The Thousand Year Dynasty
12.5. Antology Story: At the End of the Cave
The next day the three of them immediately went back into the cave. Very early in the morning. This time they chose the path to the right of the branching they found yesterday.
"I think yesterday the sound of the bat came from this hallway" said Loujze who walked ahead with a torch in his hand.
"Air is also moving from the direction of this hallway" said Hueber who was also assessing. Their shadows were seen dancing wildly on the walls of the cave, due to the moving flames
Finally they started to move forward. And after quite a long walk, they began to see a dim light from the front. And the more it moved forward, the light began to get brighter and the fresh wind felt blowing them.
"Exit?" Loujze looked a little enthusiastic while still moving forward.
Soon they found a large room shaped like a circle. Although not perfect.
It looks like the ceiling is curved like a dome that has an open cavity that shows the bright color of the blue sky. While on the sidelines of the roof of the cave that did not open, there were a lot of bats hanging.
"Well, more or less this can be called a window, not a door" Loujze said later after seeing what was at the end of the hall.
"But, I think the crystals here are quite promising" Deuxter said, looking around.
Seen on the side of the wall around the place there are a lot of crystal stones that glow, colorful, when exposed to sunlight.
"What is that crystal?" Huebert looked curious looking at the many green, blue, red, and purple flickering stones.
"I'm not a miner, you can ask aunt after this" Loujze replied.
"Well then, let's go back and tell auntie immediately, about this place" Deuxter asked later.
And they immediately left the place.
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"So are the crystals in the cave valuable, bi?" Loujze asked as they had returned to dinner together at the miners' house.
"Oh, very valuable. We managed to pin down Rubi Sulfur" said Go looks fiery.
"What is Ruby Sulfur, bi? Is it worth it?" Huebert looked curious as well.
"Rubi Sulfur, similar to sulfuric rocks only in the form of red crystals. And when he was burned, the color of the fire he produced was reddish purple" he heard Go was very excited when he told him about the crystal stones.
"And what are the uses of the stone, bi?" Loujze looks just as interested in Go when it comes to minerals.
"To know, Ruby Sulfur is used for ceremonial occasions of Istar followers" replied the burly woman as she placed the spoon on her plate, she finished her dinner.
"I also know less. But yesterday while still in this place, Aksa once asked me to help mine everything, if later we find this Rubi Sulfur" added Go then who had started to make the dishes.
"When the chance of miners to find Ruby Sulfur is very rare. Although it was mining in the stomach of the mountain though. But as if the young man could figure out that we would find him in the future" Go is heard trying to solve the mystery behind Aksa's request for the Ruby Sulfur.
"Don't he know in any environment, a mineral can be formed?" Go sounded disbelieving by his own conjecture.
While the three students just smiled at Go's behavior. Continue their dinner.
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The next morning, the three hunters had already started moving into the cave. At the mouth of the cave has been seen starting to be crowded by the miners.
Go and several other miners also entered with the three of them until the branching of the road. The miners had to start installing a rail line for the trolley to an open roof space that had lots of crystals and bats yesterday. The trio of hunters will continue their journey to the left.
"It looks like this hallway is uneven in shape and size" Deuxter said after he finished with his concentration.
"But it doesn't seem like there is any water inundating or flooding the aisle" Loujze said later.
"How did you know that?" Tanya Go who is still at the branch of the road while watching the miners who began pushing the train filled with iron bars for the trolley line.
"The sound is coming from this passage, not the echo reflected off the surface of the water" Loujze explained.
"Also the air, it doesn't feel like water humidity" Huebert added.
It was seen Go only nodding small looking at the explanation of the three young men.
"But that's just an estimate, bi. We could have been wrong" Deuxter later said.
"Yes, even so. You guys stay careful" Go said later.
"Well, bi" the three answered almost simultaneously.
And then the trio of hunters began to walk into the left aisle. With Go starting to handle the installation of the trolley rail line in the cave.
Finally, after passing through the narrowed aisle, which had to walk sideways like a crab. Also the hallway shrank to the point of having to walk bent over, the three of them finally found another cave door. Looks like the door of this cave is also covered by tendrils and vines.
"Finally!" Deuxter said with a face that already looks shabby.
"Let's get rid of the tendrils and vines immediately. I'm already hot in this cave" said Loujze while taking out a knife from the sheath on his waist.
"True" Huebert followed Loujze out a knife and began to cut down the plants that blocked the cave door.
After the trio of hunters managed to get out of the cave, they were immediately greeted by a stretch of green and beautiful valley. And even though the day had gone by dusk, but the scenery could still look very beautiful and refreshing for the three of them.
"Well, is this the western side of Sekai's gun?" Loujze's face was beaming at her.
"Yes, I think it's the west side" Deuxter said as he stared at the end of the sun in the twilight sky.
"I think we should stay here for the night" Huebert said. Because he felt that he had enough in the damp and pengab cave passage all day.
"True, tomorrow we'll just go back to tell auntie" Deuxter agreed to Huebert's idea.
-
Finally they made a bonfire in a place not far from the cave door. Behind a rock cliff to protect from the cold night air.
They don't carry tent equipment. Just a sleeping bag. But indeed the three of them had never made a tent during the trip, even before meeting Lucia's entourage.
But shortly after they finished making the bonfire, suddenly sounds came from within the bush. And deftly Loujze jumped up, then pulled something out of the bush behind him.
A young man fell to his knees in front of a bonfire. And looking panicked, the young man immediately stood up and pulled out a small knife from under his cloak. He then directed the three hunters before him. "Don't move! Who're you?" Shouted the young man with a trembling voice. Like holding back fear.
But that voice sounded familiar to the three of them.
"Fla?!" Unbelief from the three of them simultaneously, so clearly visible was the face of the young man who was unsheathing the knife.
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