Chapter 14: Nymphs and temple

"Wait you freaking thing!" I said, panting. Although I was running fast, it was still hard to keep up. It kept turning sideways. Left, right, again right, and whatnot. Worst part of it, it could move above bushes and through trees.

After about what seemed like ages, and a lot of mad dashing the arrow came to halt in front of a cave. Then it disappeared.

"What is this place? Is it the temple hidden as an ordinary cave?" I wondered. But I got the answer to my questions right away. Something moved in the bush. My grip on my gun tightened somewhat. I was expecting some beast to attack me. I was cursing the dang arrow in my mind.

Then something happened. Instead of a fearsome beast, a small dwarf came out. No, it wasn't a dwarf. It simply couldn't be. It was a 'girl'. She could be as tall as my legs. She had beautiful forest green eyes. She had olive skin and her hair was soft and light brown. Her dress seemed to be made of leaves or grass but at the same time, it was so delicate and fragile looking that it seemed as if it was air woven into cloth.

"What is a fairy like 'her' doing in a very bloody game?" was my very first thought. We stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. I could have looked longer but then she spoke.

"We are the forest nymphs, protectors of the forest and everything that dwells inside." she said in her calm voice. Several more of the nymphs appeared. They all were same except for their skin tone. Then a slightly bigger one appeared among them. She had chestnut brown skin and her eyes were bright and grey. Her aura was almost magnetic. I knew she was their queen right away. She was wearing a flower crown on her forehead. I simply stood there puzzled.

"We believe you have come to give us the 'eternity coin' known widely for having a willow tree pattern on it."

"Oh, that." I said, breaking out of my trance. I withdrew that coin thing from my pocket and handed it over to her. Then I stood there awkwardly waiting for what was coming next.

"Please give us your map." she said

"Why?"

"For your next clue." she said curtly.

I did as I was told and she made several movements of hand on the map and handed it back to me.

"Good luck" she said.

"Uh thank you." I said almost awkwardly.

I ran away from that place, as politely as I possibly could. Then I opened the map. For what was blank before, showed the exact location of the temple and I could see that I wasn't far away. I had to head North-West.

Ten minutes later, I found myself standing in front of a colossal temple. It was pretty simple. It was ancient. covered with mud, vines, and vegetation growing everywhere except the entrance. There was no door there. Just a hollow entrance. I couldn't see a thing inside.

I stepped inside. My badge beeped and then goggles appeared on my eyes. THAT WAS SO COOL! I was given goggles to help me see in the dark. Then instructions appeared.

"Currently 53 players have made it (opponents and teammates together)

THE CREATURE IS LURKING IN THE DARK. KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN. IT STRIKES ONLY WHEN YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. THE ARROW WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE TOPAZ. DIRECTIONS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED ON THE MAP FROM NOW ON. DIMENSION CHANGERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE BOUNDARY (FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING DIMENSION CHANGERS WILL BE GIVEN LATER)

The same arrow which guided me to the Nymphs appeared. I wished it wouldn't be in that much hurry now.