A ripple effect occurred across the dome as the audience hushed themselves. Although many people hadn't actually seen Joran, the apparent new space made in the concave that was marked with a turquoise open palm, next to the Idaten's Golden Grown; and the brandished tippets, also turquoise on the trio that had just walked in was all they needed to realize who they were.

Joran could hear the closest of them talk in hushed whispers.

"Is that really the Joker?"

"I heard he was the one who represents the common people!"

"Nonsense, these aristocrats and nobles care little for the rest of us."

"No, no, there's a rumor that the Joker was born to a pair of farmers! He's just like us!"

"He was, not anymore."

Joran gritted his teeth but feigned ignorance as he shook his head subtly, and began to walk the rest of the way down to the concave, where some of the Assembly had already gathered. Including Reigan, Drekor, and now a silent guard that stood close to the wall, away from the annularly arranged tables that seated the leaders within the Assembly.

With a measured gait, Joran's procession approached the Idaten's, and with a heavy bow, Joran spoke cordially, not unlike when he was in the Throne Hall.

"This Joker is honored to be seated by your side, Realm Monarch."

The crowd had been hushed the entire time, leering eyes waiting for Reigan's response.

But he didn't say anything, he nodded once, and went back to organizing papers at his table. A cold sweat broke out on Joran's back as the crowd's murmurs erupted once more. But then a snicker was heard. Joran turned face to face to the Crowned Prince, whose face held a warm smile.

Joran inquired, "What is it, Prince Drekor?"

"Please, you're so stiff, Joran. Ease up a little bit. I've always cared little for placidity; but that's practically you, and what you want to achieve ultimately. And the people should see some of that, today."

Joran scoffed under his breath, "They seem to think I'm something else, now."

"Please, brother," A tenderness filled Drekor's voice, "When did you care about what others thought of you?"

Joran looked into Drekor's eyes meaningfully, and with a pat on his back from Hando, he could only wryly smile, "Well, I did care what Teacher Hando had to say about me!"

Hando smirked, "Only a student of the highest character!"

"Hah, right."

By now, the rest of the Assembly had arrived, and with that, Drekor sighed, "We'll have to catch up another time. Good luck, Joker Joran."

With a nod, Joran led his assemblage away. Now, he could see his new table arranged in the annular fashion of the concave. The turquoise hue on it was fresh, the smell of paint hitting him, even if it was dried. For the first time feeling the table as he sat down, he realized that although it was most likely made of cedar, it was marbled, smooth.

Just like the rest, Joran thought to himself.

Brushing his hand along the surface, Joran glanced around the concave, suddenly realizing he was alone on his side, save Hando and Callahan. Of course when he glanced to his right, was the Realm Monarch.

Counterclockwise from the Idaten, were the Argo and their green hourglass insignia on their table, the Jura and their bronze eye with a ring around the iris, the Heca and their red pyramid insignia Joran saw at the Precinct, the Gouriki with their black wolf's face, the Cael and their kaleidoscopic eye with the colors trailing away from it, and the Suekamikou, who were on Joran's left side, whose insignia was a silver tower shield bearing streaks of black and gold on it; the colors of the Three Major Families. While they were all Major Families, the unspoken fact was that the Metal Boulder Sect, Earthbound Clout Family, and Sovereign Swift Clan held their head above the rest.

Shaking slightly from his nerves, Joran took deep breaths as he glanced to his flanks, where Callahan and Hando were now sitting beside him, left and right respectively. They gave him smiles of encouragement. It was only a wait now before the Assembly would start.

After several minutes, letting the respective Families organize themselves, Reigan stood up from his seat, which instantly shushed the entire chamber. He looked around the seats within the audience, and then to the leaders that now stood with him and Joran. He spoke with solemnity, something none of the Assembly had heard in all their years together.

"It has been discovered that this Invasion will… Most likely be a repeat of the first one we all endured."

Anxious clamors filled the room, and like a wave, silenced as soon as it came. Reigan had said this to the Assembly, but then he turned around to gesture directly to the audience, and took a slight bow.

"I am sorry for our failure."

