“There were rumors that the mist isn't magic-based, though, aren't there?” Kellar interjects, his face twisted in bewilderment.

“True, but that could simply be due to the fact that no one's been able to control a black crystal before, so we don't know what they're truly capable of. I can't be sure that the relic really is one unless we see it.” Zyra clarifies. “The fact that it did something other than explode or cause a natural disaster makes me question it. If it is a black crystal, then they've somehow managed to make more progress with manipulating it than any person in recorded history.”

“If it's a black crystal, do you know how to get rid of it?” Veros asks with an intense gaze, hoping to hear a positive answer.

The pyromancer sullenly shakes her head. “No, I don't know the gesture or incantation for the necessary spells. Even if I did, I couldn't perform them anyway. They require a six-stone bracelet, and I... I would probably kill myself trying to cast it. The mental strain would be far too much for me to handle. I almost certainly wouldn't even be able to finish it.” She glances down at her right wrist, and gives a dejected glance at the two red stones in her bracelet.

“Of course.” The veteran sighs in disappointment. “Let's cross our fingers and hope that it's not one, then. I can't imagine what else could cause such destruction on this scale, though.”

“If it's a black crystal, the implications would be... hard to grasp.” Zyra adds, becoming more and more mesmerized at the idea that a source of so much power can be harnessed by a human. “Hundreds of years of attempts to use them like normal arcane stones have gone by, but they all ended in total failure. Maybe it's only a matter of time before it actually becomes possible to stabilize and control them.”

“I dread to think what any person would do with such power in their hands.” Veros responds with a deeply disapproving shake of his head. “Can kingdoms and provinces truly trust each other to not simply... wipe one another out?” His idle thoughts send him into a spiral of doubt about the future of humanity, should they ever find ways to possess such immense arcane strength.

“Maybe it could really be a relic from Zerruth.” Kellar comments, humoring the theory that the source of the mist is truly godly in nature. “I think that would frighten me more than a black crystal. Because how the hell would be deal with a real relic from a God? Burying it in the mountain again might be out of the question.”

“Let's not make any defeatist assumptions when we're barely under two days from finally reaching our goal.” Veros stops the doomsaying back and forth before the group becomes overly pessimistic. “Whatever the source of the mist could be – either a true relic or a manipulated black arcane crystal – we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Even if we don't have the means to quell it ourselves, we'll at least be able to know. And that's more than what the entirety of Yhordran has been able to get so far.”

Not long after the discussion on black crystals, the water in the large pot has finally cooled off enough to be consumed. Veros takes everyone's water pouches – and glasses taken with them from Torvus's eatery at Zenith Gate – and fills them up one by one before handing them back. Royd, unable to contain his thirst, takes several big gulps, immediately drinking almost a third of the water he has.

“Gods, it's about time.” He savors the lukewarm but clean water, wiping the droplets that moisten his hairy chin. “My mouth has been dryer than a desert all day.”

“Say, Atticus.” Erik speaks up after taking a small sip from his pouch. “Mind if I ask you something?”

“What is it?” The knight responds following a swig of his own.

“I've been keeping this myself since I wasn't sure if you wanted to discuss it, but if it's alright with you, could you tell me what Threcia is like?” The noble is unable to contain his curiosity. His eyes practically glint with interest. “I've always wanted to travel to other continents, but my introverted nature ultimately keeps me tied to Evatica. I've read books about it, but I want to hear it described by someone who lived there.”

Atticus pauses for a moment as he seals his pouch, then nods slightly. “Sure, I can tell you about it.” Next to him, Zyra suddenly perks up with interest, too. “What do you want to know?”

“Nothing in particular.” Erik responds. “Just give any details that come to mind.”

“Well...” The knight starts with a small sigh, spending a moment to ponder what aspects of his homeland to describe first. “As you may know, the city of Threcia proper is right up against the Northern Rhodam Ocean, in the northeastern section of Rhodanion. The land south of it is almost entirely flat, grassy land for many miles in all directions. It's quite hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but it's typically dry all year round.”

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“What sort of animals are wandering around the flatlands?” The mage suddenly interrupts with a question of her own, her eyes brimming with intrigue.

“There are several types of wild dogs around the region. The smaller brown coyotes can be seen immediately around Threcia, but during the winter, the larger white wolves come down from the northwest to hunt for food. There's no shortage of rabbits and field mice, as they can be seen through all four seasons.”

“Is the scenery nice?” Zyra continues her eager inquiries. “The flatlands around Threcia, I mean.”

