บท 93: The Dragon Elder (2)

Leena led the group down the left cave, they found themselves entering a dome with grassy green fields, flowers, trees, bird, etc. It was a beautiful sight, the only problem, the walls were made of the same black rock as the cave room from which the came in. "Be careful, something doesn't feel right." Leena wasn't the only one who felt the sinister air in such a beautiful place. Everyone reached for their weapons, wielding them while moving forward slowly.

They walked about half way across the dome before they heard the a pair of large wings flap in the air. The group looked around to try and find the source of the sound but they didn't see anything. "Eat from the tree with the most beautiful fruit." It was a deep voice the circulated around the entire dome.

The group wasn't feeling too optimistic, every single tree in this grassy field looked impeccable with flawless fruit. None of this made any sense to Leena, what kind of fruit would be so beautiful that one tree didn't have on the other. "Look for a dented or bruised fruit."

The rest of the group understood, maybe what they voice was telling them was to eat the fruit that was hurt because it was still beautiful too. The four split up and searched every tree, in the end they could not find any bruised fruit. They then looked for the most radiant fruit but the radiance from each fruit was all the same.

There was no winning, the group though long and hard trying to find a solution but they were in odds with what to do. The most beautiful fruit... Leena placed her hand out in front and grew a simple orange tree. It didn't shine like the rest, it didn't all come out green but the oranges were orange.

"Eat these." Leena was hoping she was right, if they failed she had a feeling that the voice wouldn't let them go. "Are touch sure about this?" Clain didn't want to doubt Leena but he also wasn't sure what was going on.

"I'm not sure about anything.. If you don't want to eat it, you're free to turn back now." No one argued and simply took the fruit and ate it.

"A very bold move on your part little girl." An incredibly large dragon appeared before the group towards the exit. He was blue with spikes covering his spine, his icy eyes reminded Leena of the Mermaids she had encountered a few weeks ago. "You have passed. It is true that my fruit are very beautiful, but when a Fiena crafts the fruit of her own harvest. It far surpasses mine, also eating my my fruit would have poisoned you."

The dragon began to shrink into a blue human body, he still remained a reptile but he was quite attractive. "You have the right to pass onto your next trial, I must warn you. The next two trials will not be easy. My trial is a trial of self-awareness of your own beauty. The next trial is of will and the last trial, perseverance. What is your name little girl?"

The blue scaled man appeared no older than Leena did but she knew better than to raise awareness to such a small thing. "I am Leena."

"Very well Leena. Take this token, it shall open the next door." The man placed his hand out with a gentle bow.

Brenda had never seen such a man, he was perfect. Those eyes, those lips, his skin with magnificently florescent, she was hesitant to step away from him but in the end he didn't look back at her. Leena took the token, stepped around the man and followed the exit.

"If I am to fail any of the next trial what happens to my friends?" Leena's voice rang out with power before stepping through the exit into a dark cave.

The blue dragon didn't turn around, he too had found the pixie fascinating but he has been bound to this cave for thousands of years, turning back now would make his duties difficult for him.

"The Dragon Elder has been waiting for both of your arrivals. However.. If you do fail, you will all die."