It spoke, “Brave adventurer, Joban, you hav made it this far. You passed the tests and obstacles I have set out. You got through both the seen and the unseen. Even where your strength failed you at times, your determination allowed you to succedd.
“Many people ran at the first sign of danger. You did not do that. Even though you used magic to help you throughout the tasks, you realized the key to reaching your destination was by using a clear mind.
Gallapas’s ghost floated behind me. As I turned to face it again, it spoke, “You are the only one who made it this far. You are my soul heir.While you found many valuable and magical objects throughout my castle, the most valuable treasure is within you. All that I have learned throughout the years is now within you. You will have more magical powers that you ever though it was possible to obtain. I give you all my knowledge and wisdom.” In an instant my mind became a universe that I had no idea how I would be able to handle everything that entered into my mind at once. Then it organized itself into different parts of my brain. When I needed that information, it would come forth, then receed back into the blackness of my mind and be retained until I needed it again.
“There is nothing more that you can do in this castle. I will depart this place and go to the heavenly realms. This place will eventually decay and rot in age. Never return to this forsaken place. However, you will leave you my ring to show you that you are my rightful heir.”
The ghost slowly disintegrated into air. The breeze that was flowing around me disappeared. On my ring a sterling silver ring appeared; there was a body of a tiger engraved on it. I decided there was nothing more I could do in this castle. Already the walls started to become black and moldy with age. I stepped out of the room.
All of a sudden everything turned black. I did not lose consciousness and was aware of my surroundings. It was not even for a second. Then once again I could see once again. I was no longer in Gallapas’s Castle, but standing next to the fireplace at the Stoneville Inn. Patrons were too busy talking and laughing over their mead and ale that thye did not seem surprised to see me suddenly appear. However, one person noticed, the man who told me ablout this marvelous place.
He walked up to me. “Congratulations, Joban! I knew you could do it!”
Clasping my hand, he shok it. Then he noticed the ring on my hand. Do you know why you were able to survive the castle?”
I never thought about it.
“Gappalpas has chosen you to be his heir. This ring is his gift to you. Even though it is worth over a thousand gold pieces, do not sell it. It will be worth more to you throughout your entire life!”
I smiled to myself. Yes. I am finally happy. I have found worth and a purpose in my very existence.

Note: To the intruder who found this journal: Do not expect to become my heir. I am not generous like Gallapas was. I am and always will be selfish, even when I am dead. Also, the ring that I was given was given to me alone. Once I die it will become a piece of worthless junk. Once I die it will be teleported back to this fortress. If you have found it, that means that I am dead.

“That is the end of the journal,” said George.
“That ring I found in Joban’s laboratory,” Johanna said, “was that possibly the ring?”
“I believe so,” so said Balon. “He was right, it is not worth anything. What do you think, Britt?”
There was no answer from the dwarf. He had closed his eyes and was starting to snore.

Chapter ?
The Entrance to the Lower Level

“I remember there was another hallway to the east of the throne room,” Johanna said. It was the next morning. They were awake with the effects of the ale worn off.
The left the captains quarters and headed back to the throne room. The hallway winded and they were in a room that had chairs stacked up against the walls.
“This must be a storage room,” Britt said looking at two tables that were stacked upon each other.
“It may have be used as a carpenter’s area,” Bard said. In the corner stood a table that looked like it was made for woodworking. A vise was attached to one end. Saws and other equipment were on the table. Woodchips and sawdust covered most of the floor about the table.
“Didn’t their mother tell them to clean up after themselves?” George said. Then he noticed that, like the other room in the fortress, a footprint impression was made in the dust.
A second door in the room opened into a small hallway. Just a few steps away was another room.
“A female stayed here,” Johanna said. They were staring at a beautiful walnut bed that had decorations carved throught the wood.
“This is beautiful and skillfully made,” Massacharamar said running her hands over the bed’s canopy. The fabric was blue with many different designs embroidered of the cloth. Green tassles lined the entire border of the canopy. “I wonder if the female we saw in the picture is the one who lived here.”
“I believe she is,” Balon said. He spoke in a strange voice and stared in the corner of the room.
“What is wrong, Balon?” Bard asked. Then he saw he. A beautiful ghoshtlike female was standing next to the red cedar dresser. She looked at them and acknowledged their presence with a shy smile. She looked hopeful when she saw Bard, then, when she realized that he was not the one she was waiting for, her face became sad.
“She died of a broken heart, waiting for Stephan to return,” Johanna said. “I wish there was something we could do for her to help appease her.”
“I think I have an idea!” George said suddenly. “Britt and Bard, come with me real quick.”
“Where do you think you are going?” Britt gruffed.
“Back to Stephan’s chamber. I do not know if it will work, but there is no harm in trying.”
“We will be right back!” he called to the others.
“Her name was Michelle,” Massacharamar said, looking at the headboard. Her name was carved in it.
Michelle did not seem bothered that there were people in her room. She had be alone for so long, she welcome the prospect of company.
She floated to the nightstand. It was covered by a lace doily. On top were several bottles of perfume and silver combs. She smiled at Johanna, who was the closest to het. “Take them,” she seemed to stay.
She floated to the full length mirror in the room and looked in it. Unable to see herself she floated and stopped in front of a carved walnut plaque. It read:

My Michelle,
I love you
You are beautiful,
You are king.
I have collected
Many great treasures
All my Entire life.
However, my best treasure,
The one that I will
Always cherise is you
My beautiful Michelle.
My love I give to you
Will be for eternity.
Love, Stephan.

