Underground city crypt

Ignatius received an elegant envelope sealed with the royal crest. The dwarf king wanted to thank him. For his help with the goblins in the archive, the invitation was to a luxurious spa in Mithrilen City. Zarkon arranged everything, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

The dwarf king knew his identity. He suspected Rowan had told him. The king knew Silvi, his great-grandfather, had served under her as a general in the war against the demonic realms. 

As Ignatius thought about the upcoming trip, he realized he had neglected his maids. They worked tirelessly to keep everything clean and polished, and this spa trip would be a perfect opportunity to show his appreciation.

"Barbara," Ignatius called out to one of the maids. "Tell everyone to pack. We will be leaving for a spa tomorrow morning."

Barbara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, Master," she replied with a respectful nod.

Luna had already appointed a manager to run the coffee shop in her absence. Ensuring that everything would continue to operate while they were away. Zarkon recommended this to her one evening in his room. They were away from Misty Cove, regularly following leads. In a month, they will be boarding a merchant ship for Guilder Island. She removed her sword hilt from her wet entrance. "You have a point there." She said out of breath. Elysia took the sword from her. "My turn," She said, smiling.

The following day, the Bus stopped at the great lift leading to Mithrilen City. The sun began rising, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The dwarf guards greeted Ignatius and his entourage.

 Accustomed to his comings and goings and always welcomed him with respect. The dwarfs now recognised the red bus with the Thorn emblem. Morgan had taken the bus driver exam and ended up being among her group's top five drivers.

Taking the steam tram to the spa, the ladies chatted excitedly, their laughter filling the air. Ignatius looked forward to the five days of leisure and relaxation ahead. It was a well-deserved break for everyone, and he intended to make the most of it. Their eyes filled with tears as he handed each a golden coin. Elysia sniffed, wiping her eyes. Luna comforted her with Christie's help. The maids stared at the golden coin in their hands. They held a year's wages in their hands.

Spend it on anything you desire, girls. Do not be shy. Ignatius said. 

Upon arrival at the spa, greeted by the owner, who received the letter from the king. His eyes widened as he read it, understanding the importance of his guests.

"Welcome, my lord," the owner said, bowing. "Honoured to have you here. Please, let us take care of everything."

Shown to their rooms, each one more luxurious than the last. The spa was a haven of tranquillity, with beautiful gardens and serene pools—an array of treatments designed to rejuvenate the mind and body.

On the second day, Ignatius found himself in the large communal bath early in the morning. The bath was deserted, and he relished the quiet solitude. As he leaned back, letting the warm water soothe his muscles, his orb lit up, casting a soft glow around him.

Curious, Ignatius focused on the orb. The script appeared before him. He deciphered the message, his eyes widening as he read:

"Seek out the crypt in the underground city."

Ignatius's mind raced with possibilities. A quest in the underground city? What secrets lay hidden there?

Zarkon placed his goblet down, filling it. "Master, this is the life." He leaned back his muscular shoulders above the water. He saluted Ignatius with his goblet.

Ignatius's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter. Seven maids entered the bath, followed by Luna, Elysia, Ayla, and Christie, their voices filling the space with banter and laughter. They spotted Ignatius, his arms resting on the sides of the bath.

With a mischievous glint in their eyes. They moved towards him, their playful demeanour evident. Ignatius couldn't help but smile at their antics.

"Good morning, Master," one of the maids greeted him, her voice teasing.

"Good morning, ladies," Ignatius replied, his tone warm and welcoming.

**************

Ignatius pointed to a spot on the map, his finger tracing the path they had taken. "We are here. The crypt should be ahead somewhere," he said, his voice steady and confident.

Luna nodded, her sword ready. "Let's move. We don't know what might be waiting for us."

Elysia and Christie took up the rear guard, their senses heightened. After their ambush in the archives, they were taking no risks. The walkway leading to the crypt was lined with statues, their stone faces weathered and cracked. Broken, dead trees loomed over the path like ancient monsters, their gnarled branches casting eerie shadows.

As they moved forward, Elysia's eyes narrowed. "That statue moved," she said, pointing with her sword.

Ignatius glanced at the statue, trying to discern any movement. Elysia's mask hid her face, making it difficult to tell if she was afraid, but he trusted her instincts.

The statues along the walkway began to move. Goblins shed their disguises. Drawing their swords with a menacing gleam in their eyes.

"Luna, engage!" Ignatius commanded.

Luna sprang into action, her sword flashing as she engaged the first goblin. Christie flew by Ignatius, her wings creating a gust of wind that ruffled his hair. Her tail lashed out, beating a goblin to the ground, its head sinking between its shoulders.

Elysia appeared next to a goblin, her sword a blur of motion. The goblin's head rolled on the ground before realising what had happened. Ignatius lifted his hand, ready to assist, but the fight ended in seconds.

Luna and Elysia walked towards him. Their hips swayed in a confident, almost playful manner. "They didn't stand a chance," Luna said with a satisfied smile. "Level ten does make a massive difference in speed and strength."

Elysia held out her fist, and Luna touched her fist to Elysia's in a gesture of camaraderie. Ignatius and Christie watched the two women with scepticism.

"Kiss already. I know you want to, I want you to." Ignatius said, shaking his head with a chuckle. He knew the two well, and they never missed an opportunity to show their affection for each other.

Luna and Elysia exchanged a glance, their eyes twinkling with mischief. They leaned in and shared a brief, tender kiss, their bond evident in the simple gesture.

