The Lost Key (Chapter 1)

 The Mysterious Contract

Part 1

Deep within the heart of the Enchanted Woods, there’s a tavern run by an old dwarf name Helon, I find myself traveling on a moonlit night. The air is thick with an unsettling stillness, and the rustling leaves seem to whisper secrets. Unbeknown st to the adventurer, the Night of Whispering darkness is upon me – a night when the boundary between the material world and the astral plane weakens, allowing spirits to roam freely. Cuckoo a spirit bird of mine brought a contract, I myself a Rogue mercenary often turned down contracts that doesn’t give me enough gold or thrill to chase it. 

“I have a contract, that even the gods will think twice to accept!?’ Cuckoo whispered in my ear and gave me the location of the Tavern,

“A Man awaits your presence but he asks for one thing” Cuckoo said.

“What’s that!?’ I replied curiously,

“He wants you visit without carrying any weapons, as he is allergic to weapons” Cuckoo replied humorously!

“What” “Are you joking” I asked!

“Apparently no, he’s really allergic to weapons” Cuckoo vanished as she finished his sentence with a mischievous laugh.

I’ve found myself in Havenlock, a bustling crossroads town known for its diverse population and lively trade. As the sun sets, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets, I seek refuge in the Helcross Tavern, a cozy establishment known for its warm hearth, lively atmosphere, and the infamous bounty board on the wall. 

“This is where, I am supposed to be” I questioned myself and opened the door. The Tavern is filled with the flickering light of candles and the low murmur of patrons sharing tales and laughter. The air is thick with the aroma of roasting meat and the sound of a bard strumming a melancholic tune in the corner. A variety of characters, from weary travelers to boisterous locals, populate the tavern.I’ve put on my hood, while I search for a corner to sit on.

As I settles into a corner table, a mysterious figure approaches. Cloaked in shadows, the stranger introduces himself with a hand gesture, a man with a proposition.

He handed me a piece of paper and sat right in right in front of me. “A riddle!?” I whispered to myself.

The cloaked figure nodded his head,

“ I have cities, but no houses. 

  I have mountains, but no trees. 

  I have water, but no fish.”

  “What am I?”

I looked at the hooded figure and whispered to him!?

“A Map!”

The Figure nodded “Yes”

“You’re gonna give me a Map” I asked,

He Nodded “NO” and signed his hand with a painting gesture.

“You’re gonna draw me a Map!?” I asked again but this time with confusion.

He Face-palmed himself and said no and took another paper out of his Cloak and started writing.

“You need to find the map!” he wrote.

“Hmm” and “then!?” I asked 

He took out another piece of paper and started writing!

“Wait, wait, wait, can’t you write everything at once” I interrupted him with a tiresome voice.

The hooded figure looked at me for a while and again face palm himself and nodded “yes” with a dumbfounded gesture.

And he started writing! 

“Rumors have spread across the realm about a city that appears and disappears mysteriously, hidden by a veil of magic. Known as Immaterial city, this enigmatic city is said to materialize only during certain celestial alignments, drawing the curious and the brave who seek its secrets. And the map hold the secret to enter that city”

 I am intrigued by tales of untold wonders and arcane mysteries, but the question remains What does the city hold “SO, PRECIOUS” for this man.

“A chest” he finally wrote on that peace of paper.

 “How can I find this map, if it’s hidden in the first place” I asked the hooded man.

He sighed and took out a box and It contains a silver designed key!

 “It doesn’t help me with the location, my friend” I answered 

“A soft, haunting melody drifts through the air, echoing off the cobblestone walls, as if played by unseen hands on an ethereal instrument. The flickering lamplights cast elongated shadows that seem to converge, forming a transient partner to the enigmatic arrival.

Within the shadows, a voice, low and velvety, breaks the silence like a quiet murmur of secrets.

 "Greetings, traveler of the twilight. The weave of fate has drawn you to the threshold of mysteries untold. Step closer, and I shall show you the way to the Map.”

 I looked at the key “IT SPOKE!!” I whispered with a flabbergasted reaction.

 “You can speak” I ask the key with a mysterious tone.

“I do” she replied with a humorous tone.

“Who are you supposed to be!?” I asked and wondered what she’ll answer as this is certainly was a magical artifact with a conscious mind.

“I AM THE LOST KEY, AND MY MASTER IS WAITING FOR MY ARRIVAL” She answered with a sad tone.

The hooded man stood up and went on his way, I called him but he ignored me while he moved out of the tavern and vanished into the woods of Helcross.