Once the Lacum shut, Marco was thrown into a world of darkness. The darkness pushed against Marco's body. After a few seconds, the darkness faded, revealing a stone dungeon with torches that barely displayed the way.
Marco almost hit the floor, but a warm giant furry hand snatched him up, gently placing him on the stone floor.
The giant hand then gently patted Marco's head and pushed him down the hall. "What you seek lays down that way," a cold mature voice spoke.
Marco gulped and proceeded on his way. People, animals, and mystical creatures were each in their own cells. All their faces pressed forward. Some of them were covered in age-old dirt. Others were new. Marco noticed most of the cells had been broken out of. He came across a symbol that caught his attention. It had the same logo as the doe's innocent hide.
One of the creatures beside the cell grinned with a chipped tooth. "Don't worry. If he broke out, the Minotaur got him."
Marco shook his head. "I do not believe that is the case." Marco left the cell and began tracking strange glyphs in a familiar handwriting. Marco had grown up with the trinkets Sage had written, or carved on.
Someone had peered into his cell, someone that had a familiar face with darker skin. He chuckled mirthlessly. It had been so long since he tried and failed to break out of here. Sage threw off his blanket and slipped on his armored boots. He quickly enchanted them. He also enchanted the rest of his armor. Lastly, Sage grabbed his sword.
He began to follow this unknown person around. Sage watched how he studied his glyphs, peering closely at the penmanship. Sage sneaked right up behind the person. He used his sheathed blade to hold the other guy in a choking lock.
"One slip of the blade could spell your end. Now, who are you?"
Marco gasped, "You first."
The sheathed blade pressed harder against Marco's throat. His breathing became a suffocating chore. He tapped on Sage's arm twice.
Sage let up. "Now tell me what I want to know, along with why you are here." Sage repositioned the sheathed blade as Marco began to slack against his tinier frame.
"My - na- me is Mar- co Str- om -well." Marco gasped between every syllable.
Sage blinked, releasing Marco. "Stromwell?"
"I am here looking for a man called Sage." Marco breathed easier. "My father is dead."
Sage put his sheathed sword to his side. "Why should I believe that you are a Stromwell? And you do realize I could be an enemy, right?"
"I'm placing my faith in you," Marco replied.
Sage snorted, "Well, that is sure enough to get one killed."
Marco turned around when he caught sight of Sage. His eyes blew open! "You look like you did twenty years ago! The book, it has your picture!"
"Twenty years?!!!" Sage's jaw loosened. "It's been twenty years?" Sage's right hand went to his blade hilt. "How did the old man pass?"
"Hanging in my village, Primogenita." Marco bit his lip.
Sage's eyes narrowed, his previous astonishment lost. "Why? The old man was a hero?"
"My father . . . was tried." Marco turned his head down.
"Repeat that again." Sage watched Marco's lips intently.
"My father . . . " Marco hesitated.
"Yes . . . " Sage made a sign for Marco to continue.
"He was tried and hung." Marco looked up to see Sage glaring.
"Are you sure you are a Stromwell? You lack the basic survival instincts." Sage sighed.
"Yes," Marco sighed.
"Okay, then continue," said Sage.
"You see, we should probably get going. I only have, well, had fifteen minutes." Marco showed Sage the timer.
Sage gave Marco a sad look. "Well, what is to stop me from killing you and taking it? All I have to do is shake it."
"Hmm, you are a Lux Knight. Do no harm to the innocent." Marco narrowed his eyes.
Sage folded his arms."Please put that away." He reached up and pinched his nostrils. "Your stupidity astounds me. What did you leave with her?"
"A Leprechaun," Marco replied.
"She eats those." Sage looked up with a raised eyebrow. How did young Marco meet a Leprechaun? He released his pinched nostrils.
"She promised she wouldn't." Marco's lips trembled. "I believe her."
"When was the last time she ate?" Sage pinched his nose again, sighing.
"I did not ask." Marco shrugged.
"And you left a Leprechaun with her. That proves your guilt. Next time use your brain." Sage released his nose and wagged a finger at Marco.
"Father mentioned your habit of calling out others' shortcomings. The book stated you are generally ill-tempered, conceited, short-sighted, and you are a miserable grouch in the mornings. Your good traits are your kindness, the depth of which you are willing to go to save someone, your knowledge, your quick thinking, and your overall skills," Marco happily spoke.
"Are you finished?" Sage blinked.
"I suppose so." Marco shrugged
"We should get going then." Sage turned around and headed back to his cell.
"Wait!" Marco called after him.
"If a prisoner is to leave, he must be in his cell. Unfortunately, I broke my bars and used them to trap a Minotaur. That was years ago, I assume," Sage chuckled.
As they continued to walk, they heard the sound of bars clanging against the floor.
Sage stopped moving. His eyes grew wide. A massive, defending roar was heard. "Watch your back, Marco. It could be anyone. This place holds the unpleasant. Or it could be the Minotaur, finally breaking free."
Wide-eyed Marco nervously spoke, "That does not sound like a good thing."
"No, it is not, So we better get moving." Sage started running.
Marco followed behind him.
They quickly raced back to Sage's cell.
A beast roared, suddenly charging behind them. Sage pulled Marco in front of him. "Run like your life depends on it!"
Marco blinked. "It does, doesn't it?"
The Minotaur swung its massive arms and Sage barely squeezed out of the way. Sage pushed Marco into his cell. He stood his ground and pulled out his sword.
The Minotaur galloped, horns first. Only seeing the one opponent, it blinked. "Where is the other one?"
"What other one?" Sage sighed. His eyes took in the massive beast, standing thirteen feet high with bulging muscles. The upper half resembled a man, the lower half, the hindquarters of a bull. The face was also shaped like a bull with human skin stretched across it.
"You play games, Tricky One!" the Minotaur roared.
The Minotaur lowered his head, its horns pointed toward Sage's midsection.
Before Sage could react, he was yanked into his cell.
"I just shake this, right?" Marco held the timer.
Sage nodded.
Marco shook the timer.
A bright light enveloped them, swirling around. Then they were spat out.