Chapter 22

22. The Guardian of the Mines

The carriage drove through the dense trees. Even though it was midday, the forest, where the sun barely penetrated, was dark.

Adelaide, who kept looking around at the same scenery, checked the map.

The location marked on the map was getting closer. If Zatia’s words were correct, there should be a sapphire mine around here.

“Your Grace, the road is blocked.”

Lucid, who stopped the carriage, opened the middle window and spoke. Callion leaned his head out of the carriage. Due to the thick fog, it was difficult to assess the situation.

“Stay here while I go take a look outside.”

As Callion got off the carriage, Adelaide leaned out of the window just as he did. The air was humid due to the rain that fell last night.

“Adele.”

Callion returned to the carriage after speaking with the knights, who had scouted the area. His expression was grim.

“The road is completely blocked, and we can’t proceed further by carriage.”

“Then we’ll have to walk.”

Adelaide opened the carriage door without hesitation. Callion, who held out his hand reflexively, frowned.

“Do we really have to go?”

“We’ve come all this way, and you’re suggesting we just turn back?”

She deliberately raised her voice so the assembled knights could hear her. He smirked bitterly at the ploy.

“After coming this far, are you suggesting we just turn back?”

Adelaide deliberately raised her voice so that all the gathered knights could hear. Callion chuckled at her obvious ploy.

“Everyone, get off your horses and gather your things.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

While the knights gathered their things and set their horses and carriages to one side, Callion went first into the forest path.

Even though they were only a few paces apart, a chill ran through her. The fog was so thick that it was hard to see anything, adding to the ominousness.

“Julian, the fog is thick, so I suggest you pair up. One of you stay here and call for help if we don’t return by nightfall.”

“Understood.”

Callion gave the instructions quickly, then turned to her.

“Are you ready?”

“Since earlier.”

There was no fear in the woman’s lighthearted reply. That calmed his anxiety.

“Just two hours.”

“What?”

“If we don’t find the mine in two hours, we’re going back.”

“All right.”

Adelaide cautiously took his outstretched hand.

“Let’s go.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The forest was peaceful enough that she was almost ashamed to have made a fuss. Adelaide sighed at the silence—not a rabbit in sight.

It was a good thing nothing was happening, but it was also unlikely that there was a sapphire mine.

If only the fog would lift. The fog was so thick that she could barely make out the back of the knight in front of her, making her search even slower.

“It’s too quiet.”

Callion muttered softly as they walked in silence, his grip tightening on Adelaide’s hand.

“Don’t ever leave my side.”

“Why is that?”

“Strangely, the forest is so dense, and we don’t hear any beasts.”

As she listened and thought about his words, she suddenly found the silence eerie.

The fewer people around, the more animals tend to make noise, but not even the sounds of birds could be heard.

As they cautiously looked around, Julian, who had been leading them, approached them.

“Your Grace, the path ahead is blocked.”

“Is it a cave?”

“It’s a stone wall, but I don’t know if it’s a cave.”

“See if you can find an entrance.”

“Yes.”

The knights scattered as ordered.

Adelaide looked up at the faintly visible rock wall in the fog. It was so huge and high that it was difficult to gauge its end.

If caves were within those walls, there might be sapphire mines.

The sun would soon be setting, and she was too impatient to wait for the knights’ report. Adelaide tugged lightly on Callion’s arm.

Something round and hard struck her foot. Callion caught her as she slipped.

After barely regaining her balance, Adelaide struggled to get up.

“Are you hurt?”

“Yes. I think I stepped on a rock……, huh?”

Adelaide’s face went white as she checked her footing.

It wasn’t a stone; it was bone. Human bones.

Callion drew his sword quickly and shouted.

“Stop the search and come back. Gather together in one place and don’t scatter!”

“…….”

There was no answer. Panicked, he looked around.

“Julian?”

“…….”

“Julian! Where are you?”

Callion’s voice bounced off the stone wall.

“Lucid, can you hear me?”

“Zatia, are you there?”

“…….”

Nothing could be seen or heard, and the surroundings were filled with silence in the thick fog.

Callion gripped Adelaide’s hand tightly.

‘Could this be a curse? ’

The same thought flashed through both of their minds.

“Let’s get out of here for now.”

Callion yanked her hand away.

“Ugh!”

A scream came from the distance.

“What’s going on? ”

Callion shouted, sheathing his sword. There was still no answer, only silence in the back of his mind.

Tense and wary of his surroundings, Callion stepped away. Then.

