"Wonderful!" Mistress Opa clapped, eyes glistening, bright as the ceiling medallions she was gazing at. "All as good as new! It's like nothing in this hallway has ever been wrecked at all!"

A lady went on silently with dusting clean an Astel statue.

Mistress Adelaida.

Wasn't it her who had power to restore broken objects? A Hearth Magic user. One of the most underappreciated forms. With potentials not explored as much as they should probably be.

At her current level, Mistress Adelaida has been able to fix entire segments of the castle, all by herself. Having ample room to grow, her skills could certainly reach extents beyond expectations. Imagine being able to restore an entire kingdom from wreck.

"Good day, mistresses!" Winston approached and bowed. "Has any of you seen Thomas?"

"Good day! Looking for your friendly friend?" Mistress Opa tapped her cheek, thinking. "Last I saw him, he was running to the Quest Hall. Haven't crossed paths with him since, which, with all the me's trotting around, is a little short of impossible unless he's out of the castle."

Mistress Adelaida snickered. "Don't be so sure now. You haven't even found Ethan yet, either, have you?"

"Ugh. Mistress, don't make a fool of me. I swear that man's just cowering in his room, refusing to go out."

"You made him lift a hundred sets of armor. I honestly wouldn't blame him."

"Ahh." Winston let loose a light laugh.

"Looking for Pantrem?" Dorias scoffed, marching through the hallway. His black armor was rejecting all light that were seeping through the windows.

"Good day, Dorias."

"Idiot wouldn't let me tag along. Told him it'd be too dangerous without my help, and still! They left me."

"To go where?"

"Out on a quest with some stupid Gris girl or somebody."

Mistress Opa flinched.

"He won't be back until later."

"Ahh. I see." Winston gave a curt nod.

Strange. Why didn't Thomas invite Winston to go?

"Did you say 'Gris'?" Mistress Opa asked, face suddenly paler than the marble Adelaida was cleaning.

Dorias grumbled. "Yes. At least that's what I think Thomas said the name was."

Mistress Opa cupped her mouth.

Dorias's eyebrows twitched. "What's...up with you?"

"I'm sorry. Please excuse me, sirs. There's something I must look into."

Winston stepped aside as the lady jogged by briskly. "What's the matter, Mistress?"

Her mood changed so suddenly.

Wait a second.

King Lux had just about the same reaction when Winston mentioned the name. Back at the Royal Garden.

What is it with that Gris person?

"Huh." Dorias shrugged his shoulders, watching Mistress Opa run past Bling and Linus.

"Good day, Mistress!" Bling greeted.

Linus was mumbling as his eyes glossed over a sheet of paper between his fingers. "...your grandmother has ordered that I summon you immediately."

Mistress Opa rushed, blurting, "Morning, dears," with a shiver in her voice.

"Wait." Bling paused. "What's up with her?"

"If you may, please bring along--Oomph." Linus's face flattened as he bumped into Dorias's chest. "Watch it!"

The knight's black eyes sharpened.

Linus gulped.

"Odd." Bling murmured. Then as she turned her head, her expression switched from bothered to excited. "Sir Dorias! Great to see you! How's your morning?"

"Bad." Dorias huffed.

"That's good to hear!" Bling's eyes sparkled for two seconds. "Wait. Did you say bad?"

"It's worse now."

Bling stared dumbfounded, as if she had just barely survived a rain of anvils.

Winston showed a smile. "Good day, you two! Is that a quest you have there?"

"Oh. Uhh." Linus glanced at the letter between his fingers. "Apparently so. At first we thought this was just a message from our grandma's butler, but it's actually a mission assigned directly to us."

"Wait. Really?" Bling snatched the sheet and swiftly read.

"Note of the footer, Bling. Master Rotwell advised that we bring other knights along. This is probably gonna be a tough one."

"Gasp!!!" A cloud of thought fell upon the girl.

"What's the matter?"

