The three of them stared at the skeleton and the sword wedged in the skull, unyielding.
William sighed, rubbing his temples.
"So....What now?"
Alec placed a hand on his shoulder, sighing alongside him.
"I don't think we're gonna get any answers from a skeleton."
Sir Richard slid his finger down the blade. A thin line of blood appeared on his finger.
"It's still sharp… if we can't go back empty-handed, why not take the sword with us?"
Alec raised his eyebrows. He was impressed that a skilled warrior like him was talking about taking the sword.
"wait- you mean we can actually take it?"
William stepped forward. Alec almost lost his balance.
"Hey!"
William ignored him and touched the hilt of the sword.
"The embodiment is very neat. Looks like the work of a skilled blacksmith."
Alec and Sir Richard glanced at each other and joined William.
"That's true but… are you sure we can just… take it?"
Alec was unsure of the thought of taking the sword with them.
"We can take it, but we cannot use it."
Sir Richard looked around the cave again, looking for a good spot to sit down. Alec glanced at William. William bent down to see his own reflection in the sword.
"It's said that a fighter cannot use all weapons. A normal person chooses a weapon. But weapons choose their fighters."
Alec nodded in understanding.
"Oooh. So you mean that we can take it back with us but we can only use it if the weapon allows us to."
William walked towards Sir Richard.
"Something like that."
"I see." Alec stared at the sword again. Then sighed.
"I feel bad that we're talking about taking the sword when the owner of the sword is right here."
"He's dead!" William corrected Alec.
"But still. Do you think he'll take revenge if we steal the sword?"
William rolled his eyes.
"Nonsense. Ghosts aren't real."
Sir Richard nodded and gripped the hilt of Azuryne.
"Still, this sword can be—"
"Enough about the sword! What about me?"
Alec interrupted Sir Richard and pointed at himself. His expression was worried.
"We can talk about the sword later. But how do we know what happens next? How can we know about that cursed mana? Our only source of information is gone!"
Alec huffed. He was clearly overwhelmed by the sudden change of events. At his words, Sir Richard narrowed his eyes. He didn't appreciate being interrupted.
Meanwhile, William sighed.
"You know… there's no way Alfred Cheng was the only one with such information."
Sir Richard nodded, crossing his arms.
"He's right. It's not an extremely rare condition that only one person in the whole world should know about."
He looked around before continuing.
"There must be someone else who can give us the answers we desire."
Alec huffed again. His arms hanging at his sides in the form of mixed irritation and surrender.
"Alright. Suppose there is someone else. But where would we find that someone else?"
William frowned, turning his head to Alec.
"Can you stop that? It's getting annoying."
Alec frowned back at him.
"What? I just want to know what's going on with me. Is that so annoying?"
William glared at him.
"We are trying to help you, aren't we? So stop acting like you're the only one concerned."
"Oh, is that so? Maybe I am the only one concerned. Because it's about me."
Alec and William glared at each other. There was a hint of spark in their eyes. Sir Richard got in between and separated both of them.
"Enough, you two. Let's focus on going back to the capital."
They both shot each other one last glare and turned around, crossing their arms.
"Fine."
They both spoke at the same time. Sir Richard sighed. He was annoyed but still thought that it was better to act calm in this situation.
"The night's falling. Why don't we stay the night here?"
At his suggestion, Alec felt a chill going down his spine.
"Can we not?"
William shot him a warning glare.
"We are."
"Alright. Then we'll pluck the sword out tomorrow."
"Why? Are you scared that Alfred Cheng might pay you a visit at night?"
Sir Richard placed a hand on Alec's shoulder.
"Quit fighting each other. I know both of you are tired. Let's just rest for the night."
His voice was soothing and deep. Inside, he was very proud of himself for solving the issue between the younger lads.
They all took turns guarding the place. Two would sleep while one would stay awake and watch them over. When it was past midnight, William shook Alec's arm to wake him up.
"Hey, get up… it's your turn…" William's own eyes were getting heavier with each passing second. He yawned and shook Alec's arm again.
"Get up… I wanna sleep, too."
With a low groan, Alec sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Fine… go to sleep…"
William lay down where Alec was. While Alec got up and sat down next to a rock, he leaned against the rock, yawning.
"No… I can't sleep right now."
He talked to himself in an attempt to stay awake.
"Let's see… Alfred Cheng is dead so we can't get the answers for now."
He flicked his fingers one by one, counting each event aloud.
"That lizard guy made it certain that the seven rings are real. Then… who was Olto?"
Alec thought about it but no one came to his mind. So he pushed it aside for now.
"Then… the map for the rings is not one, but multiple. I have no idea which map that lizard took. It means… there are people who know about the seven rings and want to get them for themselves."
