Traudl Quest: Part 6

We’re in the home stretch! Friends will be enemies. Enemies will be friends. Secrets will, at long, last be revealed.

Is any of that true?

Probably not!

But the only way to know is to read on…

The two traveled the land for some unknown period of time, buying weapons and armor for Ziphar, and allowing him to gain strength as a fighter. He was at first amazed at how skilled Traudl was with a blade, but his own skill improved with each battle. While time never really seemed to pass, the two decided they couldn’t linger anymore and had to head east to the Island of Evil, where Mozebarr’s castle was.

Traudl brought the flower seeds to Lindin, who miraculously built a boat in no time at all. In fact, he instructed the two adventurers to sleep at the Inn and it would be done the next day. As if by magic, the boat was ready, and the two were off onto the high seas. At first, Ziphar was worried about traveling at sea, seeing as how neither of the two was experienced as a sailor, but the boat piloted itself. As if pressed by some strange will, the boat followed its own course to the Island of Evil.

As soon as they started walking, it began to rain, something neither had seen since coming to the land. In all honesty, the rain seemed like nothing more than a device to enhance the mood. It didn’t make the land muddy to impede their travel, it didn’t make them cold and wet; it just darkened their spirits a bit.

At long last, they came to the doors of the Evil Castle.

“Let’s do it!” Ziphar said as he walked forward.

“Wait!” Traudl shouted after him.

Ziphar stopped short, “What’s wrong? We’ve come this far, you’re not going to turn around now, are you?”

Traudl shook her head, “No. I think there might be a monster guarding the door.”

Ziphar laughed, “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t see any monster. Besides, you have the magic ring. We’re safe if you leave it on.”

Traudl shrugged. “The magic ring seems to be selective. It only stops some monsters. Maybe bigger monsters aren’t afraid of it?”

Ziphar rolled his eyes, “Nonsense!” He walked forward and as he reached the door, a massive red dragon appeared. Ziphar fell backward down the stairs, landing at Traudl’s feet.

“A dragon!” he shouted.

Traudl didn’t seem phased at all. “I told you.”

The dragon was much more powerful than anything they had encountered thus far, but barely proved a match for the two fighters. In no time, they dispatched the beast and the way into the castle was clear.

As Traudl had already observed, once inside the magic ring was ineffective. Monsters came out of the woodwork and began attacking the duo. The battles were difficult, but not terribly so, as there were two of them. Traudl theorized that if she were by herself, she might still have been able to beat them, but it might have been a struggle.

Or would it?

They never seemed to actually run out of healing. It seemed as they used one healing potion, they would find two more stashed away somewhere. It was difficult, but not too difficult. If a doubt ever entered their mind that the trial ahead was impossible, another healing potion would be found around the corner, or even a font of rejuvenating water would be discovered in the next room.

The castle was like a maze, and it was difficult at times for the two to find their way through. It seemed some rooms only existed just to confuse them or to have some treasure in it. The two walked into one room in particular where they could see four treasure chests. As they stepped, in a massive stone creature attacked them. They fought the beast back and were well rewarded. Inside the treasure chests were the Helmet, Shield, Armor, and Sword of Legend.

“Look at this stuff!” Ziphar said as he held the golden breastplate in his hands. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

Traudl picked up the helmet and it quickly became smaller so it would fit on her head. It had an immaculate golden luster, with intricate inlays of gems. As Ziphar said, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Was it?

Traudl closed her eyes and when she opened them, she was sat on a wooden pier in the cool morning air. Mist rose above the water as the sun peeked through the eastern tree line.

She turned to see a man next to her. Who was he? She struggled to find a name until, at last, it came.

“Papa?”

He turned to her, warmly, “Yes?”

“Papa!” She exclaimed. “You’re here. How did you get here?”

His warmth turned to annoyance. “Your mind has wandered again. Living a million miles from here and now. Off on some adventure again?”

“I was in a strange land!” Traudl began. “I was a warrior. I had so many magical things and gold! Oh, and I was on a quest to stop an evil sorcerer.”

“The quest to do good comes second, I see. You sound like you enjoyed gathering all those wonderous things more.

Traudl folded her arms and scowled. “And why shouldn’t I enjoy having some nice things? Should I stay here in this little boring village, like you? ”

Papa’s smile returned. “But you didn’t stay in this boring village, did you? You’re out there, right now, in a strange land. On your magical adventure. Still, you came here in a moment of despair. Why? Aren’t all your magical things and riches enough for you?”

Traudl turned back to look over the calm water. She took a deep breath, the damp air soothing her lungs. “I think I’m bewitched, Papa. Some devilry has overcome me. I shouldn’t want all these things, but something pushes me. I’m afraid when I leave this moment, the hex will come upon me again. I don’t want that.”

Papa wrapped his arms around Traudl and held her close. “You cannot take this moment with you, but you can inhabit the present moment around you. Don’t look forward, to the things you might do. Don’t look back, on the things you meant to do. Think only of what is before you. Remember yourself and your purpose.”

“S—Sy—” A name was on the edge of Traudl’s tongue. “Sylva. My friend Sylva. I was helping her, because she helped me. I was looking for someone. I was looking for—”

Ziphar shook Traudl until she snapped out of her daze.

“I’ll take these!” Ziphar said as he began equipping the items.

Traudl was slow to come back to reality. Finally, she said “I’m not so sure about this. Why are such exquisite things here in this evil place? And why do we need them? We’ve been doing fine without them.”

A change came over Ziphar’s face, “Now you’re going to question the absurdity of this quest? Maybe Mozebarr stole this from the king and hid it here. I don’t know. What I do know is that these things will help me defeat the Fiend and get the crown.”

“You will defeat Mozebarr? Not us?” Traudl questioned.

Ziphar stormed over to Traudl and snatched the helmet from her hands. “And why not? I have these powerful items now. I don’t see much need for you at all.”

Traudl frowned. “But why? What do you think will happen if you alone defeat the fiend and not us together?”

Ziphar put on the helmet, which had resized again. “The king will reward me, and me alone. I won’t have to share it with you. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“No.” Traudl began. “I was here to help someone. Sylva. But I can’t remember how I was supposed to help her. Somehow, I think, I should stick with you though.”

Ziphar paused, the utterance of that name rang through his head like the bells of a great church tower, but he soon cast it aside. “You can follow, if you like, but the glory and treasure is mine!”

Without another word, Ziphar sprinted out of the room. Traudl tried to follow after him, but was attacked by a winged wraith. Ziphar was nowhere to be seen once the battle had finished.

Art credit for the featured image to the Dragon Quest game series. The image credits Akira Toriyama, but you can never believe what you read on the internet. I sourced it from HERE.