Her expression became dreamy, and then, after a while, malicious, as if she was plotting something rather sinister. "Sir Dorias!!!"

The knight's eyebrows pulled together.

"Why don't you come with us?! You're definitely tough. I bet the missions in the Quest Hall are too boring for you. This one seems really dangerous though! I'm sure it'll be something you'll enjoy!"

Silence was Dorias's response.

"How dangerous are we talking about?" An eager grin fell upon Winston's face.

"Not sure." Linus snatched the letter back. "Doesn't actually say."

Again? That's the second one. Swear to Animus, if Winston would ever need to write a quest, he'd put in every single detail necessary. It's not like Morpheus had an outage of ink or paper, right? Goodness.

Anyways, was he up for another surprise? Heck yeah! Since Thomas wasn't around, Winston should might as well spend time with the rest of his comrades. He hasn't even gotten to knowing most of them, yet, has he?

Right.

"Is the invitation open for me too?" Winston scratched his head.

Linus chuckled. "You bet! You were able to beat Zeal. It'd be an honor to have you with us."

"Awesome. How about you? Are you down too, Dorias?"

The man's eyes shot, his annoyance still evident, though consideration was clear in there too. "As you can see, I happen to be the most well-suited out of all of you."

Winston's grin appeared again.

Bling leaped. "Yes!!! I knew it was gonna work--Umm." A blush swallowed her face as she nibbled on the tip of her finger. "I feel so honored being given the opportunity to travel with Sir Dorias."

"You're gonna make him change his mind." Linus folded the letter. "So! What do you guys say we all go after lunch?"

"Sounds good!"

"Alright."

Mistress Adelaida, still brushing Astel's statue, hid her face as her lips created a sort of melancholic smile.

*******

Wednesday. Only two days after Winston has gone on his first quest. Was he really already gearing up for another one? No problem. As a knight, it was always better to have no breaks instead of being completely of no use.

After switching his tabard for his armor set, Winston proceeded from his room, dropped by the saloon for a meal, and then met up with Bling, Linus, and Dorias at the cycodecks, where their party took off for a four hour journey to one of Morpheus's border cities, Trimpell, which was more like a jungle with occasional huts dotted here and there.

By the time they arrived, it was almost 5:00 PM, hence, adding to the gloom casted by branch-rich, thick-trunked trees, with drooping snake-like leaves, was the sky slowly darkening. It was as if the sun was leaving to forget--

"The City of Abandoned Dreams. That's what outsiders call this place." Linus flicked a vine, leaving it dancing.

"How long of a walk will it be to your mansion?" Dorias used his sword to sever a thorned plant in his path.

Bling used Magnet Magic to pave a way between bushes. "Normally it would take up to two hours. But the path being neater than it usually is, we should be able to get there in one."

"It'll be dark by then."

Linus hummed. "True. No worries. There's four of us. Besides! Trimpell isn't actually as rural as it seems to be."

A lamp standing on a blue hut's porch flickered twice, and then slowly lost light, forsaking the forest.

"Damn it. How do people even live here?" Dorias gripped and unrooted a fan-like plant.

Winston ducked under a branch.

"Our family owns most of the deeper forests. The people living here are our employees." Bling gestured at the hut. "Trimpell is home to many kinds of fungi. Highly demanded for potions and delicacies. We forage and supply them to the rest of Morpheus."

Linus nodded. "There being little competition, as only few dare to live in these conditions, we earn quite the sum of money. The poorest of the poorests here is probably richer than the richests of Edargen."

Winston leaned against a trunk as he took a look around.

It's either Trimwell people are really just that rich, or Edargen citizens are really just that poor. Or both, actually. But why would Edargen have such a crisis?

From the west, the twang of something metallic echoed and trailed their spines.

"What was that?" Winston asked.

"Careful." Linus raised his hands. "Fungi aren't the only things abundant here."

"Wait." Bling tapped Linus.

Merely meters away was the silhouette of a large man towering amongst trees. By his foot, a sickle laid silently.

