Kano and Elgot moved down the corridor towards the throne room. The stone walls were adorned with runic patterns that faintly glowed in the dimness. The air was thick with the scent of metal, stone, and ancientness.
Before them, massive doors swung open, intricately carved with engravings of ancient battles. The King of the Dwarves sat upon his throne, the wealthiest among the four rulers of the mountain cities. As soon as they entered, he stood, banging his fist against the armrest.
—"Elgot!" — he called out loudly, his voice echoing through the hall. —"So, you've actually defeated that monster?!"
Elgot dramatically sighed, tossing a lock of hair from his forehead.
—"It was incredibly difficult," — the mage spoke with a strained voice, theatrically clenching his fist.
Kano glanced sideways at him but remained silent.
The King smiled, narrowing his eyes slyly.
—"And how did the dwarves let such a creature settle in your mines?" — he suddenly asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
For a brief moment, the King's face tightened.
—"We have no idea how it happened," — he replied, sharply sitting back down on his throne. —"The lich appeared as if from nowhere, and no one knows where it came from."
Elgot squinted his eyes.
—"Tell the truth, old man. It's not possible for a lich to just appear in the mines like that."
The King of the Dwarves paled for a moment.
—"Our ancient ruins under the mountain are crawling with the undead… Dwarves who worked there began disappearing," — his voice was dry, almost muffled.
Elgot stepped forward.
—"So, you think the lich came from there?"
The King nodded.
—"Yes. But we don't know if it was the last one."
Elgot frowned.
—"Then send your warriors to clear it out!"
The King of the Dwarves suddenly rose, his voice thundering like the strike of a hammer:
—"I've sent them! Many of them! And that's why my army can barely defend this city now! We've suffered tremendous losses!"
Elgot fell silent for a moment, then whispered quietly to Kano:
—"We're trapped. Leave now, while we still can."
Kano blinked.
—"What?"
The King suddenly let out a heavy sigh and sat down again.
—"I forgive all your debts as promised, and I'm willing to grant one request… if it's reasonable."
Elgot was about to simply turn around and leave, but…
Kano took a step forward.
—"Why don't the dwarves just hire adventurers for this job?" — he asked.
Elgot clenched his fingers into a fist.
—"Kano, you're an idiot, shut up!" — he snapped through his teeth.
But Kano wasn't listening. He kept his gaze fixed on the King.
The King leaned heavily on the armrest.
—"When outsiders see how much treasure we have, they'll start wars to take it. I can't entrust this problem to anyone else."
Kano didn't look away.
—"So why did you think we could handle it?"
The King glanced at him, a shadow of a smile crossing his face.
—"Because I will give you everything you ask for, if you do it."
Elgot had already realized they were in trouble. His fingers twitched, his fists clenched, and his face was covered in irritated rage.
—"Kano, do you realize what you've gotten us into?!" — he shouted. —"These are ancient ruins, the kind your orcs never even came close to! We have no idea what's down there!"
Kano remained silent. For the first time, true fear gripped him.
For the first time, the thought crossed his mind:
"What if this is a one-way road?"
He took a deep breath.
—"I need time to think."
The King nodded.
—"Think it over, but I'll be waiting here," — the King said.
Kano turned to Elgot.
—"We have to try."
Elgot flared up with anger.
—"You fool, what are you getting into?!" — he thundered. —"The King said he already sent his warriors! And what happened? They ALL died!"
Kano clenched his fists.
—"But if we succeed… It'll be a chance to open a trade route between our city and the dwarves!"
—"If we die down there, there'll be no trade, no city, nothing!" — Elgot snapped.
Kano looked him straight in the eyes.
—"I remember why we're here, Elgot. Support me this time."
The mage just scoffed.
—"And do I have a choice?!"
Kano turned back to the King.
—"I need a few days to prepare."
The King raised his hand.
—"Give them whatever they ask for."
He measured them with a glance.
—"I'll give you ten of my best warriors as escorts. I can't spare more."
Kano nodded.
They bowed and left the hall.
Kano and Elgot descended the massive stone stairs from the throne room. The corridors were gloomy, lit only by the occasional magical crystals flickering on the walls.
Ahead, by the entrance, stood Rudgard — a sturdy, broad-shouldered dwarf with a thick red beard, tousled and tangled after waiting for so long. As soon as he saw them, he exhaled in relief.
—"Sorry, friends, they wouldn't let me inside..." — he said, frowning. —"I was really worried about you."
Elgot finally relaxed a little, even smiling tiredly.
—"Don't worry, Rudgard, Kano got us into such a mess, you'll probably wish you hadn't agreed to come with us."
