The trio screamed. Gaze focused on the old man with wrinkles on his forehead, but that alone wasn't the reason why they're terrified. The true reason is his residing hairline, his gray hair taken aback and black eyes that seems diluted. The trio scanned the Oldman for any weapon but they only saw what he wore which is a gray leather vest, baggy brown pants and brown leather shoes.
"I'm hungry." The old man repeated.
"We're not food and we don't taste good." Cedric said.
"What? Anyways, if you move a little closer to us, no hesitation, I'll shoot you with my bow. So stand back." Ben said his bow raised and arrow loaded.
"Me too. I'll help." Merlin said, holding the staff with his hands shaking.
"I don't eat humans! Do you think I'm sort of cani—" The old man said but suddenly he passed out and collapsed to the ground.
"What happened?" Cedric said, his mouth wide open.
"Don't just stare, let's help him out." Ben said, lowering his bow. Merlin and Cedric didn't hesitate and quickly helped. Merlin and Cedric hoisted the old man up, draping his arms on both of their shoulders and bracing his weight against their own.
Ben takes the gold key and opens up the door. Their eyes scanned the area. From the center was a fireplace but it looks like it hasn't been used for a very long time. They wandered the house and saw a kitchen below in the far right, lastly they found the room in the far right up corner.
The trio walked up, standing in front of the wooden door with a metal doorknob. Ben was about to reach the doorknob but it slowly opened for itself, triggering the creaking sound.
"That sure is terrific!" Cedric remarked.
The trio entered the room, with their sweeping eyes they only saw a dusty brown bed, torn and was about to fell apart if someone lay down on it, but to no hesitation they carefully laid down the old man.
"How does he have so much immunity in living in this kind of house?" Cedric asked, both hands rested on his waist.
"He's an old man, I think he's been living here for a really long time." Ben said, brushing his hands.
"What are we going to do now? Is he dead? Are we going to wait till he wakes up?" Merlin questioned calmly but his mind flooded with constant thoughts.
If this old man is really a cani— no. Never mind. It's bad to judge someone for who they are. Who am I to judge someone when I also walk in the path of imperfection.
"Hey! Hey!" Cedric loudly said snapping Merlin back to reality. "You're thinking deeply again. Don't worry, ok? If he does something bad we will be sure to kick his ass."
Then the trio all laughed, with no anticipation that the old man was awake.
Hearing them laughing made the old man boil and to no surprise he stood up quickly, surprising the trio and they all screamed. Wait. No. Except Ben who just felt like he needed to, to him there is no explanation why he isn't scared but only one thing comes to his mind. He's too smart.
"Advice, little ones. If you were about to kick my ass, make sure you do well, cause I don't play with fools." The old man said leaving the room then shortly after left the house.
"Should we follow?" Cedric asked.
"I think we do." Merlin said.
"If we're going to follow him. Remember to be wary of any traps. I have strong guts that he isn't an ordinary old man."
"Are you going to sleep there!! You all seem to be taking longer. Fight me!!" The old man loudly said.
"Let's go." The trio said in unison.
As they are about to step out of the house, Ben paused for second, which soon followed by Cedric and Merlin.
"Is there a problem?" Merlin murmured.
"Yes." Ben said then he look back to the wooden door. "There are no metal bolts on this door."
"Is that a trap?" Cedric asked.
"It is and a very hard one to deal with." Ben said. "You tricks won't work with me old man and I already know what your GA is."
"You sure do." The old man said, not believing any words that came out of Ben.
"I do. I really do. It's your loss as well if I find out your weakness." Ben said, raising his eye glass, "are you interested in the first lesson?"
But suddenly the old man laughed. "I've never seen a young individual like you before. It is truly interesting. Tell me what you know."
Ben raises his eye glasses. "First of all. The door. Since we arrived, i remembered how it was built and what resources it has. Second is the door from the room. There is no ghost. There is no book that tells ghosts are real in the medieval era. Opening by itself isn't possible which then I conclude that it was you. But why would you open the door slowly? Is it because it would scare us? No. That reason alone is very simple and it doesn't seem to match how you orchestrated the whole scenario. Concluding once again. The room isn't empty. Why? I don't see any pouch or any chest that stores your money. You can't trade with no money after all."
'this young man. He is brilliant.' the old man conceded. 'But maybe i was too old so I didn't pay much attention to everything that I did.'
The old man claps heavily, a smile forming on his face. "Excellent. You exceeded my expectations." Then he continued. "That was the first test. Are you up for the second round?"
"Of course." Ben said, his chin up.
"What did we just see?" Cedric said, eyes wide open.
"He is really smart." Merlin said.
"Is that smart? That is a long analysis of what happened!!" Cedric said, eyes disbelief but he claps showing appreciation, which then soon followed by Merlin.
"For our second test. Fight me individually."
The old man said, placing his left hand behind his back and right hand raised.
Then the old man spoke, his right hand gestured."Come on."