"Is that...?"

"Bling! Linus!" The man rushed towards them, arms wide open as his eyes spat splats of tears. "My darlings!"

"Master Snichel!"

The three of them locked to an emotional embrace.

"So good to see you!"

"You finally visited! It's been too long. Hold on." Snichel let go and turned to shout, "Hey! Everyone! The Mussis Children are back! Give them a welcome, will ya?"

Doors creaked open and heads poked out.

"Master Bling? Master Linus?"

"Dear me! The Mussis Knights!"

"Oh my, oh my! The man and woman they've become! How wonderful!"

Suddenly, the jungle wasn't so eerie anymore. But it was still disorienting. In place of branches were uncountable hands and claw-like fingers reaching in to get a hold of them. Awe and admiration put smiles on some faces, but glee drew out tears on most of the rest.

*******

It had taken the knights around thirty minutes to escape that swarm of people, and another hour full to arrive at the Mussis Mansion deep in the jungle. By the time they got there, even the trees that have once loomed over them, back when the sky wasn't so black, were no longer visible, consumed by the shadows brought forth by the night. Thankfully, the mansion's chandeliers were sufficiently cheerful, illuminating the living room they were asked to wait in.

Dorias was glaring at a salt crystal beside a potted purple plant.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Winston leaned back, keeping his weary soles flat on the floor's tiles shinier than his legplates. "This is your home, is that right?"

Linus bobbed his head. "Right. Well, technically it's our house. Ever since we became knights, I've considered Morpheus Castle my true home."

"Same here." Bling used her magic to magnetize a pillow and pulled it onto her lap. "We apologize for the wait, by the way. Master Snichel's still looking for Master Rotwell. The two of them should be here shortly."

"Are we gonna be able to stay the night here?" Dorias asked.

Bling blushed, steam seeming to seep out of her ears. "Oh gosh. We might not have enough rooms. Would you be alright sharing mine?"

"With Winston, yes."

Bling's blush blanched.

Winston laughed a little. "Dorias, you can't kick Bling out of her own room."

"Then I'll be sleeping here." Dorias grabbed a pillow, dropped it on his thighs, and patted twice. "Seems comfortable enough. Luxurious, even."

Linus poked Bling, but her body was unresponsive.

"Lord Linus! Lady Bling!" Two men entered.

One of them was Master Snichel, whom they've already met. A humongous chap with long, bushy brown hair all over his head, and a stiff staunch ready to ram anyone at the front. The other was a silent white gentleman, with hair just a shade dimmer than Winston's, and clothed in a set of a butler's uniform, black from tailcoat to shoes.

"Master Rotwell!" the twins exclaimed.

"Welcome home, children." A clenched fist lifted to his chest, the butler performed a sophisticated bow. "I've ordered the maids to serve your favorite meals in the dining chamber. Please, bring along your comrades and enjoy the feast. We shall celebrate your return over supper."

Master Snichel stepped aside to let Master Rotwell pass.

"Oh, and, of course..." The butler looked back. "We'll be discussing your grandmother's final testament as well."

Bling and Linus looked at each other.

"Alrighty! Well!" Master Snichel gushed out a deep sigh. "Done what I needed to. Linus, Bling. I'd best be heading home."

"W-Hold on! Aren't you joining dinner?" Linus rushed to stand.

"Are you inviting?"

"Of course! Master Rotwell said to bring along comrades. You're one!"

Bling got to her feet as well. "Don't even think of refusing."

Master Snichel snickered. "Of course, of course not. Just wanted to make sure I would be welcome. Race you to the table!"

Bling giggled as the man jogged out the room.

Linus scratched his head. "Gotta admit, sis, it's been so long, I've actually forgotten what the people here are like."

"Let's go, Winston, Sir Dorias!" Bling beckoned.

Winston nodded.