“That is so beautiful,” said Johanna.
“And so sad,” said Massacharamar.
“I believe I know why George went back to Stephan’s chamber for,” Balon said. “If it works, she will be happy again.”
Soon George, Bard and Britt carrying the tapestry of Stepah and Michelle. They hung it next to the mirror. Michelle looked at the picture and broke into a beamful smile. A ghostlike form of Stephan emerged from the picture. Smiling, he took her hand, and they both disappeared.
“A love story with a happy ending,” Massacharamar said.
“She knew that he would return for her,” Johanna said.

Leaving Michelle’s room they headed back the way they came. “This covers this part of the fortress,” George said, looking at the map.
“What gets me is we have not found any way to get to the lower lever,” Britt said.
“Maybe there is a secret door that we missed somewhere,” Balon said.
“We might even have to go back outdoors. There may be an entrance out there,” Johanna said.
By now they were just passing the trophy room that George and Britt had explored while the others were traipsing around the dance floor. “Wait!” he said.
“What is it wrong?” Britt said, drawing his sword.
“Oh, nothing like monsters to worry about,” the thief said. “Just when we went to the Captain’s chamber, we went down this hallway. There is another hallway above the trophy room.”

“There is nothing in this room,” Bard said looking around. It was just contained bare walls, with no sort of decorations on them, and contained no types of furnishing in it.
“It probably is a room that never was finished,” Balon said.
The group turned to leave. However, Britt noticed a large stone slab in the corner. A heavy chain was attached to an iron ring.
“Bard, help me with this,” the dwarf said.
Bard and the dwarf pulled on the chain. Even though it seemed heavy, the stone slab moved easily.
“That is a staircase,” George exclaimed.
“This must be the entrance into the lower level,” Britt said. “It is going to be dark down there. Get you lanterns ready. Oh you okay, George? You look pale.”
“I am fine, Britt,” the thief answered. For once there was no joking in his voice. George did not look like a joking and cocky adventurer; he look like a scared teeneager. He glasped his knife tightly in his hand.”
“We go down single file.”
The stairway seemed to descend forever. The group moved slowly, with Bard in the lead. With each step down, he tested to make sure he was on solid footing. Soon the light from the room above was gone, a rock outcropping was over their head.
“It should not be much further,” Britt whispered quietly.
Bard paused. He had felt a drop of liquid on the bare skin of his arm. Nothing unusal about this since there was always misture in underground caverns. That was one of the reasons why unpreserved food went bad so quickly. However, where the liquid hit his, his skin began to burn. It was a if there was acid on his skin. He looked up.
A giant amoeba-like liquid creature fell from the outcropping. It wrapped its liquid tenticles around his body and constricted.
His one arm holding his sword was free. He cut through the liquid. However. the amoeba was not killed. Its body was spitl into two living forms. Now Bard’s body was entirely consumed. Bard screamed. The acid was eating though his armor. His bare skin was already burning.
“Bard!” George screamed. He ran up and sank his knife into the liquid. His knife melted away. The last thing Bard saw before he passed out was the amoega stiking George away with one of its tentacles and the thief crashing against the walls of the cavern.
“No!” Balon, yelled as Britt ran up to Bard with his sword. It will only eat metal. Johanna! Get ready to pull him away!”
“Fire!” Balon yelled and fire surged out of his fingers. The omega stopped constricting and started to burn.
“You are going to burn Bard alive!” Johanna cried.
Balon stopped the fire. “See if you can pull him from the jelly.”
Johanna reached into the substance, grabbed Bard’s arm and pulled. Even though, she felt a slight tingling from the jelly, most of the acid was destroyed by Balon’s fire. “I cannot move him!” she yelled.
“Britt, stand by with you hammer! Johanna, let go of Bard! Freezia!” he yelled as ice now shot from his fingers. The omega was frozen into a giant chunk of ice.
“Break Bard free!” Britt, Massacharamar started hitting the ice around Bards head with their hammers. George grabbed his knife and started chipping.
Soon Bard was free from the ice. However, he was unconscious. His exposed skin was burned beyond recognition. George ran to his bag and pulled out his healing potion. “Here you go buddy. You gave me yours so you can have mine.”
“Do not expect me to kiss you,” Bard said weakly.
“Let him rest,” Britt said. “He nearly had a close one. Bard’s damaged skin was almost healed. While the acid could have dissolved the armor, the omeba was removed in enough time to save him.
“George, let me look at that burn on your face,” Johanna said, taking about the mark where the omeba had struck him.