Continuing, we came upon a gargantuan spiral staircase that stretched upwards endlessly. I didn`t understand why someone would bother constructing something so grand this far below the surface, but regardless of the in-universe justification, it was probably really lucky or something, somehow.

　　We climbed for a few minutes without making any progress. "We`re going to starve before we make it up." Sally seemed really serious about this for some stupid reason, but I ignored his pessimism.

　　It took a lot longer than I would have expected, but a Deus Ex Machina of footsteps interrupted the monotony. Sally suggested that it was the goblins again, and while it seemed strange that they could catch up so quickly, it wasn`t worth the effort not to believe him.

　　At his request, we stepped up our pace. I kept insisting that nothing bad could possibly happen to us, but he wouldn`t budge. Unlike us. Get it? Unfortunately for Sally, though, I`d never been a fan of physical activity, so I was in pretty bad shape and decided that I might as well take my chances.

　　I stopped before exhausting myself too much. "You can go on ahead if you want, I`m just gonna wait and see what happens."

　　"I don`t think it`s a good idea to stray too far from each other."

　　"Well, do what you want then." I sat down, criss-cross-applesauce.

　　As the goblins closed in, I shouted toward their supposed direction. "Can you all, like, carry us, or something?"The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

　　Sally tapped my shoulder. "Becoming permanently invisible takes a lot of mental fortitude, so they had to give up their ability to speak."

　　"That sounds retarded. How does invisibility take mental fortitude?"

　　"The reason& hasn`t been uncovered yet."

　　Although they didn`t understand what I asked, by pure coincidence the goblins hoisted us onto their shoulders and began climbing. It felt like crowd surfing at a concert.

　　It was quite cozy up there, and because my sleep had been disrupted by the fall, I decided to take a nap until we reached wherever we were headed.

　　After travelling for who knows how long, I was awoken by a sudden stop. The goblins threw us on the ground, and started to head back to the bottom. That was rude, but maybe their invisibility was range-dependent, or something equally stupid.

　　Well, it wouldn`t have mattered what I did, because it would`ve turned out well no matter what, so I decided to feel around the wall. Obviously, the first brick that I pushed gave in to my touch, and the surrounding wall parted to unveil a tunnel.

　　We entered the passageway and came into a small, circular room, with an archway on the opposite end that I guessed was a portal or something similar. I mean, if it wasn`t a portal, it would definitely become one if I tried to step inside.

　　"Sally, go walk through that arch."

　　"Why?"

　　"It`s a portal." I had hoped that saying this would make it even more unlucky if I was wrong.

　　"And& what if it`s not?"

　　"Then we`ll both die emaciated husks, right here."

　　Sally went through, and disappeared. Shocking, I know.

　　I followed right after and was transported to the peak of one of several adjacent mountains. There was a large, evil looking castle sitting picturesque in the valley below. I led the way down a well-maintained trail that, lo and behold, marked a path directly to the castle gates.