Following Master Snichel, the four of them proceeded to a room upstairs, where windows have been left open allowing breezes in, and a fancy long table had been fully decked, with platters of meat and bowls of desserts, and several stemmed glasses filled halfway with red wine. By a side, men in chefs' coats balanced silver domes on their hands. Ladies in maids' uniforms waited, holding various bottles of alcohol. And Master Rotwell looked over, like a crane, arms crossed hidden behind him, as each of the knights chose their own of the fourteen velvet-cushioned chairs surrounding the table.

Bling and Linus seated across each other, Dorias sat by Linus, and Winston sat by Dorias, ending up across where Master Snichel has plopped into.

Settling to their slots, they all lifted their utensils, almost as if choreographed, and began to stab and slice the morsels lain on their plates.

"Dear Morpheus!" Master Snichel sunk his teeth into a slab of meat. "Haven't eaten here for nearly two years. I've forgotten how the food tastes like."

"Winston," Dorias whispered.

Cutting his meat to cubes, Winston leaned to his right to hear better. "What is it?"

"Tell that man to slow down. His way of eating's reminding of Thomas. You know how many times that idiot's choked."

Winston chuckled.

"I'm not trying to be funny."

"I know, I know. You never are. But let the man be. It's his first meal here in two years."

"Might end up his last." Dorias's grip tightened on his knife.

Bling's eyes glistened, her cheeks swollen with all the food she'd stuffed in them. "Awe!!! Same here! The food's making my tongue feel nostalgic."

"Ugh. Food at the castle wouldn't be tasting so royal for a while after tonight." Linus scooped a spoon to his mouth.

Master Rotwell bowed. "It gives me joy to see you pleased, young masters. These dishes were prepared with special ingredients. Local mushrooms more expensive than blades at Hephaestus."

Master Snichel coughed and pounded his chest.

"What did I tell you?" Dorias hissed.

Winston gave the man an apologetic smile.

"Speaking of special ingredients, I'm reminded of the task you're supposed to receive." Master Rotwell opened his hand, and a lady came jostling over to give him a white book. "Forgive me. I don't wish to spoil your meal with something so serious, but your grandmother's message is of utmost importance."

Bling glanced at her twin. "It's alright, Master. We can listen while we eat."

Linus affirmed by nodding.

"My earnest thanks, Lady Bling." Master Rotwell flipped through the book's pages. "Following your grandmother's passing, the family lawyers delivered her last testament so that ownership of the estate may be passed. We learned, however, that her message did not contain any sort of instruction as to how her wealth must be divided, but instead provided an order to open her diary and read September 20, 2475's entry. It's here she put in detail what you both must do in order to decide who inherits all of the Mussis legacy."

Realization struck the twins' faces.

"Deep in the jungle that is Trimpell is a hidden dungeon built by your father, Deli Mussis. It was made to protect a special treasure. A legendary mushroom that allows affinity to a second domain of magic when consumed. For women, it guarantees the birth of twin offsprings."

Bling blushed, eyes peeking at Dorias.

"'Inside the dungeon, I left a scroll. Whichever of you may find it first and read the incantation will be the legal heir of all Mussis property. Be careful. There are many challenges and beasts let loose inside. You may enlist the help of a party, but only a Mussis may read the prize.'"

"Wow." Linus drew a breath in. "Sounds like a competition."

Bling looked down at her food. "But...we've never ever fought over anything before."

Master Rotwell clapped the book close. "The diary does not indicate a specific location for the dungeon. We've asked our foragers in case they've come across it, but no one can seem to give directions. I suggest you begin searching tomorrow when it's bright."

"That's a good thought, Master Rotwell. Anyways, I think we're also gonna need time to process all of this first." Linus lifted a stemmed glass and chugged all the wine in it.

"Very well." Master Rotwell bowed. "Please call for me if you need anything."

The twins nodded as the butler glided away.

"So..." Winston leaned against the table. "...this is our quest huh?"

"Apparently so." Bling tapped her plate with a spoon.

"I don't know, Bling." Linus glanced. "I'm not sure I even wanna do it."