The Assembly was taken aback by this change of demeanor, equal parts shock, and equal parts furious. The Realm Monarch was the leader of the entire Realm, yes. But he didn't even so much as speak to explain why he would lower himself in apologies to the public eye. Much less, speaking on behalf of all of them without even counseling them. Before any one of them rebuked, Reigan proceeded seamlessly from his apology, turning to his fellow leaders once more, now grim, and more serious than ever.

"When I assumed the Throne, I had promised to the Realm, and to myself, that we would make it a safer place. When the last Realm Monarch fell to the waves of Beasts, and the populace of the Metropolis capitulated. When I watched my mentor, Draco, die in an attempt to galvanize any defenses. It was at all those moments I swore to fend off the Invasion. To fend off the Beasts, once and for all."

This was the first time Joran heard such detail of the bloodshed that had happened all those years ago. And for many in the stands, it was either something they did not remember well, or weren't even born to witness yet. But the finality of Reigan's solemn vow was doubtless.

Reigan continued, "We erected these great walls around our cities to defend them, and we lent our hands any way we could towards the Borderlands. We prospered for these 30 years. And now… It will all be for naught, yet again."

It was then, that Reigan nodded to Joran, who felt as though a spotlight was beaming at him in a split-second. The eyes of the Assembly, no, of the world rested on him. He closed his eyes, swallowed once, and exhaled a shaky breath, before walking forward into the center, where him and Jeremiah had done their Soma Lum. The same place he declared his open revulsion to these leaders. Joran glanced quickly over to the Gouriki table, to see Herk who was indifferent to his appearance, as well as Jeremiah, who quickly contained the addled rage he bore ever since he saw Joran entered the Assembly.

Standing alone in the center, Joran glanced around, seeing Ruben whose demeanor was serious for once, and Vera, whose eyes were studiously glued on him, waiting for the apparent news he was supposed to deliver. The rest of the leaders seemed as serious as Ruben, with Cato being the sole exception.

For the first time, Joran could see apparent rage behind Cato's face. He was as calm as water, as usual; but the grey eyes bore intense hatred, that even Joran could feel, despite it being clearly for the Beasts. It wasn't hard to imagine what Cato had lost in the Invasion.

And so, Joran announced the gravity of the situation. First recounting the first expedition that he was in with Hando, where they were assailed by an orc. Where Joseph repelled an entire pack of kobolds before being downed through "mysterious" means. And then the return Joran made to the encounter's location, this time with the Realm Monarch. The destruction of the encampment, only to then discover the portal that goblins took and vanished into.

When the news of the portal was announced, the crowd erupted in uproar. Chaos seemed to be uncontained, as people began to shuffle out of their seats, ready to leave and defend whatever was on their mind: property, families, anything.

That is, until…

A single clap emanated within the chamber, and although it wasn't particularly loud, it seemed as though it was deafening when the silence descended. People and leaders alike turned to the direction of the clap, to see it was none other than Aurumn, at the top of the Heca stairs. As everyone realized who it was, they began to look on intently, waiting for him to say anything.

His raspy voice grated on Joran's ears, "You spend years tucked away, unwavering in your cities, and the second some news of a portal threatens that security, you forget that we are of the Hero Realm! I shouldn't have expected anything else, to be honest."

The scathing remarks seared into everyone's minds, though Reigan was the first to speak up, "It shouldn't be a surprise that a region that can barely hold a city together would remark on the Metropolis's unity. It is news that bear terrible ramifications for us, and you would scold us?"

Aurumn shook his head, unfazed, "I'm not scolding, simply reminding you all that you are all more than capable of fending off Beasts. Have you forgotten the Arts passed down from generation to generation, refined and polished for use against this threat? Countless centuries of this, and now that you've built seemingly impregnable walls, it's forgotten in 30 years?"

Silence pervaded the chamber. The people felt shame at being remarked upon like this by one of the noblemen of the Borderlands. A place most of them felt was savage. But what the man said had been perfectly true. Had they really grown so soft..?

"So what?"

Joran spoke against Aurumn, unsure of why it was him that decided to, surprising both Aurumn and himself. But as he spoke, there was a surge of intense emotions that swelled from inside him.

"So what if people have gone on and done things differently from the rest of the world? This isn't a sign of weakness! It's a sign of a community, of unity, as the Realm Monarch declared! We all have parts that we play within the larger framework of the Metropolis. Yes, at the end of the day, we have to fend off Beasts. But is it so bad that there is legroom for others to do other things? Are we really so shackled by this struggle, that we can't even think to be… Be something more? A world where we can do as we please, to live lives that aren't as birds caged, with wings clipped? Can't we work together for that world, where we no longer are chained?"

