Charter: Road to the Mines

– If you visit the cemetery where the King's family is buried, it's full of trees like this.

– Is that because of their antlers?

– Yes.

– Of course, the King's ancestors made a peace treaty with the flattering Deity of Morsalia, the Deity's gift to them were these antlers, each male heir was born with two antlers as proof of nature's favor, unfortunately there is a downside to the King's line never having girls. It's a peculiarity of their lineage, but the King is old and the last of his kind.

– How confusing. – Stan looked around and decided to sit down on a large rock that looked like a cushion.

–We need to think of a strategy to defeat the Nightmare Claw if we encounter him in the Mines. – Athena was thinking out loud.

– You're right, we'll have to try harder. – The group sat down in a big circle around the long dead prince and together with Lan took out of their bags the meat prepared by the dark elfes for the boys to eat before going to bed.

– Eat and go to sleep tomorrow by sunset we should reach the Morsalian Mines. – The Lan had climbed a large tree to rest.

Another night, this time Athena slept in the fresh air and she like it very much, everyone was already asleep, especially Stan who was lamenting without shutting up disturbing Lan with his marvelous sounds from his mouth, suddenly Athena heard someone's voice in her head:

"Dance with me..."

– Who is it? – Asked the girl in a whisper.

"Turn your head towards the tree and dance with me..." – Athena slowly turned her head towards the glowing tree and saw that it was glowing even brighter and emitting green pollen.

– But there's no one there. – After she said that, the Prince appeared near the tree. Adam, looking like a green half visible projection, held out his ethereal hand to her, she was a little startled.

"Don't be afraid of me, I won't hurt you..."

Athena dared to take his hand after all, feeling a slight tingling sensation, but immediately got used to his touch. Looking more closely at the prince, Athena saw the dimples on the man's cheeks, he smiled in a friendly manner and curtsied to her, Athena felt embarrassed and blushed. This dance was unusual and magical, as if from another world. Adam and Athena moved to the beat of the music as if they were one. Their movements were fluid and graceful, as if they were floating on air. Every step, every movement was precisely rehearsed and synchronized, as if they could read each other's minds. She could feel his energy flowing into her and it made her heart beat faster.

The dance went on for a long time, as if time had stood still for them. They moved to the beat of the music as if they were in their own world, where only the two of them existed. Their bodies merged into one and they felt as if they never wanted to stop.

"Thank you..." – The Prince kissed her cheek and disappeared as he had come, leaving behind words that Athena pondered:

"The voice of the world is always with you and watching over you...don't be afraid of your fears..."– Surprisingly Lan was awake and saw everything with her own eyes, she let a stingy tear fall but wiped it away immediately.

Athena moved a little further away from her walking bag as she danced with the ghost, instead of her, the rustling in Athena's bag was heard by Dolan.He opened his eyes in a flash and cried out: – Stay down!

Dolan ran over to the sack of meat and stuck his hands in, his shouting waking those who were asleep. Francie and Stan didn't like being woken up.

– Dolan, what are you doing?

– Why are you waking us up?– Stan wiped his eyes.

– Because our food is being stolen! – He tried very hard to get something out of his pocket, but it wouldn't come out.

– Then get it! – Athena shouted.

Lan jumped down from the tree, guessing who it could be, and pushed the guys away from the bag with Dolan, who had almost gotten the overnighter.

– Why did you push us away?

– Prepare your weapons... now! If he gets it, we'll have to fight, or worse, go to the Morsel Mines sooner! – Lan's red eyes were full of preparation and steely readiness to strike at a moment's notice.

– Oh, how cute! – Athena's bag finally fell to the ground, and in Dolan's hands was a small gray creature with the head of a kitten and the body of a flying mouse. It held a piece of cooked meat in its paws and looked at the boy with a fantastic gaze.

– Damn! It's the Acorn Fairy, throw it away! – Lan shouted, but the boy didn't listen and watched as the creature ate the boiled meat.

– It looks nice, but what's wrong with it?

– The thing is that this species has sharp teeth and when it finishes its treat...– Lan did not finish when the creature finished its piece of meat and showed its razor sharp mouth and was about to bite Dolan, he reacted quickly and threw the fairy into the air.

– It's going to start eating you!

The Acorn Fairy flew after Dolan and tried to bite him: – No! I take it back... you're not cute at all!

– And these creatures hunt in large groups.

– Then why didn't you say so before?! –The whole group shouted at Lan.

A group of small acorn fairies swooped down from the forest, Lan became one with nature and invisible to the others as she moved, the rustling of wind and leaves could be heard. The teenagers could see her in action for the first time, as she struck the Acorn Fairies with her sickles, red flashes appeared in the air from the sickles Lan was using.

Thousands of these little creatures swarmed around them, trying to scare the company as much as possible:

– We have to defend ourselves so they don't bite us! – Stan started waving his sword around so they wouldn't get bitten.

– And I wanted a good night's sleep! – Francie shouted as she fought off the Acorn Fairies.

– Francie, you're doing a great job holding them off! – Dolan hid behind Francie's back, holding onto her robe.

– Dolan, you've got a dagger! – she shouted from behind the boy.

– Athena, use your needles to tie them together and twist them, you'll make a great gust of wind! – Lan shouted, fighting somewhere in the air.

– Wow, when it's hot, you'll come in handy.

– Funny boy, stop joking around and push back the dagger in your boot and at least fight with your right foot! – Lan shouted as the Fairies scattered to the side.

Meanwhile, Athena drew her weapon from under her hood and began to twist this makeshift staff counter-clockwise around the boys, creating a large wind flow that prevented the fairies from flying and threw them to the ground, but there were more creatures. Francie didn't like the fact that they were getting further and further away from their food sacks, which included the road to the Gnome Mountains: – Guys, they're distracting us to get our food bags!