Leo and Dan finally arrived at the new merfolk city. Unlike the one Dan had lived in before, this city was bustling with life. Besides the merfolk, there were many merchants from other races trading within its walls. The market stalls were filled with exotic goods, from glowing seaweed to intricately carved coral artifacts, each item reflecting the city's unique charm.
They rested in the city for a day, using the time to gather information about the location of the dwarves in the western mountains. Through a few well-traveled merchants, they learned that the dwarves resided within a treacherous mountain range not far from there. With a normal pace, it would take only a day's journey to reach them.
At dawn the next day, the two set off again, heading toward the towering mountains where the dwarves lived.
The mountain was immense and steep, its cliffs nearly devoid of natural climbing paths. At its base, a massive stone gate was embedded into the rock, seamlessly blending with the mountain itself. Strangely, despite it being broad daylight, the gate remained firmly shut. Even more peculiar was the land before the gate—barren and lifeless, as if untouched for years, yet somehow bearing the subtle marks of frequent passage, creating a paradoxical scene.
Leo stepped forward and knocked on the heavy stone door, the dull thud echoing through the mountains. However, no response came from within.
Frowning, he knocked again several times, yet silence remained. Just as they were growing puzzled, a small window at the top of the door suddenly creaked open. A white-haired, bearded dwarf peered out, his sharp eyes scrutinizing them.
"Who are you? What do you want?" The dwarf's voice was deep and filled with wariness.
Leo stepped forward confidently and answered, "We seek Cohen. We have an important request for his expertise."
At the mention of "Cohen," the dwarf's expression showed a flicker of hesitation. He studied Leo and Dan, seemingly weighing whether they could be trusted. After a moment, he gave a slight nod and disappeared from the window.
A long wooden ladder was then slowly lowered from the opening.
"Climb up," the dwarf called down.
Exchanging a brief glance, Leo and Dan began ascending the ladder, making their way through the narrow entrance and into the fortress within the mountain.
The first sight that greeted them inside was a vast yet eerily silent hall. The dim lighting barely illuminated the walls, which were coated with layers of dust from years past. The air was thick and heavy, carrying the unmistakable scent of a place that had long since lost its vibrancy.
Their guide led them through the shadowed hall, stopping behind a massive stone throne. Pushing open a heavy stone door, he revealed a stark contrast to the gloom they had just passed.
The new chamber was brightly lit by countless embedded mineral lamps, their soft glow illuminating the space with a warm radiance. Unlike the desolate hall, this area still housed many dwarves, though most were aged, their wary gazes fixed on Leo and Dan with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
They pressed onward until they arrived before a kitchen. Inside, a stout, white-bearded dwarf hummed a tune as he skillfully flipped the food sizzling in his pan.
"Cohen, these two humans need your help," the guide announced.
The dwarf called Cohen turned, revealing a face lined with the marks of age. Yet, despite the wrinkles, his deep-set eyes gleamed with a sharp intelligence.
"Oh? Humans?" Cohen's voice carried a hint of surprise. He removed his apron, stepped forward, and gave them both a thorough once-over. "Haven't seen new faces in a long time. So, what brings you here?"
Without hesitation, Leo carefully unwrapped Luna's mechanical body and placed her gently on the table.
"Her name is Luna. She is my companion," Leo said, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. "She has suffered severe damage, and I seek your help in repairing her."
Cohen's eyes flickered with interest as he examined the mechanical girl before him. His initial curiosity quickly turned into a serious, contemplative expression. Running his calloused hands over Luna's damaged exterior, he carefully assessed the extent of the damage.
After a long pause, he finally looked up and spoke. "Interesting... Her construction is incredibly intricate, far beyond ordinary craftsmanship. I'll need time to study her to determine if she can be repaired."
Leo nodded, his eyes filled with hope.
Cohen patted his shoulder and offered a knowing smile. "Don't worry, kid. I'm not just any craftsman. Since you've come to me, let's see what secrets this girl holds."
Leo and Dan exchanged glances, a renewed sense of hope igniting in their hearts.