His eyes widened at the conclusion. He covered his mouth with his hand in astonishment.
"If I'm not the only one after the rings… someone might get those rings before me."
His fist clenched at his sides.
"I won't let it happen. I have to find at least one ring. At least I'll be assured that no one other than me is getting their wish done."
His eyes suddenly flickered to the opened chest where the lizard man found the map. Slowly, he got up and approached the chest. Inside were a few old scrolls, some books on useless things, and an emerald.
He picked up the emerald. It was the size of his entire hand.
"Woah… I'm surprised that the lizard didn't take it."
He turned the emerald, examining it.
"I wonder why."
Gradually, the emerald began to shine. Alec's eyes widened. He suddenly felt his whole body on needles. He wanted to scream but no voice came.
Alec felt his brain being squeezed by an unknown force. Then suddenly, his eyes rolled backward and he slumped on the ground.
---
Slowly, Alec fluttered open his eyes. The first thing he noticed was the sudden brightness.
"Agh… where… huh?"
He suddenly sat up. He took in his surroundings. He wasn't in the cave. It was a forest.
"Where am I? William? Sir Richard?… anyone?"
He looked around but couldn't see anyone. He stood up on his feet. He tried to reach out to his sword but realized that it wasn't at his waistband. He flinched.
Alec gulped. He was in an unknown place without a clue as to how he even got here. Looking around, he stood up.
"What is this place…?"
He was both astonished and awed by the beauty of the forest. Suddenly, he felt the ground shake.
Alec looked down at the soil trembling.
"Uh… what?"
He instinctively took a step back and accidentally hit something.
"Ow! Watch it, big guy!"
Or rather… someone. Alec's eyes widened when he saw a two-feet-tall man. From the look of it, it was a dwarf.
"A… dwarf?" Alec murmured to himself.
The dwarf patted the dust off his clothes and pointed at Alec.
"Did you feel that earthquake as well?"
Alec tilted his head slightly.
"An earthquake? You mean… oh, yes. I did."
Alec crouched down to the little dwarf's eye level.
"Do you know what it was?"
The dwarf nodded his head frantically.
"Come with me, big guy. I'll tell you."
Alec nodded and let the dwarf show him the way. The dwarf walked forward.
"You are currently in the village of us dwarfs. But before that, I need you to know that we desperately need help."
"Help?" Alec followed the dwarf closely.
"Help from what?"
The dwarf pushed a bush to show Alec a hidden village. The village was less like a dwarf's town and more like a child's play area. The small buildings resembled doll houses for children.
Alec followed the dwarf into the village.
"You're back!"
"Shirley is back! You brought the savior with you!"
Alec watched the little dwarfs interact with each other. He assumed that he was the one they were talking about.
"Savior? You mean me?"
The dwarfs gazed up to see Alec and they all nodded.
"Yes! Our savior!"
"The savior is here!"
"We're saved! Thank the woods!"
Alec chuckled. He felt like he was needed. A strange sense of satisfaction washed over him. He hadn't done anything and he was already a savior? That was something to be proud of, according to him.
"alright, alright. If I'm your so-called savior... what exactly do you need saving from?"
He felt smug at being called a savior.
'I mean, what do these tiny people need to be saved from? A wild cat? Or perhaps a rolling rock.'
The village chief slowly approached Alec.
"Young man," he began with a husky voice.
"My name is Amos. I am the chief of this village."
Out of courtesy, Alec sat down cross-legged to listen to the elderly dwarf.
"If you are willing to help us, we'll never forget your kindness."
Alec smirked. A sheepish grin formed on his lips.
"I hear you." He crossed his arms, acting nonchalant.
"But if I do help, what's in it for me?"
The old dwarf ran a hand through his long beard.
"Very well. Your reward would be a weapon that suits you. We dwarfs are very good at crafty things. Especially weapons. If you help us, we'll make you a weapon that would be so strong you'll win every battle."
Alec's jaw dropped at the old dwarf's words.
"Wait, really?"
He had been just joking. But if the prize was tempting, why refuse?
"Ahem, I mean… yes. I'll help you."
The old dwarf was delighted.
"Great! Thank you, O great human."
"Wait," Alec stopped the dwarf from leaving.
"What exactly do I have to save you from?"
At his question, the dwarf chief slowly turned to him. The ground shook again with birds flying away chirping. The atmosphere changed drastically.
"Huhuhu. It seems you don't know yet."
There was a wicked look in the dwarf's eye.
"What you have to save us from are…"
A roar spread through the forest. The dwarfs hid inside their houses, closing the doors and windows. Gradually, Alec turned his head back to see so many golems meandering towards the village.
"Are them!"