"Get up!" Sil woke up Prince Enric. "Um... what? What's going on?" Enric rose from the ground after the night of glorification.
"We must save your Empire, you forgot?"
"Ahh... damn it, we need to find Marcus."
"He is waiting for you at the entrance to the cave."
Enric and Silveria met Marcus at the entrance to the cave.
"And where is your knight?" Enric asked.
"He wanted to stay here, he would help with the training of the soldiers, who would then come to our aid. Will we go to Gregorian?" Marcus asked.
"No, we have to go somewhere else first," Enric said. "You won't stay here?" Enric asked Silveria.
"Hah, and let all the glory to you alone? Forget it," Sil answered with a smile.
"Hmm... I shouldn't refuse a princess in her kingdom," Enric grinned.
"You shouldn't," replied Sil and followed Enric.
"And where are we going?" Marcus asked.
"Not far, we'll reach the Thunder Hills and from there it's a day or two trip," Enric answered.
"Day or two? Are you even sure that you know the way," Sil doubted.
"Of course, I was there once."
"And you went there alone?" Sil asked.
"Don't worry, finding a way is easy, harder is to survive there."
"You've never been into inspiring speeches right?" Sil laughed.
They reached the Thunder Hills where Edgar was waiting for them.
"How are you?" Enric asked.
"The best way for a man in my situation to be... Sir?"
"Yes, Edgar?"
"May I leave?"
"And where do you want to go?" Marcus asked.
“This experience opened my eyes. There is a lot of dangerous wizards around the world like this one, someone has to face them,” Edgar told them.
"Hmm... so you want to become a sorcerer hunter... I'm not against, Marcus?" Enric replied.
"Neither am I, you can go, maybe we'll all meet again."
"Thank you, I wish you a lucky journey," Edgar replied and rode his horse away.
"Well, we're just three now," Marcus said and mounted his horse.
"No, no, we'll go on foot, the horses won't get us far," Enric stopped him.
"Ah, on foot again? Marcus replied. "I'll request a pack of food and water from the Stormers at least," he added.
"We'll also take some wood for a fire, there's not much in the mountains," Enric said.
They set off for the mountains.
All-day they trudged along paths and narrow paths, at the night they camped on a small stone flatland and set up a fire.
"Hmm... that dwarven meat tastes like pork, what is it?"
"Everything tastes like pork to you, Marcus, it's probably another creature whose name shouldn't be asked," Enric replied.
"It's a cave vole," Sil laughed.
"Um... I don't care anymore," Marcus said and went to sleep.
There is no frost in the mountains at this time, but the temperature is lower than in the lowlands.
"Are you cold?" Enric turned to Sil.
"Just a little, it's a bit different from the temperature in the woods."
Enric took off his cloak and covered her. "It's not much, but at least the wind won't blow on you."
"Thank you, prince," smiled Sil and closed her eyes.
"You're welcome... Princess," Enric smiled too and fell asleep.
Early in the morning, they moved on.
After about an hour, Silveria asked. "You haven't even told us where we're going. What should we look for?"
"We are here. That is it." Enric pointed to the entrance carved into the rock.
"And what's there?" Sil asked.
"There is a powerful artefact that will help us against the Dark Ones."
"And who built it? Is it some sort of stash or?" Marcus asked, uncomprehending.
"Well, it's a... tomb."
"What? Whose?" asked Sil.
"My father's."
“Gregorius? But you don't want to say that..." Marcus stopped.
“I want to rob my father's tomb? Ah, no, even though he deserves it, I'll just take what belongs to the Empire, as he used to say."
"You didn't like your father much did you?" said Sil wrathfully.
"It was just a murderous monster, he could do nothing but massacre and rob the weaker."
"How can you..." Marcus said.
"I don't have time for this now, I'm not asking you to come with me. Go back and camp somewhere, I'll find you," the prince said and hurled himself into the darkness of the tomb.
The prince took the stones and burned out torch, covered it with a part of his cloak, and set it on fire. Then he went on to the tomb, it should be full of traps, the prince had not triggered a single one so far, he was confused. He walked to the lower floors of the tomb and saw a stone door with the Empire's ornaments on them.
"So here you are, father," Enric said, looking for a way to open the door when he noticed a crack above which a ring image was carved, Enric still wore his mother's ring on a string in his pocket. It fitted exactly then the prince turned the ring, the door opened. Enric walked into a room full of gold and there was a grave nearby. Afterwards, he stepped forward and opened it while a fire ignited in his eyes. The skeleton held a large crystal, Enric ripped it out of his father's skeletal hands and the tomb shuddered. "I hope your soul burns deep in the eternal exile," he said as he looked at the skeleton.
After leaving the room, the way back was collapsed, the stairs led down, at the end Enric spotted the light and went in its direction.
Enric stopped in a long, wide room and before him stood... Zarius looking for something on the wall. Enric's blood tightened in his veins, he was slowly placing his hand on the sword handle.
Zarius turned. "Ah... Well, that's a surprise, I see you found the artefact before I did," he laughed ominously at him. "Give it to me and I'll let you go," Zarius said.
"I'd like to leave, but the way back is... Well, unfortunately, isn't."
"What?!"
"That's right, the way back is boggled down, the exit must be here somewhere."
"Uh... and you know it here?" Zarius shyly asked.
"I know some of those runes, but you have to hold a light for me."
"Well... good." Zarius grabbed the torch and together with Enric they were looking for a way to get out.
"There's something here!" Zarius pushed the stone and the room door closed, the walls started moving against them.
"Are you... Ah, over there! There's a small tunnel up there, it opened but you don't fit in there," Said Enric.
"Give me the artefact!" Zarius shouted.
"What?" Enric exclaimed.
"That's how we both die here! I'll lift you to the tunnel, but give me the artefact!"
"Oh... Okey." Enric gave Zarius an artefact and he lifted him into the tunnel.
"Um... How was E... Enric? Are you still alive?" Zarius called.
The walls stopped and another wall opened in front of Zarius, Enric was standing behind it.
"Looks like it's done, Zari, we're alive," Enric laughed.
"Do not call me like that. You live until we get out of this damn cell."
"Sure, Zari, let's go." Enric turned around, and Zarius had an unimaginable desire to stab him in the back, considering that another such trap might be waiting for them, he didn't do it.
"Why don't you give me the artefact now?" Enric offered.
"Forget it."
"Hey, I go first and every moment I can be killed by something, give it to me!" exclaimed Enric and when he tried to draw his sword, he struck the elbow into the wall and fell underneath the floor. They both flew in free fall for a moment, then they landed on the sloping stone and both of them came out of the entrance to the clearing. Zarius grabbed the artefact and began to run.
"Halt! You coward!" Enric followed him but Zarius disappeared from his view. Zarius fell from the cliff under the clouds.
"Asshole," Enric took off the dust and turned around. He was at the very beginning of the road that he, Marcus and Sil had overcome.
"Damn it! Even though my father is dead, he gives me endurance training!" Enric angered and went back up to the others.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