“Oh, no! Get away from me!”

“Help!”

“Run, Your Grace!”

The desperate shouts came from all directions.

What was not seen was far more terrifying than what was.

The sound of swords clashing, the howling, and the screams.

Amidst the men’s shouts, the occasional cries of women could be heard.

“Stop, I-I’m sorry! Don’t hit me!”

“Zatia? Where are you- Kaaak!”

“Adele!”

A blade emerged from the fog. It was a familiar sword. Callion quickly deflected it. They needed to get out of this place fast. They had been lucky to avoid it before, but they didn’t know where another sword might come flying from.

“Let’s go that way.”

He led her in the opposite direction of the stone wall. Adelaide followed him, her face white with fear.

Beneath their feet was a field of skeletons. ‘Crunch, crunch, crunch.’ With every step they took, bones broke and echoed loudly.

With their vision obscured, it was difficult to find their way. The intermittent screams suddenly stopped.

Would they be able to escape?

They couldn’t find a way out. They thought they had walked away from the rock wall in the opposite direction, but they were still in front of it.

The fog grew thicker and thicker as they walked, and Callion felt a sense of foreboding.

“Your Grace, there’s a cave over there!”

“A cave?”

“Yes, over there, inside.”

Adelaide pointed down a stone wall a short distance away. There was indeed a large cave entrance.

Could that be it?

Adelaide nodded when their eyes met. Whether there was danger inside the cave or out here, it was all the same.

“Let’s go in.”

Callion headed straight for the cave, the fog that should have been light only growing thicker the closer they got.

Something was there. A hunch, almost instinctive, ran up his spine. He held his breath and stepped into the cave’s entrance.

“Kyaa!”

A blue snake opened its mouth wide and lunged at them.

“Adele, step back!”

Callion bared his teeth and swung his sword at the charging snake. ‘Boom’ the sword bounced off the venomous fangs. The spot where it had struck the fangs turned black.

“If it bites me, I’ll be dead.”

Callion straightened his sword and glared straight into the snake’s eyes.

The snake, an unwelcome intruder, exuded venomous aggression. As it hissed and breathed, mist sprayed out like a fog machine.

‘Was this creature the source of the fog? ‘

This snake must be the guardian spirit Zatia had spoken of.

“Kyaaaaah!”

The snake, as if gauging its strength, shook its head and attacked Callion’s side.

Callion quickly spun and moved to the snake’s tail. The great tail slapped against the cave wall, sending a shower of stone dust down.

A direct hit would have been dangerous, but the creature was not fast enough for his size. Clutching his sword with both hands, Callion leaped up, aiming for the snake’s head.

The snake opened its mouth menacingly and poured out a fountain of mist. Despite being blinded, Callion was unfazed and plunged his sword down.

“Kyaaah!”

The blade landed squarely on the snake’s tongue. The snake twisted and writhed its massive body.

Callion gripped the blade and put his weight on it. The pointed tip of the blade pierced the snake’s jaw.

Thud! Sprawled on the ground, the snake struggled for a moment, then quieted.

“Your Grace!”

Adelaide, who had been standing at the mouth of the cave watching the battle, rushed over. Blood trickled down Callion’s face from the stone dust.

“Adele, are you all right?”

“Your Grace, you’re injured…!”

“It’s just a scratch, I’m not hurt.”

Callion dabbed at the wound with his sleeve as if it were no big deal. Adelaide examined him carefully, relieved.

“It seems like the fog is clearing.”

As the snake died, the dense fog vanished instantly. People who had disappeared were now lying on the ground.

“Zatia!”

“Lucid.”

Adelaide rushed to Zatia and shook her unconscious body.

“Zatia, wake up! Zatia!”

“My Lady……?”

Zatia stared at Adelaide with confused eyes. Lucid struggled to his feet.

“Lucid, are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”

One by one, the knights woke up. They all had cuts and scrapes, but none of them were seriously injured.

Julian came running up from the far side.

“Are you all right, Your Grace?”

“I’m fine. What happened?”

“That…….”

Julian trailed off, avoiding eye contact.

“Your Grace! Please come over here for a moment!”

One of the knights, who had regained consciousness, shouted from the entrance of the cave.

As Julian headed toward the cave, assuming he’d found the snake’s body and called out to it, the knight waved him over with a look of remembrance.

“What’s going on?”

“Look, look in there.”

Inside the cave, behind the snake’s body, blue ores glowed brilliantly.