“Are we really going?” Niamh asked Marron, her face a mask of worry and trepidation. Yuriko frowned but didn’t say anything. The Avos Zarek had given them a few minutes to think about his demands, and it was either cough up four more MiJins of Chaos Shards or do his bidding and pay the single MiJin that the caravan had prepared for.

The Chaos Lords and Wyldlings had mostly left them alone when they left the vicinity of the Frozen Camp. Of the barbarians, she had expected them to chase and attack them throughout their entire journey, but other than the incident with Firehead, nothing had happened. A couple of scouts went back towards the east, and they saw that the tribes were repairing the outpost and that there were groups travelling farther south.

They were either headed towards Imperial territory or towards the Chaos Fortress for whatever nefarious schemes the Chaos Lords had.

“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Marron said as he nervously nibbled on his fingernails. Yuriko frowned in disapproval at his filthy habit. He noticed her look and he wrinkled his nose in amusement. “It’s either we do the request or we wait an entire Season or two hunting Wyldlings for Shards. And that’s assuming we have enough supplies to last.”

“Didn’t the commander say we had two Season’s worth?” Gwendith asked before Yuriko could.

“Aye, of food. But not of everything else. The extended siege drained other resources, reagents to keep the Plasma Carronades in good shape, runescivening ink supplies, paper, cleaning stock, among others.” He shrugged. “Makeshift tools and supplies can be created but that’s still going to be a drop in efficiency. And, I think we’re all quite ready to return home.”

Yuriko nodded at that.

Gwendith didn’t reply for a few moments, her eyes stared out into the cavern’s expanse. She shook her head and muttered, “I suppose so.”

Yuriko leaned over, “Don’t you miss your family?”

She returned a guarded look. “I suppose I do, but I expected them to…” She sighed. “I shouldn’t blame them, but I do.”

“Oh.”

Gwendith reached over and patted Yuriko’s hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s something I have to work through.” She sighed. “I know I shouldn’t blame Grampy, but I kinda do. I just wish he’d…”

Yuriko pulled Gwendith into a tight embrace, tucking her head under her chin. “It’s alright. They’re dead. They won’t hurt you anymore.”

The other girl sniffled for a few moments, hugged Yuriko back, but then pushed her away. “Thanks, Yuri, but let’s focus on what’s needed for now.” She gave back a tremulous smile.

“Right.”

Marron and Niamh were busily discussing, while the other two women, Saki and Desire, gave them surreptitious glances, but once they saw Gwendith push away, Desire came up to Yuriko.

Before she could say anything though, Shillogu’s baritone voice interjected, “Young Ancient. I see you’ve grown. And you’re anointed a Squire, too. Congratulations.” The wild boar Avos trundled up to them.

“Avos Shillogu,” Yuriko said amicably. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Indeed, indeed. I remember you’ve managed to get the artefact. Another round of congratulations. I don’t suppose you’ve bound it properly?”

“I have.”

“Good. Goooood.” He squealed happily. “I had no doubts about your success!”

Yuriko nearly choked on her own spit when she heard the rather blatant lie, and she was about to call the Avos on it when she frowned. Why did Shillogu approach now? A while back he practically acted as though he didn’t know them, which to be fair, he hardly did. A battle fought together against a common foe didn’t make good friends, especially with the way the pig had scammed them.

Shillogu turned to look at Desire and his eyes narrowed dangerously. But then, he breathed deeply a couple of times before he shook his head and tension left his back. “A bound spirit, huh. I smell the connection between you. I can’t say I approve, but it's your business. Anyway, I would like to ask if you’ve decided to accept Avos Zarek’s request.”

It was a strange and simple request, really. They simply had to go down a tunnel, go into a chamber at the end, and close a door. They didn’t even have to lock or otherwise secure it, they just had to close it. Why the Avos couldn’t do it himself or ask one of his numerous progeny or minions, he didn’t say.

And of course, it was the things left unsaid that presented the most danger and gave them all pause.

“Expect a battle,” the Avos had said. “Those who snuck in before you will not want the door to close.”

“Who are they?”

Zarek had made a bobbing gesture with his head that Yuriko interpreted as a shrug. “Mortals. Humans, I believe. You all look alike to me, what matter if some of you grow horns, tails, or wings? You’re all small and puny,” he rumbled.

