They walk for hours in the dark, in the fifth hour, they enter a forest. three hours later, when the sun is beginning to rise, they reach a shimenawa barrier. Weaved ropes block the path, they twist around the trees and connect to the next, making it impossible to cross.
Nel shakes Christopher awake on the horse. "Christopher, what is this place?"
"Great, we're here. I didn't know if we'd make it, the Muhabaa'a usually place illusions." Christopher shifts on the horse, coming down slowly so that he doesn't collapse on his injured leg. "They won't respect my request if I look weak. I need to walk," bending down, he grabs a long and sturdy branch to use as a walking stick. He leans on it, struggling to keep his weight up with only one stable leg. Xiao ties the horse to a tree, "sorry I can't bring you past here," she apologizes to the horse. The team crosses the barrier, Chance struggles to carry Christopher over the rope.
They walk for a bit, groggy and tired steps until a mist surrounds them precariously. Christopher, with the little strength he has left, changes his stature to be on guard. In front of the soldiers, two figures reveal themselves from behind the fog. The first, an old and serious-looking man. The second, a woman in her thirties, with tied hair and a long white gown. The man had two swords tied to either side of him, and Christopher in an almost humorous way prepared himself in a battle stance. "Who are you," the man commands with a bellowing voice.
Christopher, slowly and with some apprehension, removes his wyvern amulet from beneath his uniform. He presents it to them, "A Chaypa prince?"
"Why do you come here? This is Muhabaa'a land. Tribesmen of your clan cannot be here," the woman says harshly. "I need you to teach."
The man laughs, "why would we teach you?" Christopher swallows loudly. "Not me," he pushed Nel in front of him, "him." Nel looks from side to side in a panic. he's trying his very best to maintain a calm attitude as the pair inspects him. The man approaches Nel and raises his chin without caring for etiquette. "He's been chosen by the goddess as a healer." The man removes his hand from Nels's chin in shock.
The woman, while also shocked, was starting to look slightly delighted at the news, "The goddess has decided, we must teach," she says in a tone that fails to conceal her excitement. "Not so fast, we cannot be sure of this," the man circles Nel, "I will accept your proposal only after the rune trial."
Christopher's eyes light with fire, a rage behind them. "Rune trial? How dare you! The goddess has already chosen, this is tribe law whether you are Muhabaa'a or Chaypa." The man glares at Christopher, he rests his hand on the hilt of his sword threateningly. "If he survives the ritual I can be sure he is not lying," a raspy cold tone fills his voice. The woman looks at the man, troubled, but unable to dispute or defy him. The man turns to walk away, he enters the fog again but the squad remains guarded and ready to battle. "I will be escorting you, please follow me," and with her words, the fog clears, but the man is nowhere to be seen.
They trudge along, the ground becomes muddier as they walk, and Christopher struggles to keep up. The woman seems to notice and slows her pace. "My name is Juewl, I am the Muhabaa'a tribe's priestess," She looks behind her and smiles, "but I'm sure most of you don't know what that means." They cross a small stream, the cold water drenches the boys but the priestess parts the water, allowing her to cross the stream untouched. The rest of the walk the boy's toes begin to burn from the cold. On occasion, the priestess would look in a direction and smile at seemingly nothing in an ominous way. The young boys concluded that she was quite strange.
They come to an opening in the forest, beneath the canopy of trees, a hidden community of only about twenty houses lived. "You will stay in a spare house here until the full moon in three days. You," she looks Nel in the eyes, "If you need anything you can just keep walking north, you'll find me." She winks at him then walks away. When Christopher is sure she's left, he says, "I am so sorry Nel, I didn't think they would attempt the rune trial."
"What is it anyway, why were you so upset back there?" Christopher goes silent until he summons the courage to continue, "They will perform a ritual. In the ritual, the gods will determine if you are worthy of the gift, and if you are not," he pauses, "you'll die." Xiao's face alters, "how could you bring us here? Are you seriously trying to tell us Nel could die because of your decision?"
"I didn't know, I was trying to get us away from there! They aren't following tribe law, Xiao!"
"Whatever, anything to save yourself, right?"
"Oh, you're one to talk!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she screams back at him angrily. "Nothing, come on, let's find a house," he storms off ahead of the group. Chance walks at a slower pace so that he can talk to Nel. "Are you alright?" he asks Nel. "I don't know what's going on."
"We won't let them do whatever they're trying to do nel, it's alright," Chance comforts him. "Right," Nel says, trying to reassure himself.