"The central cavern of Maeldi branches off into four separate tunnels leading to the separate areas used by the Elsharen. The northern tunnel leads to our living areas, where we are currently located." Ayelle explains to Valun and Goma. "The western tunnel leads you to our work area. You'll find several different workstations there for people to make various things. The more we can make here in Maeldi, the less we have to risk a dangerous trip to the surface. More often than not, when people leave for the surface, they don't return." She continues, glancing over towards Klein with a smile. "Follow the eastern tunnel, and you'll find our storage facilities. We try to stock up as much as possible, again to avoid venturing out. Lastly, to the south, you will find Laido's Labyrinth, an almost impossible to navigate series of tunnels that will eventually lead to the surface, or more often, aimless wandering until one perishes. The labyrinth is perhaps our best defense to anyone seeking to do us harm." Ayelle finishes her explanation. "Klein will take you to the central cavern to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Anything you'd like to ask?"
"Tons, but after being in bed so long, I feel like I need to walk around a bit. Can we continue later?" Valun responds.
"Whenever you'd like, just let me know. We Elsharen aren't evil-spirited people as history would have you believe. Give the people you see around a smile, and they'll return it in kind. I hope you see the people here for who they are and not what the legends make us out to be." Ayelle explains proudly.
"Shall we go?" Klein asks as the silence lingers a moment.
"Yeah, I look forward to seeing the place." Valun responds, walking out of the room with Klein.
"Ayelle, don't worry about Valun judging anyone here. He's probably worried about being judged himself. Thank you for helping him recover." Goma states as his physical form shimmers away, and he returns to Valun.
"Thank you, both of you," Ayelle says to herself as her eyes begin to water.
"This place is like a maze." Valun thinks to himself while following Klein down a winding tunnel towards the central cavern.
"It's a good thing we're following Klein. Otherwise, this wouldn't be easy to navigate. If the labyrinth is more complex than this, I can't imagine how anyone gets through it." Goma replies to Valun's thought.
After several minutes of closely following Klein's directions, the tunnel begins to widen open into a larger area. However large, the central cavern before them was a primarily empty place aside from a central column of sorts which commanded the attention of anyone who entered.
"Time to show you the best part," Klein says as he approaches the column.
Standing before a smooth black cylinder roughly a foot in diameter protruding from the large central cavern floor towards and into the rocky ceiling some twenty feet overhead, Valun looked puzzled.
"What exactly am I looking at again, Klein?" Valun asks while staring at the column, which appears to be giving off an almost unnoticeable yellow glow.
"This is the heart of Maeldi; from here, everything lives," Klein explains. "Place your hand on it." He continues.
Valun briefly hesitates before Goma's voice echoes within his thoughts. "It's fine. There's nothing to worry about, Valun. Try to relax." Valun, feeling reassured, places his right hand on the smooth black surface, only to be met with a surprisingly warm feeling. Valun couldn't help but think about the days he would lay in the sun and how its warmth would feel on his skin.
Noticing his surprise, Klein walks up to Valun's side and places his left hand on the smooth surface. "It's warm like the sunlight, which means it's daytime on the surface. If it were nighttime, there would be a different feeling, like a cold breeze." He explains to Valun.
"And the glow?" Valun asks as he removes his hand from the smooth column.
"What are you talking about?!" Klein states in confusion, pulling his hand away from the column.
Valun's face quickly begins to turn pale, and Klein can see the panic taking over.
"I'm just kidding!" Klein shouts, giving Valun a firm pat on the shoulder. "I'm surprised you can already see it. Most people can't for the first few days they're here, but I guess the time you spent unconscious out of the sun shortened your adjustment period." Klein explains to himself as much as he is explaining to Valun. "Anyway, the color lets you know what time of year it is." He continues. "The yellow color you see now means it's Talenda. A blue color would mean it's Galoos, and a red color would indicate the middle time of Roozla." Klein finishes as he looks towards Valun.
Completely confused, Valun stares at Klein for several silent moments. "Goma, do you have any idea what he's talking about?" Valun thinks to himself.
Goma appears on Valun's shoulder and replies with a simple "No idea."