"That is so sexy," Christie said.

Ignatius started swallowing, touching Christie's breasts.

"Alright, let's focus," Ignatius said, his tone becoming serious again. "The crypt is ahead. We need to be prepared for anything."

They continued down the walkway, the atmosphere growing more oppressive with each step. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the silence was almost deafening.

As they approached the entrance to the crypt. They saw a massive stone door, its surface covered in intricate carvings. Ignatius examined the door, his fingers tracing the patterns.

"This is it," he said. "The entrance to the crypt."

Luna stepped forward, scanning the area with her eyes. "We need to find a way to open it."

Elysia and Christie joined them, their expressions determined. "There must be a mechanism or a key," Elysia said, her voice thoughtful.

Ignatius nodded, his mind racing. "Let's look around. There might be a clue hidden nearby."

They spread out, searching the area for any signs of a hidden mechanism. The dead trees and broken statues seemed to watch them, their presence adding to the sense of unease.

After a few minutes, Christie called out. "I found something!"

They hurried over to her, finding her standing beside a small, concealed panel in the ground. Ignatius knelt, examining the panel. Covered in dust and grime, he could see faint symbols etched into the surface.

"This might be it," he said, cleaning the panel. "Let's see if we can figure out how to open it."

Luna, Elysia, and Christie watched as Ignatius worked, their anticipation growing. He pressed the symbols in a specific sequence. With a soft click, the panel opened, revealing a hidden lever.

Ignatius pulled the lever, and the massive stone door began to rumble. It creaked open, revealing a dark, foreboding passageway.

"Stay close," Ignatius said, his voice steady. "We don't know what's waiting for us inside."

They entered the crypt, their torches casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air was cold and damp, and their footsteps echoed through the narrow passage.

As they moved deeper into the crypt. They encountered more goblins, their eyes gleaming with malice. Ignatius, Luna, Elysia, and Christie fought with precision and skill, their movements synchronized.

The goblins fell one by one, their cries of defeat echoing through the crypt. Ignatius felt a surge of pride as he watched his companion's fight. They were a formidable team now.

He wondered how it would have been to see Silvi fight at her high level.

Ignatius lit a lamp he took from the wall, the soft glow illuminating the chamber. The walls were covered in ancient images of battles and armies, their stories etched in intricate detail. Following the story along the wall, he moved, captivated by the scenes of heroism and conflict.

As he reached the end of the wall, his eyes fell upon a massive image of a book, its size comparable to a small elephant. The book was adorned with intricate designs and symbols, and its importance was clear from the prominence of the depiction.

Ignatius inspected the image, his fingers tracing the lines and patterns. At the bottom, he noticed a small script in primordial elven. Leaning in, he read the inscription:

"In the heart of the underground city lies a hidden library. Seek it out to uncover the knowledge within. To open the sealed door, follow the path of the ancients."

As he touched the inscription, the crypt glowed with an otherworldly light. The script appeared before him, shimmering in the air:

"Bonus reward earned: ten thousand years of longevity for your household."

Ignatius's heart raced as he absorbed the size of the reward. He knew this discovery would have a profound impact on their lives.

***********

The ladies could feel something had changed in their bodies at the spa as they lounged outside in the garden. The sun cast a warm glow over them, and they discussed the newfound sensation.

"Do you feel it, too?" Morgan asked, her brow furrowed with curiosity. "There's something different about us."

Cherry nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of wonder and concern. "It's like there's a new energy coursing through me."

Christie joined them, her wings shimmering in the sunlight. "It's as if we've been rejuvenated."

Ignatius approached them with a knowing smile. "I have something to share with you all," he said, his voice steady.

The ladies turned their attention to him, their curiosity piqued.

"While in the crypt, I discovered an ancient inscription," Ignatius explained. "It led me to a hidden library in the underground city. But that's not all. When I touched the inscription, it rewarded us with ten thousand years of longevity for our household."

The ladies exchanged stunned looks, the size of the reward sinking in.

"Ten thousand years?" Luna repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "That's incredible."

Elysia's eyes widened. "That explains the change we've been feeling. We've been granted an extraordinary gift."

Christie looked thoughtful. "This longevity will give us more time to achieve our goals and protect what matters most."

Mixed emotions filled the air. The ladies expressed their feelings to Ignatius and Zarkon, who had joined them in the garden.

"I'm grateful for this gift," Barbara said, her voice steady. "But it also comes with responsibility. We need to use this time wisely."

Morgan nodded in agreement. "We'll have to be vigilant. There will be those who might covet our longevity and seek to exploit it."

Zarkon listened thoughtfully. "This gift is both a blessing and a curse. We'll need to navigate it carefully."

Ignatius placed a reassuring hand on Luna's shoulder. "We'll face whatever comes our way together. Our bond and determination will guide us."

Christie smiled, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and resolve. "With this gift, we can achieve greatness. We'll protect each other and build a legacy that endures."

As they lounged in the garden, the conversation flowed. They shared their hopes, fears, and dreams. Ignatius sighed as his wives lounged around him. How could one man have this much happiness, he thought. He was overjoyed at the prospect of having his household with him in the long run. As he read the script, he realised that he and four of his household had immortal lives. His maids would eventually grow old and die. Ayla also would not live past two hundred.

Now, he could treat and spoil them to his heart's content. He dreaded the day he would have to say goodbye to his elderly maids. He felt blessed beyond believe.