The pair look for a while, until Vardinn calls out. “This is impossible! How will we find a hair brush in all this junk!”

“Junk?!JUNK?!” coming from a pile of books, a booming voice bellows forth,"Who dares mock my precious memories!" 

The books and surrounding objects shift with a clang, clink, clunk, and thud. From beneath, a massive wooden arm soars out and above them, resting upon the opposite side of the river. 

Broken from the waist down, a one hundred foot tall faceless wooden doll comes to life. “Each item you see in front of you is a precious memory made manifest!”

“Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you sir.” Vardinn says as he slowly backs away.

“Call me Manni. Now tell me, rude little man, why are you here? Going through my stuff?” he says as he props himself up. 

Saga speaks up, “Hey Manni, I’m looking for something. A golden hairbrush.” as she moves closer to Vardinn.

Stroking his chin as if in deep thought, “hmm, I seem to recall something like that” he begins rooting through the pile nearest him. “Ah, here it is!”

“Oh thank you so much” saga says as she reaches for the brush.

Rearing back, “woah grabby hands, first, what are you willing to trade?” Manni says 

“Trade? I don’t have anything.” Vardinn says 

“I tried to warn you. He doesn’t care for things, only memories. You will have to give up a happy memory, willingly.” Saga explains.

“How?”

“Close your eyes and focus on a happy memory.”

All of a sudden, a black smoke rose from Vardinns hands, swirling around him until suddenly he found himself in a hallway of an academic academy.

before him, stood a cute and well meaning boy with bright red cheeks and wide eyes. opposite him is an elven boy with strikingly familiar features. In his hand is a letter that he is reading out to the other young man. 

Vardinn reaches out toward the scene before him. The two children, along with the walls and everything around him, dissolve into black mist. It begins swirling faster and faster until it settles in the form of a clock. 

   “It’s the first person I ever had a crush on in school. The first time I did something that took courage." he says with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

    “Is this sufficient for a trade?” he says as he extends the clock to Manni.

“OOOOOOOH, YEAH! Memories of love are the strongest. Thank you for this gift and in return, I give you this golden hair brush.”  Manni says as he hands the hair brush to Vardinn and takes the clock. He then sinks back down underneath his junk.

Vardinn and Saga walk in silence as they exit the river.

“Why memories?” Vardinn asks

“It’s because he can’t make his own so he lives in others.” Saga says.

They return to the stone path to await Hiki. Saga offers Vardinn some food as they wait. About an hour passes when, out from behind a cane, Hiki walks out. 

   “Well done, my darling! Give it here.” he says as he reaches for the brush. 

   Saga snatches it before he can. “Two things first! Which way do we go? And why was this so important?”

Pointing due west, “go that way for about two miles. You’ll come to a door with two guards. Answer their question and they can get you out. And if you must know, It’s my name.”

Reaching his hand out, “please.”

Saga hands him the brush. They bid him farewell and carry on down the path. Hiki’s forest goes on for a while, until it leads into a pretty normal field. Then, at the end of the stone path, lay a large stone door with a massive carved head on each side.

As they approach the door, the left head cracks and creaks alive, “Look sister! We have visitors!”

   The right head cracks to life as well, “Oh! Brother! It has been far too long. What a cute family! Is she your daughter, sir?”

Saga starts hysterically laughing

“I’m not that old!” Vardinn tries to defend himself.

“My apologies, my dear. My eyes aren’t what they used to be. What can we do for you, dear?” the right side says 

“I need to use your door to leave this place, please.” Vardinn pleads.

“You stand before the Great Tsuin Gate. Ask the correct question and may your path be open to you.” the left side proclaims.

“May I leave this place?” Vardinn questions

“That is certainly a question, but is that the right question for you?” the right side says

“Why did you come to this place in the first place?”

“I came to be the first elf to learn the Unknowns’ secrets” he says cautiously.

"Quite the job for a single elf! hahaha" the left exclaims.

"And did you do it, dear? Did you do what you came here to do?" the right asks with sincerity in their voice 

"Ah, well, no I didn’t. I didn’t even figure out what caused this place or what's at its heart." Vardinn sighs

"Our door takes you anywhere you need or want but you need to ask the right question" the left states.

“Can...can you show me the source of the madness of this place?”

“We could. If that’s the right question.” the left side says

“Think about this Vardinn,” Saga warns, “you have no idea what would be on the other side of that door.”

“Think about it, saga. It’s been nothing but chaos and madness since the second I walked into this place. If I can look the guilty party in the eyes and ask them ‘why’, I should. Right?” Vardinn rationalizes 

“Just go home, Vardinn.” Saga pleads

“I’m sorry Saga. I have to try or this was all pointless.”    

Vardinn steps up to the gate and proclaims, “What is the source of the Unknowns’ madness?”

With a sharp snap and a swoosh, the gate opens. Vardinn walks through and it shuts behind him.