The blades clashed back and forth. Sparks flew across the air and landed in the snow. Tolmanak would be pushed back but then he would counter and throw Ridley off his balance. As much as the sword guided him, he still had to figure out how to balance himself as he continued to fight with Tolamank. There was a thrill in the air. Ridley had a surprised look of amazement on his face as he continued to let the sword guide him in attacking and parrying.

“I am so close.” Ridley thought to himself as thoughts slowly poured in of seeing home once again. “This is the end of it all.”

But then Ridley had stumbled too much on a block and lost balance. As he tried to recover, Tolmanak seized the opportunity and slashed at his arm. Scarlet stained the snow as Ridley cried out in pain. His sword slipped from his grip and landed in the snow. RIdley clutched his arm as pain shot all throughout his body.

“Oh don’t cry, boy.” Tolmanak said as he kicked Ridley’s sword away from him. “The heat would cauterize the wound. You won’t bleed out.” He said with a grin as he moved forward towards Ridley.

Fear, panic and distress all registered at the same time in Ridley’s brain. He couldn’t think of anything else. Tolmank’s hand reached out and grabbed a hold of Ridley's collar and hoisted him up with an unimaginable amount of force and threw him across the air and into the ground with a thud. Pain registered all over his body as he rolled on his back. His ears were ringing and his head felt fuzzy. He tried to get up but couldn’t. His body was in shock and was not responding.He couldn’t even move his fingers. He looked up at the night sky and thought for a brief moment that this was the end.

“Fuck…” He thought. “This is it. I’m sorry, Samantha, dad.”

Seconds had gone by but nothing had happened. No noise, no sudden footsteps approached, no snarky words from Tolmanak. All was silent and still. Slowly the adrenaline swam throughout his body and then gradually he was able to move again but only slightly starting with his fingertips and then throughout the rest of his body. A few more seconds later he was able to sit up. Pain greeted him as he sat up but not as much as he previously felt.

“The hell is going on here?” He thought to himself. Then he heard a scream. He looked to see Tolmanak wandering around in the snow.

“What is going on?” Tolmanak cried out as he jerked his head around. Ridley struggled to pick himself up but his legs were having a hard time coordinating.

“Hey! Tolmanak!” Ridley shouted. Tolmanak turned and looked at Ridley with confusion.

“Where am I, stranger?” Tolmanak questioned. “I don’t remember where I am.” He said as he looked around. Ridley finally managed to stand himself up and stagger towards Tolmanak.

“This better not be a trick.” Ridley said as he reached out with his hand. The sword flew with a trail of snow behind it and landed in Ridley's hand with a snap. Tolmanak seemed troubled at the sight.

“Please help me.” Tolmanak asked. Ridley took a step back, his eyes darted back and forth with confusion and then he paused for a moment. A strange feeling ran up from the palm of his hand through his arm. He looked down and resting gently in his hand was the gold ring that Tolmanak was wearing. He held it up and gazed at it. It pulsed with life and soon Ridley felt fear and hatred radiating from the ring. His gaze was suddenly interrupted by the sound of terror.

It came from Tolmanak who was staring at Ridley with his finger pointed out towards him.

“Keep that vile thing away from me!” He shouted and with a quick turn he ran. Tolmanak disappeared into the shadows beyond the trees; where shortly later he was greeted with sounds of hungry wolves. Ridley didn’t do anything as he watched Tolmanak run. His mind was preoccupied for the moment. He looked back down at the ring. Suddenly a feeling washed over him. It made him feel good. There were images flashing in his head. He was surrounded by a large amount of wealth, he lived in a large house and there was a table filled with endless food. He saw the city where he grew up in, he saw his sister and father smiling and laughing together. There was no war, no conflicts; nothing but peace. And then a deep voice crept into his ears and surrounded him. “I can give you these.” A smile flashed across Ridley’s face as he stared at the ring.

Just then a hand reached out and took a hold of his wrist. As he jerked his head in reaction, another hand smacked Ridley across the face. He tumbled to the ground, dropping the sword and the ring.

The large man stood before him as Ridley looked up. He reached down, scooped up the ring and flung it deep into the forest; where the darkness consumed it whole. He looked back at Ridley and gave a faint smile.

“Poison comes in many different bottles.” He said as he reached down and helped Ridley to his feet.

“Poison?” Ridley asked.

It was a brief moment, but Ridley suddenly felt the presence of someone very annoying behind him. He spun around, expecting a fight but no one was there.

“Chasing ghosts now?” The man asked. Ridley gave out a sigh.

