The soldier kept spouting words I didn’t understand and now he was staring at Elly while questioning her with a surprised looking face.

“????!!!!” The soldier now pointed his spear toward Elly.

Elly’s face was dark, she heard him but didn’t voice any words out, after that she leapt forward and hit the soldier’s temple with her leg. The soldiers didn’t even have the chance to yell for help, his body dropped down to the ground, making a lout thudding noise, echoed throughout the tunnel.

Did Elly understand what he speak?

Leaving the body laying untouched by the manmade riverside, Elly hid herself behind the wall before the turning, which I closely followed too.

“??????” The other soldier, who probably haven't gone far, heard the commotion and called his friend from that turning tunnel, his leather boot tapping against the stone paved ground, echoing louder as he reached closer.

The soldier went into our line of sight, but he had his eyes locked on his fellow soldier who was lying unconscious on the ground. He immediately ran to him, crouched down and called on the fainted one, didn’t notice Elly who had already crept behind him.

Thud

She hit on the nape of that soldier with a swift, clean, heavy strike. This time, without making any noticeably sound. Elly turned her head to me, smiling with content. Then she dragged the soldier before the turning point and placed it by the side of the wall. After that, she dragged the first one too, placed it beside the other soldier.

After positioning them side by side, her eyes were now glued at the first soldier, she was staring oddly at him while mind seemed to be weighted by something. Then, Elly raised her right foot, which was glowing in blue light.

Wait... What is she going to-

SPLAT

She stomped on the head of that soldier, not even that thick looking head armour could save his head from her magic strengthened stomp. Elly killed the soldier, without blinking, without hesitating, like crushing an ant. She didn’t twitch at all. In one strike.

“Why did you-“ I haven't finish my question, she already raised her blood soaking foot and now pointing at the other one.

“STOP!” I pushed at Elly and finally got her focus on me. She looked at me while tilting her head in confusion, as if an innocent child.

[“Why?”] She asked, her big blue eyes staring into mine.

Why?

I glanced at the soldier who just got crushed on the head, now splattered flat on the wall. His blood still spurting out of his neck and the flesh jumbled along with its not so effective head armour, mixed on the wall, no way to identify his face anymore. And then, I looked at the other soldier who’s almost becoming the next victim.

“There’s no need to kill them. They are now defenceless anyway” I exclaimed.

[“They can be awake in any moment as we are walking down the tunnel”] She explained.

“But it won’t be that quick, right? You knocked them out pretty hard after all” I replied, her reason didn’t seem to be the sole reason for killing the soldier though. She could’ve just kill the soldier at the first strike, but she didn’t and changed her mind after that. Did she know the soldiers?

Elly turned her head toward the still, living and breathing soldier. She softly sighed and mumbled.

[“Okay then... I will spare this one’s life”] Elly stated and now looking at me again. I sighed, finally relieving my tensed-up body. I honestly thought that she wouldn’t listen to me at all.

Elly walked to the riverside and dipped her blood soaking foot. She swirled her foot in the flowing river, cleaning the red stain on her blue scaled leg. I have almost got used on seeing her legs with that blue scales covering from the ankle to her knee. It has becoming a normal sight to me.

Leaving the fainted soldier and the brutally killed one, we continued walking through the tunnel where the soldiers came from. The ceiling of this tunnel is much lower from before, and much narrower too. The structure of this tunnel was not as pristine as the tall, spacious, river streamed tunnel as before.

The path was a normal sized, dull looking grey stone tunnel, brightened with the normal looking, yellow fire across the candle scones along the tunnel wall. This very being of tunnel, finally gave me a familiar feeling of my world. No weird slimy glowing substances, no strange deep coloured weird candle light, except for the blue haired little girl who was walking by my side, whose abilities was definitely abnormal.

After a while of walk, a stone stair could be seen at the end of the tunnel and that’s where the brightest light shone through.

“Is that the exit?” I whispered.

Elly glanced at me.

[“Hmm... probably?”] She answered me with an unsure manner, which leaving me feeling a bit doubtful about the path we were taking. But still, I didn't have any choice but to continue.

We climbed up the stairs carefully and as noiseless as possible. It was a long straight stair leading to the probably the brightest light ever caught into my sight since I first came here.

["Stay as quiet as possible Yuu... I sensed few peoples upstairs"] Elly whispered. She's now climbing ahead me, every step she took was soundless and swift.

The opening of the stair can now be seen, the square horizontal opening as wide as the stair where the light shone bright, casting a spotlight on the stairs below it. Elly and I trod lightly, stopped behind the harsh light, sticking our back onto the wall hiding behind the light, and looking up through the opening.

The ceiling was stone carved, made of grey stones, built exquisitely, round and hollow on the middle where transparent glass window placed. That's where the sunlight came from. Elly climbed and finally walked out of the stair, so I followed.

My eyes squinted as the light hit my face, I climbed out from the opening, and blinked to adjust my vision.

We were now inside a rounded room, standing on a rounded marble stage which was surrounded by shallow water canal. At the north of the stair exit, placed a path leading to a tall, white, wooden double door. The door was closed though.

We walked our way to the door, and leaned ourselves closer, and trying to listen to any noises might came from outside.

