The sun is preparing itself to get tucked in behind the huge walls of mountains, bidding it's goodbye for the moon to take over and lend us its beautiful glowing self, accompanied by the sparkling stars; decorating the night sky even more.
Team Hugo, who left the village at the peak of the sun, is still within the northeastern region. Sparkling sands made the travelers feel the heat passing through their clothes, their hair damp with sweat; the hot breeze of the desert did not feel good, but what can they do?
The coachman took his hat off and fanned himself with it as he struggled to open his water bottle to quench his throat.
People inside the carriage were silent except one person who kept making munching noises, happily stuffing his face with sweets, completely ignoring the sweat trickling down his temple and neck.
Verin could only shake his head with Viv's undying appetite and love for something sweet. He's afraid he would throw a tantrum when he eats all of it, although it seems pretty impossible with the sack filled with candies and pastries, but seeing how he continuously chews and swallows them, he could finish it by the time they arrive in the eastern village.
Hugo was rereading the scroll and was in deep thought when Lithea looked up and broke the silence, "I have been wondering,"
Everyone turned to her and opened their ears, completely attentive.
"Where are the others?"
"They were sent to another mission," Verin answered and looked outside the window again, "they're going back to the northern forest."
"What?"
Viv was startled at Lithea's reaction as it is the first time she's raised her voice; his mouth went agape, some of the crumbs fell from his mouth.
"Oi, wipe your mouth!" Verin took his handkerchief and wiped Viv's mouth while groaning.
"What's wrong with the northern forest?" the priestess asked.
Lithea already had an idea what was going on, when they were in between the northern region's border and the northeastern region, she felt something strange, like the energy possessing the guy they were after was just near. But it was all over, she didn't want to cause panic with something uncertain and kept her mouth shut.
"Lady Edrei wanted them to investigate it," Verin explained, "something about the stone slate."
"The stone slate that no one can get closer? The forbidden area of the northern forest?" Lithea's eyes shake.
Being born in one of the villages of the northern region, both Lithea and Hugo are aware of the tale of the stone slate. It was discovered years before they were born, and rumor has it that it had always been there for far too long. But since the northern forest isn't always visited by hunters, it was never found.
Until one hunter decided to change his usual hunting route, found a slate that's filled with moss and tiny cracks. He had gotten curious and wanted to check it out, but as he was nearing, he felt hotter and he sweated so much. He felt like his skin was burning the more he walked towards it.
The hunter immediately reported his discovery to the soldiers, although he was ridiculed and called crazy, his persistence made them have a look to shut him up. When they found that he was telling the truth, they tried getting near it to investigate but what happened to the hunter also happened to them.
The next day, all of the soldiers including the hunter who checked the slate had gotten sick; puking every now and then, and they felt like their head was going to crack.
One of the soldier's wife was very concerned and forced the Jade unit's knights to investigate the matter after she asked the others' family and how they have the same symptoms as her husband.
Eventually, the mystery of the stone slate became the talk of the kingdom. Many curious citizens would brave themselves and have a closer look to either confirm or to boast to others that they visited the slate and were fine. But most of them went with giddy feelings, only to return to wake up with an intense headache and non stop puking.
Not even the priests and priestesses could pinpoint the cause of the strange disease.
Alarmed, the new and young King Rafael ordered his best soldiers to investigate the slate with his trusted, most powerful mage. But due to the misfortunes happening with the people who worked hard to crack it open, the King ultimately closed the area where the slate was found.
And although the northern forest is still available, and only the area where the stone is was closed down, people did not step another foot inside the forest, completely deeming the whole forest as a forbidden one.
This also leads some people who live in villages near the forest to flee and settle in another village or in another region. There are even others who completely left the Kingdom.
Verin's confusion with her question was painted on his face.
Hugo shifted in his seat and asked, "do you know the tale about the forbidden stone, Verin?"
"What the heck is that?"
It was understandable how he hadn't heard about its mystery, with him being born in the East, they must have had their own legends in their region.
"It is a stone that makes those who come close to it sick," Lithea answered.
Verin gulped, "how sick?"
"Non stop puking and intense headache."
"Nausea?"
