A Completely Ordinary Adventure [5/10]

<<Neigh!!>>

As Mikhail arrived at the cabin, he was met with the panicked neighs of his horse. But unlike his past-self, Mikhail calmly soothed the animal. Slowly, the horse regained its composure and stopped kicking around.

"Good girl... It's just the wind, nothing to be scared of..."

<<Neigh...>>

This time, the horse's call was more silent and subdued, clearly showing it was no longer in as disturbed. Smiling, Mikhail readied himself to get on the horse.

"Wait! Mikhail!" A feminine voice called out behind him, subsequently interrupting him from getting on his horse.

When he heard who spoke to him, his face instantly lit up in happiness, and without missing a beat, he turned around to look at the person.

"Mum!" Mikhail cried out in joy.

Indeed, it was his mother, but the moment he saw her, he knew she was unwell; her usually tanned skin had turned pale, her eyes had bags under them and her hair had become severely dishevelled; something his mother would never do unless the circumstances dictated it.

"Mum! Are you okay?" Mikhail rushed to his mother before hugging her with all his might.

"Haah... I never knew the only thing I had to do for you to care was being sick...-Cough!-," His mother smiled, but it lacked the former 'Shining' quality she had previously.

"Mater Zhiv told me you were sick, how are you feeling?" He worriedly looked her over and over, hoping to find nothing wrong.

"Don't worry about me. More importantly... Did he tell you about Ana?" When Mikhail heard what she said, he nodded his head.

"Mn,"

"I hoped you wouldn't have to—"

"It's fine. I did it because I wanted to, you of all people should know if I didn't want to go, not even the world exploding could make me," Hearing his confidence, She just smiled before saying:

"I see... Then at least let me send you off with a parting gift, Okay?" Mikhail's mother said

"Uh sure," He consented, before widening his eyes in shock.

as if by magic, his mother's eyes suddenly lit up in gold, beginning with her eyelashes all the way down to her hypnotically black pupils. More than that, her normally gentle aura transformed and evolved into a majesty befitting of a queen...

"M-Ma?!" Of course, Mikhail was shocked. In response, she just chuckled before speaking:

<<Heheh, shocking isn't it? I've only shown this form of mine to one other person, after all,>>

Mikhail was once again surprised! After all, she had spoken in a language entirely alien to him, yet Mikhail could somehow understand all that she said. Seeing his surprise, she puffed her chest in pride. But she soon stopped before saying.

<<Ah! I almost forgot your gift!>>

Right as she finished, the air around her brightened up considerably, and little by little, crystals started to form around her. Looking closer, any modern person would be able to recognize them as musical notes. Naturally, these gorgeous looking notes had to be accompanied by an equally resonant voice:

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♪ Toreador! en garde toreador!

Your strength shall bring you fame,

Toreador! en grade toreador! ♫

♫ The glory that lies past is only diminished by the danger,

Et songe bien, oui! Songe en combattant! ♫

♪ Qu'un œil noir te regarde,

Look, and see! Win the battle and love awaits! ♪

♫ Et que l'amour t'attend! ♫

♪ Toreador! l'amour! l'amour t'attend! ♫

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"...Woah," Mikhail only had one word to describe the spectacle before him.

His mother gasped for air, as if exhausted from singing. Not only that, the musical notes that surrounded her were also twinkling in various colours...

<<Hoo... Hoo, here is my gift; O son of mine.>>

-Twinkle!-

The music notes that surrounded her previously flew straight at Mikhail, but just as he closed his eyes and readied himself for the impact... Nothing came. Confused, Mikhail opened his eyes to look around only to feel a deeply cooling sensation envelop his entire body.

<<I've cast a protection spell on you; it should protect you in the direst of circumstances. -Cough!-Now go, you do not have much time.>>

Realizing what she had done, Mikhail could only bow in gratitude before getting on his horse and rushing towards what many would consider certain death...

-Step! Step! Step!-

It was Zhiv, but apart from standing behind her, he stayed completely silent. Just crossing his arms while staring in the direction Mikhail rode.

<<Do you think he's going to survive?>> She asked Zhiv.

"...I don't know, but I'll call in a few favours to help him," After a few minutes, he finally spoke.

<<Hmm... Good luck, my toreador...>> She whispered, before closing her eyes in prayer.

***

Somewhere in the Allegro Plains, 30 minutes from the destination.

Mikhail could feel the wind hit his face and rush through his hair, violently lifting it into the air. It felt... Good, like he was free from all responsibilities; like he could just shout out all the pent up stress over the past few days.

But he wasn't distracted for long, as he got closer and closer to his goal, a poignant pressure struck him abruptly; It was suffocating, like being hundreds of meters underwater. Mikhail was certain the morkoda queen had noticed his location.

"Hoo, finally here... Don't worry, you got this,"

After a few more minutes, Mikhail finally arrived at the mouth of the cave. Unfortunately, he was met with an unexpected obstacle immediately after he attempted to go in.

<<Neigh!!>>

"Argh!!" It was his horse, the animal refused to go in with him.

"Shh, okay okay I get it, I'll leave you here,?" Mikhail quickly tried to shut the animal up, since any unwanted noise could attract the attention of morkodas.

After getting it to stay hidden a bit away from the cave, Mikhail finally walked in. It was dark and cramped. The roof was barely taller than Mikhail himself and apart from the small holes in the roof letting bits and pieces of light in, there was no other source of light in the mouth of the cave.

Mikhail began sneaking through the various 'hallways' of the cave, sometimes getting lead into dead ends, other time to perilous drops while some even had traps! Fed up, Mikhail began kicking whatever he could find while walking room to room.

Slowly, he made his way deeper and deeper into the the maze-like complex of the morkoda queen's lair. Finally, he arrived at a relatively orderly pathway, as instead of the rocky and uneven road he had to traverse, this one was more civilised.

"Goddamnit... I'm never going to save her like this! Agh!" Mikhail cursed under his breath while walking through the pathway when he suddenly slipped and fell.

"Ow... That hurt! I should be more carefu...Oh..." As Mikhail got up and looked ahead, he was stunned at the sight in front of him...