Massive hands shook the wooden gate, followed closely by a pair of horns. Through the opening, the sleepy face of the Lord of the Minotaurs appeared.
"This isn't over yet, you little leech!" Johan growled, gnashing his teeth.
Jugo and Whisper spun around instantly.
"He's awake!" Jugo shrieked, unconsciously jumping into Whisper's arms.
"Johan! How did you manage to wake up so fast?!" Whisper asked in disbelief. "I checked your status myself... it's... it's impossible!"—Whisper specialized in ice and mental spells, ranking among the best in the world, so reading status windows was second nature to her.— "You should have been asleep for hours!"
A twisted smirk formed on Johan's face.
"Ha! Do you think I, the Lord of the—" his voice cut off suddenly. "Am going to fall so... ea... sily..."
Once again, his stiff body slammed into the floor, leaving a crater in the ground.
"He—He fell asleep again!" Jugo hopped down from his servant's arms and concluded, "Let's get out of here fast before he gets back up!"
Without waiting for an answer, the skeleton's hand hurried to grab Whisper's. The two new accomplices fled through the corridors of the massive castle, leaving behind everyone who was searching for the power of the mighty dungeon.
Those who found them wished they hadn't. Whisper, eager to fulfill her new master's will, didn't hesitate to act in his defense, unleashing her frozen fury on anyone who lunged at them.
Mounds of ice began to pile up throughout the castle. The grim, gray entrance of the place was transformed into a museum of sculptures—with living creatures trapped inside.
"My Lord, at this rate, we might have to get rid of your entire kingdom," Whisper noted, her voice sounding strained. "Our best bet is to hide in the City of Moros. A friend of mine can help us."
The dragoness took the lead, wrapping Jugo in a cloak of old fabric. She obscured his vision and took him into her arms once more.
"Whi—Whisper... are we there yet?"
His anxiety forced him to break free from the cloak. His eye sockets widened, and a blue flame flickered where eyes should have been, betraying the skeleton's excitement at the sight of the grand, beautiful city. In his mind, he never expected a place inhabited by monsters to contain such luxury.
The streets were paved with tiles that reflected the neon lights of the shops.
Neon? Jugo wondered, intrigued. This is not just a monster city, we're supposed to be in a medieval world. How is it possible they have things like this?
"Hey, Whisper," he said, pointing with his fingers. "What is that over there?"
"That? Well, an arcade, isn't it?"
Jugo's mind collapsed. The city was crawling with machinery and shops that you would only find on Earth.
Why does this world have things from my home? —Jugo needed answers, and fast.— But that is good, isn't it? It means that...
"Then! They also have coffee shops, right?!"
Jugo leaned enthusiastically over Whisper's shoulders, accidentally covering her face.
"My Lord! I can't see where we're going... we're going to—!"
A dull thud sent little Jugo flying.
"Lord Jugo!" Whisper cried out, now on the ground and surrounded by a crowd.
"AAAAAAH!"
Jugo had vanished from her sight, camouflaged among the shadows of the great city.