Hours scraped by agonizingly.
And the silence in the narrow passage was only interrupted by the crackling of the flaming torches.
Rhea and Daichi would take turns, peering back.
Nothing changed. It was there—still following from a distance; silently, its feathery hands halted on its sword, and its clawed feet shattered the dull silence between the flickering flames.
Up ahead: An iron door stood tall, its surface etched with scripts like scars.
Rhea's brows furrowed, her eyes skimming across the details.
"An exit."
Bumping past them, it stopped by the door.
Its hand rose to its chest. Settling above a soft, continuous beat in its chest.
"All must bow before King Avenor. And give praise to his glory and might," It recited. Gazing over its shoulder—layered eyes skimming over the two.
Rhea's stomach coiled; palms flat against her chest, met by rhythmic pulse. Daichi's jaw tightened.
"Noneshall defy you!"
A blue key materialized halfway inside the door's lock. Blue mist coated its form like skin—slowly leaking from it.
Extending its hand—the Harpy twisted the key.
CLANK!
Something settled within: mechanical gears screamed as they operated.
SCREEK!
The towering door struggled against the hard ground.
Opening slowly.
The Harpy stepped aside—it allowed Rhea and Daichi to enter.
Looking inside, they saw stairs ascending upwards, damp and faintly illuminated by torches, leading out.
The Harpy followed through.
SCREEK!
The mechanical door closed as Rhea and Daichi followed the stairs. The harpy not too far behind.
Moss stuck to the battered walls, wet on the stairs, as it conquered the metallic sconce holding the torches.
Muffled sound of chatter got louder on every step—each a little less damp than any before.
Soon they could make out coherent sentences: voices, faint music, and laughter.
Time dragged on, but the frame of a dark wooden door became clearer the closer they got. The stairs ended—and the wooden door stood before them.
"Open it."
The Harpy ordered.
Rhea scoffed; ignoring its demand.
It stepped forward—but Daichi's hand met the cold handle of the door.
Pulling it open, it struggled against rigid stone tiles.
The door gave way: a chilly gush of wind washed against their form as they emerged from below.
And before them; massive hall stretched out.
A shiver traveled from Daichi's core to the back of his neck. And surprise flashed across Rhea's eyes.
A civilization.
The moonlight filtered through windows and cracks in the structure; disappearing into the light within.
Harpies glided through the air, humans, and a few people with strange horns and reptilian tails, claimed the ground—some sped through, while others made no haste.
Merchants shouted prices. Civilians haggled. Traders moved goods on carts. Adventurers—armed and scarred. Scouts with maps and compasses huddled together.
Mori could be here!
Thrilled, he felt hope: his eyes moved frantically through the crowd—searching for a kid with striking orange-red hair.
The Harpy moved ahead of them.
But that movement left the hall silent.
Every head turned—the chatter and noise around stopped.
The two could almost grab the change in atmosphere.
Daichi froze awkwardly; his frantic searching was met with eyes piercing his soul. Rhea's scowl returned: she was tense. Her grip on her bow tightened. Watching every little movement.
Murmurs and whispers filled the silence.
"I'm betting ten gold that guy's a Gift Hunter."
"Are they Hollow-sound raiders?"
"That child looks so scary. She has to be a G.H.M.A."
"Shhhh!!!—don't be stupid, an enforcer is right there!"
"The guy looks so wild. Is he a slave?"
The stares weighed on them like anchors.
Rhea shivered at the comments as she looked up at Daichi to see how he was coping.
He's looking around.
Maybe this doesn't feel as bad for him as it does for me.
Wait...he's looking around!—
They briefly made eye contact—she flinched—but his eyes.
They're normal again.
"You okay?"
His comforting tone rang out, ignoring the hall of unknown faces around him: the silence, the stares, the murmurs, and the pressuring feeling in the atmosphere. Focusing more on Rhea's discomfort—and finding his son.
"Uhm...yeah," She paused, lips pressed together, but trembled. "Are you still seeing the lines you told me about?"
Attempting his steadfast composure—she sighed—her shoulders relaxed.
"No. I don't see them anymore. They faded away while we were making our way here," He looked up. And continued his search, despite the eyes that met his. "In the passage way here."
Did his eyes deplete his Vhis?—No, that doesn't make any sense. It might be possible, though: hmph.
Her discomfort, confusion, and inner conflict were held with constraint. Daichi knew her unease—but her stern expression, furrowed brow, and restless eyes made her mind a puzzle for anyone trying to look inside.
