CHAPTER THREE
While the servants made the preparations, the Lady of the Lake gave a small chest to Ogawain.
- It ain't bigger than a walnut, but inside there's a mighty power, speciallly meant to beat the two frightening drahons of the Utaban caves. Use it wisely, though, or else its abuse would awake a terrible creature coming from the edge of times...
- By Jove, Milady, you love scaring the others!
- Heh, yeah.. anyway... let's leave it here and go to bed, ifyouknowwhaddamean...
The next day Ogawain started marching again, leaving the noble Lady of the Lake who had no more doubts about her gender, ifyouknowwhaddamean. Following his lady's instructions, he arrived easily to the entrance of the infamous Utaban caves, but before he could reach it the two dreadful dragons, Nakain and Takain, came out exhaling stinking acid out of their mouths. Ogawain, frozen by the fear, kneeled down, but in the very moment he felt the forces were abandoning him he recalled the chest and, holding it within his shaky hands, he opened it.
An intense light came out of the chest and there appeared a femenine figure... the two dragons, when they saw her, went mad by the panic and fleed hastly while they screamed "Noooooo not again Kemekochain noooooooo!!!", and so our hero found his way cleared.
Inside the cave there awaited another damsel, and the knight was starting to believe that damsels were a common plant in those lands, who invited him with a sweet voice and guided him to a table covered with golden tapestries where laid various recipients made of all the shapes and all the materials possible.
- You are now in the Lord's home, and here in front of you lays the famous Pucchicup. But beware, as only one of these chalices will save you; if you don't choose wisely you'll be covered of anguish and death.
Anguished because of those words, Ogawain approached the table and watched the chalices closely. There were those glowing by the candle light, covered of gold and jewels, and those covered with dust and consigned to oblivion. Ogawain passed by a glass with satin gleam and another covered of childish drawings; passed unnoticed a wooden cup and finally stopped in front of a tiny chalice, ornated with delicate flowers, which had been painted once and another and even had lost most of their color. But, before he decided himself to choose this one, he noticed the damsel had sighed briefly and softly, so he changed his mind and took another recipient, similar to the first one, only it was painted in joyful acid colors.
- You have chosen- said the damsel while she poured some wine in the chalice- Now it's time to find out if your decision has been the right one.
Ogawain drank the wine with decisiveness, although inside he was trembling like a jelly. He then felt the forces recovering him and the curse leaving his body. Feeling the joy of his recovered health, he saw though that the damsel's eyes were covered in tears, and asked her what made her sad.
- Noble knight- said the damsel- you shall know that the fate of all the inhabitants in tis land is tied to one or several of those chalices there exposed. My soul was inside the flowerish glass that you rejected, but it's been changed so many times that I can hardly recognize myself in it. I hoped you would fail your decision, because I could have regained my fate, even though you would've lost your life. But I guess I'll have to wait for some more time...
- I'm sorry I can't help you, milady. What's your name?
- Kaorin of the Lost Sight*. But don't lose your time here, you still have a long way home.
And so Ogawain started his comeback, once delivered of the curse.
FINIS
Of the first part