Joran couldn't tell in that moment, but the audience's eyes lit up, as they gasped lightly, absent mindedly nodding in agreement to him. For many, this was a cathartic realization of who the Joker really was.

One of them.

Aurumn frowned, seemingly unfettered by the rebuttal, "Well. Let me know how that goes for you when the Beasts begin to pour into the cities. I must return to my Borderlands and attend to my own people; they do not yet know this crucial information. For that, I must commend you. If for nothing else, you did well on those encounters."

With that, Aurumn nodded once, then departed as soundlessly as he had arrived, leaving the entire Assembly in a disarray of confusion, and dread. But, there was a tinge of hope that flickered, after Joran's words resonated.

With a sigh, Joran closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead when he heard Drekor chuckle to himself. He turned to his friend, confused at the reaction, until he saw Reigan nodding with a warm smile.

"Well, Joker Joran!" This came from Ruben Heca, his fiery red eyes brimming with satisfaction, "You proved yourself to me, nay, to the Metropolis!"

An uproar of applause began to soar throughout the chamber, staggering Joran as he was dumbstruck by this turn of events.

The applause faded after what seemed an eternity to Joran, and Reigan held out his hand, "As the Joker declared. We have parts to play! In this peace, we have prospered, and we shall obtain it again, no matter what!"

With a resounding boom, the crowd spoke in harmony for the first time, "Yes, Realm Monarch!"

With that, the rest of the Assembly went smoothly. The Military reported a definite surge in Beast activity on the fringes, while Reigan declared that all forces, policing and military, should be brought within the walls and to cover as much ground as possible within the Cities. Jura and Argo had successfully galvanized production of weapons and armor, catalyzed by the recent victories and bounties of the military. After the Assembly, there was an incredible surge in people volunteering to join the military to start the fight against the Beasts. Though many of them were from the lower rungs of families and clans; doing menial duties, the fire that burned within them spurred them onward.

Joran had, for the most part, given a tangible form of hope for the people to grapple on to. But he was smarter than to think it was spontaneous.

"You set that entire chain of events to happen, didn't you?"

Annoyed, but also unsure of what to say or do, Joran approached Reigan back at the Sovereign Palace after the rest of the Assembly, demanding answers. The King's bedroom was grandiose, lavish, and humungous. Gold shimmered at nearly any angle of any cloth, from the bedsheets, to even the curtains on the garish window. The two sat in chairs with a marbled, glass table in between them, cups of water and tea placed between them.

Reigan slyly smiled, "I didn't think Aurumn would come in and step into his own grave, but it worked out perfectly, did it not?"

Joran grunted, as he began to pace back and forth in front of Reigan, "Grr, selling the entire Assembly short and offering an apology like that to placate the people, even having them fall into hopelessness. And then I come in and say we will still do what we can to fight back?"

Reigan held his hands out, surrendering himself playfully, "You caught me. The Assembly caught on to it soon enough, but they went along with it, thankfully."

"Why wouldn't they?"

"Some of them are rather prideful. Being spoken for and then being used as a stepping stone for a person that's not even remotely as strong as them would be a considerable slap to the face. But regardless, you played your piece perfectly, if I do say so."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Of course you would say that, you orchestrated the entire thing!"

Reigan laughed, "Well, I can't take all the credit, you certainly believed what you said, yes?"

"… Of course."

Reigan's face turned bittersweet, and he seemed to be recalling something from memory as he got up from the throne and patted Joran's back, "Keep believing it. It's important that you do."

"What, that this world is unfair? That I can't simply go back to my garden, or work on my parents' farm like I could have?" Joran was going to press on, but his voice snagged when he recalled for a second about Draco, Reigan's apparent mentor, "… Sorry."

Reigan smiled faintly, "It's alright. I know how you feel. I let the pressure of the world break me. I swore I wouldn't change my feelings of how unjust the world was. But I'm not strong enough to break that mold… But," He pointed his finger and placed it on Joran's chest, "You can. And I'll be here to see you do that."

