The cave became darker the further the group ventured, until it eventually became pitch-black. Unable to see, Talon started barking to the others, “Anybody got a torch? We need a torch!”

  “Yeah, Wilhelm spot me a light?” Aden reached into his pack, pulling out a small lantern.

  “No need! Allow me.” Sun Walker boasted as his body began to glow, illuminating the cavern.

  “WOAH!” Barb awed at the now glowing man. “How do you do that?”

  “You gotta teach me that spell!” Wilhelm joined.

  Aden darted an annoyed glance before gesturing, “Lead the way.”

  “Hah! Gladly!” Sun Walker boasted, leading the group through the brightly lit cavern.

  The light revealed the truth of the grimy walls, revealing each slab of moss and spiderweb more than a lantern ever could.

  Eventually the group found themselves at a crossroads. Two identical, dark, and grimy pathways.

  Sun Walker stopped in his tracks, the group followed suit. “Which way?” He asked himself.

  Aden looked to the left path. Sun Walker looked to the right path.

  “This way everyone!” Sun Walker commanded the group, leading down the right pathway.

  Without saying a word, Aden began down the left pathway.

  Barb gleefully followed behind Sun Walker, while Talon met Wilhelm’s gaze. They both knew they couldn’t leave Aden to wander the cavern alone, but neither wanted to be in Sun Walker’s group.

  Without even a moment of hesitation, the two played a quick game of rock, paper, scissors. Talon played scissors, while Wilhelm played rock.

  Wilhelm silently celebrated his small victory while following after Aden and Talon cursed under his breath, turning towards Sun Walker’s illuminated direction. Within a few moments, both groups had completely vanished into the darkness.

  After a few minutes of navigating the dark, Aden turned to Wilhelm, “Give me a light.” The young wizard instinctively lit his lantern with a quick fire spell.

  “Thanks.” He continued on.

  At least he thanked me this time, Wilhelm thought to himself. Their leader has been cut off from everyone since they met, he didn’t even know anything about him.

  “So Aden, where are you from?” Wilhelm asked, attempting to break the awkward silence.

  “Valeria City.” He replied, cold and to the point as usual.

  “Oh, that’s cool, I've heard it’s beautiful there. I’ve never been though!” Wilhelm resonated with his comrade.

  Aden hesitated. They shared another awkward pause.

  “You?” Aden continued, showing a small amount of curiosity.

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  A glimmer of joy sparkled in Wilhelm’s eyes. The brooding group leader was finally about to open up. “Arcanhelm Academy. In the Eastern Providence, it’s a-“

  “I know Arcanhelm Academy. That’s where all those wizards were killed back when he took over.” Aden boldly replied.

  “Yeah.” Wilhelm sorrowfully replied. Fighting back tears he realized this conversation would just end with him feeling worse.

  Within a few silent minutes, the two had reached an opening in the cave. A small room with three torches lit on each side. At the end, another pitch black pathway.

  “Hmm. Weird.” Aden stated aloud. Continuing on, wondering who could’ve lit them.

  As they reached the halfway point of the room, the flames came to life. The ripples formed into tiny, round bodies.

  “What the-” Aden muttered as four of the flames bounced onto him.

  Wilhelm reacted by casting a frost spell onto the remaining two, instantly extinguishing them. Aden then dropped to the dirty floor, rolling back and forth. Attempting to put out three more of the flames. The final flame leaped towards Wilhelm, setting his pant leg ablaze. As the young wizard put out the flame, the small fire ran out the exit, illuminating the cavern with every step.

  As Aden finished putting out the flames he rushed to Wilhelm’s aid, “You good?”

  “Yeah. I’m just concerned about what mage could’ve created those, it’s a pretty advanced spell.” Wilhelm replied, brushing off his pants.

  “It seems to know the way to its master.” Aden motioned toward the illuminated path.

  In the right passage, Sun Walker confidently led down the path while Barb and Talon followed.

  “We are close to something. I can feel it!” Sun Walker boasted.

  Talon let himself fall slightly behind the group, “Man, I hate this guy. Why is Barb fawning over him?”

  Barb walked faster to keep up with Sun Walker, wanting to stay near him. Not out of attraction, but out of admiration of his physical strength.

  Within a few minutes, they arrived at a large wooden door.

  Sun Walker’s glowing aura dimmed, “Dead end.”

  “Yes sir! Where to next?” Barb’s eyes glistened while waiting for his response.

  Sun Walker rubbed his strong chin, “Wel-”

  “Open the door.” Talon interrupted, catching back up to the group.

  The large door creaked open.

  Sun Walker’s aura brightened, enlightening the room. “Huzzah, little man!”

  Talon rolled his eyes, continuing into the room. Upon entering he was greeted by cracked stone walls, a ragged carpet, and a couple rusty decorative swords hung from the wall over a ripped up red couch.

  “Weird.” Talon mumbled.

  Barb leaped onto the couch, “it’s been so long, my legs were getting tired!”

  Sun Walker looked down at the carpet, “I might as well rest too.” He dropped down, practically making a snow angel into the carpet, “it’s so soft!”

  In one quick whoosh, the carpet wrapped around Sun Walker.

  “Let me out!” He demanded, pushing against the brush to no success.

  “What the-“ Talon began before the swords flew off the wall towards him. He barely ducked to the left, leaving the blades to get stuck in the wall behind him.

  Barb felt a rumble below her as the sofa erupted into a sharp-toothed monstrosity. She immediately leaped off and broke the two swords in the wall with one strike.

  Talon pulled out his dagger, preparing for a fight. Barb stood next to him clutching her club.

  A screeching voice came from the carpet consumed Sun Walker in that moment as a beam of light engulfed the carpet and the couch, disintegrating them in an instant.

  With the monsters gone, Barb looked to Sun Walker. “So cool!” She gleamed.

  Talon just rolled his eyes and motioned for them to follow the path once again.

  After another hour of aimless wandering through the halls the two groups found each other.

  “Boy am I glad to see you.” Talon chuckled to Wilhelm while pointing back to Sun Walker and his biggest fan.

  “Same here.” The young wizard said, sneakily motioning to Aden.

  A little ahead of their intersection point, the group could see a small, stone door.

  “That’s it!” Sun Walker boasted.

  Everyone rolled their eyes except Barb, who gleamed. “What is it?”

  “The secret place! My uncle used to talk about it when I was little. I can’t believe I forgot about it!” He explained to the group.

  “Let’s get on with it then.” Aden grunted, flinging the door open.

  There they saw a pitch black room and in the back corner there sat an emaciated old man clutching a young red dragon.

  “Uncle?” Sun Walker blurted out, giving away their cover.