The Path Unknown

14. A Little "Date" (Part II)

     Kage looked at the purple crystals that seemed to cover the room.  The torches' light emanating from the crystals made the path glow with a  purple essence. He felt uncomfortable like this, no space to maneuver  his sword if there were enemies. He started to feel claustrophobic as  well, but, unlike him, that didn't stop Michiko. She took the lead as he  said, moving cautiously down the cave. Kage followed behind her,  bringing out his knives as a precautionary measure. The only way he  could fight down here would be a throwing knife support. He called out  to Michiko.

     "Hey babe, don't you think we should look at the guidebook? It might prepare us for what is to come."

     "Good idea," she said in monotone, "you read, I'll guard."

      He started reading aloud, "'You have made it, you two have both wit  and skill. Though, there is still more to come in my deathly will. In  this place there is a chamber, understandably distanced - there is no  danger. To reach this place, you have to go through a maze. Without a  light, the darkness is like haze. Tread lightly, and cover your tracks  or he will come for you while making an act. The room holds your item,  fair and square; but the key to the case is with my heir. He sleeps in a  dungeon on the other side of the caves. He knows nothing of your  arrival and is immune to blades. Use you wit and skill to beat him and  the treasure you await will be yours on the whim.' I think that one is  more simple."

     "Yea, kill the guy, get the key, open the case.  Only using skills, though... I hope you'll have room for your sword..."  Michiko kept looking around.

      "Be light on your feet remember?" Kage said, stepping sightly. "Don't make tracks."

     "Got it..." Michiko picked her feet up.

      Treading on the path with Michiko's flaming swords for light, they  could see a chamber now. There was its own light emitting from it, a  glassy, baby-blue glow that seemed to shine from the center. The  crystals were now blue, with the case in the center made out of them.  There was no keyhole, which made the whole spiel from the guidebook a  little bit sketchy. They saw another path that had its own light. The  chamber for the boss had to be there, but in what conditions? They went  inside to find out. There, they saw the boss as well as the size of the  chamber. The beast was a dragon. Crystalized scales covered its back,  legs, and wings. It shone like blue stained glass with a white ember in  its core. The chamber was big enough for Kage to hit with his weapon,  though it was still pretty cramped. The chamber itself was lined with  crystals the same color as the dragon. There were not torches or any  other source of light, the only light seemed to come from the dragon.  Kage wondered if, when they killed it, would the light go out. He  charged his skill then looked to Michiko. She saw him and charged her  skill as well in her blades. They would have one shot at it. Together,  the leaped off the small edge, ramming their swords into the dragon's  back. The two swords empaled the the dragon to the ground, not letting  it fly up. Kage drew his sword back and set it afire with another skill.  Without missing a beat, he plunged the sword into the dragon, finally  killing it.

     "Well, that wasn't so hard." Kage sheathed his sword.

     "This is the 'key'?" Michiko lifted a specific crystal.

     "If you don't want it then I sure do. Let's just get your swords and get the hell out of here before the place caves in."

     They made their way back to the "sword room", but something felt off to Kage. He grabbed Michiko's shoulder.

     "I have a bad feeling..."

     "Crap, read it more." She started looking around again.

      He took his guidebook and started reading aloud again, "'You have  killed him, very well played; but there's something else here at the end  of the day. First, you shall take the swords, understandably neat, then  run off as the cave crumbles underneath your feet. You shall not return  to this place or face the wrath of my, humble, "embrace... I totally called  it." He put the book away. "Hit it with the crystal."

     Michiko  took the large crystal and slammed it against the case, shattering both  of them. The room's light dimmed as the swords floated mid-air. The  blades were black and crystal-like but organized in their design. They  mirrored the surroundings flawlessly as they moved around. The hilts  were solid gold wrapped with a black leather laced with even more gold.  From each of the hilts extended a red vein. The line of red moved and  glowed like magma from a lava tube. At the base of the hilts, was a  connector. The blades could join to become a dual-bladed staff. Michiko  put her hands over the hilts, ready to grab  it. She looked back over at  Kage.

     "Ready?" She held her breath.

     "Ready." He nodded.

      She took the blades and started heading for the place they came  from. The cave started to shake violently as they moved closer and  closer to their escape. The light from the crystals was gone now, not  one single torch stood either. Rocks fell from the sides creating  hazards to dodge. Dust fell and water rushed in from the sides. It was  getting close. Finally, Kage could see the light from where they began.  Now, though, there was water rushing from it, they would have to swim  their way up. Grabbing his sword, he charged a defense-breaking skill  that would break the rest of the rocks. 50 meters. 40 meters. 30 meters,  they were getting close. 20 meters. 10 meters! Kage lunged his sword  towards the rocks, shattering them and opening a passage. Water rushed  from it as the rocks moved to the side. Michiko, now behind him, started  to swim up to the surface as quickly as she could, making sure not to  let go of her swords. Breaking the water's surface, the two gasped for  air. They were on the same lake they jumped in a few hours ago. They  both looked at each other.

     "Best. Date. Ever. Period." Kage said in between breaths.

     "Yea, can we go home now? I'm all wet..."

     "Heh, that's what she-"

     "Don't you fricken dare to finish that!" Michiko swore at him.

      He couldn't help but snicker. The two swam to shore, wet and tired  from the experience they just had. They wanted to be home. The sun was  setting on the lake, just as it had many times before. This time,  Michiko had two new weapons - all thanks to the help of Kage. He was a  sweet guy to her and she knew that well. She loved to play around with  him, though. It felt right to do that, just like it was always supposed  to be that way. But just like he showed today, he would do anything to  make her happy and that's what she loved the most. He would give up his  life for her, just to make her feel special. More and more, this choice  seemed to be the right and, more importantly, the best one she ever  made.