Joran scoffed, incredulous, "And how would you know that? I could barely fend off an orc. How would I be… Strong enough to 'break that mold'?"

Reigan didn't say anything for a moment, as he looked aside, deep in thought, before he looked back at Joran, "The only thing you lack now, is patience. But don't lose your heart when we get you that."

"… I understand, Realm Monarch."

The duo stood in silence with each other, until Joran changed the subject, "So… A guy named Draco was your mentor? What was… so great about him?"

Reigan chuckled, "Well, we've got time, huh? Draco… I had passed my Exam with a Queen of Clubs."

"Well, that's exceptional, right?"

"You would think so, but I came from the Agile Swift Clan. You know the Agile Palace? I'm sure you do, you have a score to settle with Drekor, still."

Joran was absolutely bewildered by this point, "I remember you saying you were from the lowest of lows…. But I thought you meant within the Sovereign Swift Clan?"

"No, hah. I meant what I said. I was born into the clan… Hmm, 65 years ago?"

Joran's face drained of color when he heard that. He sort of assumed Reigan was at least 40, or 45… But to be 65 now meant he was about 35 during the last Invasion, "So… the Agile Palace was your home?"

"No, my parents were attendants for the Mayor of Evergreen. I don't remember them very much, if I'm being honest. But unless you're part of the highest branches of the Major Families, you don't really remember your parents. The Central Districts makes sure of that," Reigan glanced at Joran, before he snickered, "Okay, for the most part."

Joran made a silly face, and the two laughed together before Reigan continued, "I met Draco in the strangest of places. Try to guess?"

"Uh, at the Evergreen Precinct?"

"That's actually not too far off a guess. How about I take you there?"

Joran agreed, and the duo grabbed Drekor, since it was the end of the day anyways, and Joran wanted to catch up with his friend. They left the Palace in Reigan's own sleek black car, notably not too different from Hando's, and when Joran thought they'd turn to the Crown City Precinct, his second guess, they instead went the other way, leading them to a more rugged area. Broken paths, buildings that were obviously not kempt. It was here that Joran realized they'd been moving East, towards Evergreen, as he could see the lusher green of the Boreas Forest, even from this far away.

Dubious of the surroundings, Joran finally spoke up in the back seat, "So uh… Are we going in the right direction?"

Drekor and Reigan chuckled, and shared a knowing smile, Reigan reassured Joran, "It's fine, I told you, it was in the time I had been with the Agile Clan. Of course it won't be grandiose."

"… True, I guess."

Finally, night overtook them, and the drive was soon finished, leading them to a more open area, where it wasn't nearly as developed as Crown City, or Portsmouth even. Worn down structures and roads gave way to scattered trees and lush grass in the immediate area. This bucolic break had Joran at a pause, as he was absorbed into the more natural surroundings they had found themselves in. The car slowed to a stop in what seemed to be the middle of a parkland, and reluctantly, Joran followed the father-son duo out of the car and out to a distinct cluster of trees, with a flowerbed underneath them.

"I told the Assembly, once I had subsumed the throne, that this break between Evergreen and Crown City would never be developed. Would you care to guess why?"

Joran scratched the back of his head, "I'm guessing this is where you met Draco?"

"Not just that, this was where he died as well. When the Beasts flooded into the cities from the west all those years ago, this was the refuge of many people. I held my mentor in my hands when he passed away. And you know what his last words were to me? 'Save our people.'"

Slowly nodding along, Joran could feel the tears threatening to break out from Reigan. It was clear how much he cared for his mentor.

"Even when it seemed all was lost, he clearly never gave up on me. It wasn't until that day that I finally believed in myself. It's hard to do that, I know that all too well. But as he did for me, I must do for you as well. You must reconcile with yourself, and believe in yourself."

At a loss of words, Joran stood in a stupor, and went up to hug Reigan. Who was startled but chuckled, reciprocating. Although Joran wasn't short, Reigan still stood a full head above him. Drekor also joined to make it into a group hug.

The trio stood for a while, embracing each other. It was for a wisp of a moment that peace returned to Joran, much in the way he felt in his garden. He could feel that it was something the same with the others.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he would adopt you at this point," Hando's words flashed by in Joran's mind, causing him to chuckle, although it wasn't true in his mind, it was nice to know that Reigan was certainly a sincere friend.

