"What is this place?"

Elpida asked, staring around in awe at the large caves which they were in.

On a pattern of stone, were trays of food and wine, lined up like a feast was to be done. Candles were lit in a circle on the floors, right around where the stone was.

Adding to its beauty and iridescence was a trail of petals of flowers from the entrance of the caves. .

"Shhh!. We don't know what's in here" Pavlos said to her.

"I don't think it could cause much harm, it looks like two lovers were to feast here" Aiden chuckled lightly.

He moved forward, while the rest cautiously peered around, accessing the environment.

"This looks more like an habitat" Pavlos uttered.

"Of what?" Sima questioned.

"Not sure" He responded.

His eyes rested on the ancient markings on the wall of the caves, and in an instant, he froze.

"Nobody eat from the bowl of food" He spoke immediately, his voice rising a little.

Hearing low munching noises coming from Aiden, he gasped immediately, his gaze falling on him, as he stuffed his mouth with some fruits.

"What?" Aiden asked.

"We haven't had a proper meal in days" He added.

Pavlos rushed forward, snatching the food away from his hands, and then placing it back into the bowl.

"That's a sacrifice" He uttered in a low voice, staring back at Aiden, who was taking his time swallowing the food.

His jaw dropped immediately, hearing Pavlos speak.

"What?" He asked.

"This isn't a feast for lovers, it's a sacrifice to the ancestors of the Havarian people" Pavlos revealed.

"What's that?" Bellona questioned, stepping forward to hear him.

"Once every hundred years, A sacrifice is made by the people of Havaria, to appease the spirits of their ancestors and pleading with them to bring Serenity, love and light to their lands" He uttered out of fear.

"A bowl of food with wine of all sorts is dumped here on the night of the blue travel for the ancestors to feed on and give to them all they wish for" He added.

"Why is that?" Sonora uttered immediately, looking at Aiden who had taken a bite from the bowl.

"That can't be true, can it?" She asked.

"I'm afraid it is" They all heard a cold voice speak from the other end where the stones were and the food sat.

A man in a long garment, going way past his feet, with a grey cloak over the garment, stood. Holding a staff in his hands, firmly in his grip.

From the cold look on his face, they all could tell he was angry, and wasn't up for apologies.

"I am Bernadon. The watchman of the caves" He revealed in a low voice.

There was a long silence, each one of them staring at him, watching as he moved around approaching them dangerously.

"We only wish to pass through. We've got a journey of great importance ahead of us"

Orion stepped forward, speaking for the first time since their arrival in the caves.

"That I know of" Bernadon spoke.

"Indeed! A great journey it is" He added.

"But I'm afraid it must be altered, for he who violates the law of Havaria must face the penalty"

"What penalty?" Orion questioned immediately.

Bernadon remained silent for just a moment, staring back into the eyes of Orion, and then turning them slowly to face Aiden.

"Your friend here must make a sacrifice to cover up for his sins" He spoke.

"What sacrifice?" Elpida asked.

"Blood of man must be used to appease the ancestors for disrupting their feast"

"How barbaric is that?!" Orion interjected.

"Do these 'ancestors' even know there's a feast for them?" He uttered.

"Watch your choice of words young man" Bernadon responded coldly, gripping his staff tightly.

Pavlos stepped forward immediately, glaring at Orion with his eyes and then turning to face Bernadon with a warm gaze.

"Please!" He begged.

"You have to help us, our friend here wasn't aware of the tradition"

"I'm afraid there's noth'n I can do"

"It's my job to see that the whole of the sacrifice goes through, and that I must ensure"

He drew a dagger out the pocket of his belts, which had blue crystals engraved on it.

"No, no, no!" There must be another way.

Elpida joined in stepping forward and pleading with him.

"Just tell us what we need to do, we promise to do it, you name it. But you just can't kill our friend all because of some 'law'. She said to him.

"You know I haven't heard of that law before" Sonora joined in on the conversation, for a moment, easing the tension.

"Such insult to all indigenes of Havaria"

Bernadon interjected.

"I agree to that" Sima stepped in.

"Still don't get the whole thing"

"He will lay his blood to appease the ancestors!" Bernadon yelled at the top of his voice.

"Oh c'mon. Don't act like you haven't had a bite of the food before. These ancestors don't even exist" Aiden called.

He turned to look at the delicious food calling onto him.

"Who could resist that?" He added.

An argument started, Bernadon yelling at them, while they all pleaded to just pass through, giving proper comfort and time for the 'ancestors' to resume their feasting.

Their voices echoed throughout the caves, as they all argued on who was right, and what law to bend next.

Meanwhile, Orion watched from afar with quite disinterest, stepping forward to snatch a bunch of green grapes which rested on the platform of stones.

In an instant, he dumped all of 'em in his mouth, savoring its juice and then moaning in a low voice at how good they tasted.

Bellona's eyes thinned, watching him as he wiped his hand across his mouth, after downing the whole bunch of grapes.

"What are you doing?!" Pavlos yelled. Completely furious at Orion for having a share, while they were trying so hard to clear the mess previously created.

Orion ignored him, and then began moving towards Bernadon, his eyes never leaving the figure of the man.

"You say a blood sacrifice must be made" He uttered

"How dare you? A curse will fall on you!" Bernadon retorted, raging at Orion for disrespecting the law.

"Then so be it" Orion spoke.

He moved forward carefully, and in an instant, slashed the neck of Algernon with his sword. Pushing him away with his feet, while he landed on the ground with a thud, his blood streaming through the caves.

Using Bernadon's garment, he wiped the stain of blood off his blade, and then shoved it back into its scabbard.

"What I do not believe in, can not, and will not harm me" Orion muttered under his breath, speaking to the body of Bernadon.

He turned around slowly, only to be met with some set of eyes staring at him widely, while confusion rested on each of their faces.

"You could stay here arguing with him, or you could come with me and continue the journey. Either way, I haven't got time on my hands, and I've got a quest to complete" He uttered in a stern tone, grabbing an apple from the bowl, biting into it and then walking off.