Chapter 30: Chapter 29: A Timeless Curse (2)

Innkeep Nala gave a self-deprecating smile.

“Poor… our small town is quite poor, it’s true. This single spirit shard is worth 100 gold coins.”

She looked out the window, resting her cheek on one hand. Her eyes traced the endless plains that stretched into the distance. The moonlight gave the grassy land a violet hue.

“We’re happy though. Some want for adventure, but no one gives us trouble. Occasionally fatigued travelers make their home here, which is refreshing. It’s nice to hear new stories of their experiences.”

Sans took a seat across from her at the table.

“I don’t understand something. Why was this town made so far away from the others? In order to reach this place, we had to go out of our way considerably. That’s probably why you see little trade.”

“Honestly, no one knows for sure why our founder made the town here, but we do know it’s related to Marumen.”

Sans’ ear twitched.

“I keep hearing about this Marumen. That little demon…I mean Triss, was telling me about the legends. Something about a cursed king.”

Nala stifled a chuckle before responding.

“Triss can be a handful, but she’s a good kid. We don’t normally tell our children or outsiders the full story. However if you’re interested, I can entertain you. I think your master has more than paid for such a small tale.”

Sans grimaced upon mention of Elsie, but he nodded for her to continue.

“Our founder grew up as friends with Marumen. It was a time before his legendary feats came to be. Marumen was not always the unparalleled strongest man that you may have heard of. He was once a young boy with simple ambitions.”

Sans leaned back in his chair and spoke up.

“I heard a woman took him away.”

“Yes, that’s when his path to greatness began, but before then it was assumed that he and the founder would build a life together. At least, that’s the popular version.”

“What’s the unpopular version?”

“The unpopular version? Hmm… Marumen never had any interest in our founder. Not in a romantic way at least. Although, he was quite fond of her and wished her the best. They were friends after all. It’s a sad tale of one-sided love.”

“I see… at least it’s not a tragedy, right?”

Nala made a wry smile.

“Our founder was able to move on from Marumen. Married with a child, she lived an honest life and buried her old flame. Frequently, she heard stories about Marumen and his ridiculous achievements. Despite her faithfulness to her family, some would say she felt abandoned by the man she once loved.”

Nala scratched the side of her head before continuing.

“I wish that were the end of the story. A story where she lived happily with her husband and children. Unfortunately, it takes a turn for the worst.”

“This must be where the king gets involved, right?”

“Yes…”

It seemed little Triss wasn’t spouting complete nonsense.

“Our founder wasn’t amazingly beautiful, but she certainly had her charms. Alas, they charmed the wrong person. A passing king caught notice of her one day. She was in the town’s center, gazing at the statue of Marumen as she usually does.”

“Wait, the statue was already built during your founder’s time? How old is that statue?”

Nala glanced toward the ceiling in thought.

“Maybe… some thousands of years old? The age of our town is quite lost to time.”

This town… is much older than I would have thought. Why is it so small?

Sans looked about oddly perplexed.

“I see, please continue.”

“For the king, it was a simple order. His men stole her away right where she stood. Despite the public outcry, there was nothing anyone could do. After all, he was a king with powerful servants.”

Sans clicked his tongue in annoyance before speaking up.

“Abusing power. What about her husband and child?”

“Her husband was found and beheaded. As for her child, it met its fate as well.”

“So the story is a tragedy after all.”

Sans said sarcastically and Nala continued the story.

“Yes, not really one that outsiders would be interested in. I won’t speak of the atrocities of the king, but just know that our founder killed herself one night in his castle.”

“Please tell me this king dies in the end.”

“Oh, he does. See the king wasn’t aware of her connection with Marumen, and Marumen had never stopped caring for her. The moment our founder killed herself, Marumen was instantly alerted. His arrival was… disastrous.

Mountains crumbled, seas were overturned, the clouds blackened, and the sun simmered in blood red fire. At least, that’s what the legends say.”

Engrossed in the tale, Sans smirked almost as if he had performed the achievement himself.

“Impressive.”

“Possibly, who knows if it’s true. Although, I believe it is.”

“So where does the sword come in?”

Nala gave a knowing smile and continued.

