Odeti bargained with Aovialutre to send not just Videre and Vera to the surface, but along with Obrecht, and other willing people to keep them safe. She wanted to go herself but Aovialutre warned her that once her soul is transferred from Odeti to the body of the temporary vessel, Vera, Odeti's body might receive a recoil and go into comatose for some time to adjust itself.
After all, Odeti's body was born with two souls, not one. It has long been tampered in the womb to accommodate an extra soul. They never really expected Videre, a suitable guide, to appear.
Yet, Odeti strongly stood firm on not allowing danger to befall on the children. She wanted to raise their chances of survival up there on the surface. She's aware of Videre's fear and slight aversion of the surface, and thus, deemed it necessary to find safety more in numbers, but their choices are limited.
They cannot send just whomever to the surface. An adult such as Halvalt would simply refuse to go to the surface without consulting with the Batrani and letting all thirteen members decide. In this way, it's quite obvious that the city's rules are deeply ingrained in their consciousness.
The younger generation are different. They are still flexible. Like a young tree, they are still green and pliable, able to bend to things and not yet immovable and stiff like the brown trunks or branches of older trees that represent their seniors.
Going back, it was unfortunate that when Videre and Vera got separated that night by the Batrani, Aovialutre got anxious and decided to remind Videre despite Odeti's insistence that it might frighten her child. Odeti's intuition was indeed right—someone like Videre who is an introvert and near-recluse, shaking the pillar of trust in their heart is frightening. But things have already happened and can't be undone.
Upon Videre's disappearance, Odeti immediately gathered the people she thought were skilled enough to last together through herself, and through Vera who held the third part of Aovialutre's soul.
It looks like I'll have to own the consequences once I wake up, or so Odeti thought, but she can't help but waver in front of Halvalt's confused and pained face.
"Honey, why aren't you answering?" Halvalt didn't want to think anything of it, but knowing his wife best, he knew that she had been acting weird recently.
They were in front of the Circ's big fountain, with five people including an awake Vera and an instructed Obrecht, all standing inside the water that faintly glowed blue, when Halvalt caught them. Everybody was at the amphitheater, while the guards and the other Batrani were busy looking for the disappeared Vera and Virgil. Nobody thought to search here.
"You probably already know. Didn't Videre explain everything in the Hidden Library? I'm seeing them out of Inferis." Odeti gazed at Halvalt.
Finally, Halvalt realized that Odeti probably knew more than she seemed. She knew about the exits and entryways in Inferis. She knew about Videre's ceremony and his task, and yet she didn't stop him. She knew about a lot of things, nevermind the Batrani, why didn't she tell him—her husband? Was their trust so little? Was there a reason why she couldn't tell him, or did she simply choose not to? There is indeed a huge difference in those choices.
"Since when did you know? Why didn't you tell me?"
Odeti didn't answer.
"Don't you know better that the secret you hid has far greater consequences?" Halvalt couldn't help but raise his voice a bit louder. He clenched his hands in helplessness, "I can't share half your burden this time. You'll have to bear the punishment alone."
Odeti smiled, reaching out a hand to caress her husband's cheek.
"You not doubting me is the greatest love I have ever received", Odeti shed her tears. "I love you too." Odeti turned around, linking hands with Vera and carefully sending off Aovialutre's soul.
Odeti's body went into free fall. Halvalt was fast enough to catch her but not fast enough to stop his son from leaving. The water in fountain rose and made a barrier similar to the one at Lumea's borders. When the other people were obstructed by the diagram, the fountain split in the middle to open a V-shaped gate—one that led outside.
Obrecht led the other four people, including Raguk, who he dragged with him. As much as he dislikes this person, he somehow acknowledges his skills after many battles with him.
So why not bring him along and make him work as a guard? Who knows, maybe he could use this fellow and offer him to Videre to be beat up. Maybe Videre might take it easier on him and no longer be mad at him...
'I know you feel sad and hurt. I love you, and I know you want to chase after him, so I'll let you decide for the things you want in your life. When you see him, you only need to make him realize that we both are on his side. That's all there is to it, my son. Do not falter.'
Obrecht remembered his Ama's words.
There is nothing to be afraid of, Obrecht thought. No matter if it's lecture, theories, or advice, his Ama has never been wrong. His Ama will never betray him.
"So, where do we go from here?" An excited voice broke the solemn atmosphere. Packed with an overly large backpack, all eyes rested on the person. What can they say—the bag is nearly twice his height and size.
"What did you even put in there, Virgil?" Krael asked.
"All necessary stuff. The seventh seat's wife asked for this favor. I might as well do it to the best of my abilities." He tilted his chin up, looking determined as he gazed at the cave ceiling. It was dark everywhere except for the area around the illumination stones, but that did not stop him from being enthusiastic.
"First, let's get out of this cave." Obrecht started walking to a certain direction, following airflow.
"Eh? This isn't the so called 'sky' yet? So that's why it isn't as magnificent as I thought it was." Virgil enthusiasm re-energized.
"Vera."
Vera simply nodded at Obrecht, knowing what he was inquiring about.
Their goal should be simple: One—get to the Forbidden Forest that Aovialutre's elder lives in to deliver Aovialutre's soul. Two—retrieve the device the elder has made after many millennia, that will substitute Aovialutre's soul in upholding and supporting Inferis. And lastly, three—find for Videre, who presumably, would still be influenced and guided by Aovialutre's necklace to go to the elder's home or near its vicinity, so long as he wore it.
"The elder's home may have changed. But we aren't sure yet, so first, let's go to Forbidden Forest. It's somewhere around the that direction."
As Vera kept gesturing at the direction the two souls compassed to, the group of people finally found a bright light at the cave's mouth.
"A fire?" Krael pulled out a knife under his sleeve.
"No", Obrecht said, trekking forward. "It's the sun."
Slack-jawed, they marveled at the endless expanse of blue sky riddled with what seemed to be white floating cotton. Even Vera who has had a glimpse of it through Aovialutre's memories felt overwhelmed.
They have finally arrived at the surface.
Obrecht stared at the blue sky until his eyes hurt. There were times when he imagined going to the surface. He has indeed reached the surface, but the person he should've first seen it with was different.
"Let's go", Obrecht urged after some time. He didn't feel at ease being out in the open like this, especially here in this new land. Briefly, he wondered if this is how Videre had felt when he first came to Inferis.
I want to understand you better. Videre, where are you?
The small party took their leave, starting their journey, not knowing that their third goal could've been met much earlier should they have searched the other side of the mountain.