Chapter 90: A Cursed Blessing (1/2)

ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POV:

Supposedly, Grande wasn't too s and a fired elf that I had co place

"You've grown into quite the handsoer, I ht've snatched you up forto say the least to hear this from a woman as several decades older than rinned back

"Well, I'd have to see how you looked when you were a hundred years younger"

"H I was! Men would swarhts!" Rinia placed one hand on her hip and used her other to flip her braided hair

"It's true, Arthur My e would be jealous of Aunt Rinia," Tess' e at best!" Virion waved off

"Well, of course there was only one girl to have ever caught Virion's eye…" Rinia's voice trailed off and by the look on her face, she see it up

I looked around, coh seelanced at Tess and she seemed uncomfortable, but more so confused than depressed like everyone else

"I'm sorry, Virion I was a bit insensitive" Rinia placed a hand on Virion's sunken shoulder

"It's… It's fine I should be the one who's sorry I kno you felt as well," he dis of fallen leaves and the snapping of twigs filling the silence My gaze was focused on Sylvie, as having a blast looking for lifefors

As her tail wagged furiously in excitement, I couldn't help but let out a small smile in content, despite the sullen at a quick peek at Gra with questions that I knew I shouldn't ask Rinia, who apparently saw this, gently placed her hand on ave me a strained s, the roaring sound of running water filled our ears It was as if the trees surrounding this area had acted as a barrier, blocking off all the sound In viee could now see a aterfall cascading down a marble white cliff into a small pool of water about six meters in diameter

"Wow, I didn't know a place like this existed," Tess gaped in awe

"Father, wasn't this the place you used to take me to when I was a child?" Alduin asked while he looked around

"I see you still re to this place" Virion let out a small smile as he reminisced

"It's beautiful…" Merial breathed

It was beautiful, indeed

There wasn't , ht that were able to peek through the thick tree tops created spotlights that limmer The waterfall strea it a clear curtain of water

"We're here" Rinia stated as she stepped up

Wordlessly, we all followed her as I half-expected her to conjure a cottage froh Instead Rinia let out a few inaudible chants with her hands raised, lifting roots fro into the waterfall

Carefully stepping onto the gri close behind With a wave of her ar anything else, she looked around, as if toout a sharp breath, Rinia placed her hand on the cliff behind the waterfall,which now started to gloith unrecognizable runes

Just like that, the whitedoor to reveal a passage deeper inside

"Don't conjure up any light We'll h the dark," instructed Rinia, as if directly referring toonly on Rinia's voice as our guide

"Left"

"Right"

"Right"

"Left"

Finally we could see a flickering light at the end of the u of the tunnel

"Welcoe"

With the sparse aht, I could barely make out the faint smile Rinia had

By this time, I had no idea where ere, but the hole roo to my eyes

"Whew" Tessia squatted down as she was able to finally release her tension

"Thisthis is quite the place, Aunt Rinia" Alduin slid his hand against the wall of the cave the hut was in

"Where are we?" I couldn't help but ask as I inspected our surroundings as well

"Sodom," was all she said as she hted by a few di orbs in the corners of the cave, the place Rinia called hoeon used to hold the worst criminals, not a place where a close friend of the royal family would reside

"I'm sure you have your reasons, Aunt Rinia, but was it really necessary to shut yourself in a place like this?" Merial frowned as her eyes focused on the hut Rinia just went inside

"Just an old lady being overly cautious Don't et used to it" Rinia's head popped out of the hut's sheet door