"Madilan? Why would we ever go to that God-forsaken land?" Ruiki asked her incredulously.
Madilan, the land bordering the south, was a politically and strategically important city that the northerners had wanted to conquer since decades ago and even now, but had eventually failed every time.
It sounded ridiculous, that his mother wanted to head there, to the City of All-Science detested all over the continent.
"Madilan... Is a unique place, Ruiki. A place which the Southern Kingdoms or the northerners couldn't conquer, let alone extend their claws over." She said quietly.
"Mother... Why can't Madilan be conquered? Why does it remain an independent land that claims to be under the Emperor? Just why... Is it the Haven of All-Science?"
His mother merely smiled, not responding as she looked at the clock, "It's late, Ruiki. You have to attend school tomorrow. Get some sleep,"
Ruiki hesitated for a moment but nodded on second thought, bidding her a good night as he walked to his room, changing his clothes and setting up his bed as he slept, wrapping himself in thick blankets.
Looking out the window, the silver moon hung high above in the sky, illuminating the night and bringing about a tranquil peace, something that couldn't be described by words.
Ruiki stared at it until slumber overcame him, his breathing steady and even until it turned erratic soon enough.
...
Waking up from a nightmare covered with sweat, Ruiki shrugged it off like a usual occurrence and tidied his bed, bathing and sitting in the dining room to eat breakfast.
As today, even the energised Na'ari stayed quiet, Ruiki asked, "When are we moving out?"
"Soon," his mother replied, biting on to a piece of omelette. "It would be preferable to move out after you graduate, no?" she asked with a smile.
Ruiki frowned. "No need. The problems we face are far more serious than graduation. It'd be best to move out as soon as possible,"
His mother nodded with a smile. "Tomorrow, then."
Ruiki froze, taken aback by the abrupt departure. "Tomorrow?" he asked, dumbfounded, while Na'ari's eyes widened.
"Eh? Wait, wait, wait, wait! We are changing our house? Why? Where?" Her energised demeanor returned as she plagued her mother with questions, her mother patiently replying to each of her questions.
"...Really? We will be moving to a magical place then!"
His mother chuckled. "Yes, you can find a lot of toys there, many of the dolls you play with are manufactured there,"
Na'ari smiled awkwardly, as if exposed as she stole a glance at Ruiki. But seeing him shocked still, her smile widened.
"Then I shall pack all my things up!" She said with bright enthusiasm as Ruiki rolled his eyes.
What things does a nine-year- old have that needs packing... Ruiki saw her whole demeanor brightening as a mischievous smile formed on her face.
"I need not go to school, then," she said, faking an accent, "I shall pack my things first!"
But she was steadfastly pulled back by their mother and reprimanded, "You still need to go to school, my dear. I will pack your things for you,"
"Hehe, why bother? I should be responsible for my own things!"
Seeing her trying her best to not attend the school, Ruiki shook his head as he asked, "I won't attend school today, then,"
Seeing their mother nod, Na'ari grew more aggressive in her attempts as Ruiki ate his breakfast and exited his house, wearing a black shirt and beige trousers.
He had long since planned on what he was about to do today, but he dreaded the day.
Being encased in multiple nightmares of the events of Cavern of Black Lilies, he dreaded the place as well. But since they were going to go to Madilan tomorrow, he'd had decided to take a glimpse at the accursed cavern, hoping to get some clues or such on the incident back then.
Ruiki soon passed by the city gates, heading towards the Strenzo River, which was also known as the 'River of Undead', as he continued onwards, spotting the same stone that was not as bright as before.
He vaguely remembered the exit of the cavern that Rose had used as he braced himself, folding his sleeves as he descended the river, swimming below as he floundered, spotting a silverstone pressure plate down below as he lifted it with strained muscles along with the water pressure.
Although it was difficult, with a bit of magic and the Levitate spell, he was able to remove the silverstone pressure plate as he descended further below through a hole, holding his breath as he spotted various aquatic animals in their full glory.
...A jellyfish? He saw a blob of purple in the distance as it moved using its slimy tentacles of sort, being almost transparent. He concluded that the said aquatic animal was perhaps a descendant of the "jellyfish" species active around eighty-ninety years ago, but he wasn't too sure about his knowledge of the aquatic animals.
Spotting an almost black ward indistinguishable from the black stone he'd seen on his way, Ruiki swam through it as he experienced the notion that he was going to fall, but he merely stepped through a moment later, feeling that his directions and sense of gravity were distorted.
Such wards of potent magic... Ruiki thought, instantly covering his nose with his handkerchief at the putrid smell of blood.
Looking around, he saw the corpses of many yellow rats and strangely morphed humans, their limbs missing and having marks that indicated that they had been cut by a greatsword.
Covering his nose, Ruiki looked around and found a corner where the majority of the corpses had been disposed of, his expression twisting.
Gathering himself, he first examined the area thoroughly as he looked at every nook and cranny, looking for the corpse of those he'd recognised.
He soon found something, though it wasn't exactly a corpse.
Ruiki held it in front of his face as he examined it, the thing was as shiny as ever, if not more.
