Chapter 10 (1): The Purple Gate
SEO-JUN'S POV
Once they were there, Sung-Ho stepped out, and I. I briskly walked, over to the Aeon's Association President, Taeyoon Park.
"What rank is it?"
"Unknown."
The gate was a purplish colour, different from the usual navy. It was also very large, around the size of a small shop.
"Has anyone gone inside?!" I immediately asked.
"A small group have...why?"
"Oh no....we have to find them! Quickly, before they lose their lives." I had heard of the 'Purple Gate' before, but never ever seen one. The Purple Gate was said to have been one of the largest gates ever seen, and one that forced the Gods to take action.
Apparently, it had brought ruin upon this land. Which meant tons of citizens were now in terrible danger, and their lives were now resting on 𝘶𝘴.
"Taeyoon, we have to venture inside the gate. Now."
"But didn't I just tell you, I already, -"
"Make the wrong decision here,Park Taeyoon, and everyone's blood is on 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 hands. I don't care whether you're the association president, or God himself. Now move. I'm going in." I replied. Ugh, this man...people's lives hung on his choices. And yet here he was, not doing anything?! If the boss wasn't defeated within the hour, hordes of monster would come pouring out....then all was lost.
"Come on, Sung-Ho. We haven't got the time to be wasting. We need to find the group, beat the boss, and get out alive."
"Wait, Miss Seo-Jun." Taeyoon stopped me, before handing me something. "This is a tracking device, and we placed something on each of them. Use that to find them, and I pray for your wellbeing." I nodded in thanks, before stepping into the unknown, Sung Ho right behind me.
We were in a forest of some sort. The trees were above 20ft, and the branches were thick. I could barely see, as the area was shrouded in fog. 'This is the perfect weather for someone to ambush us.' I thought to myself.
This was an Elf Forest. Elves are creatures somewhat similar in ways to the ones in kids' fairytales. They have beauty unparalleled, the ability to seduce men...but that only hideas what lurks beneath. They are an arrogant species, and a manipulative one at that. Sure, they act nice at first. But once you anger them...
Their eerie smiles bring nightmares. And I know. However, it would be best not to anger them before we attack...
As we approached their camp, I nodded to Sung-Ho, which basically said 'Do not fall for any of their tricks. They will attempt to seduce you.'
We walked into their camp, the elves immediately walked up to Sung-Ho. They began whispering in his ears.
"Olssv, fvbun thu. Fvb dvbsk il ilaaly vmm dpao tl avupnoa, uva oly." (Hello, young man. You would be better off with me tonight, not her.)
Sung-Ho did not look fazed, at all, and simply brushed them all off, being careful not to offend.
"Dl ruvd zvtl ayhclslyz dov dl aopur whzzlk if olyl h jvbwsl ovbyz hnv, kv fvb ruvd aolt?"(We know some travelers who we think passed by here a couple hours ago, do you know them?) He asked, pulling up a photo. He could speak Elf? I'm impressed. Elf language was hard to learn, as you actually had to meet an elf that didn't have killing intent to actually learn it.
The elves nodded, and marked somewhere on the map. They were heading there.
"They head there. To lair of Elf Queen."
So they could speak Korean, but only in broken phrases.
We continued on. This wasn't a time for talking, and Sung-Ho understood that. The forest was like a maze, and I could barely see where I was going.
However, due to the tracker, I could tell we were approaching the Aeons. Hopefully they hadn't challenged the Elf Queen yet. If they did, we only had a small amount of time before they died.
"We're approaching the lair, Sung-Ho. Be careful." I said, entering the cave cautiously. Glancing around in case of Elves, I continued. Soon, we would enter the lair of the Elf Queen, I just knew it.
And I was right.
The room was circular, a large table in the middle, with chairs in a perfect circle. One the far end of the room, there was a tall throne, due to the sheer size of elves, around 7ft. It had gold symbols drawn all across it. In the corner, there were elves dressed like monks, praying to a....god? There were drawings of the god [Mikaela] drawn on the walls, and seemed to be of him giving them....something?
However, the aim of this quest was to defeat the Elf Queen. I drew my bow, and nodded to Sung-Ho. He seemed a bit out of it, but focused back relatively.
Raising my bow, I used the skill [Twin Arrows To Rule The Skies]. I fired my arrow into the sky, in order to grab her attention and take it off Sung-Ho- who was now attempting to rescue the Aeons. The arrow shot down, splitting into two, and stabbing her in the shoulder.
She growled, turning to me. She also picked up her Ice Lance, and began to get up.
She threw it. I dodged, drawing another arrow. This time, I aimed at her head. It was going to go through her skull. It was going to....
What?!
She used her lance to block the arrow in the frame of a split second. I glanced over to Sung-Ho. 'Has he gotten them out yet...?' I thought to myself.
That was my mistake.
In the time I took to look at him...I shouldn't have looked away. The Elf Queen was given a chance, albeit only a few seconds, but still a chance to attack.
I felt a sharp pain in the middle of my chest. I looked down...
Seeing the lance speared halfway through my gut....
There's no hope for me, is there?
I hope...
I hope Sung-Ho can at least get out alive..
"Sung-Ho...."
"Please run."