Chapter 3: Why are you like this?

»Delmaaaar!«

Myrin decided. He wasn't sure until that point. But now he was. Now he knew. He hated Delmar. Since entering the dungeon Myrin had almost gotten set on fire, electrocuted, eaten by metallic butterflies and now he was hanging onto the edge of a cliff for dear life. And yet. Despite the fear of death stuck in his mind, there was still a part of him that wanted to follow this boy.

While Myrin was wondering how much longer he could hold on, a hand reached down. He took Delmar's hand and let the other boy pull him back up, both of them lying on the ground, breathing a little harder.

»Well ... that's a little more dangerous than I thought it would be. You okay, Myrin?«

»A little more dangerous ...«

Myrin let out an exasperated sigh. Maybe he didn't hate Delmar. But he definitely thought the boy to be too reckless. He had warned him. He told him how many people died, trying to conquer these dungeons. And yet. Here they were.

»...yes. I'm fine. But I'll be even better when we get back out of here.«

»Let's keep going then?«

The two slowly got up, looking around to inspect their surroundings. Previously they had been in a room that looked like it was some sort of temple. Now they were in a massive cavern. They could see the ceiling, but no sky. And yet the cavern was lit up as bright as daylight. Crystals floating around were radiating some sort of strange glow, most likely the source of the light. Some strange looking birds were flying through the cavern, paying no attention to the two intruders.

Delmar and Myrin were currently standing on what seemed to be a floating rock island, just big enough for the two of them to have laid down on. Several of these floating islands filled the cavern. Some where bigger, some smaller than the one the two boys were standing on.

Myrin's eyes fell back onto the crystals. Something about them drew him to them. He could feel the warmth radiating from the crystals. Maybe this is what people call magic? He took a few steps towards the closest one, reaching his hand out to touch it.

»Myrin!«

A hand grabbed his collar, pulling him back and Myrin realised how close he got to the edge again. He turned his head to look at Delmar, a worried expression painted on his face.

»Let's maybe not touch that. Okay?«

»Y-yeah ... Any idea where to next?«

Still looking worried, Delmar turned away from him and pointed at what seemed to be door in the wall of the cavern, all the way across it.

»I think that's the way we need to go. I didn't see any other way out of the cavern.«

»And ... how are we going to get over there?«

All Delmar could do was laugh faintly, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. Clearly, he had not given this whole endeavour much thought. Not that Myrin had really expected that. He watched as Delmar looked around the cavern again, wondering why he was actually following him. Maybe because he's what you always wanted to be? Maybe. Or maybe because with him ... by his side ... you can fulfill your own dreams. The thought was almost enough to bring a faint smile to Myrin's face. Thought he got interrupted when Delmar let out a sound, Myrin could only assume to be some sort of revelation.

»You got an idea?«

»We'll jump!«

»...what?«

Myrin stared at the boy, but he didn't get any further explanation. Instead Delmar seemed to take a run-up, walking all the way back to the furthest edge of their small island. He raised a finger to voice a most likely intelligent objection, but before any words could leave his mouth, Delmar had already started running, jumping off when he got to the edge.

»Delmar!«

He jumped just a little short, now clinging to the edge of the next island. With a little bit of effort Delmar pulled himself up, grinning at Myrin as he gave him a thumbs up.

»Your turn, Myrin!«

»I'd rather not ...«

»You can't stay there. I'll catch you!«

Myrin hesitated. Just why did he want to believe Delmar's every word? A soft sigh slipped from his mouth before he took a run-up and jumped off as Delmar had done. And as promised, despite Myrin jumping too short, Delmar grabbed his arms and pulled him up.

»And now we'll do that until we get to the door!«

»No, we won't ...«

---

Yes, they would. Delmar continued jumping from island to island. And Myrin followed without a fail. Passing through the door was easy enough. But now the two of them where standing in front of another door. One that seemed to require more brains than brawn. And somehow, that simple realisation brought Delmar down. Grumbling and whining he was now lying on the floor of the room they were in, Myrin staring at the massive double door.

Inside each of the two sides, where two smaller doors. A face was on each of these smaller doors. They were both grinning at him, while he tapped his finger to his chin. After a moment he turned away from the door, moving back over to a pedestal in the middle of the room. A plate with an ingraving lay on top of it. Myrin had read the words when they first entered. But from what he's seen in this dungeon so far, a wrong answer might be deadly.