"Same here, honestly."

"What use would we even have to owning this estate anymore? We're knights. I'd rather be out there defending our kingdom than watching foragers pick out shrooms from the ground." Linus raised his glass to let a maid pour in more wine.

Bling put down her spoon and leaned back.

"I'd like to remind you." Dorias sniffed his glass. "This is a quest. As knights, we won't be able to back down."

Bling sighed. "That's true too."

"Aaaaaaah!!!" A sharp scream came, accompanied by winds blowing through the windows.

"What in the--" Master Snichel choked again.

"Someone's in trouble!" Winston stood so quickly that his chair skidded backwards with a piercing creak.

All the knights, out of their instinct to help, thought of nothing else but saving whoever was in danger, followed suit, stood, and jumped out the windows to the shadows outside, leaving Master Snichel at the table. Before they could even swallow what were in their mouths, they were all already running through the chilling night, following a woman's screech somewhere in the forest.

"It's getting louder." Dorias slashed and slashed, refusing for weeds to slow him down.

"Just keep going." Bling started to huff.

Suddenly, up ahead, a tower of white light shot to the sky, spraying color all over Trimpell for a brief moment.

"What kind of beast could that be? Any ideas?" Winston asked.

Linus used a magnetic pulse to blow shrubs aside and pave a way. "Not sure. No monster here shoots light beams like that."

"I know who it is." Dorias scoffed.

"Who?" The three others asked.

"I've heard that scream and we've all seen that magic before. It's Rin and Gleen."

Panting for air, the mages were squatted on piles of leaves, surrounded by fog obscuring the forest around them. Balls of light kept the area illuminated.

"You?! What are you doing here?" Bling shot a scowl, primarily aimed at Rin.

"Bitch! Did you really think I would let you be with my man? Alone? In this cold, dark jungle?!" Rin scowled back.

"We're here on a mission!"

"I know you have a personal agenda!" Rin pulled herself up to stand, and, having the height advantage, looked down at the other girl.

Bling gritted her teeth. "I don't play dirty like you."

Winston checked Dorias and found that the man was spending no time for the argument concerning him.

The knight had simply walked over to cross his arms in front of Gleen who was still struggling to catch enough air.

"What happened?"

"The idiots ran away." Talc faded in, as if she was the mist becoming a human.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we've been walking around this jungle for quite a while. Trying to figure out where your group went." Talc flailed her hand, forcing the fog to drift away from her fingers. "Then we got lost because the mushrooms here apparently produce some kind of disorienting fume. Gleen's magic let us see though. Then we stumbled upon this gate thing in the middle of the jungle. Then I got bored so I used my magic to scare them and they both scrammed."

"You little sicko!" Gleen hissed, getting to her feet.

Linus's eyes grew for a second as he stepped closer to Talc. "A gate? Where?"

"Somewhere around here." Talc looked around, ignoring Gleen charging up to shoot lasers from her eyes. "I'm sure we'll be able to find it again with Gleen's power."

The light mage roared, and her hair seemed to steamed as she stopped herself from vaporizing Talc with her magic.

"Bling!" Linus tugged on his sister.

The girl gave no response, stuck in a tensioned trance with Rin.

"I think these ladies found the dungeon." Linus tugged several times more.

"Dungeon?" Talc cocked her head.

"It's part of the quest Bling and Linus will have to complete." Winston cupped a hand and guided fog towards him so he could inspect. "They have to find and conquer a certain dungeon."

"Why would there be one here? Isn't this part of Trimpell a private property of the Mussis?"

"The dungeon is also owned by the Mussis." Dorias eyed Talc. "To be completely frank, I was the slightest bit worried we wouldn't be able to find it immediately, considering how incompetent those two seem to be. But you've likely made it easier for us."

Linus struggled to tug on Bling's arm, but the girl's glower was so fixated on her opponent that she too has become immovable.

"I have the looks and the skills." Rin held her waist. "What do you have against me?"