Elly placed both her palm on the door, she leaned her ears close while facing me.

["Two person, probably standing on guard right behind this door"] Elly stated. Then she pulled herself back, and started crossing her arms.

"Are there any more people nearby?" I whispered, as lightly as possible.

Elly closed her eyes and focusing.

["Hmm... there are more, but further, and they were constantly moving"] She opened her eyes again, looking troubled.

"How many?" I asked.

["Sorry Yuu, but I'm not sure when they are further away, if I have to guess, probably around ten people"] She added.

Could they be the patrolling soldiers? Elly said that this is inside a place called 'The Hell Gate'. Looking at the structure of this room. It should be quite an important place. Probably...

I scanned all around the room, the stone carving on the ceiling edge was quite large and bulky, and there were some spaces to let our feet stand on if we could reach up there.

Hmm...

"Elly" I beckoned her to get closer to me. She noticed and leaned toward me, facing her left ear toward me.

"How about we..." I whispered and explained what's on my thought to Elly and she nodded in agreement.

This is the least I can do

***

In front of a tall, wooden double door, stood two soldiers guarding the majestic door beside them. They stand upright, holding a spear on their right hand with another hand dropped straight beside their body. They were facing forward, putting on a tired looking face unfitting a young athletic person who's just around their mid-twenty. The soldier on the right yawned.

"Hey, don't you think, those two have been gone for quite some times?" Asked the Left Soldier, who has a noticeable big nose, he turned only his head to looked at the Right Soldier, whose eyes were droopy, as if about to fall asleep, and he did just yawn.

The Right Soldier didn't turn his head, he answered while facing forward, "Nah... They probably are lazing around right now... Hoaahmm..." And he let another yawn out again.

The Left Soldier was unsatisfied with the answer he got, so he asked again, "But, didn't the crystal change colour two times in a row? Could it be the barrier finally broke? What if the monsters actually made out and killed them? Could we be in danger now?" He started sweating at the thought he had in his mind.

The Right Soldier finally turned his head to look at the Left Soldier.

"You know nothing, green boy... That was normal... there will be some monster birds trying to fly through the barrier but then... Eventually... they will be falling back to the cliff bottom...It happened... few times a year...." He lazily explained.

"Why is that? Why would it fall?" The Left Soldier threw another question, his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Are you seriously asking? I know that you are new today but, aren't you too ignorant? This is a common knowledge after all" The Right Soldier clicked his tongue, couldn't believe the question.

"Eh... well, I'm not too educated myself... hehehe... But, I am strong!" He grinned sheepishly while showing his arm muscles. It was indeed strong looking, seemed to be well trained, comparable to the Right Soldier.

"Why are you even here when you know nothing??" The Right Soldier furrowed his brows in disdain.

"The pay is high for a mere guarding job, especially when this place is known as the most peaceful place to be guarded... ehehehe" The Left Soldier bluntly explained, while the other guy looked at him with one brow scrunched down.

"You really know nothing at all..." The Right Soldier shook his head, then he mumbled at himself, "...great, I will be stuck with this idiot for the next seven days huh..."

The Left Soldier only smiled awkwardly at him and the silence overtook the atmosphere again.

Bam bam bam!

Both soldiers jerked their head toward the door, where the source of the sound came from, Left Soldier almost stumbled on his feet. "Huh?? What was that?" He gasped.

Both of them, stared at the door and waited for upcoming sound. But, none.

"S-Should we c-check?" The Left Soldier asked with a quivering tone, and he was trying to hide his nervous face. Cold sweat dropped down his forehead and he awkwardly adjusted his head armour. He was reminded of the two soldiers who haven't come back for quite some times.

"It's not locked!" The Right Soldier yelled, replying to the knock.

But, it was a silence response. Both soldiers looked at each other confused. The silence proceeded for a while.

Bam bam bam!

They knocked at the door again instead of directly opening the door.

The Left Soldier looked at the Right Soldier anxiously, because the Right Soldier showed quite a solemn looking face, despite his lazy droopy eyes just a moment ago.

"Go get the outer guards..." He ordered at the Left Soldier, which was immediately replied by a stuttered, "Y-y-yes" The Left Soldier shuffled out from the door, calling for more people.

The right soldier stood straight, body tensed up, head slowly leaning toward the door again, trying to listen.

"AAAAHGH!!"

A scream suddenly wailed behind the door, the Right Soldier opened the door without thinking further, and dashed into the hall. But, he was greeted by an empty hall and the echo he made while abruptly opening the door.

He held his spear tight and high, pointing at whatever that could be coming out from the stairs. The sound had vanished and there was nobody in that rounded hall.

"Hey! Are you alright?" The soldier, slowly, walked toward the stairs opening that was built on the middle of the stage, he peered through the dark entrance to the stairs while calling whoever might be making that sound. But, the dark tunnel only replied him with the echoes of his own voice.

He's now stepping one of his leg in the stairs.

Thud

Something landed behind him with a 'thud'. The soldier turned around but then he got his nape hit, his vision blurred.