“The king was dragged out of his castle and onto his hands and knees. Before his family and his kingdom, Marumen cursed the king and all of his future generations. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he threw his sword of legends into the air with all of his might.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Triss said something similar. Was the king actually cursed? Did Marumen have the power to do that?”

“Who knows? Marumen’s strength was always something of a mystery. The king’s lineage continued even after his death. Most say that Marumen was only furious at the king and wanted him to feel pain even in the afterlife.”

Sans gently rocked his head back and forth in understanding.

“That makes sense. I’d be angry too. So, what happened with the sword?”

“Regarding the sword. Some say they heard a crash. Some say a passerby made off with it in the night. Others claim that the king’s son recovered it and kept it in the castle treasury. No one knows for sure.”

Sans leaned forward, staring directly into Nala’s eyes.

“And what do you think?”

Nala leaned forward as well, as if to challenge him. She smirked and replied.

“I think… that it’s late and I should get some sleep.”

She yawned and stretched her arms overhead, putting her chest on full display in the moonlight.

“You’re right, it’s late. Thanks for sharing your town’s history with me.”

Sans stood up from the table.

“It’s nothing. Honestly, we get the occasional adventurer seeking the legend of the sword. There isn’t much else to say. Although, if someone did come across it, I doubt they’d be able to pick it up. Marumen wasn’t called the strongest person for nothing. Good night young traveler.”

Nala excused herself and ambled off to her room. Watching her leave, Sans frowned in thought.

I never did figure out why this town is so small for being so old.

Sans exited the inn. A fresh breeze tousled his hair, a satisfying experience to accompany his twilight stroll.

Compared to Madam Lexene’s wealth, I never once considered myself to be rich. Peak-grade spirit shards seemed so plentiful back then, huh.

He aimlessly roamed the empty streets with only the moon and stars to light the way.

A low-grade spirit shard is 100 gold. I can assume that one gold is 100 silver. One currency is for those with strength, the other currency is for commoners. And as for the secret of this town…

Sans found himself gazing at a towering statue.

I wager this Marumen statue hides the answer. Is this why Elsie dragged me out here? She’s head over heels about legends after all…

“Our first date, and already talking to other woman.”

“It’s not a date.”

Sans subconsciously muttered while lost in his thoughts. The realization that he had company had yet to set in as he responded like an automated machine. A second later, he spun around in alarm.

“Finally going to give me attention? Hmpf!”

Elsie flipped her hair over her shoulder and pouted.

“Well too late. I don’t want it anymore.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep.”

Sans kneaded the sides of his head. Why was peace and quiet so difficult to pursue?

“I did sleep, but now our day has begun.”

Elsie brushed past him and stood before the statue. Seeing as she was also interested in the statue, Sans decided to probe her for information.

“So you wanted to take a look at the statue as well? I keep thinking that it’s holding a secret but I-“

With a subtle tremor, the ground shook before returning to normalcy.

“What did you just do?”

Sans took a step back away from the statue, swiftly scanning his surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place.

“Hmm? Come here, dear servant.”

Elsie flashed an innocent smile and beckoned him closer.

“Why are you always so cryptic.”

Sans grumbled with slumped shoulders, but it would have been a lie to say he wasn’t interested. Upon arriving before the statue, he noticed a series of faint lines emitting a blue mist. The lines flowed from the base of the statue and into the ground.

“What is that?”

He asked, intrigued at the new development.

“This is one of the reasons we came here. An ancient legend once spoke of a forgotten key. A missing puzzle that leads the way to Ambrosia’s true resting place. That same key, is here.”

“A…key?”

Sans scanned the statue once again, but other than the blue lines, nothing seemed out of place.

“I don’t see a ke-“

His gaze intensified as an incorporeal object shimmered into existence, as if it had always been there. The object, a wavy mist of blue fire, floated in the air just before Elsie’s outstretched hand.

Elsie’s lips curled into an enchanting smile as she carefully closed her hand around the object.

“It’s said that the key only appears when star crossed lovers go on a date at the height of a full moon.”

She stuck out her tongue toward Sans, who rolled his eyes in response.

“Okay you’re making that bit up. This is not a date.”

Just as Sans finished his statement, the object materialized fully into a multi-colored pendant. He stared at the jewel, mesmerized by its glittering edges and deep tones.

“Then explain why the key appeared?”

