The cave Datto and Kaira just entered was dark and spooky. It was much colder than the beach outside. Kaira stopped about 10 feet into the cave, just at the point where the light started to fade away.
"Wait here until your eyes adjust to the darkness. When we get to the village, I'll give you a coat." Village? What was she talking about? Has she gone insane?
A few minutes past and she proceeded ahead into the darkness. Datto followed close behind. His eyes had adjusted to the dimness and he could faintly see the walls of the cave. The cave, itself, curved around to the left several meters in and made a full U-turn downward. They walked and walked until even his adjusted eyes couldn't sense light anymore.
"Stop!" she commanded. "There's a hole here with a rope going down it. It is the entrance to the village. Come." So Datto waited until she was a little ways down the sturdy rope and he started to climb down it. Carefully he placed each foot onto a rope step and held onto it tightly with his hands. The further he descended, the brighter the bottom had gotten.
Minutes after climbing down, the hole suddenly opened up. It was a hole in a cave roof! The rope lead to an underground cave. Water was everywhere; it ran along the streets, fell from the walls into little lakes, and even spun villagers' mill wheels. The houses' walls were made of some bluish stone, and the roofs were made of branches and sticks. Some houses were even built into the rock walls of the cave. Unfortunately, it was even colder down here, than up in the cave entrance.
Datto shivered as he reached the bottom of the stone cave floor. It was smooth and moist.
"There're coats in the Elder's house. It's the bottom-most house. Follow me," said Kaira. After having said that, she led him though the city streets which constantly descended into the cave. Torches were lit all around to illuminate this underground village. The villagers were staring at the stranger with the sword, and wondered what he was doing with Kaira.
Finally, they reached an opening to a building built into the cave wall. They entered, and Datto looked around and noticed all of the boxes present, and all of the mini-mines and mini-mine workers working to mine substances from the earth.
"This is the village's storeroom and mining room. This is also were the Elder resides when he's awake. See him, up there?" At her words Datto looked up at the second floor in the room, way in the back. There was a red carpet leading to the stairs which would lead someone to the second floor. The elder had very blue-ish garments on, and had blue skin as well! 'How strange,' thought Datto. 'Why would someone have blue skin?'.
They walked up the stairs and to the elder.
"Elder," began Kaira, "a stranger has mysteriously appeared on our shores and he has the faintest idea of how he got here. He seems to be from another planet. Can you make any sense of this?" After hearing her strange words, the Elder spoke roughly and old-like saying,
"Kaira, if what you say is true... then..." He thought it over for a minute, and said, "I have come to a conclusion." Datto and Kaira looked at each other with happiness. This is it! Now Datto can finally figure this out, and return home. But what he said next shocked them both.
"I have no idea how he could've gotten here," said the Elder. What? Why? How? Datto's expression changed from hopeful, to disappointed upon hearing this. Kaira's disposition changed from delighted to stern. She was determined to help this lost soul, and the elder knew it too. "Perhaps the King of the Aquires Nation knows something about this dilemma. He is very wise, he should know something," said the Elder.
"You're right!" said Kaira. The King of the Aquires Nation was very smart. Kaira's hope and delightedness returned. Datto had little hope left.
After all of these events, they thanked the elder and grabbed a coat for Datto. Then, they ate.
While eating, Datto asked Kaira, "Why is he so blue?"
She finished chewing, then swallowed, and replied saying, "I guess you could say, he's very in-touch with his magic. He and I are the only water mages on Geet Island. He is much more powerful than I though." Though vague, Datto accepted this answer, and continued eating.
As they finished eating their meal, they both went on their way back to the rope ladder. On the way, Datto began to wonder about the events so far. He was curious about where it was they were headed.
"Hey Kaira," he said.
"Yes?"
"How exactly are we going to get to the King of the Aquires Nation?"
"Well, we'll have to sail to Arubachov Island fist, which is nearly half way between Geet Island and South Shoshun, which is where the Aquires Nation's Capitol is located. That's where the king will be," she said.
"But how will we get there? I didn't see any boats on the beach."
"Oh there are boats. They're just hidden behind the cave's opening outside."
They exited with cave and she led him behind some brush just behind the cave's opening. There were five boats there, each the same size - small. Provisions, including food, blankets, rope, and a lantern, were already inside. Datto got in, and then Kaira. She used a spell to conjure up a wave to send them flying into the ocean.
They sailed in the direction away from the sun, which had nearly disappeared behind the ocean waters by now. It was dark and cold. Who knows what is in store for them now. Will they make it to Arubachov Island all in one piece?
