At ten, the five groups set out towards the Tukman Woods, despite the Nuil's earlier vows.

The first team consisted of Morio, Jyuzou and Jeffy. Atomu and Chyuuichi agreed that there was no point in them leaving one of the four behind, so the Paladian and Mirillian stood together and waited for a random participant to join them.

Their third teammate eventually became a girl with a mask covering her nose and mouth, black hair, and a strangely ambiguous appearance. Chyuuichi first assumed that she might've been a Paladian (because of the darker hair), and Atomu quickly brushed it off, uttering that she was probably a Morian. The Mirillian asked the question, but she simply nodded, closing her eyes.

The third, fourth and fifth groups were full of people that none of them knew, rather quiet, and of no interest to the others, spare for Ambrosia, which the Paladian had heard of. They immediately tried striking up a conversation with the two people around them, and when that didn't work out, they started talking to the girl from Atomu and Chyuuichi's team.

She kept nodding, and Ambrosia kept smiling. At one point, the two stopped behind the others, and the girl wrote down something in the snow, pointing back to her face. Ambrosia, and by that rule, the others quickly learned her name - Zuimu, although she still refused to speak for the time being.

Everyone kept a steady pace, and Chyuuichi even sang some songs to ease the travels, but after an hour or so, they realised that they wouldn't advance further if they didn't split.

So, with one final decision, the five teams went in different directions, breaking up near a larger tree in the middle of the woods.

Morio trod a curvy path, while the others walked around him. The crowns of the trees, much like in the forest leading to Wendigo created a gapped ceiling, which protected the ground from heavy snow. Its layer was rather shallow but stiff, and the temperature around and on the inside was lower than in most places. In Gorro, many people would sneak into the Tukman Woods and enjoy its cold shadows, as opposed to the hot sun.

Jyuzou followed the two other Morians, seldom looking for seeds, flowers, or even the big junis. Morio didn't talk much, spare for a smile on his face which seemed to tell more, despite some of the doubts he had.

"Darn, these woods are massive!" Jeffy admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I heard stories from the Nuil about how it's big and beautiful, but I never knew that one day I'd step into the shuckled place!"

"You know, just because they're Tukman's land doesn't mean that no one went inside before us," Jyuzou stated.

"Really? Isn't this place guarded?" Jeffy asked.

"Nope! People go in and out when Eryk comes! Bancho even told us that one time he slept under the trees' spacious undergrounds for three days!" Morio stated.

Jyuzou suddenly stopped, looking up. His eyes widened.

"So, if we get tired, we can find a nice place to settle in below the ground," Morio explained.

"Ooh, seeds! Mama never allowed me to sleep outside. Did you ever do that, Morio?" Jeffy pointed.

"Of course. Slept by the fire at night, sometimes I'd even go out into the woods in the heats of Gorro and sleep under the naked sky!" Morio reminisced. "But, I don't know if you could do that in Magna."

"Ooh, I wanna try, then!"

"Heh, I'll have to take you to Mistwick one day, then!" Morio continued.

"Really? That'd be so fun!" Jeffy lit up.

"Promise!" Morio closed one eye.

"Crackers, I always wanted to see so many places in Shimori!" he stepped around.

"Me too, and I've already seen so much, but the world is so big, still!" Morio signalled, hopping around.

"So, is it cool?" Jeffy beamed.

"Of course, we'll gladly have you!" Morio replied.

"J-Juniiii!" Jyuzou fell to the ground, pointing at the navy blue fruit near the juniper's crown. "THERE IT IS, FOUND IT!" he laughed, maniacally, and the two turned around. "Need to get it, need to get it!" he threw the two books on the ground and ran up to the tree. "MORIO, JEFFY! HELP ME WITH THIS!"

Morio sighed very loudly, and turned on his heel, heading forward.

"Ah, shuckle seeds, but how?" Jeffy asked, running up to him.

"Lie down on the ground and I'll shake this tree until the big juni falls. Catch it, but don't smash it with those hands of yours!"

"Shin," Morio muttered, moving further away, yet still hearing Jyuzou's shaky voice. "We have a demon to kill, glassy-eyed!"

