Arcan's eyes darted at the jewelry renounced, and his hands instinctively held on to them. Hard to discern if the ancient djinn was disappointed or satisfied with how things were turned, but any movement he made to respond to Fia's gingerly attitude was careful and measured, as if honoring a sacred repudiation. 

Yet, the flicker in Fia's eyes---her thirst for knowledge and power---was well noticed, and in that moment, another small, insignificant detail dawned in him. All things considered, maybe her personal eagerness to jump straight into a contract was not a blind foolishness. Still foolish, yes; but in his long lifetime, Arcan had seen what mortal obsession could do when fused with the inherent ambition of mankind.

Only time will tell, and only if fate would grace him with more of it. 

[quote] “I guess we’ll be leaving now.”[/quote]

[i][b]"Wise,"[/b][/i] the ancient djinn replied. [b][i]"Go now in peace. And I shall fulfill the end of my bargain with contentment, for it is the only deal forged today."[/i][/b]


[center]****[/center]

[quote]“Mad? Maybe. But I’m not going to poke the bear any further here. I don’t mean to worry you. Sometimes a girl just can’t help but want to leave with something shiny. Like I said, I misunderstood Arcan’s generosity when we first arrived. I think we pushed fate enough today. You want to leave? By all means, lets. Come dear Miwa, I’m sure there are other curses within these cursed lands for you to cleanse away from here.”[/quote]

The deal remained unmade, and the moment Fia playfully showed her well-won prize, Jazdia went so pale with relief she looked ready to faint on the spot.

[color=ec008c]"You little...! But yes, we have no reason to stay here any longer." [/color]

Weakly, but without any wasted movement, Jazdia spun and exited the antechamber. Vesmir and the others seemed to already have an inkling of how the last interaction with the djinn was concluded, but were reluctant to bring it up.

Everyone was finally grouped in the first antechamber. Doors leading to the tunnel, the main exit was still closed, and so was the door leading to the ominous broken room. There was no sign that Vesemir's access card couldn't open the main door, and it seemed the broken room, too, could be pryed open by removing its pathetically simple door bar. 

[color=#F4E7CA]"Well, anyone want to open it? Otherwise, we'll take the exit door. What do you say?" [/color]

[@Randomness][@13org][@A5G]