Even caves have secrets

As I enter the dark room again, my feet stop momentarily; the torch frozen in my hand midair. Strange, but somehow I figured that there wouldn’t be that many things in the room. I was obviously very wrong… there were plenty… to say the least. The place was packed with all sorts of things. There was the big table that I stumbled in the first place; I saw the other chairs… and many more. I looked around noticing chairs in different shapes, sizes and styles. I looked to the sides and corners of the room and saw a couple of old rugs rolled up against each other… they looked out of place. Well, everything looked out of place. My eyes wondered of to the impressive table again and all the smaller and strange objects that were littering the wide surface.

There were many old books, all sorts of yellowed papers struck by the passing time… dust covering everything. I saw some large cups… from the look of it, very expensive, priceless even… and probably not possible to replace. I even saw a couple of plates, no doubt made of pure gold – no revelation there. I picked one of the cups, curious what they would feel like. They were heavy, with small jewels on the top. I stroked the gems in amazement. The blue sapphires, red rubies… and the prettiest emeralds that I could ever imagine. So breathtaking… I shake my head after a long moment, putting the cup back in its place. Better not to move anything from here… 

I look suspiciously at all the things in the room. And can’t help but to wonder if there were any traps waiting for me… I wouldn’t be exactly surprised, if something fell on my head or attacked me before I could even blink an eyelid… very tricky.

But after a moment of hesitation I just shrug my shoulders. I mean… the door was open, the dust a couple of inches thick… so no one was here for… hell knows how long. Which means no one was even remotely interested in this place. And not to mention that the owner got the whole place probably covered. I was sure that nobody could get down here no matter how much they tried. Unless somebody was invited here… or dragged with no scruples… like me. I doubted that anybody could just sneak down here. Unless they had a death wish of course.                                                     I could easily imagine that this place was guarded better then the famous Fort Knox. My not so charming prosecutor definitely having better resources… and being the master of all things evil couldn’t hurt either.

I bend down over the table, wanting to have a better look at all the strange things. I outstretch my hand to pick a small wooden box, the size of an average Rubik block… but a stop abruptly, noticing a spark from the torch falling on the table. I froze for a half a second, than quickly put out the possible fire that didn’t need plenty of time to spread around. Thankfully nothing happens, only a small burned smudge left behind. I use my sleeve to remove the ashes and cover the spot with an old heavy goblet. For a moment my heart still races with panic, than eventually I calm myself down. 

 Can you imagine what would happen if I actually started a fire down here? I close my eyes trying to block out the possibilities. This would not go without a punishment. I look at my hand and touch my wrist, remembering the bruise that was spreading there just yesterday. And that was just a warning for straying, without permission… and of being accused of wanting to run away… accused correctly, but that was beyond the point. He would do horrific things to me if I burned the whole place down.

I stare at the torch like it’s a death weapon and quickly look for a safe place to put it in. I notice the holds on the wall and pick one. But as the hold is just as high as it was in the other room I have to haul another chair with me my free hand. It takes me a while, much longer then the last time, but eventually I make it. After I get down I proceed with looking around, this time with both of my hands free and without unnecessary panic and hyperventilation on its way. 

I go to the corners of the room and reach for one of the rugs, intrigued by the colorful pattern. Now, I wasn’t an expert on these things but the carpets looked Persian. Antique quality. Well, to the truth everything around deserved the name of an antique. Like stepping in a secret chamber filled with treasures from top to bottom.

I give a little smile. Usually secret chambers are guarded better… and locked. But I guess, if the owner of this place, thinks of himself this highly and as someone who’s indestructible… then locks and bolts, or any kind of precautions for that matter are… completely unnecessary. 

I look around again and notice a small sparkly object on the table. Now, I never had a chance to hold an actual diamond before, but I was pretty much sure, that that was the exact thing that I was holding in my hand right now. The shape wasn’t exactly like the one you usually see in pictures or in the movies, but it was impossible to mistake for anything else. The shape was more rounded, or even oval then what was common and looked like it fitted in some kind of a necklace… maybe that was exactly where it was taken from… and by taken I mean stolen. It was tempting to just take something as beautiful as that, but I doubted that it would even fit in my pocket… not to mention the vengeance from the not so lovely owner.

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Far up in a mountainous region covered in a snowy cloak is the frosty vale of Tsuthana. Its a snowy valley with the charm and comfort of a hammock - only really high up. A civilized entry to such a location can only be made through the labyrinth-like cave which weaves through the southern mountain's midpoint. If you, like most wise individuals, are too intimidated by such a tomb, then you better be on good terms with a dragon because the climb is more steep than a vertical wall; its tips bloom; sprout like an explosive, dragon-inviting flower, 150 degrees outward. 

Whirling around each peak is a red ribbon which tangles and loops to the nearest mountain petal. Each thread is embedded with powerful artes to ward off dark spirits and foul intents, not that most villains would dare venture near Tai Sensei's turf.  

Throughout the valley is a widespread assortment of ice-covered trees, a frozen pond which can be harvested for drinking water with flare artes, and a cozy patch of charred land where all the dragons gather and play. Near their nest is an impressive field of frozen weaponry - this is Tai Sensei's special collection of Katanas, daggers, claymores, and battle axes she stole from her victims. Any time she leaves out for a mission, she walks through this garden and taps the hilts she feels like weilding for the day. Once tapped, their frozen layer bursts off and the weapon floats over to Tai's side. She would then proceed in sprinting over to the nearest peak and launching herself off the mountainside, that's when Kaizel her best dragon friend would swoop in and they'd go on various missions together.