"You can't be serious…" Klein says out loud to himself.
"You know, Talenda? When it's hotter than usual outside? Or Galoos when it gets really cold?" Klein asks the both of them.
Valun and Goma pause to look at each other and then back at Klein. "I know that it gets cold, and it gets hot, but I don't know what this Tallbenda is." Valun replies.
"Talenda," Klein corrects Valun. "Talenda, Galoos, and Roozla are what people call the different times of the year." He continues. "Goma shared a little of what's going on with me, but I wouldn't mind hearing it from you Valun, who are you anyway?" Klein asks.
"That's a tough question and, quite honestly, one I'm not positive I know how to answer. Not long ago, I might have had an answer, but now I'm not so sure. All I can tell you for sure is I'm trying to stop some bad things from happening, I think..." Valun answers.
Klein looks at Goma and then Valun before laughing to himself. "You think?" He jokes. "Well, either way, you seem capable, and I've never seen anything like Goma before." He continues looking back at Goma. "So let me ask you again. If you'll have me, I'd like to go with you in hopes that I might find something along the way to help me bring the Elsharen back up there," Klein explains as he points to the rocky ceiling of the cavern and turns to Valun.
"I don't see any problems. What about you, Goma?" Valun asks aloud.
"I think it would be a good idea. Klein knows more about the world outside of those woods than either of us do." Goma replies as Klein visibly begins to show signs of excitement.
"Then it's settled, Klein, you'll come with us." Valun states extending his hand toward Klein.
"Glad to hear it," Klein responds, taking Valun's hand in a firm handshake before turning back towards the central column.
"Hey Klein, what exactly happened to the Elsharen?" Valun asks while gazing upon the column.
"Well, it's a pretty disgusting story if you ask me. I wasn't alive for it or anything. It happened so long ago. I've been able to gather from Ayelle and my time on the surface that there was a war long ago, a magical war that destroyed anything in its path. At the time of the war, the Elsharen were apparently the ones doing the most research into magic, so it was easy to cast blame on them. Looking for answers, the people at the time would have accepted anyone as the villain as long as there was someone they could blame. Something about not having a target for your hatred doesn't sit well with people. However, around the same time, a new kingdom was just finding its feet. What better way to make a name for your new kingdom than to put a stop to such a devastating war? The newfound kingdom took advantage of the situation, blaming the Elsharen for the war, and began capturing them and slaughtering any who resisted. It's even said the leader of the kingdom took a fancy to the radiant colored eyes of the Elsharen and would take them from those he captured, displaying them like trophies. The wisest Elsharen at the time gathered everyone they could and fled underground, and formed what they now call Maeldi. That was around five hundred years ago, and that kingdom is now known as Novar if it is to be believed. The Elsharen have lived in this stone prison ever since. It's been so long there isn't an Elsharen alive here today who has been on the surface." Klein explains as anger and frustration shift his tone. "Valun, I just want…"
"I'll help." Valun interrupts once again, extending a hand towards Klein. "If I had any doubts before, they're gone now. You're a good man, Klein, and I'd be happy to have you along." He continues. "Right, Goma?"
"While I can't promise we can change anything, I can't help but feel like this is an essential step in our journey. Your help will be welcome, Klein." Goma adds.
"Valun…Goma…" Klein says softly through watering eyes. "Thank you!" He shouts as he takes Valun's hand. "Ayelle probably has dinner ready for us, we should head back for now, and I'll finish showing you around later." He states.
"Sounds good. I feel much better now that I've walked around a bit." Valun replies.
"You two are going to be a handful." Goma laughs to himself before returning to Valun's thoughts.
"I still have to get used to him doing that," Klein remarks.
"You and me both," Valun jokes back as they make their way towards Klein and Ayelle's home. As they turn to exit the central cavern, Valun looks over his shoulder at the central pillar, and the faint yellow glow swells and intensifies for but a brief moment before returning to normal.
"Goma...Did you see that?" Valun asks within his thoughts.
"See what?" Goma replies.
"Nothing. I guess I'm still a little disoriented." Valun answers with a hint of doubt, returning his eyes forward and following Klein down the tunnel…