9 An Answer and More Questions (1/2)

Casey could hardly focus through the rest of their classes. They were learning something about the Ketranan Empire to the South of Decra, but all he could think about was their future trip back to the Knight's Hall.

Both the classes and dinner passed very slowly but it was finally time to meet Ronin and head down to the hall.

Casey met Lia outside of his room and headed for the gate to the deeps.

”Wait so we're going underground?!” Lia asked when they reached the gate. ”But no one ever goes down there, I didn't even think this thing could open.”

”It does open, though very loudly. And you're full of questions today aren't you?” Casey crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

”Well you've only yourself to blame there. And for the record, you've hardly answered any of them.” Pouting, Lia fixed him with another glare.

”Hey you two!” A soft feminine voice rang out from behind them.

Upon turning around, Casey saw that Ronin and Sara had arrived. Ronin wore the same Rider uniform he always wore but Sara was wearing a casual blue dress.

”Hey! I see you decided to join us as well Sara.” He called back.

”Ah yep, I got curious, so I decided to join you.” She said as Ronin gave a slight nod in greeting.

”Well works for me, shall we go?” Casey asked, ignoring Lia who was elbowing him in the side for some reason.

Ronin grabbed a torch from the wall and gestured towards Sara. She took an old iron key out of a pouch and unlocked the gate with it. Giving the gate a strong push it swung open on its rusted hinges.

”You weren't kidding when you said it was loud.” Lia commented.

Casey smiled and walked through the gate.

As they descended the long stairway that led down into the deeps, Ronin finally spoke. ”So are you going to tell us why you wanted to go back there?” Glancing at Lia he continued, ”And why you decided to bring someone else?”

”Well, that's a little hard to explain. It has to do with the tracks we found on the ride earlier.” Pausing for a moment, he turned to Lia. ”Would you tell them what you remembered?”

”Sure.”

Before she could continue Ronin cut her off, ”Did you leave something out of the report?”

”Ah no, I just didn't think of it then.” Stopping to collect her thoughts, she began telling them about the description in the book.

When she was done Sara and Ronin exchanged looks, ”So you are saying that you think that you think the tracks match the description that you found?” She asked.

”Yes.”

”You rechecked the book right?” Ronin looked at her doubtfully.

Casey interrupted before Lia could answer. ”Well that's the problem, and the reason why we're here instead of sleeping. When we went to look for the book, we learned that it went missing a few weeks ago. That's why I decided we needed to see the mural again.”

”I should have guessed.” Sara and Ronin abruptly stopped walking and began whispering about something that he couldn't hear.

”I'd hate to break up your little moment, but is there something we should know?” Casey called back to them.

Ronin coughed and said, ”Hopefully it's nothing. Let's just head down there and check the mural.”

”Okay then I guess.” Casey began to pick up the pace, hurrying towards the hall.

As they walked, Casey began to notice some things that he hadn't noticed during his first trip into the deeps. The corridor wasn't as linear as he thought. In addition to the wooden doors they passed, there were several places where the path split off. 'How did I miss these?' He wondered

Unable to contain his curiosity he asked aloud, ”When I first came down here, I didn't notice any of the other passages. How could I have made it to the hall as easily as I did?”

”When you're called by an artifact, the closer you get to it the more of an influence it has on you. Especially with the more powerful ones. You probably just followed it's instructions without a thought.” Sara answered.

”So you're telling me that this thing controlled me? Is it Still controlling me?” He unconsciously gripped his fox clasp, ready to tear it off if necessary.

Sara giggled, ”No, you don't have to worry about your artifact controlling you. It can only draw you towards it when it's not in your possession. That is all.”

”Still unnerving.” Casey grumbled.

”Hold on, are you saying that your cloak clasp was down here?!” Lia exclaimed having overheard their conversation.

Casey paused and glanced at Sara, who nodded.

”Yes, it was.” He finally replied.

”Why was an artifact here of all places? And don't you dare answer with it's complicated again.” She narrowed her eyes.

”It would probably be better to show you, we're going there anyways. I'll answer your questions after we finish what we came here for.”

”Fine!”

Probably deciding to ignore him until then, she hurried and caught up with Ronin who was leading the group with the torch. Leaving Casey with Sara.

”Well it's good to see you are making friends.” She chuckled.

”Ha I'm not sure I'd go that far…”

She glanced at him and frowned slightly. ”How are you doing? We left you pretty much on your own since you arrived here.”

”As well as you might expect, being forced to leave everything I knew without so much as an explanation.” He replied, avoiding her gaze. ”I've mostly been avoiding thinking about it, trying to focus on the positive things that have happened since coming here. Like meeting you guys.” The corners of his lips went up slightly at that.

”It's probably really weird to hear, but you and Ronin were something like my childhood heroes. I read that book over and over again growing up. It was what I went to when I wanted to escape my troubles for a little while.”

”Oh yes it is definitely weird to hear.” She said with a laugh. ”But I suppose it's also pretty uplifting to find out that our existing could have a positive effect on someone else.”

Before they could finish talking, the entrance to the Knight's Hall came into sight.

”Ah we're here.” She turned to him with eyes showing her concern, ”If you need someone to talk to, you are welcome to come up to my study. I know this has been very difficult for you, even if you don't show it.

”And Ronin would help as well, he might act like he dislikes you, but that's just how he is with everyone. You get used to it.” As she spoke his name she showed a smile that could light up even the darkest rooms, leaving Casey a little dumbstruck.

Seeing that smile he couldn't help but think. 'Hah, so that's what love's supposed to look like.'