The group of four walked through the cave, with little else to do as they waited for the bitter winter to pass. The air was cool, carrying a faint scent of damp stone and dried herbs, and though the walls were shrouded in darkness, they were adorned with old relics, torn tapestries, and glass cases filled with curiosities that caught the dim light. To cut through the shadows, Zein raised his hand and whispered a spell Kio had taught him. A small glowing orb bloomed in his palm, casting warm flickers that danced along the walls as if they had a life of their own.
As they moved forward, Kio suddenly stopped before a display case. Behind the glass rested a magnificent necklace, crafted from intertwining gold and silver. Five gemstones lined its circle, each gleaming with a distinct hue. Tiny pearls adorned it like drops of dew, and at its center shone a deep sapphire that seemed to hold an entire starlit sky.
To the right, a citrine quartz glimmered with a golden, cheerful light, beside a flawless diamond that refracted every beam into a thousand reflections. To the left, a ruby burned with a vivid crimson glow, accompanied by a pale quartz so faint it nearly blended with the glass.
Kio smiled, her tail swaying on its own.
—What memories… —she said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia—. I still remember everything Araphor spent just to get us each one.
Zyteg let out a deep laugh that echoed through the cavern.
—Yeah, and I remember we had to feed him for weeks after that. The poor fool didn't have a single coin left!
—He was such a goof —Kio chuckled.
—Who was he? —Zein asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
—Araphor? —Kio repeated with a fond smile—. He was a good friend… and a fool too.
Zyteg nodded, amused.
—You remember when you first introduced us? The guy wouldn't stop trembling in front of me. And you—standing there, all proud of yourself.
Kio laughed softly.
—Well, he wasn't exactly the bravest back then, haha. In fact… this reminds me of the time we walked through this very cave. Though I've got to say, it looked a lot less… decrepit back then.
—Well, it's been quite a few years since anyone's come to visit me, and my body's not exactly built for cleaning this place —Zyteg said, folding his wings around himself in a shrug-like gesture.
—Sorry about that —Kio replied with a small laugh.
—No, no. I'm sure you've been busy running your missions these past forty years. But I can't exactly force you to hang around with an old dragon like me —Zyteg sighed, a faint puff of smoke curling from his nostrils.
—Old? We're practically the same age. You're calling me old too, then —Kio shot back, giving him a mischievous grin.
—Was Araphor someone strong? —Lyra asked curiously, tilting her head as her eyes sparkled with fascination.
Kio and Zyteg exchanged a silent glance.
—Of course not —Kio finally said.
—He was one of the strongest I've ever known —Zyteg replied at the exact same time.
They both stared at each other for a moment—then burst into laughter.
—He was not strong! Didn't you ever see him? —Kio laughed, wiping tears from her eyes.
—Seems like you're the one who never saw him—despite being his teacher —Zyteg retorted proudly—. He became the first Swordmaster of the Colossus at only sixteen. Isn't that something?
Kio crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.
—I took him in as a disciple because I believed in his potential. But even then, he was a coward —she said with a shrug.
—He was the strongest in the entire continent! —Zyteg argued, frowning.
Kio smirked, amused.
—Don't you remember when we went exploring that cave for fun? He ran into a Raja for the first time and bolted like death itself was chasing him. It wasn't until we explained it was a peaceful creature —that wouldn't even harm a fly— that he realized his mistake. I've never seen anyone turn so red from embarrassment.
Zyteg opened his mouth to respond, but only managed to say:
—Ah… well… —and gave up with a small chuckle.
The group kept walking through the uneven tunnels, their footsteps echoing softly around them. The magical lights cast a gentle glow over the stalactites, which shimmered like crystals, while the faint whisper of wind slipped through the cracks. Then, at a narrow intersection, Zein and Lyra suddenly tripped and fell with a startled yelp.
Kio and Zyteg hurried ahead to see what had happened… and found themselves face-to-face with a small herd of Raja, resting peacefully under a bluish light filtering down from a fissure above. The creatures, with their wide eyes and gently curved horns, looked up curiously while chewing on frozen herbs.
At the sight, Kio and Zyteg couldn't hold back their laughter.
—Exactly what we were just talking about… hahaha! How can you be scared of Raja? —Kio laughed, bending over as tears welled in her eyes.
—Come on! —Zein protested, flustered—. They look terrifying!
Meanwhile, the Raja, calm and playful, wandered closer and began licking their faces, their tails wagging with excitement. Kio and Zyteg could hardly breathe from laughing, while the siblings struggled in vain to push the creatures away.