»Two doors with faces on them. One always tells the truh, and one always lies. Also, one door leads to what you desire and one to certain death. You may only ask a single question to find out which door leads where. What's the question? You know, Delmar, I think I'm starting to like this dungeon...«

»Why? It's a pain. How are we supposed to know the right question to ask? If we just ask them straight out which of them leads to what we desire then they'll just both say they do. And we won't know which one is lying.«

»Yes, but this is a problem we just need to think about. THere's no jumping, fighting, poking with swords or other violent things involved. Just ... thinking. And using your brain.«

»I'll leave it up to you then...«

As Delmar continued to grumble, lying on the ground, Myrin wracked his brain. Delmar was right. Asking that question would only make both doors say they would lead there. He had to identify the liar and at the same time find out which door leads where. Come on, Myrin. You aren't a good fighter but this. This is your thing. He gasped audibly, eyes going wide and a grin appearing on his face, making even Delmar stop his grumbling and turn to the other boy.

»Got an idea?«

»Yeah ... I think I do.«

He was certain Delmar kept asking questions, but Myrin just stepped up to the door, looking confident.

»Hey! Myrin! Are you sure? We can only ask one question!«

But Myrin already had made up his mind. He stood in front of the door, taking a deep breath before staring at the two faces. Raising his finger to point at the left door.

»If you were the liar, would you tell me this door leads to what we desire?«

Delmar stared at him silently, not certain how this question would help them, or if anything would even happen. But then the left door opened it's mouth, it's voice echoing in the room, vibrating in the two boys' chests.

»Yes, I would.«

Then the other door opened it's mouth, this voice much softer, but clinging in their ears.

»Yes, I would.«

Myrin smiled a little. Before then turning to wards the right door, his hand reaching for the handle. Not certain what was going on, Delmar ran up to him, grabbing his hand.

»W-wait just a moment! Didn't both of the doors just say the left one is the right door?«

Myrin sighed softly, patting Delmar's shoulder before taking his hand off his arm, reaching for the door handle again and pushing the door open, starting to move through it.

»And both of them were lying. So it had to be this door.«

Delmar watched as Myrin moved through the door, wondering if he had maybe underestimated him just a little bit. He shook his head a little before his usual grin was back on his face, running after Myrin.

»Hey, Myrin! Wait up!«

---

Myrin and Delmar continued their way through the dungeon. Test after test awaited them. And even though Myrin couldn't remember when, if ever, he last felt that tired, he also felt extremely satisfied. He had always dreamed of this kind of thing. But he had never believed it would happen to him. But here he was now. Living through his own adventure.

And the one at his side was even more impressive than that realisation. Delmar was quite skilfull with the sword. Surely, there were better swordsmen out there, but Myrin was certain he had never seen anyone evade attacks that skilfully before. He was also much more athletic than Myrin could ever dream off. And there was something else about Delmar. He said he was loved by the gods. And Myrin thought him crazy for that. But, maybe he was. Often times it seemed as if Delmar had more luck than anything else. But he managed to pull it off.

All of it, eventually lead them to the treasurey. After pushing open the final set of doors, they stood among mountains of gold and jewellery. Golden plates and goblets. Golden swords and shields. And coins. More coins than Myrin had ever seen in his life before. Most prominently displayed on a pedastal in the middle of the room was what seemd to be a golden crown. The two boys exchanged a look, both shrugging before Delmar walked up to it, staring but for once not immediately touching it.

»I dunno. It's not really my style, you know?«

»We could have it melted and sell its worth in gold.«

»We could ...«

But as the two boys were musing about this, the crown slowly changed it's shape before it looked like a golden bracelet. While Delmar had watched that strange occurence, Myrin was in confusion as he turned back around.

»Uh ... what?«

»That crown ... it ... it changed it's shape.«

»That ... sounds silly, Delmar. Things don't just change shape...«

As the two were wondering if they had started getting crazy, they could both clearly feel an enormous amount of ... magical energy filling the room, making the air crack with lightning. And then, almost as if coming from the ground, a creature made of light appeared. It almost looked like ... some sort of bird. Maybe we are going crazy after all. And as Myrin was thinking that, even more prove seemed to collect itself, as the two of them clearly started hearing that bird of light speak.

»My master, my king. I congratulate you for conquering this dungeon.«

Delmar turned to look at Myrin, a look of disbelief on his face, shaking his head a little, to which he only got a shrug from Myrin as a response.

»You who conquered this dungeon have proven your worth. As such I will grant you the power of the Crown of the Faceless King.«

»Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a second there!«

Delmar crossed his arms, shaking his head slightly, apparently having found his usual confident self again.

»I don't want to be no king. I'm just going on adventures, you know? If anything I want to be a hero. Though preferably I'd like people to call me that because of my actions and not because some weird bird gave me some sort of power.«

»D-Delmar ... please don't argue with the magical, glowing bird.«

»Shush, Myrin. Listen, birdy! I'm gonna take all the treasure in here and then Myrin and I will leave. Understood?«

It almost seemed as if the bird considered Delmar's words. Could a creature of light think like that?

