the second chapter
When Caramon finally returned to the cave, the morning light illuminated the newly fallen snow.
Xiaolei! When Caramon finally got close, he shouted in horror. Xiaolei! I'm sorry! This damned forest! He cursed and stared nervously at the trees. This…this terrifying place. I spent the whole night chasing a strange fire that disappeared at dawn. Are-are you okay? Caramon was scared, cold, and exhausted. He walked through the snow, waiting for his brother to respond, cough... or any other reaction.
The only response Caramon got from the cave was complete silence. So he rushed into the cave and pulled down the blanket at the entrance in a panic.
As soon as he entered the cave, he stopped and looked around in surprise.
A ball of scorching flames burned. The cave was very warm, even warmer than the rooms in the most luxurious hotels. His younger twin brother was in a deep sleep, as if he was lost in some kind of beautiful dream. The air was filled with the smell of spring, with the fragrance of lilac and lavender.
I think I've become a valley dwarf, Caramon suddenly noticed that the fuel of the fire was actually hard stone. Mage! He mumbled as he kept a safe distance from the flames. As far as I'm concerned, we'd better leave this place as soon as possible. " It's not that I don't know how to be grateful," he hurriedly added. Looks like you mages have saved Ray's life. I just don't understand why I'm being asked to chase the will-o'-the-wisps. He knelt on one knee and shook his brother's shoulder.
Ray, Caramon whispered softly. Ray. Wake up!
Raistlin's eyes widened. He sat up and looked around. " Where is it?" he asked.
Who was there? What was that? Caramon shouted warily. He slowly retreated, holding the hilt of his sword as he nervously looked around the cave. I knew it-
It was…Raistlin who frowned and shut his mouth.
I guess no one, the wizard said softly, holding his head in his hands. He felt a little dizzy. Relax, brother, he glared at Caramon. There's no one else here except us.
But…this fire…Caramon stared at the fire suspiciously. Who-
I did it myself, Raistlin replied. What else can I do after you abandon me and run away? Help me up. The mage reached out his weak hand and helped his brother's strong hand to stand up from the pile of blankets on the ground.
I-I didn't know you could do that! Caramon stared at the rock-fueled flame.
'There are many things you don't know about me, dear brother,' retorted Raistlin. He wrapped himself in a warm cloak and watched Caramon pack the blanket.
They were still a little wet, the burly man muttered. Maybe we should stay a little longer and let the blanket dry...
No, said Raistlin, trembling. He held the Mazi Staff that was originally leaning against the cave wall. I don't want to stay in the Willis Forest for even a second longer.
I'm all for it, said Caramon enthusiastically. He wondered if there were any hotels nearby that were of a high standard. I heard that there's a good inn built near the forest. It seemed to be called the Wayward Inn or something. The burly man's eyes lit up. Maybe we can have some hot food and some good ale for a change tonight. He might even be able to sleep on the bed!
Maybe. Raistlin shrugged as if nothing had anything to do with him.
Caramon kept talking about the hotel he had heard about. He put away the blanket hanging at the entrance of the cave and folded it into his backpack. " I'll go first," he told his brother. I'll pave the way for you in the snow first. Raistlin nodded but did not speak. He walked to the entrance of the cave and watched as his strong brother pushed a path through the snow so that his weak self could keep up. Raistlin's lips curled up slightly in contempt, but when he turned to look into the cave, he immediately disappeared. When Caramon walked out of the hole, the flames almost immediately went out. The cold air had already begun to slowly return to the cave.
However, there was still the faint scent of lilac in the air, the scent of spring…
Raistlin shrugged and turned to walk into the snow-covered forest.
The Wayward Inn looked most glorious in summer, a season that had the same cheerful effect on everything and everyone. Lots of ivy climbed generously up every wall of the inn, covering many of the worn-out corners. The roof still needed to be patched up. Every time it rained, it would leak. It was impossible for him to think about this when he went out to fix it. Of course, when the sky was clear, the roof would not leak, so it naturally did not need to be repaired. The windows were still full of cracks, but the summer breeze that blew through the cracks was very popular with the guests.
The inn had a good number of guests during these pleasant months. Dwarven craftsmen, sometimes elves, many humans, and the Kander people who were more worried than anyone else. He often kept Shrek and the maids busy from early morning until midnight.
However, it was very quiet that evening. It was a soft, warm midsummer night. The golden and purple evening light crisscrossed in the sky. The birds chirped lullabies to their chicks. Even the trees in the Willis Forest seemed to be tempted by the atmosphere, giving up their duty as guards and dozing off. This evening, even the inn was silent.
When the two strangers approached the inn, they felt that it was too quiet. They were dressed in extremely high-class clothes, and their faces were covered with silk scarves in this warm weather. Outsiders could only see their black eyes. The two of them exchanged serious looks and quickened their pace. They pushed open the wooden door and stepped into the hotel.
Shrek was sitting behind the bar, wiping glasses with a dirty rag. He had already been wiping the cup for an entire hour. If it weren't for the two accidents that happened at the same time, he might have continued wiping for another hour. The first was two masked strangers walking in through the front door at the same time, and the second was a waitress running down the stairs out of breath.
" Please forgive me, gentlemen." Shrek slowly stood up and gestured for the other party to remain silent. He turned to the waitress and asked vaguely. How was it?
The girl shook her head.
Shrek's shoulders drooped. Ah, he mumbled. Alright, maybe this was better.
The two strangers looked at each other.
Where was the child? asked Shrek.
