it open, the whole pouch instantly tore down and opened like wet paper. There was something dropped in it, and I saw a flat dark stone fall to the ground, gems, jewelry along with some gold, silver and copper coins.
Clink! Clink! Clink! Thud!
The rock is flat and had a rough edge like obsidian with some runes like engraves in it
"What is this thing? A rock? But it has some runes in it maybe it was a rare stone so I'm gonna pick it up"
"What about these coins?" I asked, holding up the gold coin. I brought it close to the lantern and saw the design on it. The coin featured a kingdom surrounded by fire and lava, atop a flat landscape with mountains and volcanoes on the sides. Ancient text was carved on it, reading "Kingdom of the Prideful Fire" [ES]. On the back, there was an eclipse similar to the ones in the treasure chamber, with a different design. The gold coin depicted a large tree with dragons flying around it, and a kingdom called "Kingdom of the Rampaging Destroyer" [NW].
And the silver and copper coins didn't have anything special on it, unlike the capital of a Kingdom or empire.
"This was a unique currency design, the currency in my world typically features faces of important figures, national plants, animals, or beautiful landscapes. However, their kingdoms were beautiful."
I picked up the coins as well, but the stone slid from my hand due to its flat, glassy, and slippery texture.
It accidentally landed in a wet area with a small puddle of water.
As I bent down to pick it, the rock suddenly reacted weird. It began emitting smoke, similar to that of a fire, and the water around it started boiling and bubbling. Then, it sparked.
I stepped back and shielded my face with the book I had, thinking it was going to explode.
Pssst.... Suddenly, the water beneath it evaporated, and then it cooled down very fast. I picked it up and carefully put it in my pocket securely.
"This stone might come in handy for cooking a meal or keeping myself warm! I won't need to search for or create fire using sticks or rubbing two rocks together," I said excitedly.
Then i started walking for a few minutes And found myself back at the spot where I first arrived in this world. I felt grateful and amazed at the short memories that flooded back, reflecting on all that had happened along the way inside the cave.
"So the staircase that led me is the pathway to a shortcut. I didn't even know there were multiple tunnels in the cave because of the dark surrounding, last time I was here and didn't know what to do, I keep bumping and hitting my head and carefully ran my fingers in the wall. I look like a chicken in the night that is too blind to see my surroundings."
Then I kept on walking in the dark cave, and with the lantern, I could see better now. I can avoid stepping on sharp slippery rocks and hitting my head in the cave, the light from the lantern helped me see where I was going. The cave had many multiple tunnel up, down and side by side, but like a big natural maze. I walked for a long time, maybe 2-3 hours, trying to find my way out, but I still couldn't find the exit.
After much walking, finally I saw a tiny bit of light far away. It made me super excited, and I hurried towards it. I had the lantern, the books, and the sword with me. The light seemed like a sign that I could finally escape from this cave.
"Could that be the cave's entrance!?" I wondered, feeling out of breath as I carried my lantern, book, and sword. With each step, my feet throbbed in pain, as if they might cramp at any moment. My arms ached and shook under the weight of the books and sword, making it feel like they might give in at any second now.
"Ouch!" I winced, as each step sent sharp stabs of pain through my tired legs.
But again I once again increase my pace towards the possible entrance of this place,
As I drew closer to the cave's entrance, my breath came in short gasps. "Just a little more," I said to myself, feeling a mix of excitement and exhaustion. With a final push, I finally reached the entrance.
As I took my first step out of the dark cave, the sudden burst of bright light overwhelmed my vision. It was so intense that I had to shut my eyes tightly, as I had never experienced such brightness before I came here.
"Argh... Again my eyes! My eyes!!!!!! Why!!!!!!! They were always the ones being harassed argh... All the freaking time you're always going for the eye!!!!!"
"In the cave when I first arrived, I looked like a chicken in the dark, now that I'm outside, it's like I'm an owl on a sunny day, it hurts!!"
But even with my eyes closed, I could still feel the familiar warm rays of the sun gently caressing my skin.
"It's warm but not too hot it feels so comfortable"
The air smelled really fresh, like a mix of clean air and grassy scents.
"Ahh... I've never breathed air this clean before. No funky chemical coming from the factory or car fumes to spoil it. Just pure nature freshness."
It was so peaceful... I can hear the birds chirping happily it was so melodic, like a little musical instrument in the sky. The gentle flapping of their wings added a rhythmic beat to the melody. The soft rustling of leaves in the breeze was like a gentle percussion, creating a calming harmony of sounds in the air.
"there was No car horns blaring, no heated arguments echoing through the surrounding. Just peace." It wrapped around me, soothing my senses like a gentle caress, and I found myself already falling in love with the peaceful surrounding.
As I slowly adjust to the bright light, I carefully open my eyes and notice that my feet are sinking into a lush carpet of green grass. The grass feels soft and ticklish against my bare skin as I step forward, feeling the blades brushing against my feet and knees.
In front of me, there was a wall with patches of green moss clinging to its rough, bumpy surface. The wall had a mix of brown and black colors, creating a unique texture against the greenery surrounding it.
"Hmmm... A wall? A type of landscape or some type of rock formation?"
When I lifted my gaze, i saw a the most immense trees I had ever seen. Their towering height made it almost seem like a wall at first glance, it was a forest filled with enormous trees that are taller than buildings and a thick branches that look like a log.
"Is this the forest Bahamut was talking about?"
Large leaves were slowly falling from the huge branches, creating a mesmerizing sight as they gracefully floated down to the grassy ground.
Beneath the trees, there were mushrooms of different sizes, some were bigger than a car, some were as big as a human, and the smallest ones were as big as a liter of soda. They came in different colors and shapes, with some being very colorful with a mix of colors, spots, and patterns, while others were plain brown or white like normal mushrooms.
I carefully bent down and put the sword and books down. Then, I slowly sat in the grassy ground, feeling pain all over my body - my feet and arms were shaking.
"Phewww! My arms, legs, and back hurt," I said while gently pounding my lower back like an old man, and added, "that feels a lot better."
Then, I realized that I had a potion in my pocket. I reached into my pocket, opened the potion by biting the wood seal and then spit out the wooden seal, and took a sip.
I slowly bring the glowing green liquid potion closer to my lips. It enters my mouth and goes down my throat. At first, it feels weird. It's cold, fishy, bitter, and slimy like goo.
But I can feel my fatigue, nausea, and exhaustion slowly disappearing.
After another sip, my stamina is restored. The last sip makes my body, which was about to fall due to sore muscles, feel new again, like nothing happened.
"The thick and slimy texture and strange taste of the potion feels weird."
I start to stand up and stare at my body, i started to clench my fist and flex my muscles and notice that my body feels different. My muscles feel at ease than they did just a while ago, maybe because of the potion's effect. Or it was just my imagination
"My body feels great!"