When they reached a waterfall, Bancho went back with his mind to the Orawood Waterfalls, describing the story of the arena. Seeing a stretch of brown corridors extending, he thought back to what was the road of the duke to Shimori.

Eventually, the rest got tired of his tales, whispering to each other and hoping he'd sit quietly, even if for a little moment. Chyuuichi, who seemed intrigued at first, due to his race being mentioned, was now head over heels for the idea of silence bouncing off his ears. It occurred to Bancho, after a while, though, so he didn't add anything else for a long time, mentioning obvious things here and there.

This was a relief for Atomu and Zuimu, who seemed to be in a mutual agreement about such matters, yet, Chyuuichi used this opportunity to step in and shine with his limited knowledge.

After passing a great waterfall, the four followed a straight path towards a bendy opening, with a square-like passage that imitated a corridor. Chyuuichi quickly caught on, seeing metal openings hanging from the walls, pointing that, there should lie torches of Mirillians who'd continue through this passage. They trod along, listening to him spout facts that no one except those underground dwellers would find interesting.

Did you know? About a third of the stones connecting the Mount Aria passage and the furthest point towards the mountain from Soban were made out of a material called kurulia, named after the king of stones himself, Krulia Basson. Yeah, add fifty more of those and you can understand what the others have felt. It was all about minerals and names that no one had ever heard of, maybe except for the obvious that Bancho recognized, and he too, finally seemed to see the problem.

Mentioning the Mirillian entrance, Chyuuichi was awestruck when he suddenly bumped into the wall. He was so sure that the path, mined out by his people, wouldn't end without much of a pizzaz. Atomu quickly pointed, however, that there was a road leading downwards, with a clear path carved into the kurulia stone. Chyuuichi rose, mentioning that the stones from now on were different, and required better pickaxes that they must've left behind.

"Oh, how silly of me!" he muttered, walking down.

Atomu sighed loudly, expecting more to come. The journey towards Morta wasn't with much excitement or risk until now. Rather, its pain came from the members that seemed to paint grey with grey, and I'm sure that if Chyuuichi were to learn the unfortunate truth, he and Bancho would deem themselves very good friends.

***

"Wait." Chyuuichi raised his hand, stopping Atomu, who kept walking. "WAIT!" he yelled out, and Atomu eventually halted. "I feel like I know this place."

"You do?" Bancho asked.

"Of course, I do, Banchooey!" Chyuuichi goofed around, jumping to the side and peering towards a wide, open, blue-ish cave, with dim lights that shone from above. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but all this seems a little familiar."

"You said you didn't know anything." Atomu inched closer, looking out as well. "Like. You're forgetful."

"Okay, sure." Chyuuichi looked disappointed. "You know how I talked about taking paths that my instinct would suggest? I'm sure that without me, we might've still been sitting in one place. Especially that, Bancho stopped leading."

"Sorry!" Bancho raised his hands. "I'm no expert on everything. The underground remains vastly unexplored, and, through all the years I've lived, there were no interesting stories to tell."

Chyuuichi squinted his eyes.

"Maybe up until now? When I finally get back to Mistwick, I can tell everyone about what lies under Mount Aria."

"It's been nothing but your stories, Mr Bancho," Atomu said.

"Boring stories." Chyuuichi imitated goggles with his hands.

"Y-You're one to speak!" Bancho pointed, and Zuimu, feeling bad, patted his shoulder, nodding. "Still," he coughed out. "I don't expect that we're anywhere near Morta. We've been here for a few hours, but without a clear path to follow, this might take us weeks."

Atomu gulped.

"Oh, please." Chyuuichi stood back up. "If there's one thing you can trust this fool on is caving! Whether I'm in a place that no one has ever trod before, there are patterns, that only a Mirillian can see!" he strolled, pointing to himself. "Not left by humans, but by nature, indicating whether the truth is fake or the fake, is the truth! Indicating, where humans should make things!" he stomped down, pointing. "See this? Naturally carved arrow in the stone. A sign of good luck and brave fortune!"

"That's a drawing of a fish," Atomu said. "Zuimu made it."

"Not this one!" Chyuuichi raised his voice. "Agh! Just, come on!" he signalled, stepping to the side, while the others followed. He walked around the big boulder they sat against, before stepping up a few stairs which led to a gate.

"What?" Bancho tilted his head.

"Why would there be a tunnel here? It means it hid something." Chyuuichi looked back at the others, and then took a few uneven steps towards the grandeur doors, black on the outside, with a shining white trail on its uneven shape. Some stones and crystals created patterns, and there were pieces of different coloured cloth hanging from above. Chyuuichi pushed, only slightly, and the doors opened themselves, revealing a staggering view of the next caves.

The three stepped in. The landscape was vast and led to many different paths. Water flew from the ceiling and crashed into a light blue pool below. The dim lights from before turned clear, illuminating roads. There were these great, silver and sharp arches, as well as naturally formed pillars, and the ground was of soft dirt, with a few bigger stones splattered here and there next to roots, extending on the walls.

Chyuuichi slowly smiled, walking towards the edge and spotting the thousands of bridges connecting one side to the other. "Hell, if we were lucky enough, we might've encountered someone a bit earlier! Few days' worth. Mirillians try to conquer Mount Aria yearly."

"Does it ever work?" Bancho asked.

"Step by step. And like I told ya, Atomu!" he grabbed his head and pointed down. "The same stones of the sinkhole! When I said we could've traversed through and cut some time I wasn't lying! Not a stupid idea now, is it?"

"I was just worried about our safety, that's all!" Atomu raised his voice.

"Safety is the worst word I'd use in a place like this," Bancho spoke, standing back. "Everything we encounter from this point onwards will be the exact opposite of that."

