Third Person's POV
Delicate patterns of intertwined silver and crimson adorned the walls, and the floor was layered with plush velvet carpeting.
Comfortable cushioned seats lined the sides, and a small sleeping area was tucked into the back corner.
A polished wooden table with an embedded dressing mirror stood near the front.
"It's very beautiful," Velcy whispered as she ran her fingers along the delicate engravings on the wall.
Virelle who was the reserved type simply nodded in agreent but Ethan could see the awe in her eyes.
"This carriage is reinforced and expanded using spatial magic," Ethan explained with a small smile.
"Specifically, Dinsional Expansion. There are probably less than fifty such carriages in the entire continent and they are extrely rare and valuable."
The girls stared at the carriage in awe and nodded at his explanation as that was the only plausible explanation behind this marvel.
Then, in a mont of innocent curiosity, Velcy reached for a decorative vase sitting atop a small counter. As she lightly nudged it, a sudden shift occurred.
The walls of the carriage turned transparent.
All three froze as the world outside ca into clear view.
The dark tunnel around them stretched endlessly and ancient underground formations of jagged black rock cast eerie shadows.
The spectral blue flas from the horses illuminated their path and revealed intricate carvings along the tunnel walls and strange symbols that glowed faintly in response to their passing.
Ethan's eyes widened as he muttered.
"That was... unexpected."
Velcy pulled her hand back imdiately and stared at the vase as if it had betrayed her.
"I—I didn't an to!"
Virelle, however, was too focused on the view to pay attention to Velcy's flustered reaction. "This tunnel... It's ancient."
Ethan nodded.
"It must be one of the hidden passages of Scarlet Hollow Castle. No one knew of its existence except the Duchess, I suppose."
As they watched, the tunnel gradually widened and the rough-hewn stone walls transitioned into naturally ford caves.
Stalactites hung from the ceiling and water dripped from so of them that glowed faintly in the dim light.
Then, at last, they erged from the tunnel, breaking into the open expanse of the Stygian Woods.
The towering, gnarled trees of the ominous forest stretched out before them as their blackened bark and crimson leaves swayed gently in the setting sun.
The mont they exited, the carriage wheels rolled smoothly onto the forest path, and the spectral horses adjusted their pace.
Glancing back, Ethan caught a glimpse of the barren mountains surrounding Scarlet Hollow Castle and its dark spires that were barely visible above the treetops.
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When will I return here?
He let out a quiet sigh. In just two years, this castle had beco a keeper of many of his wonderful and happy mories.
Yet, within those very walls, countless mysteries remained and were waiting for him to uncover them. He steeled his mind and focused on the next stage of his adventure.
With their departure finalized, a sense of anticipation settled over the three of them. Their journey had begun.
And there was no turning back.
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The blood moon shone high above and cast an eerie crimson glow over the swaying gnarled trees.
The night seed calm and still. It was an odd contrast to the usual ruthless and unforgiving atmosphere of the Blood Veil Continent.
Yet, within a particular clearing tension crackled in the air like a storm about to break.
An old black carriage that seed worn by ti and travel rested beside a path frequently used by travelers moving between the Central Dominance Lands and the Stygian Woods.
This path was the only safe route through which travelers could move between the regions of this huge continent.
However, the peacefulness of the scene was a re illusion.
A young man with striking violet hair and piercing crimson eyes stood before a gathering of dark figures.
His cold deanor sent chills through the dark figures surrounding him.
His na was Ethan and currently, his patience was wearing thin.
"So, you refuse to let us pass, even though I have agreed to take a different route?"
Ethan's voice was icy and his words asured but those who knew him could sense the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
The small shadowy figures murmured among themselves in an undecipherable dialect and their guttural laughter was filled with sothing vile.
Though they were hidden in the darkness, Ethan had no problem seeing their true appearances.
They were small and barely reached four feet in height.
They were clad in ragged loincloths and so were even fully naled as their grotesque bodies stood exposed under the blood moon's glow.
Observing them, Ethan noticed one thing. All of them were males and there were no females in their group.
Their pointy black ears twitched, and their eerie toad-like yellow eyes glowed as they locked onto Virelle and Velcy with unmistakable hunger.
They snickered and pointed at Ethan's companions and their perverted intentions were perfectly clear.
Ethan's gaze darkened and his fingers twitched as they itched to slaughter them. He knew that glint in their eyes.
These creatures weren't just here to rob them but they had far worse intentions.
Virelle remained silent but her nails glead with a flickering crimson light and the very air around her began to thrum with restrained power.
Velcy who was still shaking off the last remnants of sleep tensed suddenly as the strands of her gray hair flickered faintly with a white glow.
The sea of creatures parted suddenly, and a gruff snarling voice echoed through the clearing.
It spoke in the universal Aegaryn language of the Agate Star World.
"Boy, who gave you permission to speak in my presence? Hand over those two won, and I might consider sparing your miserable life. Refuse and you will be eaten alive, and as for them..."
It pointed at the two won standing beside Ethan and snickered arrogantly as he delivered its threat.
"Hehe, I will personally defile them."
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