Breaking the embrace, Reigan continued on, reminiscing, "When I met Draco, I had gotten involved with a… gang at the time."

Joran scoffed, "You? You were part of some gang?"

"Yes, I know, but back then it only seemed natural. That is, until I met Draco."

"He… pulled you out of the gang? Made you right and proper?"

Reigan glanced at Joran, then at Drekor, and inquired, "You must have been extraordinarily proper in the Central Districts, weren't you?"

Drekor scratched the back of his head, and smiled bashfully, "That's what you wanted me to do, right, Father?"

"Yes, but you did it so exceptionally that you've raised such expectations from your friend here."

"Uh…" Joran interjected, his brows scrunched in confusion, "I don't think I understand what you mean…"

Reigan continued on, "Just because I'm the Realm Monarch, you think I'm upright and proper all the time?"

Thinking back briefly, especially in the Throne Hall and the Assembly, Joran could only respond in a deadpan, monotone voice, "Yes, yes I do."

"Well, I'm telling you about how I was in a gang in my youth. You think a title would just mean who I was, is washed away, suddenly meaningless?"

"I…" Joran was flabbergasted by this, unsure of the perspective Reigan was trying to offer to him.

Does that mean that me being a Joker…?

"I told you, Joran. Just don't stop believing in yourself, and what you believe in. You'd be surprised how effective you've been in convincing people to believe in you."

The twilight sky began to fade away slowly, the stars popping out, proliferating the canvas of the night, the glow of the cities' skyline dimly emanating behind the trio. Joran meaningfully looked between the two in front of him, unsure of how to feel or think. In just a week, his entire world had turned upside down, to be set back upright, and now uprooted once more. He was fully prepared to forsake who he once was to press forward, even if he had openly rebelled against the leaders and their prestigious positions, he felt he would have had to endure the structure of the world. But now, he was being supported by the leader of this world. Being told to cling to who he is, and what he stands for no matter what.

His eyes becoming moist, Joran bowed deeply to Reigan, "I won't let you down, I promise."

"I know you won't. Just be sure to have patience."

"Patience… Yes, okay. Patience," Joran nodded slowly as he took that word in whole heartedly.

The trio then began to set off back to the car, Reigan continuing on with admiration about his mentor, who had apparently been a part of the gang he was in, but in a much more casual manner. At the time, Reigan felt strongly about justice being absolute, and anyone that did him wrong, must be wronged as well. But Draco had offered him the ideology that he bears today, the one that presents the world in a spectrum of grey. An ideology that resembled Joran's tremendously, as Joran discovered to be shocking.

But in the midst of discussing the escapade Reigan and Draco had in leaving the gang for Crown City, movement pervaded Joran's eyesight. Glancing to his left, as they were about to get into Reigan's car, he could only vaguely see a wisp of leaves rustling. A phantom of his imagination, he kept telling himself.

But he planted his feet in the ground, his own subconscious refuting his own beleaguered lie. It was then, that Reigan and Drekor, who had gotten in already, noticed Joran's strange state. Drekor came out quickly, approaching Joran with a puzzled look.

"Hey… is everything okay?"

"… Can we go over there and look around?"

Joran broke his gaze from where he had been looking to look over to Drekor, to see Reigan was also standing behind him now, the concern on his face telling exactly how perplexed Joran appeared to them. With a nod, Reigan patted Drekor's back.

"Heca, Suekamikou, and Gouriki should have deployments around here by now. Let's go find one and let's investigate. There's no telling what it was you saw."

Keeping quiet that he was doubting himself, they went off to the side of the memorial area, closer to Evergreen, where they found 3 soldiers that were in light armor, and equipped with sickles and various short swords. A Bloodhound squad. With the Realm Monarch's ample persuasion, they quickly escorted the trio back.

Now utilizing Sacred Sights, Joran looked around, trying to glean any sorts of tracks or evidence of whatever it was he saw. Slowly but surely, Joran felt that the investigation was pointless, and he felt fraudulent in even suggesting it. Turning to Reigan after what seemed to be an hour, he sighed in defeat.

"I can't find whatever it was I saw."

The Bloodhound soldiers grouped back up, and affirmed their findings, "Nothing out of the ordinary as well," one of them said.

