-Enchantment Hunting-

Delving deep into a prism-covered cave with a small group of tired explorers, Ken hopped from platform to platform with ease. He brought up the rear where he had the most time to study his surroundings and gather samples of anything he found fascinating, as the others made their way carefully deeper into the cave. The impending darkness in front of them was intimidating to the others, while it exhilarated Ken. The only light that existed was a mix of head lamps, enchanted lights floating above them, and flashlights, all moving in different directions and casting the most beautiful reflections, illuminating the cavern walls even more. After starting on the surface of a distant frozen planet orbiting a blue giant, they had been slowly making their way down for over a week. The planet was cracked like an egg and the entire team wanted to know why.

Water ran though well-worn tracks in the cave floor, making a lot of the surrounding stones wet and adding to the nervousness of the group in front of him. Their speed picked up as the ground leveled out, but the stream’s path was random, and they constantly had to cross it. As the cold water slowed down the stream widened, leaving them less footing as they progressed. Eventually, it ended in a huge pool of crystal clear water that extended well beyond what little they could see. Ken took one of the enchanted lights and whispered a few words to it. It immediately dived into the water getting even brighter, illuminating the pool beneath them. Ken held up his automatic translator to his mouth as he addressed the others.

“It looks as if there is an underwater tunnel not too far away from the surface. Wait here and I will check it out.” He started stripping down, the area a little warmer as he suspected they were getting closer to the center.

“I shall join you, I am a strong swimmer as well.” One of his female companions spoke up into her own translator. She was a species he had not encountered before, with sleek multi colored short fur covering her entire body. He hadn’t learned much about her this trip; she was the strong silent type, reminding him of someone else he knew well.

Appearing on the other side with his companion, they moved slowly into the dimly lit pit around them. Ken whispered something else to the small orb of light that had followed them obediently. It proceeded to light the entire small cave in beautiful prisms, which seemed to draw his companion’s attention sharply.

“It’s just a trick an old friend taught me.” He said into the awkward silence that had befallen them both.

“I know of enchantments young one, these are my lights, yet they obey you.” She spoke into her voice box clearly, but Ken didn’t hear her finish over his laughter.

 He loved it when people called him young in a derogatory way. Once he recovered, he spoke clearly into his own translator. “I’m older than you’d presume, but I do love my youthful glow.”

 She studied him for a few moments before replying. “Could you teach me then?” She casted a strong barrier enchantment over the only exit. “You and I both know there is nothing down here, you are my prize, we will not leave here until you have taught me something truly useful.” The cutthroat nature in which she addressed him didn’t bother Ken a bit. He figured it’s what kept her alive, and he had a soft spot for new species he considered intelligent.

He didn’t need anytime to consider the conditions; they had some food, and they were close enough to the core of this planet to where no one was in danger of freezing anymore. “Okay, under the condition that I trade you my knowledge for personal facts about yourself.” His proposal seemed to throw her off balance and he had time to settle down onto a large, flat rock before she considered it fully.

“Deal.”

KEN II