Bling growled.

"Bling." Linus poked.

"What?!"

The boy took a step back, evidently aghast by his sister's eruption.

"Haven't you been listening?" Dorias crossed his arms. "These three found the dungeon you're supposed to be looking for."

"Father's dungeon?" Bling stared surprised for a couple of seconds, then shook her head, and whirled to walk back towards where their mansion was. "We'll head to it tomorrow. First thing in the morning. I'm too tired for tonight."

Talc smirked. Mischief played in her eyes. She was definitely up to something. "We're going now."

Bling paused and twisted to see the mage.

"I'm afraid I might forget where the dungeon is after I sleep tonight. Allow me to remind you, my magic makes fears come true."

"Can't you just control your own powers?"

"What's the matter? Afraid of the dark?" Rin asked menacingly. "Little wimp."

"I grew up in this jungle, lady." Bling snapped. "The monsters here have been on my plate."

"Nasty. If you're so brave, then prove it."

Bling squinted, fists curling to balls stiffer than steel. If the air was glass, she would have already shattered it. "Fine then. You know the way? Lead us."

Talc's smirk was about to become a grin, but the mage quickly turned to hide her expression. "Gleen?"

The light mage jumped, previously stunned by the violent reaction Bling spat out. Then, after nodding to Talc, she ordered the balls of light floating about to head towards where the black mage was walking to.

Bling also promptly followed.

"Wait. Are we sure about this?" Linus checked for the knights' response.

Winston breathed a sigh out and gave the boy a defeated smile. "If what Talc says is true, and she ends up forgetting where your dungeon is, this could actually be an opportunity we're missing."

"I agree." Dorias nodded. "Besides, your sister's most definitely sure."

Thus, without asking anymore questions, the group proceeded through the fog, guided by Talc and Gleen's wisps. Without anymore questions? None except for Rin's, wondering why they needed to go in the first place.

"So the twins are basically competing to decide who inherits all of these hectares? How did you know?"

Talc hissed. "Quiet down, will you? I looked into their heads. They were both afraid of something."

Rin walked closer by the black mage. "Really? What?"

"I'm not gonna tell you."

"No matter. I bet it's just she's nervous about me being here. Rightfully so. She definitely needs to watch out because I just got an idea."

"What's your dumb idea?"

Rin let out a faint giggle. "I'm gonna make sure she won't be winning. Think about it. If she ends up being baroness-rich, Dorias would actually have a reason to choose her over me." The lady raised a schooling finger. "We can't be having that, honey. Nuh-uh."

Talc rolled her eyes. "Good luck with that. I have plans of my own. And, by the way, you aren't what she was afraid about."

"Excuse me." Winston slipped by, overtaking the two as they both have been walking too slowly.

Up ahead, a black and white mushroom three times as large as the Mussis mansion, with a silver doublegate into its stalk, was dwarfing even the tallest tree around. So impressive was its feat that even Bling and Linus, who were locals and have consumed other fungi of the same rarity, were awed to speechlessness and merely gawped at the creature.

"Have you ever seen this? Playing in the jungle?" Bling asked, to which Linus answered by shaking his head.

"Doesn't it make sense, keeping this place hidden? Your father was smart, using disorienting shrooms." Dorias praised, though his face was apathetic, showing no admiration for the dungeon in front.

Bling whispered, "He'll be your father too if you marry me."

"So!" Talc approached behind. "There's the gate. Is this what you're looking for?"

"I'm sure of it." Linus nodded. "Thank you."

Talc smiled. "Now what?"

"We're gonna have to make our way in, but Master Rotwell didn't tell us anything about a key or whatever."

Bling proceeded to the gate and began investigating it closer. "It doesn't have a keyhole anyway. This isn't a normal gate. Look in the middle. There are weird locks."

Outlandish, they were indeed. Teeth-like bars locking the center of the doublegate. There seemed to be no way to unfasten them, and on their silver surfaces, there was a message engraved.

