"All you need to do is hold it," Rabbit Tuzel said, raising the golden key in his hand and suddenly lowering his voice. "Yes, just like this... hold it gently, and you can enter my house ahead of time. No need to wait outside for that stupid well that never pays attention to me to light up. You can visit my home as a guest. I could even bring you a comfortable chair so you can sit alone by the well and doze off. But when you remember there's a whole crowd of idiots outside, even stupider than that well, waiting to fight over it, I promise you—you'll wake up laughing from your nap!"
Rabbit Tuzel held the glittering key between two fingers and raised it high, above his head, even taking the chance to scratch one of his long ears.
Ruger felt the atmosphere around the edge of the woodland surrounding the rabbit's house change in an instant. No one could be seen, yet that heavy tension could be felt.
There was clearly no harsh sunlight, yet the golden key swaying in the rabbit's hand was exceptionally dazzling.
Ruger looked beside him. Though the other two were not breathing heavily, they were staring without blinking. Strictly speaking, those two were the true apprentices at the limit of Level Five, on the verge of advancement. Ruger had not yet reached that door, much less lingered and hesitated before it, so he could not fully understand that mindset standing on the brink of change—fearful of failure, yet even more afraid of taking the wrong path.
Rabbit Tuzel grinned and laughed soundlessly.
"Look—how beautiful it is!"
As he spoke, he actually walked a full circle before the house with the golden key held high, like an auctioneer displaying merchandise.
Someone should be