Another perked up, "It's possible that since it's so late, Joker Joran saw something that wasn't there?"

Reigan ignored the soldiers blatantly, observing Joran's facial expressions, which continued to become more and more downtrodden, doubtful. He shook his head, and turned to the soldiers.

"No, we will continue looking. If you and your squad wish to go back to their posts, that is acceptable."

"No! We are honored to be escorting you, Realm Monarch! We will accompany you."

As the soldiers left and started up their searching again, Reigan walked over to Joran and spoke to him in a hushed whisper, "Why are you so uncertain?"

"Because we haven't found anything!"

"Joran, when you turned to Drekor after trying to find whatever it was, it was the same expression you had when you told me about the portal. You think there's Beasts here, don't you?"

Joran's face paled, his voice caught in his throat, "I… Yes, but… Maybe I didn't see something… Like that."

"We haven't found something, you're right. That doesn't mean there isn't anything, though. Let's keep looking."

Encouraged by his words, Joran began his search anew. Another half-hour passed, when finally the group reconvened. And like last time, not even a ghost of a trace.

This time, Drekor was increasingly getting frustrated, "I don't understand how they could've disappeared."

One of the soldiers inquired, "Well, that's assuming there even is something here, right?"

"There is something here," Reigan rebuked authoritatively, hushing the soldiers completely, "We just have to keep searching."

Joran sighed, "I don't know… It's like they just sunk into the ground."

Drekor looked over to Joran, his eyes lighting up, "Wait… Father, we're in the Memorial Park, right? Shouldn't there be an entrance into the sewers not far from here?"

At this, one of the Bloodhound members interjected, "Oh, of course! Come with us, that's not too far from our post!"

"Let's go, then."

The trio were led by the soldiers, who took them past where they were found, leading them into a denser section of trees, where a discreet, but large hole was bored into the ground, with a metal covering. Which was set ajar.

Here, Joran could see the faintest marks of goblin footprints. Reinvigorated, he slid open the covering, the sound of calm water below him now being echoed. A distinct set of bars descended down as a ladder.

Joran was about to jump in, when Reigan pulled him back, "Easy there, we don't know what's down there. Heca, go."

Addressing the soldiers as Heca, they seemed sluggish, apprehensive to going, until they scuttled in a semi orderly fashion, descending down with haste once they entered the hole. Reigan followed, with Drekor, and then Joran shortly behind.

As they lowered down the ladder, the already dim light of the night sky began to shrink from view, and the claustrophobic space seemed to get smaller as Joran's feet clanged along the descent. It was times like these where he wished he had fully mastered the Sacred Sights Art. The Divine Sight, the ultimate technique, would let him see the full spectrum of light, and even peer past a certain amount of solid objects. Something useful in this moment as he attempted to not seize up from the unknown of what's below him.

After a few minutes, they finally hit the bottom of the ladder, entering a dark chamber, with a boardwalk next to the river of runaway water. It wasn't large, but it wasn't small either. The 6 of them could stand in 2 rows and be comfortable on the boardwalk, and all of them could easily touch the ceiling if they jumped.

"This is under the place we were just at?" Joran asked, slightly surprised.

Drekor smirked, "Well yeah, not just here too, across all of the cities as well."

Joran's eyes lit up as he utilized his Sacred Sights Art, now finally getting some tracks.

A few dozen of them.

Reigan sighed, "A part of me wishes you didn't see anything, Joran," Joran's eyes lit up with genuine fear, but Reigan continued, "Where do they lead?"

"They look like they're from up ahead."

Without a word, the entire group unsheathed their weapons, the trio with their Daos, two of the soldiers with short swords, one with sickles, who had brandished them much like Liam had. Joran felt shudders as he recalled that dreadful scream, before steeling himself again, pressing on in the front.

The tracks led them to the other side of the sewers eventually, where a boardwalk sprung up, and then continued on for an indeterminate amount of time, until finally…

Fwip!

As soon as the goblins were visible, the soldiers made quick work of them before they could even react. Cut throats, splatters of blood across the walls, one wail that was stunted.

"Looks like we got them!" The soldiers cheered, but only for a second before Reigan scolded them.

"There might be more. Shut up!"

In the silence, Joran looked around. Although he knew it was at least 20 to 24 pairs of goblin footprints he was tracking, they only saw 6.