"Hmmhmh?" Zuimu raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Chyuuichi said, quietly. "If there are paths, this means..." he put his fingers together. "That they were safe enough to travel."

"If there are paths, and there is no one to tread them, it means there's something out for one's blood. Anything that Mount Aria might be known for." Bancho continued.

"Oh, my," Atomu muttered.

"I've lived for hundreds of years. I've seen and recalled thousands of stories. I talked with people and creatures that one wouldn't ever imagine existed." Bancho closed his eyes. "Darkness can be scary, but it can be safe. Silence can be eerie, but it's a reminder of those quiet moments. But emptiness? It will never be anything positive."

Someone stood atop one of the boulders above the four, fixing the hammer in their grip.

***

In the morning, much to the townsfolk's dismay, a stampede of horses marched through the Midcity, heading towards Kyrkogarde.

"Ha?" Ella stepped out of the bar, leaning against the door. "What is going on?" she asked, folding her arms.

"No clue." A man stepped out of the bar, with his hand near his face. "But it's scary."

"Surely scary. I've seen something like this a thousand times. What is on Eryk's mind today?" she squinted her eyes.

Suddenly, Elton waved from the other side of the street, yelling something out, although his words were interrupted by the animals.

Ella signalled something, and Elton misinterpreted it, running forward and through the march.

"No, no!" Ella said. "Oh, Elton, you'll die!" Ella clapped her hands, and Elton leapt, landing on the ground before the bar. "You idiot," she muttered, helping him up. "What's the deal with all this?"

Elton breathed in, pushing his hand into his chest. "They're going to Mount Aria."

"What?" Ella looked shocked, as well as disappointed.

"I-I said what I said," he repeated. "Can't put it another way." he sat down on the stairs, putting his arms on the sides, and fixing his helmet.

"But why? What happened?" she crouched next to him.

"Someone came to my hut last night," Elton spoke, as the horses cleared, moving towards the bridges, or boat. "Bancho's friend has been kidnapped."

Ella's eyes widened. "Didn't know the old man was involved. What friend?"

"Lisa Pluton. Heard the name?"

"No, sorry." she shook her head.

"Didn't either. They're striking where it hurts to find the Wise before we do."

Ella scratched her face. "Are they going to try and find her?"

"I think a good chunk of them are going there to find Bancho, but I haven't heard much except for what they told me, so I don't know what the royalty and Demonears have planned. Jeez, louise."

Ella pushed her arms into her stomach as if bracing herself for the worst. "Surely, if they got through to the Nuil, then they must've been someone important. Who came to your hut? Was it someone you knew?"

"Yeah, b-but it was unexpected."

"Is it someone I know as well?"

Elton turned to the side.

Ella breathed out. "Anna-Pom, right?"

"S-She told me not to tell you," Elton replied. "I mean. It's useless, right? You always figure it out, anyways."

"Your expression was good enough, and she always says that when she's here only for a night or two." Ella stood up, leaning against a wall, while the soft Herbes wind shuffled through her hair.

"What?" Elton turned towards her.

"Do you know if she went with the others towards Mount Aria?" she blinked.

"I t-think so."

"Well, best of luck to her, then. I hope nothing bad happens." Ella put her hand on Elton's leather helmet and started pushing it around.

"Gah!"

"You can't keep secrets, can you?"

***

At Eryk's castle, the Nuil sat on his throne, pushing his fingers into the arms of his royal chair.

Lamon walked by, stopping in front of the door and peeking inside. "You wanted to see me, Nuil?" he asked.

"N-No, it's fine." Eryk waved his hand. "I didn't request your help. Take a break or something," he uttered, fastly.

Lamon tilted his head in disbelief, and then walked forward, into the chamber. Inching closer, his eyes were barely visible from under his helmet. "Something's wrong," he mumbled. "I never get breaks, Nuil."

"It's just." Eryk shook his head, making a strange face and then pursing his lips. "I feel like I need time to think all this through, you know? It's all happening a bit too fast."

"Are you talking about Magna again?"

"I wish I was, Lamon. I wish we could still be putting all of our focus on one problem and not have to worry about the world collapsing on our heads in the span of a few days." he breathed out, stressed.

Lamon sat down, putting his hands on his knees, and involuntarily reached into his pocket, seeing the paper that Chyuuichi scribbled on, then flipped it around. He clenched his fist, crushing it and threw it behind the chair, as it landed in the water below.

Eryk put his head on his forearm, resting, and looking at Lamon as if he expected answers. Quickly, though, he turned back around and stared at the opposite side of the room.

"I know what you want me to say," Lamon muttered.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing is good."

"Don't lie, Nuil. I know you well enough." Lamon sighed. "I've seen Kashmir walking out of the chamber and yelling across the hall, and I think for the first time in my life I'm starting to think that you might not be in the wrong with all your thoughts."

Eryk's gaze shifted.

"I too wish, that Shi Hon and all his reign wasn't real, that it's still distant and simply impossible. Each day counts hours like it's everyone's last will." his voice was soft and comforting. "I don't want to die. I want to fight to live."

"B-But-"

Lamon stood up. "I say we should sit still and wait. Some things aren't under our control."

"I already failed the people of Magna. What if it happens again?"

"They sent the best warriors out there, and Elton crafted new weapons for non-Demonears." Lamon stopped for a moment. "Still-"

"Still," Eryk repeated. "It still doesn't mean they can just change fate. Even if millions of warriors would come out to face it, nothing, and I mean nothing in this world can change its rules." he clenched his fist, while Lamon glimpsed at the book that still lay on a small table next to Eryk's throne, one of Magna's history with its royal families. He slowly peered down.