Bk 2: Chapter Five (18)

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In the dark valley, Lizzy and Si Sanga were led by Sol through the forest. She opened up barriers upon barriers with just a flick of her wrist, that Si Sanga was shaken. This woman was not just any Nether person. Yet she bowed to Lizzy as her master. Just who was Lizzy? He wished to ask her this, but looking at Sol's straight back, he could not utter a word.

"We are here, my lady," Sol said and stepped out of the way. They found themselves looking at a tall mountain and turned to Sol in question. They were not even sure when they had approached so close to the mountain, but his mountain was worrisome to look at. It rose sharply before them, lacking the soft transitioning of normal rolling hills. It was just smack in their face.

"What is this place?" Si Sanga asked.

"This is where the treasures are held," Sol answered.

"Such a steep mountain, how does one get to the treasure?" he asked. At his words, Sol struck the steep frame before them, and the entire grounds vibrated. The earth quaked and felt as though would give way under them. Si Sanga found it hard to stabilize himself, talk more Lizzy. Just when she was about to fall, two maids appeared and held her up.

What seemed to be a mountain gave way, allowing live wood to show through. A dark path opened for them to see.

"It is a tree?" Si Sanga seemed to come to an understanding. When he stood up, he realised, Sol was kneeling and constantly kowtowing to Lizzy in apology.

"I acted without consideration again. Punish me, my lady," she kept saying. He looked at Lizzy to find she was being held up by two other Nether people, who stared down at Sol coldly. His eyes shrunk slightly. There were more of them. Each of them was more powerful than he could grasp. This caused him to look at Lizzy deeply. One could not really figure out what was going through his mind.

When Lizzy saw Sol kowtowing, she felt a headache arrive. Every time she seemed to forget her situation, someone would bow and make a fuss and she would remember.

"Yes, you deserve to be punished. But this lady needs you healthy to protect her, so get up. Do not hit your head so hard. Whenever you do such things, don't speak about punishment. This lady can't punish you even f she is angry because you have to stay healthy and keep me safe. Get up. Be more careful next time," Lizzy said so much words, more than many had heard her say in a while. This caused Si Sanga to pause. She seemed to him to be really angry right now. But he did not know that it is not because she almost fell, but that she had to deal with her maids.

The maids on the other hand were quite smart. They had only stayed with this master for a few days yet they have come to better understand her. It may be from their inert skill when created, to slowly bond with their master, or it could be from watching her these few days. They knew she did not want to deal with them. She wished that they handled themselves so she did not have to. Learning this, they took caution. They must move around the lady like silent aids, not disturbing her state of mind. Kowtowing when wrong was a sin. Their job was to make sure she was comfortable. They had to do their parts and make things easier and she will not be offended.

Unknown to them Lizzy only wished they were a bad dream and she would just wake up one day and put it out of mind. She did not like trouble. Just to avoid dealing with relatives, she took her mother and little sister and left the big family to take care of themselves. Remembering her family back home, she had a bigger headache. She immediately thought of these maids beside her and their amazing abilities. Could they bring her family to her? She made a mental note to ask them when they were out of there.

"Let us enter then," she said and Sol bowed and led the way. Si Sanga walked behind them making sure to only make the same movements as they were making. This place held treasures. There was no way it was left unprotected and easy to enter. The walls of this place were lined with torches that ignited blue light when they approached it, illuminating the way.

"What is this place called?" he asked Sol.

"The tomb tree," she answered and Lizzy felt fear course through her veins.

"Fear not, my lady. It is only a place where bodies of beings were buried," Sol said and Lizzy got even more scared. If not for the maids holding her up, she would have fallen in fear. This was a burial ground. How did she get to this point? She was not brave enough to enter a burial ground.

"Ghosts?" she asked with a slightly shaky voice. At this, Sol stopped. She turned back and faced Lizzy with blank eyes. The blue light made silver rings out of her eyes which startled Lizzy greatly.

"My Lady, you are a lady of the Netherworld. Even though you have been protected by the lord, you should understand what the Nether lands mean," Sol said and Lizzy considered her words.

"It is the land where all dead go, my lady," Doh holding her answered and Lizzy froze.