"How much longer...it feels like we've been journeying forever..."
"Mmm! Have patience, master! The Underworld's really, really far away, you know!"
"I can see that for sure...God, just why is Roselina there in the first place?! Couldn't she have just gone somewhere in the Overworld instead?! Stupid Amaterasu..." It was about two days since the incident at the inn, Christopher and Azure were still journeying. The length of the journey was starting to annoy Christopher though.
"Mmmm! Masterrrr!! It's not Amaterasu's fault Roselina's in the Underworld!!" Hearing what Chris-topher said, Azure pouted, and lightly growled at him.
"Then why's she there, and not in the Overworld? There's no way she would've gone in there willingly, her familiar would've stopped her. And if someone was trying to kidnap her to bring her there, wouldn't her familiar save her?" Christopher knew he had a point. Slouching back in the carriage, he let out a long sigh, "Stupid Amaterasu..."
"Mmmmmm!! Masterrrr!!" Azure in turn, just gave up. She to, slouched back with him. "I really can't believe you sometimes...but I guess you have a point..."
"See?" Christopher remarked, "Man...how much longer..."
"Huh? M-Master?"
"Hmm...You know...I've been with you for a while now...and I haven't actually gotten a good look at your ears and your tail..."
"Eh? Eh? M-Master, I...mmph!" Christopher was deathly bored, so he decided on messing with Azure. Holding onto her fluffy red tail, he closely inspected it.
"Wow...it really is fluffy..." He murmured. The boy used his hands to stroke it, to squeeze it a little, and eventually, he pressed his entire face into it. Azure's tail had a sweet strawberry scent to it, which was alluring to him. "...Mmm...Azure...no wonder I love sniffing you as I sleep..."
"Nnrng...w-what? W-Well, I-I know you l-like the scent of my hair...b-but master!! Y-You shouldn't-aah! D-Do that to me it...it's uncomfor-nnrng..." Azure's words were cut off by the intense tingle of Christopher playing with her tail. The tingles sent electric shocks throughout her body, causing her to squirm all over in the spot she sat on. "...N-No...m-master...st-stopppp!!"
"Mmmmmm..." Christopher ignored Azure's pleas, and only continued. He continued until Azure finally took her hand, and sent it crashing onto her master's head.
"O-OW!!" The force wasn't enough to hurt Christopher much, but it definitely startled him. "Azureeeeee that hurt!" Holding onto his head, the young boy finally stopped, and sat back down beside his familiar.
"W-Well!!" Azure shouted out, her face beet red. "Y-You could play with my tail but don't stroke it that much, m-master!!"
"Ahaha...sorry Azure..."
"Up you go!"
"M-Master? W-What are you..?" Without any warning, Christopher lifted Azure, and placed her on his lap. From there, he then started to play with her ears.
"E-Eh? M-M-Master..?" Azure was once more taken aback by the sudden action. "W-Well...if it's there then..I...it's alright..."
"Hahaha."
"Mmmm..." Azure's gaze was moved to the ground as she tried to hide her completely flustered ex-pression.
After about an hour of travelling, they finally got somewhere. Around them, the atmosphere started to change. It got heavy, and the pressure of the atmosphere made Christopher feel as though he was being crushed under a building.
"Ugh...what the hell..?" He whispered. "Az...Azure..."
"Oh! Sorry master, I'll cast protect on you." Before he knew it, Azure casted a protective spell on him. The unbearable pressure that previously befell him was lifted just enough for him to handle it.
"Feeling better?" Azure asked him.
"Y-Yeah...sort of..."He replied, forcing a smile. "...This pressure...we must be nearing the Underworld then..."
"Yes master." Azure gave him a nod. "Look." She pointed ahead of them. The moment Christopher looked, he was nearly overwhelmed with astonishment.
"M-My God...this is the entrance to the Underworld?" The pathway in front of them was dark, and filled with fog. All around them was forest, and the leaf-filled trees at the sides of the road all seemed to aline together up to about seven meters ahead of them, where they appeared to be beant to form what appeared to be a large, three meter tall, three meter wide circle. Not even a single thing was seen through the pathway. The ground beneath the carriage was a path of smooth dirt.
"Yes, master. It is. Before we enter, make sure you're prepared. The Underworld is a dangerous place." Azure spoke.
"I know..." Christopher's face obtained a serious expression. He was fully prepared for the worst upon entry. "...Let's go, Azure."
"Yes master."
When they were directly in front of the pathway, they exited the carriage, and thanked the driver. Then, not long after, they stood before it. The thought that his sister just might be beyond the path ahead of them overcame the young boy, he knew it was going to be dangerous,
"Ready, Azure?" Christopher said.
"Yes, master. I'm ready."
"Good. Roselina, I'm coming...Your elder brother is coming for you..."
Then, afterwards, they entered into the Underworld.