Deborah's POV
When we arrived at the surface entrance of Murias, Matthew and I immediately hid behind the dunes, careful not to repeat the mistake of being spotted by Chad as we had last time.
We weren't sure about the current state of the underground city, but one thing was clear: we were undoubtedly on FDB's most wanted list by now.
After a brief discussion, we decided to use the "Teleport" spell and head straight back to the NO.7 Quarry—our old hideout.
I chanted 'Ventus Swift,' and a rush of wind enveloped us, transporting us instantly to the familiar office of the NO.7 Quarry.
Dust coated the furniture, and the silence was almost oppressive.
It seemed that no one had been here since we left.
But I knew our Ashen Light members hadn't given up.
I picked up the emergency Mobi that David had left behind and sent out a distress signal.
In less than half an hour, David, Cora, and Mark arrived one after another.
Seeing their familiar faces filled me with a sense of warmth and relief.
The moment Cora saw me, she practically ran into my arms, clutching me tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you?" she choked out, her voice a mix of anger and relief.
I wrapped my arms around her, gently patting her back. "I'm sorry, Cora. I'm back. I'm safe."
"You idiot!" she sobbed, shaking her head as if trying to process her emotions. "If something had happened to you, what would I have done?"
I could feel her trembling in my embrace.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry…"
Meanwhile, Matthew was greeted with strong embraces from both David and Mark, silent gestures of brotherhood and solidarity.
"Welcome home," David murmured softly, his voice calm, though his eyes shone with a rare gleam of emotion.
"Thank you," Matthew replied, a small, weary smile on his face.
Just as we had expected, Matthew and I had become fugitives in Murias.
Except for Mark, David and Cora had both been interrogated.
But thankfully, due to their unique statuses, they were released soon enough and returned to their posts.
Once the initial relief settled, Matthew and I spread out a rough map we'd drawn of the surface and began explaining everything we had found and endured over the past few weeks.
"We've discovered a place that's free from radiation and contamination—a new home aboveground—Tirfothuinn," I said, pointing to the marked spot on the map, my voice brimming with excitement.
David's brows furrowed in skepticism. "Seriously? There's a place like that up there?"
"Yes," Matthew nodded, "it's an island surrounded by a thick wall of vines. From the outside, it looks ordinary, but inside… it's like nothing I've ever seen."
He described the lush forests, blooming flowers, buzzing bees, and vibrant butterflies he'd seen. The vivid blues and greens of the island, the clear skies, and even a rainbow stretching across the horizon.
Cora's eyes widened, shining with wonder and disbelief.
"Is it really that beautiful?" she whispered, hope lighting up her face.
"Yes," Matthew confirmed, his gaze earnest. "And they're willing to take in everyone from Murias."
"Wait… they're willing to accept us?" Mark asked incredulously. "Why would they agree to that?"
"But there is one condition," I interjected. "Everyone must pass Conscientia's judgment."
"Judgment?" David repeated, his brows knit in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"We're not entirely sure," I admitted, sighing softly. "We went through what felt like a judgment ourselves—a sort of illusion that tested our will, emotions, and even beliefs. I'm not certain how others from Murias will fare, but I believe they can make it through."
"So… it's not impossible," Mark murmured thoughtfully. "Then, Murias finally has hope."
I nodded, feeling a weight lift slightly from my shoulders.
Matthew continued, "But there's more. The surface is still dangerous, filled with mutated creatures that are most active at night."
"We'll fight them off if we have to, as long as there's hope," Cora said quietly, a fierce determination in her gaze.
Matthew described the different kinds of mutated creatures we'd encountered and how I'd used my magic to fend them off.
Just then, Mark pulled out a document and handed it to me.
"I have some good news of my own," he said, his voice brimming with excitement.
Curious, I quickly skimmed through the papers, my heart pounding. It was a report on the effects of Falshi on Enigma radiation.
Is this…?" I whispered, barely able to believe what I was seeing.
"Falshi can absorb and neutralize Enigma radiation," Mark explained, his tone serious. "In small amounts, it won't harm the human body—instead, it actively absorbs and neutralizes the majority of the surrounding radiation."
David raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the technical details. "Can you skip to the point?"
"The point is—if everyone carries a small amount of Falshi, they can move around the surface safely without worrying about radiation exposure."
I froze, my mind racing with possibilities.
"Wait… so does that mean… ordinary people could survive up there?" Cora asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Yes." Mark nodded. "But only for a limited time. I can't give an exact duration, but keeping it under a month should be safe."
I nearly jumped up in joy.
"This… this is a lifeline for the people of Murias!" I exclaimed, hope and excitement flooding my chest.
"Yes," Mark agreed with a small smile. "But there's still one major issue."
"What issue?"
"How do we convince everyone to leave Murias?" he asked, his expression serious.
The smile on my face faded instantly.
He was right. We still needed a way to make people believe that leaving Murias was safer—no matter how dangerous the road to Tirfothuinn might seem.
The real challenge was only just beginning.