“Probably because you did something weird… also is this place getting brighter?”

Sans glanced around the town, noticing that the blue mist was now seeping out through the earth and filling the walkways.

“I hope you rested well.”

Without another word, Elsie grabbed his hand with a vice-like strength.

“Huh?”

With a blinding flash, an enormous magic circle appeared underfoot. The mist that dispersed into the air was soon crackling with blue fire and lightning all across the town.

Sans shielded his eyes from the spectacle. A moment later, the light vanished—along with the town.

“Where… are we?”

Sans wrenched his hand free from Elsie’s loosened grip. He spun in a circle with wide eyes.

Dark thickets of dead wood crept along a rocky wall. An infinite mass of black hung in the air, and the lack of celestial light was jarring.

With darkness both above and surrounding him, Sans could barely make out the sporadic mess of bones that littered the floor. He whirled around once more when something interesting caught his eye.

“A tombstone? Oh, three tombstones… let’s see.”

As Sans explored his new surroundings, Elsie stood quietly by his side. She seemed lost in a trance, staring at the tombstones. Sans followed her gaze and read the first one out loud.

“Here lies… Oberon Saed, faithful husband and devoted father.”

Sans paused in confusion before continuing to the second tombstone.

“Here lies Nala Saed. Huh that sounds familiar.”

He moved to the final one.

“Here lies Triss Saed…”

Sans clutched his chest as he read the last one.

Why is it so difficult to breath all the sudden?

He knelt down before the tombstones, placing a shaky hand on the middle one.

Nala Saed? Triss? Oberon… Inn?

“A tribute, to those passing. A forgotten grave, a forgotten town, a forgotten people.”

Elsie finally spoke, capturing Sans’ attention.

“What are you saying?”

“Look there.”

Elsie pointed up the wall, which was strangely illuminated by a familiar blue mist.

“…May the blood of the king’s men accompany you in death. May this phantom town forever be in your name, and may you find solace in your next life.”

Sans read the markings painted with old and dried blood. He turned to Elsie, still trying to decipher the swirl of emotions bottled within his heart.

“All of this was a lie? The town, the little girl, Innkeep Nala.”

“No, they all existed, and they still exist. They’re phantom imprints created from memory, although Marumen wasn’t the one who made the town or the phantoms.”

“Then who made them?”

Elsie revealed the pendant she received earlier.

“Ambrosia did.”

Sans picked himself up and steadied his heart.

“Then, are we still in the town?”

“No. We’re somewhere else, somewhere closer to our destination.”

“I see… so we teleported somewhere? That must have been the magic circle.”

Elsie nodded before facing the infinite darkness. Her eyes roamed across the different skeletons and her mouth scrunched up in disgust.

“This place is the Valley of Eternal Rest. It’s a forbidden zone on the first floor, and we’re currently within its depths.”

“Why is it a forbidden zone? I thought those were dangerous. Other than the darkness, this place doesn’t seem so bad. Hell, remove the skeletons and it might even be inviting.”

Sans grinned, placing both hands on his hips with a puffed chest. Elsie sneered in his direction and shook her head.

“Gravity works differently here. It adjusts based off your strength. The stronger you are, the more it affects you.”

“I see…”

Sans waved his hand in the air and gave Elsie a condescending smile.

“Ahh so difficult to move. How ever will I get out of here?”

He jumped up and down in mockery.

“If only I could fly out of here, but the gravity is weighing me down.”

Elsie shook her head and chuckled before pointing at the skeletal remains in the distance.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the valley’s entrance. Don’t stray away from the mist, it’s your pathway out of here. You have three days, otherwise we’ll miss the grand entrance.”

“You’re leaving me?”

Sans gave her an odd look. This was the first time she ever opted to leave him alone.

“Yes, this is a journey you have to make on your own. Just be sure to stay ahead of the blue mist.”

“Have it your way. Also, what grand entrance?”

“Hmm? What do you think we’ve be doing all of this for?”

Sans gave her a deadpan stare.

“I thought you said it was a date.”

Elsie bonked him on the head with her palm.

“This is our first adventure together! A lovely journey through the Tomb of Archmage Ambrosia!”

Without another word, she disappeared from sight. It was almost like there was a brief blip in spacetime, leaving Sans alone with an incredulous expression.