“No, not ghosts. But I have a good idea who is out there.”

“Who?” Leaf said as she appeared next to Ridley.

Ridley gave a sherik of fright that would pierce the ears of a deaf man. He leaped back a good few feet and before he knew it he had his sword back in his hand. The man did not stir, he only raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Leaf stood there in front of Ridley with a playful grin on her face. Her eyes shined in the dragon’s fire as she clapped her hands together and gave a little jump.

“Yay! You did it!” She said with glee. “You played my game, solved my riddles and you won. Though admittedly I did not believe you would have succeeded. It appears that the Gods favor you in this.” Leaf said.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“In many different bottles.” The man said. Leaf turned to him with a sour look on her face.

“I have no business with you. Please leave us to ours.” Leaf said as she folded her arms. The man turned to Ridley.

“Many different bottles.” He said as he turned towards his family and left.

Ridley took a deep breath and composed himself. “A blade.” He said. “That was the answer to your last riddle? A fucking blade?”

Leaf looked at Ridley with cold eyes. “If you have something to say about my games or my riddles, please speak freely, mortal. I am listening.” Leaf said in a calm yet disturbing voice.

Ridley flinched. “No no. That will not be necessary. No words to speak of here.” He said nervously. Leafs eyes widen with curiosity and delight, her teeth shined through her smile as a predator would do when eyeing its prey.

“You have learned well during this game. And now for my end of the deal.” Leaf said as she extended her hand. “Your blade, please.”

Ridley hesitated for a brief moment but followed through and handed his sword over to Leaf. Leaf held the blade carefully in her hand. A flash of frustration washed over her face as she glared at the blade. Ridley stood there in silence as Leaf continued to stare at the blade in uncomfortable silence. Leaf’s eyes trailed back over to Ridley. Ridley felt a chill rushing down his spine as his eyes met Leaf’s.

“She has quite a mouth on her.” Leaf said in a monotone voice. Ridley blinked and looked around confused and then weakly lifted his finger to his sword. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. His expression spoke for him. Leaf only nodded and placed the sword on the ground.

“The other items please.” She said as she continued to look at the sword distastefully as if one just drank sour milk. Ridley fished through his backpack and pulled out the Brushweed and laid it next to the sword; he then placed the lantern in front of the sword.

“Okay. Now what.” He asked. Leaf kneeled down in the snow. She picked up the Brushweed and crushed it in the palm of her hands while chanting to herself. Black smoke started to seep from her hands. She sprinkled the crushed smoking Brushweed over the blade. The blade twitched slightly as the Brushweed landed on the metal. Leaf then picked up the lantern and placed her hand over the flame. With a quick phrase the fire leaped from the lantern and into her hand. The flame danced in Leaf’s palm as she brought it to the blade. The fire suddenly burst into a dark blue color and then transitioned into a bright white. Ridley turned away and shielded his eyes from the bright light. When he looked back, the blade was in Leaf’s hand but the metal had turned black and was giving off a dark blue smoke. Leaf stood up with the blade in and turned away from Ridley. She raised the sword high in the air and cut at the air in front of her.

Suddenly the sound around Ridley ceased. There was a slight fullness built up in his ears. He covered one of his ears, thinking he had gone deaf and tried to snap his fingers. Nothing. It became dead quiet for a brief moment but then he felt the pressure in his ears give a loud popping sound along with a sharp pain. He heard himself yelped as the rushing sound of the wind blowing from behind him towards Leaf. The wind nearly blew him over but he was able to get his feet planted. Then the wind stopped and calmed. Ridley looked around confused. Leaf did not turn around to face him. Ridley moved around and saw then what Leaf had her gaze fixed upon. Stars or what looked like stars very far away surrounded by blackness in the shape of a vertical tear. The air around the blackness was rippling like curtains and Ridley could feel the cool air escape from the tear and rushing past him. The sound of gentle rain accompanied the wind and within a few seconds Ridley could feel tiny droplets of water hit his face.

“Home.” He mumbled to himself. Leaf let out a sigh and turned to face Ridley.

“Here is the doorway for you to leave this world. I have fulfilled my end of the deal.” She said proudly. Ridley cracked a grin of relief as he started to move towards the doorway. Leaf reached out with her hand and grabbed hold of Ridley’s arm.

“Ridley,” She said. “Wait.”

Ridley paused in his tracks and looked curiously at her. He furrowed his brows and his eyes darted back and forth between her and the doorway.

“Answer me this honestly. Do you really want to go back?” Leaf asked curiously. Ridley took a step back.

