It seems like we have a new addition to our group.

'So, what now?' asked Alice as the young dragon was enjoying a peaceful nap around her shoulders.

'Let's explore the rest of this place then', suggested Jason.

'But more carefully this time. We don't want any of us burning to death before leaving, okay?' stated Seo-Jun while staring at Alice, still upset at her impulsivity.

'Okay, okay. We'll be super careful and cautious the whole way. Now let's get started!' replied Alice making her way towards the next door.

Seo-Jun sighed helplessly and followed when a soft yawn was heard.

The young one had awoken and gently tapped Alice's head with its small yet sharp claw.

'Huh?' she asked.

It sleepily replied, 'Mo-Alice', it corrected waking up a little at the realization and paused, continuing with a sigh, 'That room has man-eating plants from another world, they were kept here before they left.'

It reminisced, 'It was a hobby of Aunt Aylin's to collect strange plants and creature from different world and raise them here. She was going to take them to the Forbidden Forest after coming back but she never did...'

It paused, 'Anyway, you shouldn't go there. I don't feel that her successor has the ability to tame them yet, and none of you have the strength to survive from it either.'

Alice started, 'Well thanks and thank god she didn't come back...' she paused, realizing what she'd just said and quickly corrected.

'I-I didn't mean that. I meant that thank god she didn't put the plants there, otherwise we might have had to fight them, since we were sent there first before coming here', she explained, receiving only a single apathetic reply from Snow.

'Oh'.

'Uh, anyway, then where is it safe to go?' asked Zhiren.

Snow simply pointed to the 3rd door on their right.

They entered and found it littered with gold! They went forward and cautiously touched it only to find it disappeared and went straight to their stat window adding to their wealth.

They haphazardly divided the loot, since it was basically their inheritance as successors and they thought it would benefit them more than predecessors who'd been dead for centuries.

After emptying the room, they continued browsing through the base, looking through every useful room under snow's guidance who'd been living there almost all his life.

They'd come across several gems, swords, spears, bows and arrows, armors, potions, clothes, and other essentials which they divided up and saved in their inventory, emptying up as much of the place as possible.

'That should be more than enough to go on, even if we don't get chance to come back here again', said Daiki, stretching his arms.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

'Then, lets' go back up?' asked Zhiren.

'Yeah, it's about about we leave this place', said Jason looking towards the door.

They had been there for far too long in their caution and greed, even if it was rightful. They had to keep moving if they wanted to return home in the near future.

They first burned the scrolls as per Yuki Niflhel's wishes and made their way back, closing the large door behind them, going up the stairs and finally back in to the living quarters of the Chief though he was nowhere in sight.

They left the room and made their way down to go back outside, searching for the owner of the place.

And there he was, standing right outside.

'Chief!' exclaimed Daiki, calling out to him.

He excitedly turned around, 'You're ba-', he stopped as he caught sight of the creature curled around Alice's shoulders.

'Snow?!', he asked in surprise.

The dragon sleepily raised his head, 'Lian-di?'

'It really is you! You're alive!' Lian-Zhong exclaimed.

'I didn't expect anyone I knew to still be here', mumbled Snow with a mixed feeling of joy and sadness.

'Yes, I've been living in Mother's room down there all this time. The successor found me and told me what happened. She carried my mark on her soul...the mark mother had, so I followed her understanding mother's wishes', it explained.

'Ah, I see...', Lian-Zhong said, 'Well it's great you're here! I've been thinking of asking the villagers to prepare a banquet in honor of the heroes, you're existence is even more of a reason for it!', he excitedly said.

The group was thankful for his intentions and about to agree but the truth they'd just read came back to mind. These people were living like this because the one they'd revered so much, was too weak to finish what she started.

Even though it had nothing to do with them, being the successors they felt guilty, the truth weighing heavily on their shoulders, especially Alice.

She couldn't bear to enjoy their hospitality when they'd been kept in the dark for too long, and couldn't tell the truth because it was something Yuki didn't want.

She didn't really care about Yuki who died a long time ago after betraying everyone, but somewhat did about these people who were still here and in front of her.

She made an excuse, 'No, I don't think we should stay much longer. The villagers are wary of us being outsiders and they don't know about the prophecy, we shouldn't suddenly spring this on them'.

The Chief asked in confusion, 'What do you mean because you're outsiders? The villagers aren't like that...'

'You know how you're cut off from the world or something...the elder told us', she explained.

The other agreed, understanding what Alice was trying to do.

The Chief chuckled leaving them confused, then said with a smirk, 'I think the elder was trying to be polite. The villagers aren't wary of outsider, they were probably looking at you like that because of your strange clothes'.

They just realized how they look to others. They were wearing modern clothes while the people here were stuck in Ancient China mode! No wonder they were treated like that, they thought.

But even so, they had to refuse to avoid discomfort.

Jason continued, 'I still don't think we should stay, we have a lot to do after all that we've learned and need to get home as soon as possible, for that we need to move quickly and finish whatever it is we were brought here for'.

'What did you learn there?' asked the Chief eagerly, full of curiosity.

They were at a loss of how to explain and stood there awkwardly, until Seo-Jun explained, 'We can't tell you, since otherwise it'll be against your goddess's wishes. She wanted only us to know her final words...'

'I understand', said the Chief, regaining his composure though his disappointment was evident on his face.

'Then, I shall escort you back to the hill from where you entered', he offered, turning to move in that direction.

'Actually, we need to head for the snowy mountains', said Daiki pointing the opposite way to where he was headed.

'Oh, I see. Let's go then', he said lightly.

They silently made their way to the mountains, not meeting or talking to anyone along the way.

'Well, farewell then, heroes. I hope you succeed in your ventures. And may we one day meet again', said Lian-Zhong with a bow, standing at the edge of the village.

They bowed back and said together, 'Thank you and Farewell'.

Lian-Zhong turned to leave, turning back as he watched the group set foot on the snowy path, a sharp contrast to the green and sunny atmosphere of the village.

As soon as they did, their window popped up,

Connection Restored!

To be continued...

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Lian-Zhong: But I want to know!

Yuki: ╮(╯▽╰)╭

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