Chapter 11

The man tossed the head aside and said, "Sorry about the mess, boys. You must be terrified."

Kaven ignored his apology. His thoughts were fixed on the dead wolves and the blood covering the man. "Who are you?" he asked.

The man wiped his hand with wolves' fur and stepped toward Kaven with his eyes examining Kaven.

Kaven felt a strange energy coming from him, along with the stinky smell of blood.

Jack was already thinking about how he could save Kaven if the man suddenly swung his sword and struck.

Jack said with a shaky tone, "Sir, can we go now?"

Kaven gives a side look glance for Jack to make him stop talking and wait.

The man realized the boys wouldn't trust him easily. He had to convince them he meant no harm. He said, "I'm Arthur, I don't remember who I am, I just woke up and saw you escaping from the wolves"

Kaven and Jack shared the same unbelievable look on their face, something didn't fit the picture.

Arthur continued his talk and said, "I don't know how I killed all of those wolves, I just did. Can I help you with your journey?"

Jack was frustrated and said sharply, "Of course not! We won't take a serial killer with us!"

Arthur rose to defend himself as he said,

"A SERIAL KILLER! I don't remember anything, but I'm not a killer!"

Jack didn't seem to believe him, but Kaven, on the other hand, felt something strangely familiar about Arthur. He said, "I agree to take you with us, but you will hand over your weapon and stay in front of our gaze."

Kaven didn't believe him, but he was curious to know more about the man, he felt like taking him might be useful.

Jack was elated by Kaven's action, he pulled Kaven to the side away from Arthur to discuss his hasty decision.

Jack said with his eyes filled with disappointment," Kaven! You are not alone in this journey, why are you ignoring my words!?"

Kaven was taken aback by Jack's emotion. He apologized and explained, "I don't know why, but I feel we'll need him. My instincts are usually right."

Though still skeptical, Jack eventually agreed. He sensed Arthur was hiding something but he trusted Kaven's intuition.

Kaven thanked him for his acceptance and promised him nothing bad would happen.

The dark hue around them forced them to keep moving away from this dangerous valley.

Margarita and Lucas, one after one followed them.

Margarita and her guardian had been watching from afar, while Lucas trailed her, wondering why she was following these three men.

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After two days of walking, Arthur swiftly dealt with every wolf that crossed their path, earning more of Jack and Kaven's trust with each encounter.

Kaven and Jack are now finally starting to believe that Arthuer actually lost his memory and is not lying to them and that he would not harm them.

At long last, they reached the end of the valley with the sun above them in the middle of the morning and the shining water of the Orpheus Lake in front of them.

Jack was enjoying the view of the lake mesmerized by its beauty.

Kaven scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger, while Arthur looked for a good spot to rest.

Jack said fidgeting with excitement, "Kaven! You'll have plenty of time to explore. Come enjoy the fresh air instead!"

Kaven laughed and came to examine the water of the lake, it made him wonder how it stayed that way despite the falling leaves and dust in the air.

Arthur came and asked him what made his mind busy.

Kaven shared his thoughts. "The temple is beneath this lake," he said. "I think it's hidden this way to protect it from people coming. There's magic here, illusion magic."

Arthur and Jack looked at each other surprised by Kaven's sharp smartness.

Arthur said, "We should rest for now. Then we can figure out how to enter the temple."

Jack agreed, he had waited for this moment for over a week. The fear and exhaustion from the valley had left them restless and sleep-deprived.

Now, the area seemed safe. With no one else around, they could finally rest and regain their energy to continue.

They gathered their sheets under the trees and dived into a deep sleep, except for Kaven.

He couldn't sleep. His mind was thinking about everything that had happened since the day he was kidnapped.

What had his mother left for him? What if he hadn't noticed the map in the necklace? Was it magic or something else?

The hours had passed without him realizing. The sun comes at a straight angle with the surface of the lake.

Suddenly the water took a circular pattern and it looked like a whirlpool attracting anything nearby.

It pulled Kaven before he could scream for help and it disappeared.