No light passed through Arix's vision while he was climbing down the ladder. Each step made the ladder groan, and he could hear the wood creaking as Tarin, Lyra, and Meilie climbed down too. The air smelled damp and rotten.

  When he finally reached the bottom of the ladder around thirty minutes later, the rotten smell faded away, except now Arix could smell fresh mud, like it had just rained. It was still completely dark. He took a few steps forward just to bump into an entity twice as big as him. It was Tarin. Arix only recognized him when Tarin turned and leaned closer. "I am sorry," he said and looked all around into complete nothingness.

  Behind him, the creaking of the ladder finally stopped as Lyra and Meilie both reached the bottom. "It's so dark," Lyra groaned.

  Not long after, Arix felt someone bump into him. He turned around and brought his hand forward to recognize the person. "Hey, it's me. Stop touching my face," Lyra said as she stepped backward to bump into Meilie this time. Meilie caught her, and Lyra steadied herself.

  After a while, a ray of light came straight into Arix's vision from behind. He turned around immediately to find Meilie standing there, holding her staff out with one hand. The staff radiated enough light to illuminate the whole room.

  "WOAH… You can do that?" Lyra dragged her words, staring at the light.

  Meilie nodded proudly.

  "Good, at least you can be of some help," Tarin said while turning around to face the cave.

  "This is so helpful," Arix replied, also looking at the light, then turning around, ready to move.

  They all started making their way inside the cave. The cave was covered with wet mud that stretched far ahead. After walking for another fifteen minutes, the group reached an end. There was a door made of wood in front of them. Tarin took out his greatsword and swung it at the door, shattering it.

  They stepped inside to find another mud tunnel stretching forward. Arix took a deep breath and kept moving forward.

  "How long will this cave go on for?" Lyra stretched her words as she leaned toward the group with her chin lifted, walking at a slow pace. Meilie was walking beside her, smiling and holding her staff.

  "Like we know," Arix said, exhaling through his nose. He was walking beside Tarin, who kept his greatsword in his hand just in case he found another door.

  "So Tarin, you never shared why you wanted to get to the mainland so badly." Lyra looked up at Tarin and asked him in a gentle voice.

  Arix also turned his gaze sideways to Tarin, expecting an answer.

  A long silence followed afterward as Tarin didn't speak. Just as Lyra's shoulders began to slump again, he spoke. "My father was called a traitor because he didn't follow the rules and went to the mainland, even after losing the competition," he said slowly.

  "Mhhm," Lyra hummed as her eyes lit up and she started walking in a straight posture again, expecting to hear more.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Arix turned his gaze forward again, not letting Tarin know that he was excited too to hear his story.

  "After two years he returned to the island without letting anyone know," Tarin continued. "It was late at night. I was sleeping and so was my mother. It was dark all around when I heard a noise. A rustle in the bushes in my backyard.

  I was only ten years old at that time. I got up, picked up the lantern, and went to check on the noise. I was afraid too, as any ten-year-old would be at night, but I still went toward the noise.

  When I reached the door, I saw a man standing there in my backyard. I couldn't recognize the man as the lantern light was not strong enough. I got afraid and fell to the ground. The lantern fell from my hand beside me. I couldn't scream–fear froze me with my mouth hanging open. The man started approaching me. I dragged myself a few steps back on my knees. But the man caught up. He sat down in front of me and put both hands on my shoulders.

  Upon looking closely, I recognized him as my father.

  "Fath–" I was about to scream when he put his hand on my mouth.

  "Shhh…" he hissed, signaling me to be quiet.

  "Father, you came back," I said in a low voice as my eyes got wet from tears.

  "I haven't come back to stay, son. You have to listen to me. This is urgent." He tightened his grip around my shoulders and shook me.

  "What are you talking about, Father," I said, as my happiness faded in an instant.

  "Listen, Tarin, you have to win the competition and make your way to the mainland. Do you understand?" he asked me in a very low voice. His expression hardened as his eyes were cold and focused. He seemed to speak with no emotion.

  "Win the competition? But I don't want to leave Mother all alone here," I said to him in a similar low voice.

  "Listen to me, son. This is not only about your mother. It is about our island. You don't want her dead, right?" My father spoke with such confidence that I realized he was not joking. I also understood that he didn't intend to stay–if he had, he wouldn't have come at night like a thief.

  "Now listen," he continued. "Once you reach the mainland, make your way to the prison. There lies a great entity. He is the only way our island can be safe. Do you understand?"

  "Prison, island safe? What are you talking about, Father," I asked him. He tightened his grip even harder and pulled me toward him. Upon looking at his face closely, I saw tears falling from his eyes.

  "I don-don't have much time, son. I hav- have to lea-leave. Please do as I ask-asked." He hugged me tightly. The back of my clothes got wet from his tears, but I didn't mind it.

  I was so in shock that I was unable to speak. The next thing I remember, I woke up the next morning as if nothing had happened.”

  There was a long silence afterward. Arix and Lyra said nothing and walked ahead, hearing only footsteps.

  "Prison? Huh… We will find it." Arix was the first to break the silence.

  "We have to," Tarin added.

  Meilie stared at Tarin from the corner of her eyes throughout the story. Unable to talk, she let out a long sigh and kept walking.

  "We will also find your father. Do not worry, Tarin. And your father too, Arix." She smiled while turning her gaze to both of them.

  Arix and Tarin also gave a little smile while facing forward.

  After a while, they reached another door. Tarin crushed it with his greatsword like earlier. Inside they saw some chests made of gold.

  Lyra's face lit up as she moved forward to walk first into the room, not realizing she had stepped on a pressure plate at the entrance. When she realized, it was too late. There were holes to her left and right, and a loud click sound echoed in her ears. She looked to her left to find some arrows already flying toward her.