So where were the rest of them?

Reigan whispered to Joran, near his ear, "I'm assuming there's more?"

"They're somewhere still, these tracks go deeper into the sewers."

Drekor pondered for a moment, then frowned, "That doesn't make sense, we've been going southeast haven't we?"

The rest of the group turned to Drekor, puzzled. He had a sense of direction in these dark halls?

Shaking his head, he continued, "We're at the end of this section of the sewers. It closes back up and is just a tunnel for the water."

"Well.. I guess that's that," The soldiers proceeded to turn around and begin to head back, before they got startled.

"Let's keep going. See where these tracks go, first," Reigan said suddenly, nodding to Joran, who then pursued the tracks once more.

Now definitely thinned out, they seemed to keep going. Into what seemed to be an offshoot tunnel that turned right, away from the tunnel the water flowed through. It was apparent it was just recently bored, the ground still wet, and not as solid; not to mention they were no longer on a boardwalk.

"What is this?" This new environment puzzled Drekor, leaving him at a loss of words.

The group looked around, to see what little of the tunnel they could, the walls were smooth, circular, contrary to the floor, which seemed misshapen, and flat. It was then that Reigan realized this tunnel they were in were double his height. If not more.

Joran never lost track of the footprints. He could see clearly how large this tunnel really was, dwarfing the sewers they were in. Although he was perplexed, he was determined to not lose these tracks, not again.

"Say… Doesn't it feel like we're going down?" Drekor noted, again surprising the group with his intuitive orientation abilities.

Right when he asked that, however, the tracks shot off in different directions, and the tunnel ended into a gargantuan chamber, which was filled with singular beads of light dotting the expanse. The ceiling was at least 20 or 30 feet above them, Joran guessed. But for the most part, it was pitch black to the group, even Joran couldn't see to the other side of the cavern. Although he didn't care to, all Joran could see was something he'd never seen in his life.

A large, reptilian-mammalian hybrid of sorts. Its torso and head was heavily armored in large, obtuse scales. Its orifice that resembled a large cat. Its snout was short and bulky, two fangs protruded from the mouth, both just as large as him, shaped like tusks. The quadrupedal monster in front of him also had a pair of sharp, clean claws at the end of each of its feet; and a tail that was long, and thin, at the end of it with two spike claws jutting from it, paralleled. It was in a resting position, faced diagonally away from them, it hadn't noticed him, or the rest of the group, but the shock and stillness Joran had, caused his group to become nervous.

He whispered as quiet as he could, his voice shaking tremendously from the rooted fear he now had, "There's… a REALLY big… lizard thing."

Reigan's heart sunk, but tried to keep calm, asking a measured question, "And the goblins? Where are those tracks?"

Joran looked around, trying his best to stay calm, and noticed that some of them went straight up to the behemoth's mouth away from him, while others skirted around it from its back. It was then he also noticed the torn-up pieces of smashed wagons.

It dawned on him that he recognized what little remained of those wagons.

Turning back to the group, he spoke hastily, "Reigan, it's the goblins from Inven!"

"… Are you sure?"

Even in the darkness, Reigan could see the faint silhouette of Joran's certainty as he nodded, as he put pieces together in his own mind, remembering that they had wagons of wild meat.

"So they brought food for this Basilisk… But how is it here?"

"Well, they could've had a portal… For it?" Joran's scattered thoughts collected, but realized it wasn't possible that it was the portal they had seen.

But the possibility that they had other portals was beginning to foster in the trio's mind. For Joran, he didn't understand how truly horrific that could be, for Reigan however… He knew just how monstrous the Beasts could become. But still, a Basilisk to be here was apparent cause for concern. He knew it had to be dealt with right now. However, being under the cities, he couldn't take care of it like the encampment.

With a sigh, he whispered in defeat, "Let's go. We know it's down here. Drekor, do you know how far southeast we went?"

Drekor shook his head, "I can tell you we're somewhere close to Shinal, but we could be in Adpol instead."

"That's good enough. Let's leave."

Slowly, the group left the large, burrowed cavern, and backtracked as quickly as they could back to where they had came from. Joran's nerves were rattled, witnessing such a huge Beast. His pace quickened when he swore he could hear a bellow echo from behind him as he was the last one out of the sewers.