Cohen carefully examined Luna's mechanical body, his fingers gliding over the intricate gears and magical circuits. His eyes held a trace of surprise and admiration.
"This mechanical body is the work of the Mechanical Court," Cohen said slowly, his voice tinged with reverence for the ancient craftsmanship. "How did you come by it?"
Leo was silent for a moment before explaining, "This body belongs to my teammate… She ended up like this to save me." His voice carried a hint of guilt and frustration.
Cohen furrowed his brows upon hearing this and then sighed. "I can repair her body, but..." He paused, his gaze deepening. "I need a special material."
"What material?" Leo asked immediately.
"The blood of the Elven King," Cohen said slowly. "Luna's mechanical heart is a pinnacle of fusion between magic and machinery. To fully restore it, it requires an immense amount of life energy, and the blood of the Elven King possesses precisely this extraordinary restorative power."
Leo didn't hesitate for a second. "Alright, we'll go to the Elven homeland and find a way to obtain the Elven King's blood."
However, beside him, Dan's expression became somewhat uneasy. His brows furrowed slightly, revealing a trace of discomfort.
"What's wrong?" Leo noticed Dan's reaction and asked curiously.
Dan coughed lightly, hesitating for a moment before muttering, "Uh… I have a bit of a… bad memory from the last time I visited the elves."
"A bad memory?" Leo raised an eyebrow.
Dan rubbed the back of his head, reluctant to recall too much. But in the end, he sighed. "Never mind. It wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. But don't worry, if it's for Luna, I'll go with you."
Leo nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
"But before you leave, I have a request," Cohen said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.
"What request?"
"We're running low on food…" Cohen shrugged. "Dwarves are great at mining and crafting, but hunting and farming? Not so much."
Leo and Dan exchanged glances. It wasn't a difficult task, so they agreed without hesitation.
"To make it easier for you to carry supplies, I have something for you." Cohen rummaged through an old chest for a while before pulling out two dark-gold magical crests and handing them to Leo and Dan.
"These are magic storage crests. They can store a limited amount of physical items—food, tools, anything really," Cohen explained.
Leo took one and examined it carefully. It was engraved with intricate runes that emitted a faint magical glow.
"Thanks," he said, tucking it away.
Just as they were about to set off, Cohen suddenly stopped them.
"Hold on, night is about to fall," Cohen shook his head. "Traveling at night is too dangerous. You should rest here and leave in the morning."
Leo considered it for a moment and agreed that Cohen had a point.
As night fell, the castle was enveloped in silence.
However, at midnight, a low growl and faint vibrations echoed outside Leo and Dan's room.
The two of them immediately sat up, exchanging wary glances.
"What was that?" Dan whispered.
Leo didn't answer. He quickly threw on his coat and stepped out.
In the hallway, Cohen was already standing there, as if he had been expecting it.
"Don't worry. This happens all the time," Cohen reassured them when he saw their tense expressions.
"All the time?" Leo frowned.
"Come with me," Cohen gestured for them to follow, leading them through the corridors to an opening halfway up the mountain.
The opening was vast, providing a clear view of the mountain base.
Under the moonlight, countless dark figures roamed below.
Various types of monsters were gathered at the foot of the mountain, prowling in the darkness, letting out low growls, as if they were waiting for something.
"Why are there so many monsters here?" Dan's expression darkened.
"They've always been here," Cohen replied calmly, as though he had long grown used to the sight. "This was once one of the most prosperous dwarven cities. But decades ago, an unknown darkness began corrupting the land, and since then, these creatures have become more active."
Leo gazed at the monstrous horde below, deep in thought.
"But they won't get inside," Cohen continued. "The dwarven castle doors are forged from enchanted minerals—regular monsters can't break through. But this mountain… is no longer the home we once knew."
"No wonder… you only open the doors during the day," Dan murmured in realization.
Cohen nodded. "Yes. Every morning, when the sun rises, we briefly open the gates to allow dwarves to leave and return. But once night falls, everything must be sealed shut. Otherwise, it would be disastrous."
Leo stared at the horde below, a question forming in his mind.
Why were these creatures gathering here? What was drawing them to this place?