Ulric noticed Twilight wasn't so far then, so he sped up his sprint and moved his legs faster than before. It was overwhelming for him to do that. Yet, he did so. He'd never had or done anything so strange before. Nevertheless, he noticed things like invisible birds or their presences, even though they weren't there. He was astonished by all that. He couldn't help but sit down for some rest, and he stood, then he ran. Eventually, he reached the entrance of that cave.
He hesitated before going in.
His claustrophobia — he still hadn't forgotten that. He was frightened, startled by the smaller spaces or site. It was his fear just thinking about that. He sighed and let his foot step in. His thoughts were telling him not to, but his curiosity was telling him to do so. That weird presence inside him told him to do it, demanding him that. He couldn't avoid everything, so his eventual plan was going in that cave. He crawled in from that space. The space was becoming from smaller to the size of a door, and he could stand up then.
He was astonished by the splendour of that cave. That entrance was smaller, but inside the cave was enormous with lakes and giant stones with crystals and minerals. It was like a dream, like a fantasy dream. He was so relieved by that. He walked further in the cave, and the growing spheres hanging in the ceiling enormous stones and crystals were all colored: blue, red, and even purple. He was very shocked by all that. He tried to wander in it a little bit much time, but he remembered he had to return quickly back to his house, so he just began to find the shadow.
He noticed a lake between two corridors. Enormous stones were in between sides of each corridor of the cave. That lake was flowing very transparently. It was beautiful. He thought of going in one of the corridors, considering he could find the shadow there. He chose the right one, and he ran towards it. He walked leisurely in and in, looking at the crystals in sides and the splendour of glowing spheres. He was relieved as well, by the noises of lake flowing.
Seconds passed. He was going in and in. Eventually, he found an end to that corridor. The stones that concluded that corridor were very cold. He touched them, and crystals were among them. He thought of grabbing one in his bag, and he did so. Looking at the conclusion of that corridor, the other one would must have the same conclusion, too. His chance was gone, no one he could find in any of the corridors, which meant the twilight was even nearer. His thoughts were now urging him to return. Nevertheless, his inside souls were not. He had to find that shadow, and he would do it, no matter what happened.
Now that the corridors were both vacant, he avoided them and saw the other side of the cave. There was an enormous way to another space, and he thought nothing but to run towards it and entered it. It was nothing like a smaller space. So many large crystals hung in the stone ceiling, with giant stones and glowing spheres. Nothing there as well, who he could talk. He left that part of the cave as well and began to explore another.
He noticed another one was bigger than that one, and this one was even more light and cold. Crystals were bigger, and the thing that caught his attention was that there were two additional tunnels in there, leading to other strange sites. As he saw nothing there, too, he thought of checking one of those, until, he heard footsteps.
Shadow had no footsteps. It floated, so whose were of these? They sounded louder and louder. Eventually, he saw a figure, covered completely in a hood, with a large piece of timber, which was thin, and relying on it, like an old hag. The figure was tall as tree and was completely covered. Its face couldn't be seen.
It happened so quickly. Ulric gulped.
Two others came behind it, and three came from another tunnel. He screamed and looked back to run. He saw two standing in the entrance of which site he entered in the cave. His feet were paralysed, and even he himself, as an abrupt thing of all, had happened. The shadow was nowhere in sight, but these hooded figures. All wore sable hoods with cloaks, touching the stones of ground.
They closed in and in towards Ulric. Now that he opened his eyes, he could see nothing except for the ceiling and the hooded figures, very tall.
He was surrounded by them.
What must I do? he thought. What must I do? What must I do
"Nothing," a thing in his mind told him.
It is not possible! he told that thing in his thoughts. They will harm me!
"Do as I say," that thing in his mind said. "Or you'll see even a tragic conclusion."
He gulped. Okay! he thought. I'll do nothing!
Those figures began it. They raised their sticks and began to sing something. It frustrated Ulric. He did not try to resist. He was told not to resist. He knew he would only do himself harm. He needed an advisor, and he had one then.
Nothing, he thought. Do nothing. Nothing.
Those noises became louder. They were so frustrating to hear. He could not help himself but stand. The noises were like invading in his mind.
They became more frustrating. Nevertheless, he was tumbling down. Down and down, he hit the ground. His energy from his legs was like snatched outside, and he felt more dizzy. That dizziness was killing him. He reminded himself to do nothing again.
He lay down still, and voices of them were becoming quieter and quieter.
Eventually, all stopped. Only darkness and emptiness. He had fainted.