Hugo leaned forward, "it's different."
"How dangerous can it be? All diseases have cure," he tried shaking it off, "Lithea's a priestess, you can cure them."
Lithea stares deep in his eyes which scares him.
Gulp.
"No one, not even the previous priests and priestesses, knows how it happened," Hugo played with his fingers as he leaned more towards Verin, "this makes them hard to cure."
"It's a strange disease?" he asked.
"Yes," Lithea answered, still sitting straight, "if they happen to catch the disease, it would kill them."
"So those who came near the stone, they all died?"
Hugo nodded, "except one."
"One?"
"But she went missing."
"Who is that person?" Verin was eager to know.
"The Legendary Dark Mage, Nyx Ciar."
"But," Lithea's soft voice erased the creepy atmosphere Verin felt just a second ago, "why would Lady Edrei want to investigate the stone?"
"Ah," Hugo doesn't want to tell her. Or rather, he doesn't know how to tell her.
Munch.
"Tsildrun," Viv started talking with his mouth full, and crunching noise muffled his words, "suffurd."
Verin blinked, surprised how he took part of the conversation at the heavy part. But also relieved that they did not have to break the news to Lithea.
"What do you mean the children are suffering?" Lithea asked, facing the eating Viv.
Both Verin and Hugo didn't know how she was able to understand him when his words aren't almost audible.
"What does he mean by it?" she asked again.
Being faced by her, Hugo doesn't have a choice but to answer, "their life's in danger."
Lithea's brows creased.
"Their life force was almost sucked dry, even the slightest mana they have."
Lithea remembered how hard it is for her to locate the reason why the children were still struggling, and looking back at the legend of the stone slate, it is possible that whoever it is that controlled Grunt, is the same person who put the slate in the forest decades ago.
Before the group could discuss further, the carriage stopped and the coachman climbed down and knocked on the door before opening it.
"Might we set the camp here?"
Hugo climbed out of the carriage and looked around, seeing how it is decent and that there are a lot of boulders that could shield them for possible sandstorm, he agreed.
"Alright, we can go under those boulders."
Two mountainous boulders sandwiched another boulder, creating a cave, fortunately, the space inside it is enough for at least two groups of travelers to rest. As the night was preparing to take over, they made fire and started heating the food packed by the maids back at the manor to fill their stomachs.
After that, they all decided to rest if they wished, but not Lithea. She moved deeper in the cave and started meditating while moving her fingers to control her mana.
"You think those who are disturbing the east are the same person?" Verin asked.
"Can we guarantee it is a person?" Hugo was trying to set his own sleeping bed as he answered him with another question.
"Are you suggesting it's not a human?"
"Could be," he shrugged and then took away Viv's sack of sweets, tying it.
Viv gasped when his sweets were snatched from him.
"It's bedtime, Thenea wouldn't want you to sleep late."
Hearing the reason, he did not argue and took his sleeping bed to settle it next to Hugo.
"Drink water, kid."
Verin tilted his head, questioning some things, 'if he's a childhood friend of Lithea, wouldn't they be the same age?'
"Uh, Hugo, how old are you?" he asked, he had to.
"I am eighteen," he said.
"Yeah, well," he laughed awkwardly, "Viv's twenty one."
Hugo was dumbfounded at the information, Viv did not only look younger, he also acted like one.
"Are you being truthful?" he made sure.
"I think it was both Serene and him who are the oldest within the group," he tried to recall the time they told each other their age, the day Lithea arrived and joined.
Hugo did not press and took off his armour but left his helmet on; he leaned on the cave wall and sat sleeping. This earned him a judging look from Verin.
Viv finished setting up his bed and crawled beside Hugo, he's on his back, his limbs all over the place. And as soon as he got settled in, he started snoring.
Verin who's watching and witnessing everything within the group felt worn out and sighed.
"I should go to bed too," he mumbled and before he closed his eyes, he took one last look at Lithea who is still situated all the way to the end of the cave.
It is already the dawn of the third day since they went on the journey to the east, no matter how tired they are, and how much they want to sleep in, they can't. They shouldn't let this hinder their job.
Lithea had been playing with her hands the whole time, summoning and trying to control her mana. There are times where she would just close her eyes and try meditating in a moving box.
