The mayor and sheriff had gathered into the far corner of the prison located at the police station. Inside one of the prison cells was shel Shell who had lazily made himself at home with a blanket, a six-course meal and a series of books scattered across the cell seeing this the sheriff felt nervous. Not only what's some random individual inside one of his cells but he has no record of them being transferred nor anything about him being arrested. Scared that something might have went wrong. He decided to ask the mayor of something was going on that he didn't know about. However, upon consulting with the mayor, he too had no idea and the fact that the individual in the prison cell is a native of drakewood village and it is found that he had been wrongfully imprisoned. It could turn into an international event. The king would have his head. Without any much options, they decided that while the local paladin was out and about, they would interrogate the guy. That way there's no evidence of whatever had gone done.
Mayor: who are you and how did you get in here.
Shell: I don't feel like I need to share my name, but frankly speaking, I'm just a guest passing through. I shouldn't be here for too long.
Sheriff: you say that but how did you even get in there? There's only two keys to all the cells and neither I nor the mayor lets you in.
Shell: yet another thing you don't need to worry about. All you need to know is I'm a guest and I've chosen the cell as the perfect room and board.
Mayor: that makes no sense. How could a place meant to detain and punish criminals be the perfect residence for a so-called guest?
Shell: it's one of those things you just can't get rid of. Once you've spent most of your life in a cell, you feel uneasy unless you wake up to find yourself behind bars. Of course, having your freedom is always a great sensation once you let out.
The two of them dance around in frustration at not being able to get any answers.
Meanwhile, further away from town, the gathering of students plus Douglas, Evelyn and a rather tall man wearing a full y black dress shirt and Blazer with a red tie and rather decadent pants with glossy leather shoes stand outside of the mine.
Evelyn: so this is a calcium mine. I'd imagine it'd look more like a giant graveyard or The skeletal remains of a giant with tons of holes in it, not your average hole in the wall with rails leading inward.
Douglas: yeah can't say I get where you're coming from and anyways Xander you might want to transform.
Xander looked at him side then flick them off before being enveloped in light within the light appeared a boomerang with a fascinating design that anyone could swear there was a frowning face etched into it. Douglas grabs the boomerang Zane nuzzles it into a harness he had set up on his back and then let out a grievous. Sigh and looked to Evelyn.
Douglas: hey, if you need to get anything ready now is the time it's a tight fit in there so any maneuvering you might want to make could be limited going forward.
Hearing that she looked down to Flint and Rusty. The two in turn nodded and transformed into the bastard sword and bastard shield respectively. Not wanting to carry them in the ready. She positions Rusty into a position under Flint's shield. Luckily for her, the grips hold just enough room to fit his blade without being too loose.
Watching that Douglas gives a remark.
Douglas: interesting. I've never heard of an animal armory before.
The two plus the lineup of 23 students proceed down the mines. According to Douglas, the mines aren't in use right now, specifically because for some reason the calcium inside the mine draws in monsters that have metal-based bodies assumably the monsters, eat the calcium, but others seem to speculate that the calcium serves as a good nesting material since the place had become such a hotbed and there aren't enough paladins in the area having people use the mind seemed to be more risky than reliable so it has been shut down typically speaking, Douglas's job is to maintain peace in the area by thinning out any monster herds hanging around while also surveying the calcium mine for any and all possible risks to the rest of the Kingdom.
Just sending further into the mind. The kids start to get rowdy and curious as they enter a new area. Every time they enter an open spot, the children would fan out touching most things while sometimes Douglas would have to yell at them telling them they shouldn't be touching things in caves, especially for calcium mimes because supposedly there are toxic chemicals that show up in minds like these due to the unique environment the calcium tends to form in. Then the occasional bat type monster or insect type monster would show up and Evelyn or Douglas would have to deal with it. The children would of course take notes on their fighting styles or their approaches as they should be doing considering it's part of their studies.
Meanwhile, at the same time the mayor and sheriff had brought up chairs to the cell. Still interrogating shell. The mirror at this point had loosened up his tie and his sweating bullets at the amount of stress this conversation is causing while the sheriff had gotten rid of a majority of his clothing leaving only his pants and shirt left at the same time. The person in question had gotten even more comfortable being on his third book and at some point when they weren't looking his lunch had arrived.