Atticus nods. “In the spring, it's gorgeous. There's a lot of tall grass that sway gently in the breeze. There are patches of blue asters and white indigos scattered around the area.” The knight's expression softens as he reminisces on the awe-striking beauty of his home. “Leaving the walls of Threcia to just walk around and take in nature is extremely pleasant at times.”

The young mage momentarily pauses from her enthusiastic questions to admire the peaceful eyes of her comrade. She realizes this is the most calm she's seen him when talking about Threcia. He finally seems at ease on the subject and willing to talk about it in depth with little apprehension.

“How about the city itself?” Erik finally finds room to ask a question for himself. “I've read that it's quite dense.”

“It is somewhat crammed in certain places.” The knight resumes. “It's not unlike Evatica's lower districts in that way. Some areas are almost maze-like – it's very easy for someone to get lost if they aren't used to the layout. Thankfully, as you approach the center of the city, things begin to clear up, the streets become wider, and the architecture becomes more intricate. The streets are made of square limestone slabs, as opposed to many different sized cobblestones in Evatica.”

“What's the royal family's castle like?” The noble asks. “Since you were a royal guard, you must've wandered the halls somewhat frequently.”

Atticus's face straightens for a brief moment, which Zyra notices. She worries that the discussion might have become a bit too personal for him, but suddenly, he nods as the corner of his lips curve into a small smile.

“I have.” The knight answers. “It's called the White Keep. It's an amazing castle made entirely of pristine, white marble. It sits closer to the northern side of the city, and it has twenty bedrooms, a huge foyer, and massive ballroom.”

“Twenty?” Erik brings his head back in surprise. “That's impressive.”

“What are some Threcian foods you like to eat?” Zyra changes the topic to something more domestic.

“I, uh...” Atticus becomes a bit bashful all of a sudden. “I really like Threcian desserts. They're mostly baked foods.”

“You have a sweet tooth?” The mage reels back in playfully exaggerated shock. “I never would've guessed.”

“Threcians really enjoy experimenting with pies, cakes, cookies, biscuits – things like that. There's so many baked dessert vendors on the street every day, it's amazing that the average Threcian isn't a rolling ball of fat.”

“Including you?” Zyra asks while poking Atticus's waist. He lightly swats her hand away, and she muffles a giggle. “I don't blame you, I like baked desserts too. I'd probably gorge myself if I ever visit Threcia.”

“Are there any interesting landmarks in the city?” Erik interjects with another question relating more to high-class interests.

The knight leans his head back and thinks of noteworthy monuments. “Well, in front of the White Keep, there's a forty-foot tall marble statue of King Xandus Ferum Threcia, the founder of the city. There's also the Arthur Quelbyrne School of Pyromancy.”

“What's the school like?” Zyra asks, as one would assume she would.

“It's a large, four-floor building with many classrooms and a huge training groud. Half of the property is actually a massive library though, containing an unheard-of amount of texts dedicated to pyromancy, its history, and the biographies of the most famous pyromancers, particularly known warriors, explorers, and scholars who developed spells.”

“That's so amazing...” The young mage's mouth practically waters at the thought of visiting the school.

“Your homeland sounds incredibly fascinating, Atticus.” Erik comments with a smile. “Though I'm not necessarily interested in being a mage, I'd love to visit that library just to be able to read those texts. Those books must contain the most comprehensive collection of pyromancy history and knowledge in the world.”

“I have a question.” Veros's low voice suddenly interjects. “What's crime like in Threcia?” Being the man of virtue that he is, the former soldier wonders about the activity of ne'er-do-wells, hooligans, and shady figures of a city that's comparable to Evatica.

“Well, there's very minimal gang activity.” The knight answers matter-of-factly. “Even the lower-class youths have access to various productive ways to spend their times thanks to the numerous guilds established all over the city. Hunter's guild, archer's guild, textiles, masonry, and carpentry schools – they all have a rather low barrier of entry.”

“Interesting.” The veteran rubs his chin in intrigue. “You almost make Threcia sound like a paradise.”

“In some ways, it can be.” Atticus tilts his head to the side slightly, unsure of how to manages his comrades' expectations without speaking too ill of his home. “But it's bit of a high-pressure society, as well. It's like everyone has high expectations of everyone else at all times. Threcia is also rather homogeneous in terms of lifestyle. They don't like to offer citizenship to people who can't live the way everyone else there lives. They view deviations from their norms as a sort of disruption, and if you act too inconsiderately, you might be exiled.”

Veros shrugs, disappointed but understanding. “I suppose being relatively closed-off is the only way to guarantee a society where people understand and know how to live with each other without devolving into conflict. For some people, it's just better that way.”

“For what it's worth, I feel like you would probably fit in the best out of everyone here.” The Threcian comments.

“I appreciate that.” The veteran says after a small chuckle.