"Ah, but it's not gonna be any easy!" Jeffy blinked, lying down on his back, bringing his legs up and reaching his arms out towards the fruit above.

"Shake, shake, shake! SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE!!!" Jyuzou repeated, moving the tree around as if his life depended on it.

"You don't need to yell!" Jeffy raised his voice.

Morio sighed.

"Fall, the great big juni!" Jyuzou announced, and at that moment, the twig between the bark and the fruit snapped, causing the fruit to gracefully plummet.

"Ah, gah!" The food landed in Jeffy's hands. "Oh, it's slippery, mhm!" The fruit slowly slipped from his hands, changing shape and splattering on his face.

"Aah." Jyuzou stepped down, opening his mouth and making very strange noises. "Ah."

Jeffy stuck his tongue out, licking some of its juice. "Mmm, definitely as darn tasty as they say!"

Jyuzou ground his teeth, slowly moving towards the Morian as if he were ready to strangle him, but Jeffy successfully avoided his sucker punch with a roll, head stuck in a snowdrift, and another smile on his face. The other Morian seemed to calm down, fixing his glasses, and turning towards Morio, marching in the distance.

The white-haired passed a group of taller trees and squeezed between their timbers. When he stepped out, his eyes focused on a certain shape drawn in out in a thin, dark red, piercing through the snow. He stepped back, eyes widened, and gulped.

"Did something happen?" Jyuzou quickly asked, following suit, before taking the same stance as the other Morian. "Wh-"

"What's going on?" Jeffy asked, sucking his finger clean off the juices.

Before them, stood a reversed star, with many lines connecting in the middle. One wouldn't have to doubt its meaning. Demons were here beforehand.

Jeffy gulped. "Oh, jeez."

***

When the participants set out to the forest, Eryk immediately requested to be carried back to his palace, ordering Kashmir Zenon to join. The Tributals made way for Lamon and Eryk and gave the Demonear man fearful looks. Sometimes, their eyes would meet, and the Tributals would spot Kashmir's annoyance, combined with knowing what was to come.

When they stepped inside the gates, yells from Eryk echoed. In fact, they could be heard in the other castle chambers.

The guards of his, and the Tributals on their horses walked closer to the castle's walls, hanging around either by the red overhang or near the entrance, focusing their eyes past the iron gates, or even trying to peek through the few windows splattered on the brick walls.

When things got quiet, even if for a few seconds, it would be followed by a scream louder than before. Rowan sighed, fixing his glasses.

"Who told you you could do this? WHO?!" Eryk asked, struggling around in his big chair, while Zenon uncomfortably sat on a wooden stool, with his hands on his lap.

"Do you want me to repeat the same words over and over again for your amusement?" he asked. "You told me they could. I even have your signature on the paper. I can go back to the inn and get it if that's what you want."

"Screw papers, what about my agreement?! You should've reminded me of it when we had the chance!" Eryk yelled out. "Maybe, I could prepare mentally, of course, assuming there wasn't another way out! For the longest time, I thought you'd send them to the Lockum Mountains, that'd be a better place!"

"Lockum Mountains are too far away, and too dangerous of a landscape for the inexperienced-"

"YOU'RE SAYING THAT LIKE YOU CARE FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PEOPLE! You're sending them for a sure death, asshole!"

"No. I'm not. Only the ones willing to sacrifice so much are participating. It should've always been that way." Kashmir glanced up. "Fortune favours the brave."

Lamon turned to Eryk for a second. It went without saying, that the Nuil spouted all those words as if he cared, instead of using them as another excuse. Then again, Lamon wished that Kashmir wouldn't have taken this 'drastic' measure in the first place. It'd be one argument less.

"Stop with all that bullshit! You just come in here and think the entire world belongs to you. Just because your brother died doesn't mean that everything is in your hands, capiche?!" he stood on one leg for a moment, pointing close to Kashmir's face.

Kashmir breathed out. Lamon quickly ran up to Eryk, letting him hold onto his shoulder. "You're nothing but a simple Eran, who thinks everyone will preach your rule just because you're a wasted Demonear!"

"Ironic," muttered Kashmir.