"Did it bother you?" Verin did not want to be rude, he wanted to pretend not noticing how she keeps fiddling but he's worried.
Lithea looked at him, confused.
"Now that your mana is suppressed," he clarified.
"How did you know it was suppressed?"
Verin automatically looked at Hugo and this resulted in Lithea to look at him as well.
"What do you guys know?"
"Well," Verin chuckled, "Lady Edrei informed us?"
"I don't get it, why does she need to inform the team?"
"Probably because Hugo thought the stone could save you so we had it placed on your forehead," Verin babbled.
Hugo sighed, itching to cover Verin's mouth. But since he's across Lithea, and Verin is seated beside her, it would be difficult. He also did not want the coachman to think they're fighting with themselves.
"I don't understand."
"Lady Edrei came to your room with that," Hugo said, trying to mask the true story behind the stabilizer.
"Technically, Hugo saved you."
Lithea's brows drew even more closer together while looking at Hugo.
"Where did this come from?"
Viv couldn't keep it anymore, he couldn't sleep with their noise. He woke up, grumbling, "Hugo got it for you."
He then shifted and went back to sleep with an annoyed face.
Hugo threw his head back while Verin slapped his face, 'of all times he's going to talk properly, he chose now.'
"Got it for me?" Lithea is itching to know and Hugo avoiding it is not helping.
"I think this conversation should be done in private," Verin suggested.
Lithea was about to ask more questions when the coachman halted and someone knocked on the door. They had already arrived at the gates of the Eastern Region.
"Who goes there?" they heard one of them shout, asking the coachman.
"Will you tell me after the mission?"
Hugo had to gulp his saliva before answering, he felt parched, "alright."
As the guards were asking questions on the coachman, and now are asking them where their pass is, Verin has been trying to compose himself.
His heart beats faster, his palms sweats, he can't understand what he's feeling inside. This will be the first time he's back to the place where he grew up in years, and he doesn't know what to do.
"I apologize, please excuse my disrespect." the guard who asked for the pass said as he saluted, "welcome to the Land of Siren, esteemed adventurers."
Hugo nodded at him and closed the door.
"Let the esteemed adventurers through! Have them escorted to see Lord Eric!"
The gates opened and they're finally inside the land of harmony and synergy, the only region in the kingdom where despite being separated by villages, they still act as one. Completely celebrating everything in unity and peace, treating everyone as family.
The guards who are in duty all panicked at the mention of 'esteemed', there is only one team who are regarded as such, the ruby ranks.
After the carriage entered the gates, the guards who had been holding their breath almost fainted. They felt their knees weak in the presence of the most effective, and strongest adventurers of the kingdom.
When the person who came to check the carriage went back to his post, his friend immediately gave him a smack at the back of his head with his armoured gloves on.
"You fool, why did you have to do that to them?"
"I was only doing my job!" he said as he felt a bump forming.
Two chosen guards rode on their horses and escorted the carriage towards the lighthouse, a structure which their council uses as an office.
From the gates, it takes about an hour before they reach their destination. The region confuses the others, it looks like there's no separation from each village inside. But some of the people greeted them with a smile on their faces, some were looking solemn.
Verin's nervousness in coming back faded as it was overtaken by worry as he saw worry in the people's eyes. Whatever is troubling the authorities here must have done a great deal of difficulty to the villagers as well.
Verin was lost in an infinite possibilities of what caused their distress and did not notice they had already arrived in front of the lighthouse.
It looked worn out, its white paint faded and was taken over by moss, it seems abandoned.
'Are we tricked?' Hugo thought.
Viv also found it strange and pointed at it, "broken."
Verin put Viv's hand down, "that is just how it is."
"How did you know?" Hugo asked.
"This is where I grew up," he shrugged.
Viv's eyes widened at the thought of Verin catching and eating fishes as he grew up. With how far the eastern region is, the supply of fish in the further regions are limited and it was treated luxury. In order for them to buy fishes, they must pay a huge deal as the magic used to preserve the ice and not have it melt for days is expensive. Only a few knew this magic, mostly those who are selling meat and seafood as a living.