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Mayor: what are you? Who are you? Are you some kind of diplomat? Why are you here?
Shell: I keep telling you what you're asking has no relevance nor the need for me to answer. All you need to know is I'm here until I'm not.
The mayor smacks his head in frustration.
Sheriff: okay so you told us all the things that we can't know. So why don't you tell me something that we can know.
Shel takes a minute slightly closes his book using his finger as a bookmark looks up at the ceiling and thinks about it for a minute. Using his free hand, he rubs his chin, then proceeds to scoop out some tomato soup from his lunch sips a bit of it from the spoon and then drops the spoon back in the bowl.
Shell: I guess telling you I didn't come here alone wouldn't be considered a hindrance also the fact that this tomato soup is pretty good and I guess judging on the state of the situation I should be leaving Tomorrow or today depending on my companion's mood.
Not seeing any use in the information provided. The sheriff begins to bury his face in his palms. Then the mayor starts lifting up his head realizing he has a companion.
Mayor: you have a companion? There is someone who knows who you are.
Shell: indeed, I believe she should be somewhere around here. I don't know. She'd let me know when she's about to leave. Given how invested she seemed to be, I figured it would take about 2 days to leave this place, but I received a reports which indicates she may be staying an additional day, but what do I know.
The mayor's eye is lit up realizing he may have finally gotten a lead that could help him figure out this irritating mystery.
Mayor: All right then could you tell us the name or anything at all that could help us locate your companion so that we can move past this.
Looking away from them, shell continues reading his book continuing on to the next page.
Shell: My companion's name is Evelyn. Apparently she's some kind of noble. Anyways, I'm not quite sure on her whereabouts. All I know is she and some guy named Douglas are hanging out right now so I guess if you can find this. Douglas guy chances are you'll find her and she should be able to answer all your questions.
The mare's eyes begin to shine brightly as he realizes he's finally getting somewhere and just as he turns to the sheriff to find Douglas, the sheriff gives him a dark look. Wondering why he begins to think on the subject some more and remember something very terrible. Douglas had left quite early this morning with those students from the academy, he also seemed to recall that a woman who just blew into town yesterday was also with him and had left town with Douglas to go to the mines and given the distance from here to the mines, not to mention what they're doing there he The person that they're looking for as well as Douglas himself won't be back till tomorrow realizing this those two men begin screaming at the top of the lungs in frustration.
Meanwhile, back at the calcium mines douglas with a large group of rowdy students had made it pretty deep into the mines and as they go deeper, they're starting to notice that the monsters are getting more ferocious things like spike heads or armored mantists metal snakes and the occasional chainsaw beaver are starting to make an appearance.
With such dangerous things starting to show their face, Douglas feels that they should start going back to the surface. Not really having an opinion. Evelyn decides to agree with him, but of course the students begin protest and claiming they want to see what's even further down. Of course Douglas gets mad at them considering they're not the ones risking their lives and thus have no say in how far they go. If that said, they start to ascend but as they do, a strange metallic sound begins to echo deep within hearing that Douglas decides that it's definitely time to head back so they start to get a move on. But as they do, the noise starts getting louder and louder resembling a mace or a stone Hammer banging on a steel wall. Feeling a sense of urgency. Douglas decides to pick up the pace urging the children along while Evelyn with her enhanced instincts. Thanks to Flint and Rusty Reddy's. The two for battle Douglas in agreement decides to keep his hand rested on Xander just in case as well. The faster they go the louder it gets soon enough. Not only the mysterious, loud sound filled the cave but also the sound of their footsteps. And at one point when they finally see the exit, a strange hissing sound comes from behind them sounding almost on top of them. This causes Douglas to react grabbing. Xander and holding him like a shield with both hands picking up on the situation. Evelyn as well to block while using Rusty to whip up a small shock wave between them and the student sending them flying backwards. Douglas and Evelyn were launched out of the cave on the tip of a giant Snake with iron scales.