Enigmas

Following the owner who maneuvered down the meandering corridors, Hilia was rather surprised by how huge the area was. Finally, he led them to a door and he slowly pushed the door open, gesturing for the two of them to head in first.

The men behind them didn't give them any chance to hesitate, literally pushing and shoving them into the room. It was an empty room that was littered with wooden crates.

"Take 'em, and pay up!" The owner said, standing at the wall.

"From this point on, we are on our own," Yoan whispered out. "Mino and Kai had never made it this far."

Hilia nodded, remembering their conversation back in the house. The two of them stated that the people who followed the owner to the staff room, never came back out. Sneaking in or barging in didn't work, since they could never find the room.

Yoan and Hilia were slow and cautious, inching their way to the wooden crates. Hilia reached her hand out to one of them, only to hear a sharp clicking sound. She gasped, scanning wildly and her eyes landed on the owner, and Yoan did the same.

They noticed his hand clutching at a lever, that was pulled down. His henchmen had already stepped away from them and the two of them widened their eyes in realisation.

"Wha-"

"Shit!"

They felt the floor below them disappearing and their shoes touched the empty air.

A trapdoor!

Yoan stretched his arms out, bringing Hilia close to him and she shrieked in alarm. They were shrouded in darkness as they fell, the wind whipping at their faces. It felt like eternity before they felt themselves landing on a hard cushion, and they groaned in pain.

"Boss got more of 'em fresh meat!"

Yoan snapped his eyes opened, his vision temporarily blinded by a rope being thrown at him. He couldn't even get the chance to grab at his swords as the rope wrapped around him, and someone proceeded to drag him over.

Hilia was treated in the same manner and she winced, looking over to Yoan and they were dragged roughly across the hard cushion, which were sacks of bags filled with materials that were enough to break their fall.

Their skins rubbed against the cushion, making Yoan grimace and Hilia bit on her lower lip, squeezing her eyes close. The surroundings indicated that they were in a cave, already carved out by humans. Man-made wooden platforms were also built throughout the entire cave.

"Don't fuss, we'll bring ya to a nice place, yeah?"

Hilia bit harder on her lower lip, thinking to herself.

Yoan can't reach for his swords, I have to do something!

She burst open her eyes, her irises forming into a familiar shape and she conjured up her staff. The light shining off her creates a distraction, just like she intended. The grip on the ropes loosened and Yoan moved quickly, slashing his captor at his leg, causing him to cry out in pain.

Holding her staff in her hands, Hilia felt a looming presence behind her. She recalled a tiny lesson of self-defence from Yoan once, one that she could catch onto quickly, despite not being the best at physical activities.

"Remember Hilia, just shove it backwards, your elbow, your staff, anything that you have. It'll definitely land somewhere."

One of the guards behind her clutched at his abdomen when her staff shoved harshly against it.

"After it lands, duck forward! Someone will definitely reach out for you."

She propelled herself forward, ducking her head and just like what Yoan taught her, another one of them tried to grab her. She didn't hesitate to dash to Yoan, who observed this exchange as he fought off another guard, a proud smirk on his face.

"Damnit!"

"Get them!"

Bumping her back against him, Hilia rolled her eyes at his cocky smirk. The group of guards had already surrounded them in a circle, but they weren't panicking.

"I know what you're going to say."

"It was beautiful but clumsy, priestess." Yoan commented and one of the men charged at him.

"Yes, yes, yes. But I managed to do it, and that's all that matters." Hilia sighed out, forming a barrier around her and projecting it to her staff. The guard swung his weapon at her, and she blocked it with her staff and the impact from the barrier blasted him away.

"And that's all that matters." Yoan spoke the same exact words at the same time, his smirk growing wider.

He had already fought the guard off by hitting the weapon away from his hand, and landing a fierce kick on their crotch.

"What? It's true."

"I didn't say anything, Hilia." Yoan grinned, and their bickering was interrupted by a shrill ringing echoing throughout the cave.