Kano lowered his head but didn't say anything.
Rudgard furrowed his brows.
—"What do you mean?"
Elgot sat on a stone ledge and let out a loud sigh.
—"Because of this fool, we're going to cleanse the ancient dwarven ruins from the undead."
Rudgard's face twisted in disbelief.
—"Mother of the Mountain..." — he murmured quietly, feeling a chill run down his spine.
The dwarf wasn't a coward. But ancient ruins? The place where hundreds of warriors had already perished? This wasn't just a task — this was a death sentence.
—"How did you get involved in this?!"
Elgot spread his arms.
—"Are you surprised? It's Kano! If there's a problem, he just RUNS towards it with open arms!"
Kano sighed deeply.
Rudgard glanced at them again, then frowned… and said:
—"I won't back down."
Elgot smirked.
—"Great, another suicide in our team."
But their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a woman's voice.
—"I want to come with you too."
Kano flinched.
Revena.
She stood nearby, her tanned skin glowing in the light of the magical crystals, her ruby-red hair cascading in waves over her shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkled with playful curiosity, but there was something deeper hidden in them.
Kano turned his gaze toward her and frowned.
—"And what are you eavesdropping for? We're not taking strangers with us."
Revena moved closer, her movements as smooth as a cat's.
—"Darling, do you consider me a stranger? Even after everything that's happened between us?"
Kano raised an eyebrow in confusion.
—"What's happened between us?"
Revena smiled playfully and pressed her hands against her chest, leaning closer.
—"Don't you feel it? We're connected now."
Kano stood frozen for a couple of seconds before calmly replying:
—"No. I don't feel anything."
Elgot sharply turned to Kano, his face suddenly serious.
—"Wait…"
Revena froze too.
Her eyes widened, and she looked at Kano again, as if checking something.
—"How… how is that possible?"
Rudgard, who had remained silent until now, looked like he'd just been struck by thunder.
—"Can someone explain to me what's going on here?!"
Elgot finally voiced his suspicion:
—"This was a contract, right? A contract on a soul."
Revena frowned.
—"Yes…"
Elgot nodded.
—"But it didn't work."
Revena pressed her lips together, her shoulders tensing.
—"Yes…"
Kano raised his hand.
—"Wait, wait. This is all interesting, but what does it mean?"
Elgot crossed his arms over his chest.
—"It means you're some kind of anomaly."
Revena slowly tilted her head to the side, studying Kano closely.
—"I've performed this ritual hundreds of times. No mortal could escape it. But you..."
She leaned in closer, her voice turning velvety and quiet:
—"You're something special."
Kano jerked back.
—"Forget it. Get away."
Revena only sighed mockingly but didn't back down.
—"I want to come with you."
Elgot immediately intervened.
—"No."
Kano simply nodded.
—"Agreed. No."
Revena crossed her arms under her chest (and they instantly lifted), and Kano, catching the movement, froze for a moment.
He quickly turned away, clearing his throat in irritation.
Revena noticed this.
She smiled to herself.
She'd found a weak spot.
Elgot raised his hands.
—"Alright, freak, we need to go."
Revena took a couple of graceful steps, ran her fingers across Kano's chest, and smiled faintly.
—"But I can help you..."
Kano sharply pushed her hand away.
—"We're discussing important matters. Get lost."
Elgot nearly choked in shock.
—"Is the idiot finally using his brain?!"
Revena narrowed her eyes slightly.
—"How rude, darling."
She crossed her arms but, before leaving, threw out one final argument:
—"I have potions. They cure anything."
Kano sighed.
—"And here we go…"
Elgot spat.
—"Kano, are you seriously falling for this?"
Kano shook his head.
—"No. I'm just… thinking."
Revena pressed her lips together just slightly.
It was harder than she expected.
—"You'll regret it if you don't take me," — she said, slowly walking away, but staying close enough to hear their conversation.
Kano quietly asked Rudgard:
—"How do dwarves feel about demons?"
Rudgard replied without hesitation:
—"This particular demoness, the king would definitely execute."
Kano paused for a second.
—"But she saved me..."
Elgot grimaced.
—"You saved her too. You're even. Forget it."
But when the dwarven guards suddenly grabbed hold of Revena, Kano instinctively shouted:
—"Wait! She's with us."
Revena blossomed into a smile.
—"Darling, you're taking me with you?"
She pressed herself against him, her sun-kissed, perfect beauty almost overwhelming.
Elgot covered his eyes with his hand.
—"Well, that's it… We're doomed…"