"The pédila both pushed to shoot Hermes to the sky. The pédila both pulled to keep Hermes on the ground. The rilou's heart remained shut." Bling's forehead crumpled as she read the inscription. "What's a rilou?"

"GRAAAWR!!!" A rumbling noise shuddered the trees from one side of the forest.

"Talc, I swear, if this is your trick again--" Gleen's sentence stopped as Talc's hand cupped her mouth.

Winston and Dorias both unsheathed their weapons.

Linus cracked his knuckles. "I'll deal with opening the gate. You guys fend off the vinu. Its weak point is its spine."

"Got it." The knights nodded, amused instead of frightened. They were gonna be able to show off. "Then that's the part we shouldn't hit."

"Magnetize! Repel!" Linus concentrated his power to push against the gates.

The silver vibrated, but the locks remained sealed.

Out of the trees came the vinu. A bipedal reptile with a staunch stomach shining with iridescent blue scales. On its back were leafy branches protruding from its body. Its screeching roar sounded as if it could reduce an entire tree to splinters.

"Obsidian Razors!" Dorias swiped his sword twice sending crescent-shaped blades at the beast.

The attacks cut open a layer of the vinu's skin. Right below its neck.

Even more agitated than it already was, the monster charged towards the knights with its jaws wide-open exposing its purple fangs.

Dorias leaped to a side to avoid being crunched, and Winston summoned a slab of ice that rammed the vinu to a nearby tree trunk.

"Aren't we helping?" Gleen faced the other ladies.

Rin twirled some strands of hair around her index finger. "My knight seems to be managing. But that boy over there needs a little bit of help, I think."

Linus had slightly skidded backwards, but the silver gates remained unmoved.

"Step aside." Bling shoved, putting her brother's magic to a halt. "This might be a pull, not a push. Magnetize! Attract!"

Once again, the silver gates vibrated, but that was all they did no matter how much pulling force Bling tried to apply.

"Nice try, Pissed Sis." Linus humphed

"What did you say?!" Bling's eyes flared.

"GRAAAAAWR!!!" The vinu shoved the slab off its body and sprung to attempt another bite at Dorias.

The knight stayed in place, gripping his sword as he waited for the beast to get close enough, and, the moment the vinu's mouth chomped, slashed so swiftly that a streak of gleam cut the air.

An obsidian bar materialized, immediately cracking as the vinu's fangs shattered sinking into it.

The vinu roared, somehow still loudly, even with the bar stuck in its mouth.

"I heard ice can help with toothaches." Winston's weapon emitted a glowing frost, casting a short spell to wrap a ring of ice around the vinu's jaw. "Have some."

All the beast could do was whimper in agony.

Talc crossed her arms. "I've read vinus are amongst the most feared creatures in this side of Morpheus. Even so, those two are handling one as if they're just playing some sort of ball game. And they're not even targeting its weakness."

"None of us would have been part of the Royal Circle if just a slimy lizard could bully us like that, right?" Rin let out a cocky giggle.

"Says the stupid mage who ran away from an illusion." Talc's eyes glinted with malice.

"I'll strangle you!"

"Save that for later." The black mage proceeded right behind the twins to tap them on their backs. "See those latches? They're called rilou bars. Innovated locks inspired by the chests of rilou golems. The only way to open them is to push and pull at the same time."

Bling and Linus gave each other snarky looks.

Meanwhile, Winston and Dorias were already putting their weapons back in their sheaths, as the vinu had fallen dead on the cold ground.

"Looks like they're already done." Linus sighed.

Concealed by crossed arms, Bling's chest emanated a petty grumble. "Let's get our part over with then."

Linus nodded.

"Magnetize! Attract!"

"Magnetize! Repel!"

A final time, the gates vibrated. This instance, the hinges let out whistles, as one gate swung inwards and the other out. The twins have unlocked the entrance! Question was, where they really going in the right place? And where was the tunnel, which the opened gateway had revealed, going to bring them to?