“Yes” He answered. “I have been all over this continent playing your games, answering your riddles. I have fought with ghosts, goblins, had lunch with a dragon and possibly dethroned a slave owning tyrant. Yes, Leaf I want to go home.” Ridley said exhaustedly. “I am tired, I am cold. I could use a hot meal, a warm bed and the presence of my family would be wonderful.” Ridley said with a tone of annoyance. “I played your games. I made a promise. A promise I intend to keep.” Ridley let out a sigh and stared at the doorway. “ And I am almost there.” He said.

Leaf tilted her head in thought.

“You fought in a war you were forced into. You saw horrors you will never be free from. You killed your friend to show mercy. You drank your soul away and was kidnapped by pirates for a suicide mission. Doesn’t sound like a pleasant world to be a part of.”

Ridley scoffed. “And this world can do better? I was almost driven to shoot myself by ghosts in a haunted forest, I was capsized and nearly struck by lightning while trying to calm down an emotional distraught dragon and on top of all that I got the wind knocked out of me by a crazed prick with a fire sword.” Ridley said as he sighed. “Yes, the world I left was bad; bad enough that I was desperate to run away from.” Ridley said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of letters. “But...I have something to look forward to back there. I have family, and friends. A life of my own and one I intend to claim back.”

A look of worry crossed Leaf’s face. “You cross the doorway, you'll only be faced with death.” Leaf said as she approached him. “I can keep you safe. I can heal your pain. And, “ She said as she took Ridley’s hand. “If a family you want, you can have it here as well.”

Ridley blinked a few times in confusion and then realized what Leaf was talking about. He pulled away his hand from hers and grabbed his sword out from her other hand. He looked like he was about to say something but then stopped for a moment and looked like he was thinking.

“As generous as the offer sounds.” He started. “ I must decline your offer. I’ll take my chances on the other side.” Ridley said as he walked around Leaf and headed for the doorway.

“Ridley…” Leaf said as she turned to face him. Ridley stopped in front of the doorway, he peered through it and could see trees and a dark blue night sky. He let out a sigh.

“Yeah?”

“I will see you again.” Leaf said. Ridley looked back at Leaf. She once again held a proud look on her face along with a formal posture as if she was conducting business. Ridley let out a tired sigh.

“The day I cross paths with you again.” Ridley said as his weary expression turned into a mischievous one. “It will be too soon.” And with that said, he leaped through the doorway.

On the other side of the doorway, Ridley was met with cool air and the light drizzly of rain. The air was surprisingly thin and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, until he looked up at the night sky. From outside the doorway he saw a few stars off in the distance along with some trees blocking most of the sky. But now as he stood on the other side of the doorway he could see the entire sky and something was definitely wrong.

The stars all lit up in the sky, but they clustered together in the middle of the night sky in a spiral shape. The look of terror was plain on his face. He looked around in a panic. He felt the tension in his shoulders rising.

“Leaf!” He called out. “Where the hell am I? I said I wanted to go home!” Ridley shouted. “Where did you lead me, you harlot?” Ridley said with anger in his tone.

“Oh...did you wanted to go home?” Leaf’s voice whispered in his ear. “I told you, once you cross the doorway, there is nothing waiting for you but death.”

“Come on, now. No more games. You broke our deal!” Ridley said. A ear piercing scream shot into his ear and he winced in pain.

“Do not ill-repute my word, child! You simply asked to leave the world behind the barrier and I did just that.” Leaf said. “But...all is not lost-”

Ridley immediately cut her off. “No more deals! I’m done.”

“All is not lost. Where you are is what your people would refer to as the Underworld and as stories of old would tell, there is always another doorway to get back to the world of the living. All you have to do is keep an eye out of the doorway. Oh and pray to the Gods that the shadows don’t find you first, otherwise you will never leave this place.”

“Always a catch with you. What is it!?” Ridley shouted.

“No catch. But I would not have been shouting if I was you. Farewell Ridley Anthony Lorn. I do hope we see each other again. Ta.”

Ridley’s eyes widen with fear.

“I can never catch a break, can I?” He thought to himself.

Off in the distance the howling cries of wolves could be heard and all the hairs on the back of RIdley’s neck stood.

“Almost home.” He thought to himself. Ridley secured his pack and started to move. Time was running out he felt as he traveled the forest. Though the sky was dark there was enough light from the stars, the moon and the last remaining bit of sunlight off in the horizon to light his way. He no longer had the dragon’s fire to keep himself warm and the cold and wet started to weigh him down.

“Where the hell is the other doorway?” He thought.