The tunnel behind the throne was a long one but this whole time Sien could see the light at the end of it. The steps he made echoed through the tunnel. Making it feel as if the tunnel was longer than it actually was. The sound of steps was later accompanied by the sound of flowing water.

“Do I hear a river?” Sien whispered.

Once he reached the end of the tunnel he saw a big circular room with blue flowers on the ceiling yards away from him, giving light to the whole room. Almost the whole floor was covered in dark liquid that was streaming from the holes in the walls. There was a small altar in the middle of the room and a bridge connecting the tunnel with the altar.

“Took you long enough.” A familiar voice shouted from the altar.

Hearing his voice, Sien ran to the altar. By the end of the bridge stood his master with his skin and bones intact. Well and alive. Sam wanted to show off something he found but before he could even reach for it, Sien hugged him tightly and sobbed under his coat.

“Woah. Are you alright kid?” The man asked, confused by the boy’s action, with his hands up in the air, not knowing what to do.

“I thought… I thought you died up there! And then there was a skeleton that had the same coat as you! And he screamed with your voice.” Sien loudly explained between the sobs he made.

“Wait. Screamed with my voice?” Asked Sam even more confused, a bit of terror in his eyes.

Sien explained everything that happened once they were separated. Of course, like a kid, he colorized his actions and took out the parts of him crying. Sam was left with an open jaw when he heard the part about his skeleton that screamed with the same voice as his.

“You did well and passed the test. Mine was easier since I only had to pick the right item. So what kind of reward did you get? I got this sword.” Sam showed a silver sword with a smooth handguard that he hid behind his back to surprise Sien.

“There is a reward! I didn’t get any! Maybe the crown was the reward!” Sien wanted to go back and check the room once again but he stopped once the room began shaking as if the earthquake suddenly occurred.

The altar opened and a small pedestal arose from it. On it, there were two rings in the shape of claws with a chain on them connected to the bracelet. Sien was the first to check the mysterious item. This time Sam didn’t stop him or question the situation.

“Is this my reward?” Sien asked, thinking of trying the jewelry on.

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“Might as well take it. I got a sword so you can take weird rings.” The man waved his hand showing that Sien was free to do whatever he wanted with them.

Once Sien put them on, the ground began to shake once more. The streams of black liquid burst out of the holes. Filling the room with more liquid. Before it could reach their feet the stream stopped and all the dark liquid moved toward Sien’s new jewelry. It looked like the claw rings absorbed all the liquid in the room. Revealing the stairs down and a new way out.

“How is that… possible?” Sam questioned the scene that happened right in front of his eyes.

“Was that magic? Are those rings magical?” Sien inspected the claws up close and swung them. As he did that, in the air appeared black lines but after a moment they disappeared. Sien tried again this time making an “S” in the air. The same thing happened. “I can draw in air. Amazing!” Sien, excited with his new jewelry, drew more things in the air.

“Is that all it does?” Asked Sam, figuring out the purpose of those claws.

“I think so.” Sien tried doing different things with it like flicking the fingers or pushing them forward but nothing happened.

“There must be more to it. But I guess we’ll find out later. Let’s get out of here.” Sam grabbed Sien by the shoulder and led him down the stairs.

Sam fell to his knees as he was expecting the exit from this place but in front of him was one more door keeping them inside. It didn’t have any handle or lever near it. Pushing it did nothing.

“Just let me out of this place! I want some fresh air! I’m… suffocating…” The man panicked.

The doors suddenly opened and Sam bursted out of the dungeon to finally touch the grass. He looked forward and above to check if there were any more walls or ceilings in the dungeon. He was welcomed by the sight of a green forest and bright blue sky.

“Master. I think those claws were the keys out of here.” Said Sien, smiling as he watched the claws on his hand.

“There was a keyhole? I didn’t see any.” Sam turned around to take another look at the gates.

“No. There was a symbol and once I drew it in the air the gates opened.” Explained Sien as he repeated the symbol.

“Sien. I think I know how those claws work. My master once told me. He said that with only muscles alone I can reach certain heights but with magic, I would reach greater ones. As a peasant, I don’t possess any magic. He told me about this ancient technique that first mages used. They are called runes. Thanks to them, normal people could use spells. Maybe that thing can make magical runes!” Sam explained, imagining the possibility of using magic as a peasant.

“Do you know any runes?” Asked Sien, hoping to try using the runes.

“Unfortunately… No. I’m not a mage and have never seen one…”

“What if we find one and ask him?”

“That depends on a mage. My master told me about a few that he met. They didn’t want to share their magic knowledge with normal people.” Explained Sam, sarcastically saying “Normal people”.

“Then we just have to find a good mage! Onward to our next destination!” Sien took out a saber and faced in the direction he was walking.

“Wrong direction…”

“Onward!” Shouted Sien once again as he turned to the left.