"This is the tent we use to rest after patrols and fighting.", Lily said as she guided Seventeen around the camp.
"There seems to be a lot of weary warlocks.", he noted as he saw a lot of adventures and Knights resting in the big tent.
Lily looked concerned, "Well. Ethereos is not like other places. This place is completely hostile to us. Even now there are monsters and Fallen trying to break through the barrier. Not to mention the Revenants who sense the presence of their progenitor."
"Must be tough."
Lily sighed, "Yeah. But we have faced worse. We are strong. I myself am a CAT 3 warlock.", she said confidently.
Seventeen was impressed, "High level?"
She smiled sheepishly, "Actually mid-level."
"That is still impressive."
"Hey, Lily! Who's the masked guy with you?", a well-built Cardinal Knight approached them. He was accompanied by a female Knight.
"Hey, Eugene. Hey Chloe.", Lily said with a smile. Eugene is an elf while Chloe, a demon. The lines along her hands glowed pale blue which showed that she uses the water attribute.
"This is Virgil. He is the assistant of Cardinal Zephyrus.", Lily introduced Seventeen, "These are my friends. We joined the academy together."
"So you are childhood friends?", Seventeen asked. Seeing these three reminded him of Arthur, Minerva, and Ray.
The three of them nodded. "Indeed. You are a quick observer Mr. Virgil.", Chloe remarked.
"Just call me Virgil.", Seventeen replied.
"Okay. So um Virgil. That's a nice mask. ", Eugene said a tad nervously. "Why do I wear it?", Seventeen completed his question.
Eugene nodded sheepishly, "Sorry for asking.", he said.
Seventeen laughed, "It's fine. I have a curse that makes the people who see my face get afflicted with a severe case of bad dancing."
"Seriously?", Eugene asked in disbelief. "No, you idiot.", Chloe smacked him on the head, "There is never a curse like that. He can't tell us the reason because it is a painful topic for him."
'This demon is smart.', Seventeen thought.
(No Seventeen. Both your story and the elf are dumb.)
'Does it kill you to shut up for a day?'
(But I am already dead.)
'Forget it.', he sighed.
From then on he spent time with the trio, talking with them about different things. He met the Vahari who were resting after anchoring the chains. They were good-natured and friendly.
"You are a weird guy Virgil.", Eugene said as they walked to the command tent. "What do you mean?", Seventeen asked.
"We've been going around the camp for hours and I am already tired. But you're not even out of breath.",
"He's much more fit than you.", Chloe said. She looked at Seventeen, "You are loved by magia, Virgil. That is impressive. I can see the magia clinging to you.", she remarked with a smile.
Seventeen was surprised, "Demons can see magia particles?"
Chloe nodded, "All demons are gifted with the magia vision."
"Damn. You are the first demon I have ever met and you're awesome.", Seventeen complimented.
Chloe blushed, "I am pleased to hear that."
"Well well. Looks like you've made new friends.", Zephyrus said as he came out of the command tent.
The three Knights with Seventeen immediately stood in attention. "At ease guys. You are free to be yourselves with the Cardinal. He's a pretty laid-back person.", Jade quipped as she came out and stood beside Seventeen.
Zephyrus's eye twitched as he smiled, "What your captain said is right. You don't have to be too stiff in front of me. I'm just a warlock like you guys."
"A warlock who can easily take on multiple armies.", Jade said with a cough. The Cardinal glared at her.
"Anyway. I hope Virgil didn't trouble you guys.", He said. The three Knights shook their heads. "Of course not, Cardinal. Virgil is an amazing person. He is very knowledgeable in many things. The way he talks takes me back to my time in the academy.", Lily replied.
"You flatter me, Lily.", Seventeen said, feeling flustered, despite not being able to blush. 'Thank goodness for the mask.', he thought.
"Well then. Please utilize the plans I have suggested as soon as possible. I will update the Council with the new information received.", Zephyrus told Jade.
She nodded, "Very well Cardinal. I was hoping you would be here for some time but apparently.", she smiled, "You are a busy man."
Zephyrus chuckled, "You can say that again. Plus I hate this hell hole."
"We all do.", she grinned.
Zephyrus looked at the massive skull with a grim expression, "We have to find a solution fast. Or we will be facing the catastrophe that happened 10000 years ago. And this time we don't have the Vaharis King."
"Well then. See you later Jade.", he smiled and patted her on the head. She got flustered, "Alright alright. Let me accompany you back."
"No need. Your squad needs you here. We will take our leave.", he nodded to Seventeen. Both of them passed magia into the bracelets and vanished with a pop.
