The Ancient Relics

Trapped

Nova was looking closely at the book. Esther's name was now placed under the Healing Relic. The Healing Relic’s power, from its name, was that it could speed up the healing process of its carrier or anyone else, except the person who is bonded with The Destruction Relic. Now they are searching for a purple gem that looks like a small heart. In Nova’s opinion, it looked beautiful. It was called The Fearful Relic. According to the book, it was located in the Tarry Kingdom. 

“Tarry? Is it all covered in tar,” Faith said mockingly.

“Actually it is. Tar is the main material used in this kingdom,” Nash told her.

“Well that is weird. Do you know how it looks so we can teleport there,” Autumn asked.

“Everybody knows how this city looks,” Nash said, smiling slyly.

Nova had a feeling this kingdom wasn’t the type that would have flowers and gardens all over it. Indeed, she was right. When they teleported there, the scene was so gloomy Nova wanted to forget everything and leave.

“You have to watch out here. This place makes people forget their goals and dreams, which is why its inhabitants are all sleeping or wandering aimlessly,” Nash informed.

Dark clouds covered the sky and the houses were completely black with ripples dancing across the surface. Nova fought the urge to wander around and forget about this whole thing. They all walked cautiously around the place, making sure that they were heading the right way by glancing at the map every now and then. Occasionally, Nova almost forgot the whole quest, but her friends were able to bring her back. That was until this exact moment when everything Nova was thinking of vanished. Nova saw people around here calling her name and trying to pull her back to reality, but she had already fallen into darkness.

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Autumn was struggling to hold Nova still while the latter was trying to escape and wander around. 

“The effect is catching up to all of us. Sooner or later, we will be just like her. We have to find this Relic and get out of here,” Nash said.

Autumn couldn’t agree more. She got the book out of Nova’s bag and found out that the gem was in the weird looking building that was barely on her sightline. Autumn glanced around her and she could tell that the second one who is going to lose it was Faith. She has been snapping in and out. They needed to hurry up or else they were all going to be like Nova. Autumn quickened her pace and the rest quickly followed her. Finally, after a long walk, they reached the building. Someone had to go in there and get that relic. 

“I will go get it. You two keep an eye on them,” Autumn said to Esther and Nash.

They were the only ones who weren’t affected besides her. She thought it was because they had relics but then why did Nova get infected? Why didn’t she? She quickly shook her head and entered the building. Inside, there were millions of small, black, spherical objects lying on black podiums. The only light source came from a small lantern hung up in the ceiling. The floor was liquid and made sound every time Autumn walked on it. Being inside this place has made her fall more and more into oblivion, but she fought it with all she had. When she had finally reached the place where the gem was supposed to be, she caught a glimpse of something gleaming in the shadows. Autumn quickly reached out and grabbed it, thinking that she had accomplished the job. But unfortunately, she was horribly wrong. The moment she removed the gem, the ground around her started to swirl violently and she was immediately sucked in. She was trapped, half of her body under the whirlpool, half above it. Not only this, but she was also rapidly sinking, with time...she was going to completely vanish. 

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Esther was holding firmly onto Nova when the building in front of her started to sway violently, throwing tar all over the place. She noticed that whenever this black, sticky substance came into contact with anything, it sizzled and cracked before leaving it completely scorched. 

“Watch out for those. They can burn you,” Nash warned her.

Dodging spots of tar and holding a girl larger than her wasn’t ideal, but she managed to. 

“Autumn is still in there. We need to get her out,” Esther screamed as she swayed side to side to prevent getting hit by an incoming splotch of tar. It was like a weird dancing routine. 

“How do you suggest we do that,” Nash asked while ducking his head and pushing Faith’s down to avoid another streak of tar. Esther could tell that Faith was going to escape his grasp sooner or later. This girl was fighting like it was the end of the world!

“I will go inside while you watch both of them,” Esther volunteered. 

“You think I will be able to hold both of them? That is virtually impossible, you know that.” 

“So how about we go in together?”

“You forgot something, THE BUILDING IS THROWING SCORCHING LIQUID ON US!”

“I have The Healing Relic. I can heal us if any of this weird stuff touches us.”

“Alright. You beat me. Now let us hurry up before the whole thing collapses and Autumn disappears forever.”

The two of them started running towards the entrance, which was now getting narrower and narrower. Esther felt something burning her shoulder for a moment but then it went away. That was one of the many benefits of being bonded with The Healing Relic. She quickly entered through the entrance, roughly missing touching the edges of the tar. She was about to turn around and help Nash when the entrance quickly swirled and disappeared, leaving her in complete darkness.