Her heart skipped a beat.
“Is that…” Astonishment aroused on her face, she couldn't believe her eyes.
“A portal, yes. It belonged in the cave a long time ago, so it will bring us right there.”
“That's an incredibly rare thing to have,” she said suspiciously. She'd never seen a portal in real life – only in pictures in books.
There weren't many portals left since the government of the Magic Lands decided they were not really safe things to use. They could lead to some side effects while using but most importantly – a portal was a dangerous thing when used by bad people. Soon the Magic Council sealedthe majority of the portal gates and prohibited pocket portals (which could be any object), leaving only a few to use. The primary was the Stone Arch located on the south side of the capital – a portal to another continent, left to make traveling easier, instead of embarking on a voyage for days or even weeks on end.
“Why would I be interested in something ordinary?” Dante’s face turned stoic.
Violette’s gaze dropped to the locket again. Objects usually didn’t reveal the magic itself so others could know it was enchanted, but such a strong magic couldn't be hidden. She felt it pulsating in this little thing. The soft blue light it emitted was beguiling with almost invisible sparks floating around it that shimmered in and out of existence.
He sensed her hesitation. “Did you change your mind?”
“No,” she blurted. “I've just never used a portal before.”
“Then I suggest you get used to it because it's not the only portal we'll use for our adventure.”
She raised her eyes to him in question. It was both exciting and worrying – traveling by portal was described as quite an unpleasant feeling.
“Chickening out?” He shot her a smirk.
She snorted and put her hand on the magic object.
The ground seemed to move, Violette staggered. A strange feeling curledup in her stomach, making her sick. Her mouth went dry, something came down her throat that she couldn't swallow or spit out. Her head began to spin and she would have lost her balance, but the sudden sensation of a motionless surface under her feet brought her back to reality.
She blinked a few times and shook her head to regain clear vision. The air was thick with the pungent smell of the salty sea. The wind tickled her back; the light rustling of the leaves was the only noise interfering with the absolute peace. Everything around was quiet and dark, just like a few minutes ago, but instead of high buildings and elegant street lamps, there were only deciduous trees, furze bushes and an immense, tall cave.
Violette raised her head – the entrance to the cavern looked more like a huge arch made of stone. She felt the magic coming from within; magic that felt like a warm breeze coming straight from the Grotte de La Foi.
She'd never seen something like this, something as great – a place from ballads, which most considered to be fiction, and the others believed had gone into oblivion forevermore.
Dante walked towards the cave entrance and before following him, she turned against the cool wind. Her gaze followed down the path where the beach led to the endless sea. The cold air brushed her hair, making her shiver, whilst the cave beckoned with a pleasant warmth and a faded golden light.
Violette ran her fingers through a curtain nearly undetectable to the eye. Golden grainsof sand floated in the air creating the diaphanous veil, a sign of a spell.
“Is this a barrier?” she questioned, smoothly running her fingers along the invisible wall.
“No,” Dante uttered. “A magic spell for safety reasons. The cave won't let in anyone who has bad intentions. For example, if someone is planning to cheat.” He gave her a skeptical look.
“Well, then I have nothing to be afraid of,” Violette said with ease and drew a step forward. Warmth enveloped her before she found herself on the other side of the entrance. She turned around and waved her hand to her companion with a satisfied smile, inviting him to do the same.
A wide path laid further into the depth of the cave. An echo of their steps resonated from the stone walls.
“So, what did you mean when you said the cave isn't magical?” she finally asked.
“You'll see in a moment,” he aired vaguely.
Violette didn't like when people said that. She was lacking patience for answers, though she didn't say a word as she followed her new acquaintance deeper into the cave.
The darkness receded as a sudden blaze of light lit the place. Their steps had led them to a spacious hall with carved panels lined with torches, which had ignited the second they entered. Violette looked around, suppressing a gasp, amazed by the mystery of this place as Dante confidently strode to the most illuminated wall.
Sitting there, on a stone pedestal, was a luxurious golden goblet decorated withrubies, weakly glimmering in the firelight.
“What is this?”
“The Cup of Trust.” Dante's gaze landed on the pedestal.