The waitress suddenly sobbed.
What was that? asked Shrek, surprised. Even the child?
No! choked the waitress. The child was fine. Listen to the wails coming from the first floor. You can hear her voice. But... but-oh! The woman covered her face with her hands. How terrifying! I've never seen anything like this--
Upon hearing this, one of the strangers nodded and the other walked forward.
Sorry to disturb you, shopkeeper, but the stranger's polite words had a strange accent. But it seemed that a terrible tragedy had happened here. Maybe we can continue-
No, no, said Shrek hastily, the thought that he might be making less money pulling him back to normal. Come, Liz, either wipe your tears and help, or go to the kitchen and cry.
Liz covered her face with her apron and ran to the kitchen, sobbing.
Shrek led two strangers to a table. The innkeeper shook his head.
We can-the stranger said cautiously, and onlookers would have noticed that he was as unusually nervous as his companion.
There's nothing for you gentlemen to worry about, said Shrek. It was just that one of the waitresses had passed away while giving birth.
One of the strangers involuntarily reached out and grabbed his companion's arm. His companion gave him a warning look.
This was indeed a pity. We're sorry for her, said the stranger in a tone of forced composure. Is she your family? I'm sorry to be so nosy, but you look so sad-
I am very sorry, gentlemen, said Shrek bluntly. She's not my family. She came in the dead of winter, begging me to give her a job. She had a familiar feeling, but when I thought about it, he held his head in his hands. I had a strange feeling, so I wanted to chase her away. But-he looked up, you know women. Chef immediately took her away and took great care of her. I must admit, said Shrek seriously, I'm not the type of person to build close relationships. But she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life. At the same time, he was also a very serious person. He never complained. She's our favorite.
Hearing this, a stranger lowered his head. His companion held his hand.
"Well," said Shrek, even more succinctly. I can give you cold dishes and ale, but I'm afraid you won't be able to eat hot food tonight. Chef was very sad. Now, the owner looked at the kitchen door that was still shaking and sighed. From what Liz said, the baby seemed a little strange.
The stranger's hand suddenly moved. Old Shrek immediately froze. His lips parted slightly as if he was about to speak. He raised a hand and turned around. The kitchen door also stopped moving. A drop of ale from the glass hung between the air and the ground.
The two strangers got to their feet and quickly made their way up the stairs in the bewitching silence. They hurriedly opened the doors of every room in the inn! He looked inside each room and searched. Finally, they arrived at a small room at the end of the corridor. A stranger opened the door, looked inside, and motioned for his companion to follow him in.
A muscular woman who was most likely a chef was also frozen in the middle of smoothening a pale woman lying on the bed. Tears hung on the chef's gentle face. It was obvious that her weathered hands had allowed the woman to rest in peace. The woman's eyes were tightly shut, and her cold hands were clasped in front of her chest. A bouquet of roses was placed on her unconscious hand. The gentle candlelight shone on the incomparably beautiful young face, and a wise smile hung on the gray corner of his mouth.
" Amberly," a stranger sobbed as she knelt by the bed and held her cold hand tightly. Another stranger walked forward and patted his companion's shoulder.
I'm really sorry, Kelly.
We should have come earlier! Kelly caressed the girl's hand.
We came as fast as we could, his companion said gently. He had rushed over as soon as she had wanted.
She sent us a message-
At that time, she already knew that she was about to die! his companion said.
Why? Kelly cried and turned to Amberly's peaceful face. Why did she choose to die…among humans? He compared himself to the chef.
I don't think we'll ever find out, his companion said softly. I might have guessed, he said in a low voice, but that was to himself, not to his grieving companion. He turned around and walked to a Cradle of Difficulty that he had hastily built. He chanted a few incantations to remove the curse from the baby. She took a deep breath and began to wail.
What about the child? The stranger looked up from the bed. How was her baby? According to the maid…there was fear in his voice. She was not, not dead-he could not go on.
No, said his friend in a puzzled tone. This is not what you and I are worried about. The waitress said she had never seen anything like it.。But I don't think the baby did! The stranger gasped in surprise. He carried the child and turned to face his friend. Look, Kai Li! Look at that child's eyes!
The young man looked down at the crying baby and gently stroked his pink cheek with his fingers. The baby turned his head and opened his eyes subconsciously, looking for warmth, nutrients, and love.
Those eyes…were golden! Kai Li said in a low voice. A golden color that was as scorching as the sun! Our race has never been in such a situation…I don't know--
Without a doubt, this was a gift he had inherited from his human father. Although I don't know of any human with such golden eyes; But it was obvious that Amberly had brought this secret to her grave. He sighed and shook his head, then looked down at the crying baby. Her daughter was as beautiful as she was, and the man wrapped the baby tightly in a blanket. We have to go now. We've been on this strange and terrifying land for far too long.
Yes, Kai Li said, but he didn't make the gesture of leaving. What about Amberly? His eyes returned to the pale, motionless figure on the bed.
We must leave her in the crowd she has chosen to spend her last moments with, said his companion heavily. Perhaps their god would now accept her and guide her wandering soul back to her hometown.
Goodbye, sister…Kai Li muttered. He bent down and took the roses from the corpse's hands. After kissing them, he carefully put the roses in his pants pocket. His companion chanted the ancient language again and removed the magic attached to the inn. Then, two strangers carrying the baby disappeared from the room like a silver snowflake.
The baby was very beautiful, just like her mother. Because it was said that before they became selfish and bewitched by evil, the most perfect race created by the gods was the ogre…
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