Chapter 88 - Village Of Copperlin

Standing in front of a huge copper gate, The Aaris and party prepared themselves, 

-- Aaris - PoV --

"Let's go in." Historia walked to the wicket gate on the left side knocked, on Judas window slid and the dwarf peeks at us, 

"Who are you? Why did ya come 'ere? State your business!" A hoarse cranky voice came from the other side.

"Ah! Good evening to you too,  we are a research group from the Vefron School of Mages from Esnair, and we are here on a research trip on coppersmithing." Historia smiled and totally changed her attitude!

Like a real innocent teacher from the countryside! My mother used to do that too, Women are scary!!

The dwarf moved his gazes to us then Historia and slammed closed the window.

We stood there dumbstruck thinking that's it for the mission but then the loud creak echoed, 

"Welcome! To our little motherland! There isn't much that can entertain you but we hope you'll enjoy your stay here!" A dwarf opened the gate with a giddy smile, the dwarf's voice was the same as the cranky dwarf before. We gasped for a moment and stepped inside, and Lady Historia went to sign the traveler log.

The moment I stepped in for a second I forgot my every worry, the town was beautiful, dwarfs were everywhere, they were at least 3 feet tall, kids playing, women talking, men drinking beer and dancing. It was the liveliest town I had ever seen.

As soon as the people noticed they surrounded us from all directions,

"Ho ho, who are these young lads? Came for a tour here?" An old man smacked by back,

'Nah, we are students came here to-' he was damn strong, I might've got thrown with that smack!

"My my you look tired! Have you eaten? Come to my home I can treat you!" A lady interrupted me and grabbed Melvi's cheeks and started fondling them.

"Really there's no need!" Zia smiled formally and saved her cheeks from an old lady approaching her too.

"Don't say that! Younglings like you shouldn't hesitate! Eat as much as you like!" But the old lady tricked her and started folding her cheeks too.

"Man! I wanna do that too!" Styrmir was crying.

"Oh my! Good evening to you all! Are students bothering you?" Historia crept from behind and started talking in that cringy attitude again!

"Nah, they all look so sweet!" The ladies were still fondling their cheeks, 

"They are mine!" Historia whispered when she saw that lady with blood lust in her eyes.

When I heard this, a chill went through my spine.

"What a fine young lady! Are you married?"  An old dwarf approached Historia with a big beer tumbler in his hand.

"Unfortunately not, who knows might find a groom here!" Historia giggled and everybody cracked in a laugh, except us three who were still confused.

"Um- if it doesn't bother you can anyone show us a way to the village chief?" After a good breath out Historia spoke.

"Of course, let me call my son!" The lady fondling Melvi's cheek looked over a group of playing children.

"Mogdo! Come 'ere!" She shouted and a young dwarf shorter than others came running to us,

"Yes ma?" He grabbed her skirt and looked at us,

"Can please take these big brothers and sisters to the chief office?" She patted him and he nodded.

"Sure will!"

"Thank you so much! Shall we go then?" Historia clapped her hands in excitement.

"Ara! Don't mention it! Tell me if you pull any pranks on you." The lady freed Melvi's red cheeks and after a small chit-chat, we escaped the crowd and started walking behind a small and stout dwarf leading us.

A group of other children joined him, after a short distance we reached a minor fort like a mansion. Historia gave kids some candies and said goodbye to them.

"Well then, kids prepare yourself, and please uphold the dignity of our academy please." Historia's previous and original attitude was back.

"Count on me, captain!" Styrmir smirked with a sparkle in her eyes while he was staring at Melvi.

"That was especially for you Styrmir." She growled at him.

Then she knocked on the door and it opened in an instant, and two dwarfs in the maid uniform were standing in front of us.

"Welcome and a good evening to you lady Historia and students of the academy, Sir. Wasenog is waiting for you, please follow us." 

They turned back and went inside the hallway, Historia followed them and we were walking behind her.