It was the ring Baron Barlet Ployer had always worn. Looking at it closely now, the ring had a sapphire-like gem supported by miniature pillars of gold, forming a palm, with a name inscribed on the ring, Ruiki noticed it was enchanted.
Ring of Alchaezarr... Ruiki read, surprised.
It was the ring of the famous Wizard Alchaezarr!
Alchaezarr was a wizard who roamed the lands shortly after the Last Embers, being proclaimed as the strongest Wizard shortly after before his death at the hands of a mysterious foe.
Although many people doubted his origins of being a wizard and proclaimed him as a vicious Heart Demon, little remains point towards that end.
To think that the Baron was wearing his ring... Ruiki found it unbelievable. Although the Wind Flower City was a politically important city and the first wall of defence against the northerners, it wasn't placed much importance upon.
Ruiki soon guessed the reason, though. I doubt the Wind Flower City was the first line of defence against the northerners.
Although the city was basically a large fortress that shielded the city beyond with robust defences, it didn't make much sense to make a city where the king's subjects and nobles lived as a "wall of defence."
So it was easy to guess that, the prison of the Order of Black Pits was undoubtedly the first line of defence.
This thought brought a shudder up Ruiki's spine, his mind shifting to another topic of vital importance: The half-polymorphed humans!
Upon closer inspection of their corpses, Ruiki noticed that they were prematurely brought out of the "test tube," hence having lower amounts of strength than the finished product.
He also noticed that the yellow liquid that still clung onto their skin was actually morphing it, making the skin gain a blurry and soggy structure.
So the half-polymorphed humans were being experimented upon, and being completed in that... scientific lab. Ruiki frowned. The Order of Black Pits, just what are they?
Ruiki quickly scratched the plan to pay a visit to the Order of Black Pits after this and headed deeper into the cavern.
Most of the walls in the cavern were covered in silk, stinking liquid emanating the smell of a corpse around it.
The silk was that of the cocoons, Ruiki guessed, with the faint remains of fagosins as well, the place looked like a site where a massacre had occurred.
Reaching the place with the frozen spire, Ruiki froze as he discovered a book lying beside the rubble where some creature had been buried.
Getting closer, Ruiki picked it up and saw that it was some sort of a diary.
"Third of March, Monday. Year 84,
Strange things have started to occur in the north, with the prestigious Royal Magic Academy being destroyed and its residents kidnapped.
The kidnappers demand for ransom, something that the northerners couldn't give up easily."
Ruiki read, noticing the elegant handwriting in the book.
"Fifth of March, Wednesday. Year 84.
The assailants have been identified, the various gangs in the Lower Street District of Cvoilics.
Numerous explosions in the Lower Street District point to: a cafe, a truck; and a blown escort."
"Seventh of March, Friday. Year 84,
Viscount Barley Whitetwin fumes; stating: "The terrorists should not underestimate the wrath of a young noble."
The whole Lower Street District has been shut down, apparently, with various PeaceKeepers under questioning.
Administrator of Unit 302, Nanchoko claims that the events of the incident remain obscured to them as well.
Peacekeepers criticized by the "Owls."
"Tenth of March, Monday. Year 84."
Attached to this diary entry was a piece of newspaper written in the common language: "Sightings of terrorists noted! Terrorists take residence on Madilan, the Haven of All-Science!"
There was a headline below,
"The Twilight City and the Central Grounds of Cvoilics state that they are "negotiating" with the terrorists, trying to get the hostages back through non-violence."
The diary entry continued, the pages smudged in water, "The biggest academy in the Eastern Continent was brought down by a bunch of thugs.
The populace of the gangs amounted to over a hundred thousand. But the Royal Magic Academy had strong mages and wizards, along with the Blessed among them..."
Ruiki closed the seemingly long book depicting the events of the northern states.
He knew that the events — the ones that he knew, at least — were real because the explosion of the Royal Magic Academy was quickly spreading like wildfire to the whole of Eastern Continent, the Welleysworths Union unable to suppress such a big incident.
Storing the book away in the magical pouch he still possessed, Ruiki continued onwards, searching for more clues.
Searching for a while discreetly and not encountering any stray fagosins' or brirads', Ruiki eventually came to the area where the prison had collapsed as he spotted two figures and quickly sought shelter in the area he knew all too well.
Hiding and not peeking from any sides, Ruiki manages to hear the conversations of the two figures ahead, although unclear.
"...since when were we capable of roaming the land of death? Is death's power weakening?" a voice said, pleasantly surprised.
Another voice replied, joy evident. "Haha, brother. Who knows, we might be able to roam the "lands of light" as well!"
"But we shouldn't get careless, we should proceed further with caution. Although the south of the Eastern Continent doesn't actually possess Holy Paladins, I've heard they have Graveyard Watchers. Not to mention they are the most well-versed in magical arts,"
Such was common knowledge, although the northerners bragged about having the best Magic Academy in the world, it wasn't as such. They were mostly popular for the amount of Blessed they possessed, and having two of the World's Leisures supporting them.
Just as Ruiki strained his ears to hear further, he sensed movement and turned around abruptly, a spell in the ready.
But the person before him pressed a finger on his mouth, silencing him.
"Shhh. The vampires have keen hearing, I am known as The Haggler, let's trade!"