9 Chapter 8
Alibaba P.O.V. 1st Person
"That's the story of the first dungeon and the boy who cleared it! The boy went on to become a king!" I finished telling the tale of dungeon number 1 and Sinbad, having gotten really into the moment. It was my favorite story after all. Aladdin's face held the same passion as I couldn't help but exclaim, "Cool, huh? He's my hero!" It was this story that made me want to capture a dungeon so I could earn my riches myself.
Lifting the load on my back, we walked out of my home and started heading in the direction of the dungeon. "Is that the dungeon we're going to?" Aladdin asked excitedly.
"No, we're going to a different one." I guess I should have explained that there was more than one dungeon, and that they disappeared after they were captured.
"We are?" He looked up in confusion. I facepalmed, and quickly explained. He stretched his arms out and rested them behind his head. An unknowing smile spread across his lips. "Good thing there are sooo many left! Then lots of people can go and clear them!"
"Well… not exactly, we're going to a dungeon that appeared ten years ago." I tried to explain, "Since that dungeon is still here, it means no one's been able to clear it. In other words, everyone who's tried over the past ten years is dead." The boy gulped, fists clenched as he stared off nervously. ("Low chance of success? High chance of death? What are we waiting for?")
"We're risking our lives..." He finally realized the severity of the situation. I just hoped he wouldn't back down now.
"Scared?" I asked, trying to sound brave.
"No, I'll go."
"Really?" I raised my brow, "It's a treacherous journey! A perilous adventure!"
"Okay! I'll follow you wherever you go to get there!" He pumped his fists in the air, blue eyes burning into mine.
"Great! Let's go!" A part of me was disappointed hoping for a reason to back out. But his courage would hopefully be helpful along the journey. And it motivated me to keep going, if I had someone with me, I could do this.
"Here we are!" I shouted only seconds later. Considering it's only a ten minute walk from my house and we were already walking, it didn't take long.
"Huh?! It's so close!" He looked back and forth between me and the dungeon.
"I never said it was far..." I ran my fingers through my blonde locks, staring at the steps ahead that called to me. "That… must be the stairway to death."
"To... death?" His eyes had a look of worry in them.
"Yes, you go up but never come down, but we'll be alright!" I laughed trying to mask my ever growing nervousness. 'It'll be alright, won't it? Am-am I okay with this?' I glanced over at Aladdin, 'I've got him on my side so I can do this now. Or maybe… I've just been excited from seeing all those strange things? Maybe I won't be alright.' I was growing more and more nervous. Sinbad was younger than me when he captured a dungeon, so the excuse I was too young to do this had no bearing. Aladdin suddenly grinned, gripping my hand as he tugged me towards the stairs. "What are you doing?!" I cried out.
"It's fine! Don't be scared, Alibaba! This is the path to your dream!" I couldn't help but smile, nodding my head. He was right.
"All right! Let's go!" We rushed up the steps before I turned back at a faster speed.
Chasing after me I heard Aladdin shout, "Why're we going back?"
"I didn't say we'd go right now! Idiot, surviving a dungeon takes preparation! We need to go shopping first!"
Heading into the market Aladdin gasped at the view, "They sell so much stuff! Food and weapons and all sorts of things!"
"This town began to flourish when the dungeon appeared and adventurers started coming." We passed a selection of knives with cool engravings in them.
"Hey Alibaba, how about this?" Aladdin asked, excitedly swinging around a large sword with many smaller swords branching off of them.
"What do you need such a sinister blade for?!" I cried out as he started to chase me with it. The owner was calling for us to come back, and I swung us around to help guide him back, still fearing for my safety. "Stop that! It's dangerous!" He started to wobble as I stepped back, failing to notice someone approaching us from behind. When I slipped I hit something that felt like a basket. Apples went flying out and tumbling all over the floor. I closed my eyes to brace the pain but my arms caught me, my face landing in something soft. Lifting my head up from these cushions, I gasped as my amber orbs met a pair of (e/c) ones.
Alibaba P.O.V. 1st Person
(e/c) eyes stared back into mine, and (h/c) hair that (matched/contrasted) them so perfectly rested around their face. I was faced with a beauty, a shocked expression subtly painted their (s/c) face. Our gazes were captured only for a moment, but it felt longer. I'm sure my expression must have been just as surprised as the only thought in my mind was "Cute." A faint tint of pink laced their cheeks as I realized I'd spoken aloud. Getting up from on top of them I scratched the back of my neck out of embarrassment. I had to excuse myself for knocking them over, and landing my face in such an awkward position. "S-sorry! My friend's such a dork! Are you hurt at all?" They didn't reply, just tilted their basket as they started picking up apples. "Shall I help you carry that?" I asked, sending a wink as I picked up a bright red apple.
Quickly a hand ripped the apple right out of my hand. I turned to face a male about my age, either fifteen or sixteen. He was just as red as the apple in my hand with his dark red hair and vibrant red eyes. His stare sent a shiver down my spine. "No, they're fine," he replied very bluntly. I watched the (h/c)'s expression more closely, their brows furrowed together as they avoided me and Aladdin. It was rude that they didn't even bother talking to us. Maybe they were mute? Or maybe I wasn't rich enough for them? I frowned at the thought. But it was obvious they must've been his lover or something like that. Why else would he jump in like that and get all pissed at me? The boy scooped the apples up quickly and picked the basket up with him. The (h/c) looked down at Aladdin with a pout on their face before walking away with the other male.
"Why are all the pretty women taken?" I sighed, feeling fairly embarrassed for myself. As I turned to walk away, Aladdin stood there watching them. "What's the matter, Aladdin?" All he did was point.
"What's... that...?" He asked, and my eyes followed his finger. Gasping, I noticed the chains that dragged behind their feet clinking against the ground. The (h/c) glanced back, their face flushed, before looking down. They tugged their dress down in an attempt to hide the chains, knocking into the boy which spilled the apples once more. "That girl has a chain on her feet." They both did.
"Yes, that's because.." I furrowed my brows averting my eyes from them, "...they're a slave. The world is rotten. They're probably a prisoner of war or something." I turned around trying to head away, "They'll spend their whole life as chattel for the rich. Given my debt, I'm in danger of it mys-Aladdin?" Realizing he wasn't next to me I turned my head to find him running up to the two. He must've been heading to help the (h/c) get up, since the other boy's arms were full.
"Wait, miss!" I started to head over there to pull him away. As I got closer Aladdin pulled out his flute and suddenly there was a gentle clinking sound as the chain broke. "There! I broke it! Now you don't have to hide your pretty feet!" Their face was speechless and all the more red. 'Oh no,' what was I gonna do with this brat! I was frozen in place, the cool sweat dripping down my back.
"Hey, you-you can't do that!" I gripped onto his shoulders pulling him back.
"Why not?" He looked up at me curiously, confused as to what he did wrong.
"Why not? Well.. uh.." He stared up at me with those bright blue eyes. How could I explain this to him? That he couldn't help them..? How do you explain that the world just isn't fair? That people have to be treated horribly simply because there are other people who the world considers better than them.
"What's wrong?" I paused looking back between him and the slave. Their (e/c) eyes were filled with fear. They would be punished for this, would they not? Even though it wasn't their fault. We too, though, may also be in trouble for 'trying to steal them.' That boy next to them looked just as horrified. He took the basket and fled off. Probably to get their master. Now we really were in trouble.
My thoughts were interrupted when someone came barging through the crowd. "What's all the commotion?!"
