24 THE GREAT SNAKE CULT 3

Morning the next day come, Emperor Lam keep complaining and moaning about those "scratches" on his back, and those "teeth-marks" on his shoulder, caused by a "very enthusiastic individual" last night, before the flustering and embarrassment of his wife. After breakfast, they go to the river port of the city asking if anyone can get them on a tour to the Elvas ruin in the swamp, to the surprise and dismay of the locals, some even advised them not to go there because of the so call swamp monster. After an hour they finally had convinced a local angler to be their guide and shortly after that start heading to the swamp. Their boat gently sliding along the current, Empress Aucelen sitting on the front of the boat with a cute smile on her face, enjoying the cool breeze flow through her hair, dipping her ivory feet in the cool glistering emerald water, plashing the water with her feet like a child. Rarely Emperor Lam can see his wife relax side in public like that, her face now completed difference from the seriousness she always wears in the palace.

After 30 minutes of boat ride, they arrived at the swamp edge, from there they follow a stream to go into the swamp, then another 15 minutes passed, their boat reached a dry open area high above the waterline. There are a lot of campfire remain on the place and even a wooden dock had been build. The angler said people around here call it "hunter's mound", this place is a usual campsite for hunters and anglers when they go in the swamp. The angler stops the boat and said this is the farthest he will go and direct them to go due east for about 10 to 15 more minutes and they will saw the Elvas ruin, he will wait here for them to return till midday.

The two of them continue head to the Elvas ruin, Empress Aucelen had borrow her husband clothes so she can easily maneuver in the swamp, she nimbly and elegantly leaping from branch to branch and dry dirt patch to dry dirt patch, while her husband struggling dragging his legs through the wet mud.

"wait for me Aucelen, stop show off your Elvas agility already." Emperor Lam grumbling.

"what?? Where is your enthusiasm yesterday? You are the one who want to explore the swamp, are you not?" Empress Aucelen said and laugh as her husband amusing attempt to pull his right foot off the sticky mud, then end up with him fell face first into the mud.

After tested the water stream, they concluded the water level can reach to their chest. So Empress Aucelen quickly demonstrating her magical skill, with a song in ancient language she had made those tumps of Giant Reed at the water edge near them, grew longer, thicker and weaving them self into a floating bridge. Crossed the stream, they quickly climb up the stone step lead to the ruin. Stand before the metal frame of the wooden gate, now all rotted of the ruin, Empress Aucelen face sadden, memories of her people once again fill her mind. Saw that, Emperor Lam wrap his arms around her, comforting her, she rubs her cheek against his chest whispering "I am fine.". Then pushed the door's metal frame open, they step inside the building, they saw many human footprints amid animal footprints on the thick layer of dust on the stone floor, indicate many people come and go at the ruin. "but for what purpose?" Emperor Lam thinking, then from the dense reeds a rustling sound caught their ears. Something is moving in the reeds, but Emperor Lam saw nothing in the reeds in front of him, no shadow nor any movement in the reeds.

"the sound seems to come front the other side." Empress Aucelen said, her sharp Elvas ears had located the source of the sound.

When they reached the other side of the ruin, they so not thing but a wall of thick Giant Reeds. "was that the wind??" Emperor Lam think, but there is no wind when they hear that rustling noise, so it must cause by something moving in the reeds. But the reeds are too thick and tall for them to see anything from the ground level. Invoke their qigun energy, the pair enhance their body and with a leap they set foot on the roof of the outer building of the ruin. From that vantage point they can a large area of view of the reeds, and before their eyes, not far from the ruin a rather big line of squashed Giant Reed run thought the reed tumps to the stream, something big must wedged its way through the reeds to leave such trace. They look at each other, eyes fill with surprise and curiosity, wondering what can cause such thing, is it the rumour monster?