
 {15}After escaping from the Mryaalan
 {15}dungeon, Endrick and Elandra climbed
 {15}through a service passageway into
 {15}the palace. In a dark, narrow
 {15}corridor they encountered a Mryaal
 {15}servant, who approached them
 {15}nervously.

 {15}`Have you humans come to save my
 {15}people?^ he asked,his voice slightly
 {15}atremble.

 {15}`What do you mean?^ Endrick asked
 {15}in his booming voice.`We are here
 {15}to learn more about the evil shadow
 {15}that is enshrouding Mysteria.^
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 {15}`I know nothing about this shadow,^
 {15}the servant replied. `All I know is
 {15}that the Mryaalan kingdom is doomed
 {15}if the king doesn't halt these
 {15}outrageous administrations. He has
 {15}ordered all manner of bizarre things
 {15}as law: all females must chirp like
 {15}birds in public, horses must always
 {15}be ridden backwards...and worse!^

 {15}`When did all this begin?^ Elandra
 {15}wanted to know.

 {15}`It all start just recently,' the
 {15}servant began. `When his majesty
 {15}returned from his hunting trip...^
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 {15}While on his hunting excursion, the
 {15}servant explained, the king found
 {15}a sizeable ruby hidden inside of a
 {15}hollow tree stump. It was truly
 {15}awesome in size, and glowed with a
 {15}mysterious inner light. His majesty
 {15}brought the jewel back to the palace
 {15}and displayed it proudly in his
 {15}throne room for all to see. The ruby
 {15}had a strangly hypnotic quality,that
 {15}caused one to stare raptly into its
 {15}depths. That was when the king began
 {15}issuing these strange orders.
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 {15}`Please, I beseech you, strangers!
 {15}Destroy that vile ruby, and perhaps
 {15}then his majesty will regain his
 {15}senses!^

 {15}With that, the servant cautiously
 {15}continued on his way down the
 {15}corridor.
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