They appeared at the Gateway. The Cardinal Knights stood in attention as Zephyrus passed them.
Soon they were out of the cavern and the blue sky welcomed them. "The sun feels so good after visiting Ethereos.", Zephyrus said as he took in the magia rich air. Seventeen agreed with him.
"You really scared me when you collapsed back then.", Zephyrus said as they were guided to the stronghold.
"My body was not accustomed to such an extreme environment. So it took some time for my systems to adapt.", Seventeen replied.
"I should've thought about it. Ethereos is not a good place for artificial objects. Some prosthetic using Knights find it hard to use their artificial limbs when they first enter Ethereos.", Zephyrus said.
"Well. Good thing I have adapted.", Seventeen smiled beneath his mask. "Speaking of stuff that happened. I must tell you something.", he remembered the faint magia spike he felt earlier.
He told Zephyrus about it on their way back to the town and the stronghold behind them.
"A magia signature that is similar to the one in the hidden garden. Interesting.", Zephyrus wondered aloud.
"Could this be a remnant of the forgotten millennium?", Seventeen asked him. "Perhaps. How about we check it out?", the Cardinal suggested.
"Are you sure about it?", Seventeen asked.
Zephyrus nodded, "I may not have another chance to explore the Silent Mountain thanks to my busy schedule. And besides, what could go wrong? Both of us are pretty strong.", he said with confidence.
Seventeen pondered about it. Along with accompanying Zephyrus to Ethereos, Seventeen took it upon himself to protect the Cardinal without his knowledge. This man has unofficially become his guardian and he would make sure no harm befalls Zephyrus.
Then again. This man is a Cardinal and can essentially take care of himself in tough situations.
"Alright. Let's go to the Silent Mountain. And also, you have a busy schedule because you are slacking most of the time.", he said.
Zephyrus grinned sheepishly, "Maybe."
With that, they turned their mechanical horses around and rode towards the Silent Mountain. It was a good distance from the stronghold but they reached the base of the mountain in 15 minutes.
"No wonder it's called the Silent Mountain.", Seventeen remarked as he gazed up at the enormous peak. It had a mysterious feel around it. His sensitive ears couldn't pick any sound from the mountain.
Even the wind stops blowing when it reaches the mountain.
"Can you pinpoint the exact location?", Zephyrus asked after he failed to find it when he used his magia detection.
"Maybe.", Seventeen shrugged. He used the same method of detection he used to find Mt Raviel. He frowned, "This is curious."
"What is it Seventeen?"
"I did detect the magia we are looking for. It's very faint, easily blending into the natural magia of the mountain. A clever way to disguise it. I had to send two more magia pulses to verify it.", Seventeen replied.
"Then what was the curious part?", Zephyrus was intrigued.
"It is inside the mountain., specifically in a hollow space.", Seventeen as he checked again with a method similar to Ground Penetrating Radar but with magia, instead of radio waves.
He whistled as his brain processed the data, "Incredible.", he said in awe. He looked at the mountain with a new understanding.
"The Silent mountain has a massive cavern inside it. The faint magia is coming from there.". Seventeen said.
Zephyrus was surprised, "How big a cavern are we talking about?"
Seventeen looked at him, "Big enough to build a palace in it."
"Holy Arkenstein.", Zephyrus said in awe "How come we never noticed this? Thousands of travelers and warlocks have passed this place and found nothing."
"I would guess a powerful enchantment that blocks any unwanted detection and blending the different magia with the natural magia of the mountain.", Seventeen said.
"That is a good theory.", Zephyrus said as he got off his horse. He tied it to a tree and the mechanical beast lowered its head and its sapphire eyes lost their glow.
"We need to find a way into the cavern.", he said as Seventeen also tied his horse to a nearby tree. "There are multiple entrances into the cavern but they are well hidden and some have even collapsed. Selene can find a way.", he said.
Seventeen whistled and after a minute Selene appeared in the sky, she circled over them once and perched on his hand. She looked well-rested.
"Hey girl, can you scout out for any entrances into a big place in the mountain?", he asked the falcon. Selene tilted her head and looked at him for a minute. She then nodded and flew to the mountain.
"Are you sure she didn't start using telepathy?", Zephyrus asked, "She's very smart for her age."
Seventeen shook his head, "Not a single word."
They waited for about 20 minutes before Selene's soft cry reached their ears. She circled around them and flew in a particular direction towards the mountain.
"Let's follow her.", Seventeen said. {Air Code: Winds of Flight}, the winds swirled around him and lifted him in the air.
Zephyrus followed suit and the two of them followed the Moon Falcon into the Silent Mountain.