"Hu..h?..." He dropped to the ground, but he managed to catch a short vision of a barefooted feet running toward a silver haired person peeking behind the door. And so, he drifted into darkness.

Two figures sneaked out of the door, the silver haired person and a blue haired little girl. They closed the heavy door and hastily tapped their feet into the big, brighter, hall way, where a wide red carpet spread across the shiny white stone floor. They were running past those thick white pillars filling in the hall. Not even stopping to see what's around, they ran toward the end where the other same big double door stood elegantly.

They have almost reach the door but that little girl suddenly stopped, dragged the silver haired and scurried away from the red carpet. They both hid themselves behind the thick pillar, when couple of guards barged in the door.

It was the Left Soldier who brought four other guards into the hall. Those four have sword hung beside their waist and they wore better armour than the one who's guarding the door.

"Huh? Where is he?" The Left Soldier staggered when he saw nobody by the closed door.

"Are you playing prank on us?" One of the soldiers scorned.

"N-No way... He must be inside" The Left Soldier explained while frowning.

The soldiers looked at him in doubt.

"It is true that those two had gone for quite some times..." Soldier A stated. The rest of the soldiers were focusing on him.

"Yes! I was thinking about that too... Isn't it weird for them to not coming back after for a while?" The Left Soldier hastily added, the rest of the soldiers started to nod in agreement.

"I'll believe in you for now..." Soldier A spoke, and started walking ahead of them, followed by the rest of the soldiers.

And so, they started walking across the red carpet, heading toward the door.

While they moved past these thick pillars, those two who was hiding behind one of it, slowly, scooted around the pillar to avoid their line of sight. They tip toed, as lightly as possible, staying out of sight, cramping together closely and waited for them to walk further away from themselves.

But, the soldier who leaded the way suddenly raised his palm up and halted stop.

He turned his head to the right and started at one of the pillar.

"Who's there" He asked with a loud, clear voice. The rest of the soldiers followed his eyes and stared at the same pillar.

That soldier now turned his body around and slowly walked toward the pillar while unsheathing the sword hanging beside his waist.

"Show yourself... or else" He threatened while not stopping his careful tread.

He got silent treatment for a while, but the moment he's just a couple meters away the targeted pillar. A hand suddenly plopped out to their line of sight, following by the legs and now body.

A rather short looking soldier, with his head armour closed down, blocking the face. His clothing too big for a thin person like him and the breastplate was clumsily wore on. He waved his hand toward the soldiers.

"Huh? What are you doing there?" The soldier asked the shorter guy who was now in the center of their attention and put his sword back to its sheath.

That shorter soldier raised his hand up to his face and made a yawn. Even though, no one could see his face nor expression.

"Oh! He was sleeping!" The Left Soldier suddenly answered excitedly, as if playing a guessing game, he forgot his former task.

The shorter soldier nodded his head while scratching his head. Then, he turned around, facing the exit, he was about to walk away.

"Hey, report your name!" The soldier called on his back, the shorter soldier staggered for a bit, but still he kept walking, not looking back. Feeling suspicious, the soldier moved toward the guy, who was scurrying quicker as he inched close.

He finally reached him, with his hand, he forcefully turned the guy by pulling his shoulder. Then, he swung his other hand toward the lid of the helmet, exposing his face.

The messy silver hair sticking out of inside the metal helmet adorning the pale cheek and forehead. The pair of black eyes staring at him, not darting, not even showing any startling expression.

"Huh? A woman?" The soldier was dazed for a while. Then he was reminded about no woman soldier was assigned in this very place, he finally twitched and realized.

But that person had now forcefully broke from his grip and dashed toward the door.

"Intruder!! Intruder!!" That soldier yelled as he started running, chasing the one who was now bolting quicker than ever.

With his daily trained legs, the soldier had now almost caught up to the escaping person but then a shadow blurred and crashed down, blocking his way. The soldiers behind him got staggered at the sudden appearance, now gawking at the weird being.

It was an even shorter person, wearing an oversized soldier clothing, the sleeves were too long which engulfed the person’s whole arm, dangling down from what supposed to be the hands, the end of the pants were ripped on purpose and exposed the pale barefoot beneath. The face was hidden behind the closed head armour.

"Who are you!!" The soldier shouted at the tiny person, wearing their comrade's uniform. They already had their sword pulled out and pointed at the tiny person.

"Grrrrrr" the tiny person snarled at him.

Without further await, the soldier leapt impatiently, swinging the sword. That person dodged and raised the right leg up, and kicked it onto the stomach of the leaping soldier with a powerful side swing.

"Uaarggh!!" The soldier was sent flying in just one kick, straight to a pillar and spurted blood as he pounded before he dropped to the floor.

The other soldiers stared at their unconscious comrade with eyes and mouth wide open. Cold sweat rolled down from their forehead.

The tiny person stared at them, moving those short legs, slowly, walking toward them, giving out an intimidating aura that made the soldiers secretly trembled.

"!!!!" The short person suddenly shouted at the tiny person, in a language not known to the soldiers from the doorway.

The tiny snarling person stopped advancing, the intimidating aura faded and thus whatever almost happened was cancelled. The tiny person turned around, and they ran away.

Those two intruders had successfully escaped the hall.