After a while, we reached the room, and the maids opened the door for us and we saw a dwarf with a long orange beard and wrinkled face sitting behind a huge desk.

"Oh ho, you're finally here! I am glad to see you again Historia, thanks for coming on such short notice." The old dwarf closed a book and left his chair.

"Don't sweat about it! Anyway, Riger old man, tell us about the quest, if it's as dangerous as you said with Jack mark on it, we would have to initiate the quest, it as soon as possible then." Historia's tone went gentle and she sat down on the sofa close to us.

"Yes, so what I am about to tell you, is very confidential to the Goldwin Kingdom.

Since the old-time, The Copperlin domain was entrusted with a very important job, and that was to protect the Pendant of Loki, it was handed down to us from generation to generation for centuries to my family as an heirloom, but a week ago the pendant was suddenly disappeared along with guardian that we're protecting it." The old dwarf expression suddenly turned grim.

"Where was that kept?" Historia glanced at him,

"In the bottommost level of the east Copper mine, come with me I'll show you." 

He looked at one of his maids and she walked to a bronze lion sculpture and pulled one of the canines, suddenly the door of the room split, and a gate magus circle appeared.

"And here I was thinking I have to walk again." Historia sighed,

"Haha, then shall we." He chuckled and walked inside the gate, and we followed him.

We ended up coming to a big adit with spell markings inscribed on the sides.

"We have closed the mine until the matter is solved, so be at ease." He said and walked inside, as soon as we entered luminous stones lightened up the way and went down to a pulley and descended to the lower levels when reached to the -7 level, the chief got off from the pulley and led the way again.

We followed him and he halted in front of a chasm beside a wall, 

"Be careful with your steps from here." The chief uttered.

"What do you mean-" Styrmir was keeping an eye on him and then suddenly the Chief stepped forth off the cliff and we all screamed and ran to him, but he didn't fall off the cliff! He was standing in the air.

"What the hell?" Styrmir grabbed his chest and calmed himself, not just him we all panicked, almost jumped off the cliff too.

"I am overjoyed that you kids came to my rescue, but there is no need to worry, there is an invisible step that descends from here to the bottom level." He chuckled and started stepping downwards.

We all sighed and followed his trail again, we were carefully and calmly watching our steps and after half an hour of stepping down, we reached the bottom layer.

We found ourselves standing in front of a huge red gate bigger than we saw at the entrance of the domain.

The gate was incredible on its own, two huge warriors carved on each side of the gate crossing a spear and an ax locking a door, the chief walked close to the door where a small keyhole was there. 

He pulled out a long key from the void and unlocked the gate, then he placed his hand on the small circle made above the keyhole and chanted some spells. The gate started glowing vibrantly; it was probably a seal dispelling chant!

I looked at the gate and noticed the spear and ax that was crossing the door, now was close to their chest!

And the gate opened, the room was huge and wherever you looked you would see the carved warriors, dragons and so many other things like it was telling an epic of a great war.

The chief walked to an altar dais and we noticed an empty pendant holder there.

"It's the place where the pendant was kept, but a week ago a strong tremor hit the mine and I came to check on the pendant and it was gone, along with my two soldiers protecting the gate!" The chief touched the holder with his saddened eyes.

"Riger old man, don't mind it but, the emperor knows about the situation right? you didn't call or ask Fenrir's for the investigation about the pendant." Historia touched her chin and looked around.

"Yes," the chief was stunned.

"Then I take this as you already have some in your mind as a suspicion?"  Historia looked at him with a sly smile.

The chief suddenly started laughing with his mustache wriggling on top of his lips.

"As clever as before, right I have my suspicion on someone, and that's why I called you." 

"Who is it?" Historia moved to the dais.

"Duke Diesswrin!" The chief squeezed his brows together in discontent.

Suddenly Melvi started trembling and in her eyes, there was clear fear and horror and fell as she lost her strength in her legs.

"Melvi! Are you okay? what happened?" Zia caught her in her arms.