Eventually, Cord's loyalty to Maru prevailed, compelling him to summon his trusted friend, accomplice, and leader. Maru appeared swiftly before Cord, yet he did not rush forward; instead, he paused with deliberate composure, as though awaiting the message Cord carried. Though he had anticipated being called the moment Floki was found, Maru neither lingered behind nor advanced recklessly. He walked with calm, measured steps, brisk but unhurried, until he stood before Cord.
A deep frown etched itself across his face when he saw no figure resembling the soul named Floki near Cord's massive frame—only a vast, oppressive shadow stretching behind him. Beyond that shadow lay the familiar, haunting scenery of the cave's mouth, its silence heavy with expectation and mystery.
Suppressing the question he longed to ask and hiding his concern for Floki's welfare, Maru appeared before Cord. Without hesitation, Cord warily revealed what he had observed, stepping forward and presenting his leg as he spoke:
[I feel fine.]
Maru, often branded the eccentric prince of New Darkovia—a title he never understood—was accustomed to odd behavior among his companions. He knew some of his friends had fractured minds, and he himself was not exempt from whispers of madness. Yet Cord was different. Maru had never regarded him as foolish, mad, or a jester. Still, in this moment, Cord's behavior carried a reckless edge, a strange foolishness born not of his nature but of circumstance, as though the weight of uncertainty pressed him into actions that betrayed his usual steadiness and wisdom.
Maru observed Cord for a long moment, trying to discern whether he truly failed to grasp the gravity of the situation or whether he simply chose to treat the looming threat as humor. Here was Maru, bracing himself for the grim news of Floki's disappearance, his mind heavy with worry over his friend and colleague.
Yet Cord, instead of matching the seriousness of the moment, seemed to jest, speaking lightly about how he felt. Though Maru had never regarded Cord as foolish, mad, or a jester, in this instance Cord's behavior carried a reckless levity, a misplaced foolishness that clashed with the weight of the moment and deepened Maru's unease.
Maru forced himself to remain calm, suppressing the urge to reveal the storm of emotions within. Yet he believed Cord understood the consequences that awaited if he continued these foolish games and tried to provoke him further. After all, the two had sparred not too long ago, and Maru had emerged victorious, leaving Cord battered and barely clinging to life.
The memory of that brutal encounter lingered in Maru's mind, a reminder of his strength and Cord's vulnerability. Now, as Cord toyed with levity in the face of grave matters, Maru's patience thinned, his restraint balanced precariously against the simmering fury that threatened to break free.
Trying his best to maintain a composed expression despite the anger burning within, Maru stepped closer to Cord. He circled him briefly, studying his stance, before moving directly in front of him and speaking firmly to his face:
[I see you are fine, but I cannot find Floki anywhere. Surely you would not mind pointing me toward his location, so that I may confirm his welfare.]
Maru's voice carried a sharp edge, calm yet commanding, the weight of his words pressing against the silence. Though he restrained his fury, the memory of Cord's earlier recklessness lingered, and his patience thinned. The cave's air seemed heavier as Maru demanded clarity, his tone leaving no room for jest, only the urgency of truth and the unspoken warning that Cord's foolishness had limits.
Cord replied gingerly, misreading the calm expression Maru struggled to maintain. He seemed to believe Maru was comfortable with the unfolding situation, and so he dismissed Maru's request, speaking instead with misplaced levity:
[You wouldn't believe it, truly, but I can move as freely as I wish. My leg no longer aches as it did yesterday; it feels almost renewed, as if…]
Cord's words carried a strange cheer, his tone light against the heavy silence. To Maru, this response felt like a dangerous misstep, a foolish dismissal of the gravity surrounding Floki's disappearance. The cave's air thickened with unease, as though Cord's misplaced optimism clashed violently with the weight of Maru's restrained fury and the unanswered question of Floki's fate.
Maru cut him off abruptly, unwilling to share Cord's misplaced anticipation or indulge his wandering words. What mattered now was the truth of Floki's disappearance, not Cord's musings. He tried to maintain a calm expression, but the effort faltered. His fists clenched, his voice rose louder, and impatience bled through his restraint as he demanded with sharp urgency:
[So… Where is he?]
The cave seemed to echo the force of his words, the silence pressing heavier as Maru's composure cracked. His tone carried not only frustration but a warning, a reminder of the seriousness Cord had ignored. In that moment, the air between them thickened, charged with anger, expectation, and the undeniable weight of Floki's absence.
Cord finally realized that his evasive words and failure to present evidence of Floki's whereabouts were worsening the situation, so he attempted to share his findings immediately. Yet before he could speak, Maru's seething anger flared visibly across his face.
The darkness in his eyes burned with intensity, and the few parchments of skin that framed his features revealed bright, pulsing veins, starkly emphasizing the fury and disappointment he felt. Cord's refusal to treat the matter with urgency and caution, instead wasting precious time with foolish levity, ignited Maru's wrath. The weight of their strange predicament pressed heavily upon them, and with gritted teeth Maru forced himself to speak, struggling to maintain composure despite the storm of rage boiling within.
[I don't think you understand what is going on here. Let me explain it in simple terms: if we cannot find Floki, we cannot leave this island.]
Maru did not need to elaborate on Floki's importance within their cohort. The memory of their last battle against the mighty squid was enough to remind him of Floki's irreplaceable role. It had been Floki who wielded his powers to plant a seed of inception within the creature's mind, convincing it that it was on fire.
That illusion became the catalyst that freed Cord from its crushing grip, halted its relentless assault on Maru, and ultimately drove the beast back into the abyss from which it had emerged. Without Floki, their strength was fractured, their unity broken, and the possibility of survival diminished.
Maru's words carried not just urgency but the weight of undeniable truth, pressing Cord to abandon foolishness and face the reality before them.
Through the many expeditions they had undertaken after that disastrous incident—one that had cost Cord his leg—they had only managed to escape the squid's relentless tentacles because of Floki. It was clear that Floki was both valued and valuable within their cohort.
Yet despite his seemingly astonishing powers, his role remained largely supportive. While Maru and Cord were advanced soul beings, Floki was merely a high‑class soul being, weaker by comparison and unable to survive alone for long on the perilous island they now inhabited. In truth, they had been fortunate to find him alive when they first arrived; gods alone knew how he had endured for so long amidst such dangers, his survival a testament to resilience but also a reminder of his fragility.