The road was dark, so Izik grabbed a torch and lit it up with his fingers as they kept walking. After a brisk walk, they were met with three paths splitting the corridor ahead: one on the right with a symbol of fire pillars on top of it, one on the center with a plant symbol, and the last to the right with a symbol of a tree and a sun shining on it. The first one was tightly shut, while the others were open. A statue of an elf holding a star on one hand and a staff with the other erected on the side a few steps before the paths. Under the statue lied some text.

  "This is Elvish," Ari said as she leaned in. "Three roads maketh men, the road of Gaia, fit for all and discriminates none, the road of Hell to test your mettle, for the brave or the stupid, and the road of Heaven for the privileged who rise from the brave. To open the road to heaven, one must go through hell in exchange."

  "So, basically, we are offered three roads," Isaac scratched his head. "The easy one, the Road of Heaven. The regular one, the Road of Gaia, and the Road of Hell, which explains itself."

  "Apparently, to open the Road of Heaven, someone must enter the Road of Hell," Azeri scoffed. "A bit sadistic of whoever made this."

  "The elves always thought little of humans." Ari said with a lisp. "They saw them as greedy and always starved for power. It is why they prefer not to live with us most of the times, only for a few exceptions."

  "A bit generalizing, are they not?" Borgis raised a brow.

  "They live for centuries," Izik replied, hands placed on his waist. "I am sure they have their reasons.

  "So," Azeri brought her hands together. "I don't think anyone will sacrifice themselves for to go the easy way out, so we should all just go through the Gaia Road."

  "Agreed." Borgis affirmed, and Ari nodded.

  "Not so fast." A thick voice came from behind them.

  "Who's there?" Azeri said as everyone turned around.

  A light grew closer as a group of six appeared to them.

  "It can't be…" Ari gasped, eyes widened. "Radich? Pin?"

  "The drunkards from the tavern?" Azeri exclaimed.

  "Thank you for getting us this far, lads." A rugged man with a thick mustache and broken brick teeth snickered. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without you lot. Now, we will be taking the easy way," he pulled Radich and Pin to the front, knives to their throats. "Or these two will give these grounds a nice coat of red."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Azeri!" Radich whimpered, knife rubbing his throat.

  "They were waiting for us at the entrance…" Pin said, the sweat from his brow sliding down his cheek.

  "We were looking for a way to enter the to enter Beel estate for some info on the tombs of a Mittegod hiding around this city, the rugged man walked around, prideful as his men held Pin and Radich. "Imagine our surprise when our good fellow from the tavern gave us a juicy intel on some spoiled Beel runt was running around playing Prospector Ludwig around Beelan."

  The crew behind him let out raspy laughs.

  "Now, you will be kind enough to go through the Hell Road to let us good folks walk through this crypt easily."

  "Like hell we are," Azeri snapped, ring on her arm glowing icy blue."

  "If you don't," the man gestured to the men holding Radich and Pin, pressing the knives closer tot heir throats. "Your friends will be food for the roaches." He drew a crooked smile to his face as if he wanted them to oppose him.

  "Wait," Azeri dropped her hostility. "Don't do anything just yet."

  "W-we can all help each other here!" Ari said in a panicked state.

  "Oh, you will help us, alright," the rugged man said, sardonic.

  Pin and Radich were pushed hard at Azeri and her group. Before they could do anything, a tall, gaunt member of the drunkards with a shiny head raised his arms as a giant blue rune emerged between his hands. A swirl of water manifested and launched violently at the group. Ari and Radich were easily swept away into the Road of Hell, followed by Pin and Azeri.

  "Thank you all kindly!" The man's voice mingled with the swoosh of the water.

  Izik and Borgis were starting to feel their legs give up to the strong water stream, but Izik would not go down without a fight He manifested a firebolt and thew it at the gaunt man, hitting his leg. Izik was pulled by the powerful force of the water, along with Borgis as a howl of pain came from the dwindling corridor.

  The road was quite a way down, maybe truly going down to the depths of hell. After a while being swept by the water slide, Izik stopped and rolled into the flat end of the corridor. Just before he stood up, Borgis, slammed into him, pancaking him to the ground.

  "Are you guys okay?" Azeri approached the two, flailing away the water.

  "This sprinkle of water would never hurt me!" Borgis roared as he stood up. Izik could not say the same.

  The door behind them closed as Radich ran to it, whimpering desperately.

  "I am sorry guys," Pin said with a furrowed forehead. "They took us by surprise."

  "I warned you about them!" Radich yelled, his legs trembling.

  "I will kill that bartender…" Azeri said, anger echoing through her voice.

  "I can't believe this happened…" Ari said, her lips crooked downwards. "It's so dark..."

  Izik struggled to get and cracked his back like an old man after a nap. "How did they even know about the tomb?"

  "This could be deeper than we have imagined…" Borgis said in a faint voice. "The man's accent was not from around these parts of land. I can tell."

  "We have to catch up to them!" Azeri groaned. "I won't let them get to the Mittegod before we do!"

  "I can see a faint light just up ahead." Ari pointed to the group.

  "We don't have much time. Let's go." Izik said as he walked towards the light."

  Everyone followed suit, anger filling up the room because of how they were tricked.

  Radich hesitated for a moment. "Damn it!" He screamed before running towards the group. "Wait for me!"