»You can use this power however you wish, my master. It will come to be useful for you one day.«

»Okay, seriously. I don't want-«

»But be warned, master. You have started on a dangerous path. The things that lie up ahead in wait for you aren't all good.«

Myrin gave Delmar a look, who's turn it was now to answer with a shrug.

»You will live to see many great adventures. You and the young magician will become famous across the lands.«

»You're a wizard, Myrin?«

»I never studied magic, so no.«

The bird continued as if not hearing the boys' interuptions.

»You will make many friends. And many more enemies. Not all will be kind when watching you succeed. And many will greed after what you will have.«

»Sounds like a normal people thing.«

»Ssh. Let him finish, Delmar.«

»There will come a time when you must make a hard choice, master. I cannot tell you how you will choose. But I will lend you my power, no matter the choices you make.«

With those words the bird slowly disappeared again, almost seeming as if the bracelet on the pedestal sucked the bird up. The two boys were left in silence before Delmar turned to look at Myrin.

»Sooo ... I'll grab stuff on the left and you take the right?«

---

They had expected many things to happen upon their return. A cheering crowd was not one of them. After collecting as much of the treasure as they could, they had argued about wether or not to take the bracelet, former crown with them or not. Eventually Myrin's argument of it being a magic item of some rarity won Delmar over and when Delmar took the bracelet, the two of them were bathed in a bright light. Next thing they knew, they found themselves in front of the dungeon, a crowd having gathered around it.

And when the two boys emerged, that crowd began to cheer, leaving Myrin and Delmar in confusion over what was going on. As they turned to look back into the dungeon, it seemed all magic had left that place. The building was still standing but now it almost looked like just an empty shell.

Delmar's eyes trailed back over to Myrin who was staring at the crowd with an expression of wonder, confusion and ... pride. He had dragged Myrin all the way into the dungeon, through it and back out. But during that, he did realise something.

»Hey, Myrin...«

»This is incredible, Delmar ... I've never seen so many people cheering ... especially not for me.«

»Myrin.«

»Like ... wow. These peope are all here because of us and-«

»Myrin!«

He immediately looked at Delmar when the latter raised his voice. Cocking his head to one side, he clearly seemed to not have any idea what Delmar was going to say. And somehow that made Delmar more nerous than anything else. He glanced away from Myrin, rubbing his neck with one hand, while his other will tuck on the hem of his shirt.

»Sorry. You were going to say something, Delmar?«

»Yeah. Uhm ... in the dungeon. I ... welll ...«

Myrin continued to stare at him before realisation dawned on his face and he let out a soft chuckle.

»If you want to say thank you, don't. I wasn't that helpful. I honestly think you would've been faster without me.«

But Delmar vehemently shook his head.

»No. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten past those two lying doors.«

»They weren't really both lying, Delmar ...«

»And without you I would never have seen the exit in that tunnel. Or the fact that those butterflies were all connected to one big one.«

He took a deep breath, smiling a little again as he held out his hand to Myrin.

»What I'm trying to say is ... Myrin. Wanna go on adventures with me?«

Myrin stared at him with wide yes. Say yes. Of course he would. You need to open your mouth to do that. He did. No, you aren't. Myrin was frozen. Wasn't this what he had wanted? Of course it was. He wanted to go on adventures and tell stories. Then why ... couldn't he just say yes.

As Delmar was waiting for an answer, the crowd had gathered closer around them, suddenly lifting the two boys on their shoulders and celebrating them as conquerors of the dungeon. Despite the chaos Myrin kept his eyes on Delmar who clearly seemed to enjoy the praise and attention.

You and the magician will become famous across the lands.

What that bird said ... did it truly refer to Myrin? He knew some magic, but by no means would he call himself a magician. Maybe there was someone else. But ... the way that bird seemed to look at both of them. And talk to both of them. No. Myrin was certain that creature spoke about him.

So, was it destiny? Did he have no choice but to follow Delmar? Because someone had already decided that? What if he wanted to defy that destiny? Does it matter? The crowd carried the two boys into the town, Delmar making sure to keep an eye on their treasure being brought with them. He had no way of knowing what turmoil was going on inside of Myrin at the time.

The truth was ... It doesn't matter. An honest smile finally appeared on Myrin's face and he felt his whole body relaxing, letting the people carry him. It didn't matter wether he met Delmar through some predetermined destiny. They still had to live their lives. And if that predetermined destiny led him to what he had yearned for all this time, then he wouldn't mind following it. And, Delmar's dream ... it sounded tempting. More than tempting. Myrin realised that his own dream now wasn't just to tell stories. But also to help Delmar make his dream a reality. He looked around, until he found Delmar being carried a little further ahead.

»Delmar!«

Despite the volume of the crowd, Delmar's head almost immediately turned to look at Myrin, who grinned widely for the first time in a long while, before shouting loudly over to him.

»I definitely want to go on adventures with you!«