The rest of the way now had to be covered on foot. The guides had chosen a shorter route than on their first expedition, but this meant there was barely any path at first, and they had to pick their way through randomly scattered boulders and slippery moss.
But after a while, a sandy path emerged. The atmosphere was still good, with sunny temperatures and rays of sunlight filtering through the foliage.
Further on, the first paving stones were laid out in the path, a sign that they were possibly approaching an older civilization.
And as the road became more and more paved, hope rose.
Meanwhile, the two guides recognised the path and confirmed that the group was on the right track.
And then, they arrived at the small temple. It looked slightly different than the original description, but it was unmistakably the treasure they were looking for.
One of the Elves couldn't contain her enthusiasm and immediately attacked the gate with her magic. To no avail. The gate hummed and the light flickered, but the door didn't open.
So, with the sword. But here too, no result. The sword was pushed away with such brutal force, that the Elf in question suffered a torn muscle.
Finally, it was Brutus' turn. A two-meter-tall Elf wielding a massive sledgehammer. The bounce was so strong that Brutus could barely hold the hammer.
Some of the more timid Elves offered another suggestion: "Look at the symbol above the door...it's a head with a crown. Perhaps we need someone of royal blood to open the door."