It was developed in the past to avoid having the aristocrats travel great lengths just to have a taste of other regions' delicacies.
"The council is inside," the guards said to them, "I will be waiting outside as I am not allowed."
Viv was the last one in line and before he followed the others, he saw a little boy watching them in amazement. He then took something from his pockets and gave it to the boy: a chocolate candy.
The knife user tried to catch up with the others but as soon as he saw how dark inside the lighthouse was, Viv froze and was looking for Thenea.
Whenever he's in an unfamiliar setting, he has a hard time to adjust and to keep focus. All he could think about is how he's supposed to act and react in every situation. Oz's words would keep flashing in his mind.
"People are different at different places, you need to be careful. Always have keen eyes in observing who to believe in and who not to trust."
His hands tremble in fear, "Tia."
He couldn't take another step.
Lithea who was behind everyone noticed how Viv wasn't following and looked back; she tilted her head and thought that maybe he's scared of the lighthouse. She walked back outside and held Viv's hand.
"Hey," she said softly.
Viv stopped zoning out when he noticed a hand gently caressing his.
"Are you okay?"
Viv's eyes went serious and held Lithea's hand tightly, he wanted to tell her he wants to hold hands walking inside to keep calm but he doesn't know how.
Whenever his past flashes and haunts him, his ability to think for himself and to voice it out would disappear.
"Let's go, it's fine."
Viv could only nod as he followed Lithea back inside.
The others were already climbing the stairs when they entered and the unfamiliar spiral staircase with a narrow space scares Viv. He hid behind Lithea and closed his eyes.
"You can't close your eyes, you might fall," she warned. But he only shook his head.
Verin climbed back down and offered to help, "let me. You go on ahead."
Lithea stepped aside and let go of Viv's tight grip.
"We don't have time," Verin swiftly snatched his hand from Lithea and dragged him upstairs.
"Haaaaaaaa," he wanted to shout but scared, he could only let out a low tone noise as he kept wriggling his wrist to escape from Verin.
"Stop it, we have to go," Verin tried to keep telling himself to be patient. Without Thenea here, they have to take over and take care of him.
"No! Many, many, many!"
Verin and Viv are playing tug of war while the others are already far up ahead.
"Stop resisting!"
A couple of minutes pass by and they're still climbing the stairs. Verin was still dragging the now slouching Viv who kept mumbling, "tired, tired, tired, tired."
Hugo, who is also tired, sensed that they're not going to reach it in a few more minutes and pulled out his scimitar and covered it with mana to summon a wind and transform his blade into a bigger one.
"What are you doing?" Verin asked.
Hugo did not answer and grabbed everyone to step on the board, "stand still."
But because he couldn't grab everyone, Viv was left out. He was watching them with wide eyes, surprised that they were flying. He tried to jump to fly too when Hugo caught him by his collar.
Viv let out a smile, enjoying that he was trying when in reality, Hugo was gritting his teeth to keep Viv in place in a flying scimitar.
"Hooooo~" Viv spread his arms, he was relishing the moment.
"Why are you hiding this?" Verin shouted for Hugo to hear.
"I was saving up my mana."
As the group went up further and further, some concrete suddenly blocked their way and kept moving down, forcing them to fly down.
"What the hell is happening?"
Verin was left unanswered as they too were wondering why they were blocked. Was their hunch true? Were they really tricked?
The concrete kept moving down faster and faster, and Hugo could no longer keep the balance and they all fell.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Screams echoed within the lighthouse, they felt their voices bouncing at each corner with nowhere to escape; they felt suffocated.
Hugo was able to retrieve his blade and grabbed Lithea's wrist. He summoned a wind below them to make it seem like they're floating as they tried to follow the other two to save them. But suddenly they all came to halt, their faces were now a few inches on the floor.
Their breathing is the only thing that can be heard within the room.
Tap.
They turned their faces to where the sound came from and saw a young man with a white mask, wearing the same robe as Lady Edrei, leisurely seated behind a large desk.
The man raised his finger and made a spinning motion.
The rubies slowly stood on their feet like magic, he was controlling them.
"Rubies," he said as he leaned his back on his chair, "I welcome you to our land."