Continuing behind the harpy, they exit the building into the outside world—the sky above was like a portrait, with vibrant colors exploding across it; the stars shimmered; and the moon glowed peacefully.
Daichi's heart leaped, and Rhea's grip on her bow loosened. Their eyes widened, and their mouths were agape.
Towering homes built on stone supports and wooden platforms connected them like webs stretched out along the road, made of perfectly placed bricks.
Harpies flew and landed effortlessly on the platforms.
And below, homes made by humans. Who would rather be on the ground than up high.
Their steps covered less distance—both Daichi and Rhea swallowed every detail there was and committed them to memory.
"Hurry!"
The Harpy ordered. Breaking their bubble of intrigue.
"Tch."
Rhea hissed—intentionally walking slower.
Daichi sighed.
Why are you so stubborn.
Quickening his pace, he edged closer to the Harpy. He looks back at Rhea.
"Hurry, would you?"
He whispered.
Her palms went white from her grip on her bow. Her chest heavy from the intent to ignore him, too.
"Fine."
She growled—slowly getting closer to Daichi with each step.
Warm lighting claimed the darkness from every home they passed.
"Haha, really?, I thought she'd never buy it."
"Well, I assume it's for that boy she likes so much."
Every person they passed interacted warmly.
"Come down here, you! That's not fair! We said no flying!"
"You're naturally faster than me! Playing catch with you can never be fair for me!"
The child stuck her tongue out—her small, feathery wings kept her hovering above the others.
Rhea watched it all: The children interacting and the adults gossiping. Feeling a subtle chill in the air.
This place is—alive.
Her mind settled, and her grip loosened around the hard frame of her bow; her heart ached silently, taking in everything she once had.
Daichi felt a gentle tug on his shirt: Looking down at her, Rhea's head bowed, her long, silky black hair hid her face.
"Are you okay?"
His pace slowed, matching hers.
"Yea..."
Slowly, she raised her head—but nothing changed.
"No..."
Her hand trembled slightly.
"We're here."
The Harpy's voice tore through her vulnerability.
Daichi's shirt crumpled from how Rhea held it.
A flicker of blue flames appeared above her head, slowly forming a ring.
He grabbed her hand, holding it softly.
"Hey. Calm down—we'll talk about it when we can."
"'kay?"
The faint ring of wild flames went out as she held his hand firmly.
"Alright."
She sighed—looking up, she's met with the spectacle of a building larger than any other she'd seen.
Purple banners of King Avenor hugged the walls, the stony texture polished and the greenery around it trimmed to near perfection.
Following the Harpy—they entered the building.
The two by the entrance were armed... where is this stupid Harpy taking us.
Rhea's hold on Daichi's hand tightened.
This place looks important—why are we even here.
Daichi followed quietly.
Weapons sat against the walls like ancient artworks.
Click.
A door cracked open as the Harpy opened it for them.
They stopped—locking eyes with the Harpy.
"I'm not going—"
The Harpy's feathery hand wrapped around its sword firmly.
"Blood isn't hard to clean from stone—child."
It wasn't planned to force the two. That wasn't necessary.
Daichi's brows twitched. His eyes already found an ancient-looking sword that hugged the wall.
"Say that again." They locked eyes.
The harpy's sword glinted as it slowly unsheathed.
Rhea pulled away from Daichi's hand—slowly walking toward the door.
He looked at her, then back up at the Harpy.
"Tsk."
His steps soft behind her—silently staring down the Harpy until he entered the room.
And ahead; the room stretched out. With doors on each side—leading to other rooms.
Daichi's body tensed as Rhea started walking.
Click.
The door closed behind them.
And the Harpy followed inside—its clawed toes clicked against the stone on every step.
"You—come."
Its feathery finger aimed at Rhea.
She locked eyes with Daichi—then the Harpy.
What would you do, elder?
She complied, walking toward the Harpy.
Daichi's eyes dug into its back.
Click.
It opened another door—Looking at Daichi again, Rhea stepped inside.
Click.
The harpy walked ahead. Its feathers brushed softly against him.
"Where did you put her!" His fists balled. But the Harpy was silent. "Hey!"
Click.
It opened another door down the hall—its layered eyes met Daichi's.
He snarled. His brows arched. But the Harpy held its sword firmly.
I don't have many choices here—do I?
He clicked his tongue as he entered the room.
A bead of sweat crawled down his forehead.