"You're nothing like Jakob and you never will be. Think of how he contributed to society, and what pile of nothing you're standing on!" he hissed. "You can't even bring any of the Wise to such a detrimental event! All the other times, they'd come even without being told to. Where's Bancho, Axel? See? You're nothing!"

Suddenly, Kashmir stood up, pulling out a thick club from behind and swinging it towards Eryk's face. Lamon's eyes widened, and Eryk let go, falling to the ground.

"Sir Zenon!" Lamon yelled out.

"Sh." Kashmir shushed him. "You're not going to argue with me using words such as these," he muttered, putting the club up to Eryk's face.

"Are you threatening me?!" Eryk raised his voice, grinding his teeth.

"With one swing, I could kill you. Talk like that only to people that are weaker than you, or... equal." Kashmir replied. "Your days as Nuil are going to come to an end, sooner or later. Dig yourself out a better grave than this, Eryk." he put the club on his shoulder, leaving the room. "Word's over."

***

Atomu's group, for the longest time, had a rather uneventful stroll through the forest. From time to time, Chyuuichi tried to strike up a conversation with Zuimu, but the only thing he got in response were nods, to each one of his words. He flexed about the casino, then complained about the casino. He went on about the journey from Wendigo to Magna and described the entire whale attack, but the girl didn't offer anything in response.

When the sun started setting, the three stopped circling the area, and much like most teams, took a break, sitting down near three trees.

Atomu breathed out loudly, and Chyuuichi yawned, dropping his bag of food on the ground. He flopped onto the snow, scratching his black eye.

"Does it hurt?" Atomu asked, putting his legs together.

"No, but it stings," Chyuuichi replied.

"Then it does hurt." Atomu snickered.

"It's a different feeling, Atam! It stings because it's sour, just like me! Where did all my money go? They must've stolen it! I'm sure!" Chyuuichi explained, and Atomu sighed.

"So you're finally getting all those memories back, huh?"

"Kinda." Chyuuichi chuckled. "I'll find an answer!" he waved his fist, and the Paladian turned to the side, glancing around.

Zuimu observed the two carefully, as only a slight wind picked up, to match the general silence present.

"It doesn't look like any demon is showing up," Atomu stated. "Six hours passed." he looked up. "Still, nothing."

"I don't think anyone has seen anything, ya know?" Chyuuichi proposed. "I thought we'd hear screams or some commotion, but no. Nothing." he shook his head. "This is all a lie, I feel. Nothing but an empty forest."

"Not empty." Atomu took out a piece of bread, snacking on it. "I've seen some kind of brick ruins. No clue what they are, but they certainly mean something." he swallowed the chunk. "...and why would it be a lie?"

"Pff!" Chyuuichi folded his arms. "The guy was so mean that I felt like everything pointed towards demotivating us! I even thought of stepping back like all those other guys but y'all were stood so I just had to roll my eyes and now I'm here."

"Mhh mm," Zuimu muttered, with a muffle. "Mhh."

"Eh?" Chyuuichi squinted his eyes. "Take that mask off, will ya?"

Atomu shook his head, before clearing his throat.

"Back to those ruins, that could be our only chance." Chyuuichi stood up. "I bet there is a demon waiting to be slaughtered over there! Let's get it done and head back to Magna already! The capinos are waiting."

"G-Give us a bit, okay?" Atomu put his hand on his forehead, opening his mouth slightly. He slowly turned his gaze to Zuimu, as stared in his direction. He straightened up.

The Paladian glanced at Chyuuichi, as he walked around the tree. Zuimu tapped the ground with her finger, and Atomu inched closer, breathing out.

"I know," Atomu read the written words in a whisper. He gulped, before turning back to her eyes. "W-What do you know?" he shook his head.

Zuimu closed one eye, almost muttering something again.

"Where are they, Atam?" Chyuuichi put his hand above his eyes, and focused, intensely. The Paladian trembled a bit before the two turned towards the Mirillian with a gulp.

"Oh, oh! There it is, I see it! Looks a bit ugly, though." Chyuuichi rubbed his hands together, breathing out the cold air. "Nothing for the poor to complain about! Guys, ya coming?" he turned around, with a wide grin.

Out of the blue, something hit Chyuuichi's head, knocking him out near the tree.