Charter: Morsal Mines

Inside, they saw carriages connected to tracks going in different directions. The boys were amazed at the size of the cave: it was huge and branched out like a labyrinth. Some areas of the stone glowed red, like chaotic veins that gave life to this cave.

They moved forward, lighting their way with torches. In some places the cave narrowed so much that they had to go sideways. Sometimes they came to forks and had to decide where to go next.

– These veins look like blood. – Whispered Athena.

– No, it's more like the heart of this place. –Answered Dolan.

– Simply put, it is life force. – Francie replied as she looked around the cave.

– It looks like they've already dug up everything in these caves...

– But how do we find Versavia in these labyrinths? – Dolan groaned.

– I feel like we need to go to the right. – Suddenly Athena began to speak in riddles.

– Why do we have to go to the right?

– Stan asked and turned to Athena.

– Because that's all I can feel...– Suddenly Athena's pupils went white and it was as if she wasn't there, and her spherical image, drawn by the Dark Elf Shaman back at the camp, appeared on her forehead and began to glow green.

– Athena, are you all right? – Scared Stan.

– Yes, but I can't see, but I can feel with my sixth sense where we have to go. – Athena started to point with her hand where they needed to go to find the dwarf.

– This must be the shaman's parting gift. – Francie thought, holding her sickles in her hands.

– Great, now she's our search engine. –They moved along one of the paths, listening to the pickaxe blows getting closer and closer, and when they came out of a tunnel, they entered an area of despair and horror. Bewitched bandits and ordinary citizens of the kingdom were digging up jewels damaged by the fumes from the pickaxe blows, the poor people were crying in pain and covered with festering wounds that would not let them rest, all they had to do was die to break the spell, they could only moan and mentally beg for someone to end their torturous lives.

– God... how awful. – Francie covered her mouth with her hand to stop the flow of meat they'd just eaten.

– They can't do anything but dig. – Said Stan as he surveyed the scene.

– Wait, I hear someone walking, let's hide for a while. – Dolan heard someone's heels clicking on the floor and coming this way, so the kids decided to hide well.

– You're working, my pretty ones! – Dolan heard a loud woman's voice.

– Lan said no one but the enchanted workers, Versavius and Nightmare Claw should be here! – Francie whispered angrily, holding Athena's hand, still reeling from the search magic.

– Apparently they are. – Stan decided to use the smooth blade of his sword to sneak a peek at who was there: – What a beautiful woman.– Francie was surprised.

In the blade of the sword Stan saw a tall girl with long red hair, dressed in a dark uniform and holding a whip in her left hand. This person looked down on all the workers and she must have enjoyed it, because the next person she approached was a bewitched ex-slave trader and while he was working non-stop this woman ran her blood red nail over his stubble until he had a scar on his face and he let out a tear.

– Well, my dear, if you thought you'd be under Valafar's patronage forever, you were sorely mistaken. – The slave trader could only watch in silence as he was humiliated, but the hypnosis forced him to remain silent and watch.

– I have come to observe, and I will leave at once. I have many more places like this in these mines, and Valafar sent me to see if we are doing well. – She fell silent and looked at him with a look of disapproval.

– You know, in my time in this Kingdom, I never learned to read people's emotions, I think those are tears of happiness.

– I think she's being sarcastic. – Francie whispered.

– Let's not do anything yet, just listen to her and maybe we'll learn something new. – Stan quietly put his sword back in its sheath.

– I wouldn't serve Valafar if it weren't for my father, but I have something to steal from this Kingdom that the pirate himself doesn't know about. My father and I allowed this castle to be taken over, and he's good at carrying out his plan... but I don't think you need that, so I'll just fly on my own.

– What, she said fly? – The company was surprised and Stan decided to look at the girl again in silence. She, in turn, mystically created a dark mist around her, into which the girl herself dissolved. A moment later a monster appeared, a living Nightmare Claw, and Stan quickly hid behind a rock.

– Shut up and don't move, it really is Nightmare Claw! – Stan whispered aggressively, the boy numb with fear, everyone else nervous and sweating except the calm Athena who was in a trance. The reanimated creature looked around and flew somewhere else in the mines.

– Alright, we can breathe! – They heaved a sigh of relief. The Nightmare Claw can turn into people I wasn't expecting. Francie said in surprise. And who the hell is "Father"?

– We don't know for sure, but I do know that a Valafar is only used behind his nose. – Stan drew his sword from its sheath.

– This Kingdom is indeed a strange set of circumstances. – Francie tried to reach for Athena's hand, but she couldn't find it. – Hey, where has Athena gone?!

The whole company ran back to where Athena had gone now, they went deeper into the mines that were glowing more red, they found themselves in a spacious place where Athena was already conscious, trying to open a cage with a found dwarf that looked like a sunflower, so he was wearing a yellow cut shirt.

– Athena, did you manage to find him? – Stan asked Athena.

– What happened while I was in this state?

– While you were in a trance, we saw the Nightmare Claw, a creature that has learned to become human! – Dolan approached Athena frantically.

– What?!