Who goes there

Hanna was the first one to wake up only to find sleeping Cael and Remm groping her inappropriately. The first expression on her face was confused one, shortly the confusion turned into embarrassment and she quickly retreated away from the two. Sleeping Cael and Remm was now searching something to grope, shortly they were groping each other.

This sight made Hanna burst into laughter and her laughter woke them both up only to find themselves groping each other.

''What the hell are you doing Remm!?'' Cael asked in confusion.

''I could ask the same question from you?'' Remm said while retreating further away from Cael.

Hanna stood up and looked around. ''Why is it so bright in here?'' She asked.

Cael and Remm stopped arguing with each other and Remm answered ''I was as sleepy as you two, so i used red candle to make sure nothing is lurking around us and trying to knock our lanterns down when we were sleeping.''

''That was a smart move, i was curious how bright the red candle is.'' Cael said with baffled look on his face while inspecting the red candle inside the lantern. ''However it seems this candle has been burning around 8 hours as there is only a stub left.''

They all sat together and ate some breakfast. After eating, Remm switched the red candle stub with the white candle and they continued moving towards north.

''It's been quite easy journey so far when we ditched the path, i have not heard a single sound from the darkness'' Cael said.

''I hope our journey will last like this to the end, but we all know that the deeper we venture into the darkness, the more dangerous it becomes. We should stay cautious to the end.'' Hanna answered.

''You children are very smart to avoid the main path, you only find the brute beings there, and those fellows have no brains at all.'' Voice said from the darkness.

After hearing that, the group quickly put their backs against each other.

''Who goes there!?'' Remm asked.

It was eerily silent, not a sound came from the darkness. Only sound that could be heard were the breathing noises of Cael, Remm and Hanna.

Then the voice spoke once again ''Hmm, you are cautious of me. But i wish no harm for you, i'm here to bargain.''

Cadets hesitated to answer at first, but then Cael opened his mouth. ''Bargain? Are you kidding me? How about you show yourself?''

The voice burst into maniacal laughter. ''We both know it's not possible, i am the being of darkness. If i were to show myself, i would die instantly from the light. But to demonstrate some of my powers...''

A sudden burst of strong violent wind breezed trough the cadets extinguishing all their candles.

''Now you are at my mercy.'' Voice said right next their ears.

Cadets started to panic and tried quickly to relit their candles.

''Okay, you have proven your point... What you want?'' Hanna asked with a fearful voice.

''Ah yes, the sound of fear. Like i said, i'm here to bargain. If i wanted to, i could kill all of you in an instant. What i want is hidden inside a temple not far away from here, if you go get it for me... I will reward you with something nice.'' The voice said.

''If you are so powerful, why don't you go get it yourself?'' Remm asked.

''That temple belonged to the Sinirizi monks, very powerful light source is guarding that place... I simply cannot get anywhere near it. If you go fetch me an item from there, i will reward you with knowledge and with a very special stone.'' Voice answered.

''We are at your mercy, we do as you wish'' Cadets answered.

The voice lead them to the temple, there was a bright light emitting from the temple.

''Only one of you go inside, the rest are my prisoners to prevent anything stupid from happening.

The item i want is a black box, bring it to me.''

Remm and Hanna agreed to stay as prisoners while Cael entered the temple alone. He walked steep stairs down and the bright light shone even brighter the deeper he went. When Cael arrived to the main room in temple, in middle of the room was an altar which had a small stone which emitted all that light. He looked around and found another room, upon entering the room he saw 2 skeletons laying on ground.

One of the skeletons had a black box around its arms, while the other one was holding a book.

Cael grabbed the book and black box, after that he tried to open the black box but it was locked.

He looked more around if he could find something else, but he only managed to find a small pouch which had some stones inside. Back in the main room he tried to remove the light stone from altar and managed to do so with little effort. After he was ready to leave he put the book and pouch on his backpack, while the light stone he covered with piece of fabric and put on his pocket.

Once he got outside of the Temple he asked the voice. ''I have your box, where are my friends?''

Hanna and Remm were yelling to Cael that they were alright, but had to extinguish their candles.

''Still doubting me are we? Leave the box right there and step away from it.'' Voice answered.

Cael did what the voice asked him to do. The voice grabbed the black box and started laugh maniacally.

''Could you stop with that maniacal laughter? It makes me nervous.'' Cael said to the voice.

''As promised, your friends are free to go. I also promised you knowledge and a special stone.'' The voice said while throwing a piece of stone at him.

''The knowledge is about that stone you are holding on your hand right now. It is known as the star stone and it is the product of Sinirizi monks. In other words, you are now one step closer to end the never ending darkness.''

''Why would you give me something so important which could lead to your destruction?'' Cael asked. ''You gave me something even better'' The voice answered.

''Would you mind telling me your name? You are kinda interesting being for a being of darkness.'' Cael asked with a smirk on his face.

''Very well, my name is Mezzel the Dark Prince, son of Dark King.'' While saying his name, a violent burst of wind swept trough the area with the fading voice of Mezzel. After Mezzel left, Remm and Hanna ran to Cael asking what they were talking about.

''I think we met with someone really powerful being'' Cael said with sound of respect.