Page 117 of Magical Melee

Stella smirked. “Sure is.”

Twobble and I exchanged a look, and I nodded. “Deal.”

With one last smile from Stella, I turned back to the hatch, my resolve firm. “Alright, Twobble. Let’s see where this tunnel leads.”

The air in the tunnel was cool and slightly damp, carrying with it the earthy scent of soil and stone. Twobble easily descended the ladder. His small feet barely made a sound on the rungs. He closed the iron hatch with a softthudabove us. The faint glow from the carved symbols on the hatch provided just enough light to see as we reached the tunnel floor.

As I spun around, I saw a softly glowing patchwork in the direction of several different tunnels.

“Welcome to our secret passages,” Twobble said, spreading his arms wide. “Tunnels like this crisscross Stonewick, but this one? This one’s special.” He pointed straight ahead.

“Special, how?” I asked, my voice echoing slightly.

Twobble grinned. “You’ll see.”

We moved forward, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I began to notice the details. The walls of the tunnel were lined with thick roots that twisted and tangled like ancient veins.

I moved closer to the patches of moss that clung to the stones, glowing softly in shades of green and blue. An ethereal light cast into the distance, and my heart hammered in my chest.

I was solely relying on a goblin.

“Glowing moss,” I murmured, reaching out to touch it. “So, this is goblin’s gold.”

Twobble slapped my hand away with surprising speed. “Ah, ah! No touching. That’s Rule Number One.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What happens if I touch it?”

“Let’s just say you’ll have glowing hands for days,” Twobble said, his grin widening. “Not to mention anything else on your body you might touch. Which is hilarious for me but probably not ideal for you.”

“Good to know,” I muttered, tucking my hands firmly into my pockets.

We continued down the tunnel, our footsteps echoing softly. The faint glow of the moss provided just enough light to make out the path ahead. The ground beneath us was uneven. The loose stones scattered across patches of soft dirt did little tohelp my sense of direction. Occasionally, I’d step on a stone that let out a loud, comicalsqueak.

Twobble chuckled every time it happened. “Squeaky stones,” he said. “Part of the charm, don’t you think?”

“Charming is one word for it,” I replied, carefully avoiding another stone that looked suspiciously like it would betray me.

“If only the mels understood just how our earth is trying to talk to us.” His slender shoulders lifted and dropped in defeat. “Everything is alive in one sense or another.”

I nodded sympathetically as we moved deeper into the tunnel. I noticed the air grew warmer, and the glowing moss became more vibrant, illuminating the space in surreal hues. Lavender and hot pink splashed against the dirt tunnels. The roots along the walls pulsed faintly, and small, delicate flowers bloomed in hidden crevices. Their petals shimmered like crystals. It reminded me of the hidden garden with Nova.

“Twobble, this place is incredible,” I said, marveling at the fantastical environment. “How long have these tunnels been here?”

“Longer than you’d think,” he said. “They’re part of Stonewick’s magic, a hidden network that connects key points in the town.”

I nodded, fascinated. The more I learned about Stonewick, the more I realized just how little I truly understood it.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Something small and fast darted across the path ahead. The glowing moss briefly illuminated its form. It moved with an almost playful energy, bounding forward before disappearing into the shadows.

“Did you see that?” I asked, my voice rising with trepidation. “What was that?”

Twobble squinted ahead. “What did it look like?”

“It almost looked like a tiny deer.”

Twobble nodded solemnly. “Ah, yes. The elusive Tunnel Sprite.”

I gasped, my excitement growing. “Really? A Tunnel Sprite?”