“How did they open the door then?” Yuriko blurted out before slapping her hand over her mouth.

Zarek glanced at her with narrowed eyes but didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Think about doing this favour. Know that your people will not be able to cross my Domain otherwise.”

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That was when he left them. His neck and head retracted into the wall, becoming one with it. The huge snake, who was apparently an Avos named Sadama, and the crane, Kliss, also took their leave. They were the Avos of the rivers, if Yuriko remembered the names correctly, of the two that flowed north to south and touched upon Rumiga City.

Avos Shillogu had, of course, ambled over to where they were and started chatting.

“I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for saving my hide back then,” he said to Yuriko abruptly.

“Oh, I honestly don’t remember that part of the battle.”

“You don’t? But…” He stared intently at her, but he suddenly backed off and shivered. “Ahaha, well, I give you my thanks, anyway.” He beat a hasty retreat leaving the six of them confused.

After a while, Niamh burst out, “No, you’re not leaving me behind!”

“But it only makes sense. We’ll need someone to go back to the caravan with Avos Zarek’s emissary and you’re a non-combatant.”

“I can still help, you know! Who provides you with excess Animus to shoot your Caster?”

“Oh, Yuri can refill the cartridges easily. She’s got an excess of Animus.”

“Yeah, but she needs her reserves to keep herself safe! You don’t last very long, you know. You dry up too fast and without me, you won’t be able to keep fighting as long as you need to!”

Marron sighed, “Dear, your Animus still needs to be compressed to the level I’m used to.”

“And what, your sister could do the same? I remember her saying her Animus isn’t condensed at all!”

“I…well, ahem.” Marron coughed sternly. “Either way, we’ll need someone to guide the emissary, and all of us are fighters. You’re not.”

Niamh’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Alright, fine! But you’ll pay for this one way or another, Marron.”

Niamh spun on her heels in a huff, stalked towards the wall where Zarek had disappeared and said in a calmer tone, “Honoured Avos, we are ready to talk.”

“I heard your deliberations, child, well reasoned. I will send my child with you to guide your people across the surface. You may go now.” With barely a nod, the Stonetoise that had met them outside returned into the chamber. He bowed towards the Avos then stared at Niamh expectantly.

Her brother’s girlfriend gave a subdued squeak, leapt into Marron’s arms and locked lips with him. Yuriko turned away in embarrassment and saw Gwendtih blushing and doing the same. Desire stared at the two while Saki had a smirk on her face. She noticed Yuriko looking at her with disapproval, so she ducked her head and turned away.

“Stay safe!” Niamh whispered fiercely. Then she let go of Marron, gave the rest of them a wave and resolutely followed behind the Stonetoise.

“Worry not, Stephanos will keep your mate safe,” Zarek rumbled. He waited until Niamh and Stephanos walked out of sight, then rounded on Shillogu, “And you, young Forest Boar, since you do not wish to aid me in my duties, I believe it's time for you to return home.”

Shillogu bowed, his forelegs bent down to a knee, and his snout just touched the floor.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Great Zarek.” Afterwards, he trotted to a different tunnel and disappeared into it.

“The path lies here.” Zarek turned his head, and another tunnel showed itself. It was as if the stone just melted away, and in its stead was a ramp leading deeper into the earth. “Simply follow the path. You will know when you have arrived in Synkrasia. The outer court had long been picked clean, so I suggest you don’t waste your time exploring there. Simply follow the path towards the inner court and close the open gate. You can return the way you came from back here and I will bring you to your people in the west.”

The tunnel they entered was wide enough that they could have all walked abreast. The incline was gentle thirty degrees too, although the fact that it ran straight was a bit disconcerting. It was only when Yuriko looked back a few minutes later that she realised that the tunnel actually curved ever so slightly to the right.

The ceiling and the walls were lit up with crystals that shone with inner fire. After a couple of hours of walking, the tunnel had turned unpleasantly warm. Yuriko felt sweat beading down her back and she wiped off a few droplets that fell from her forehead.

“How far do you think Synkrasia is?” Yuriko mumbled.

Marron froze for a moment then cursed under his breath. “I forgot to ask. Burning Moon, it was hard enough to keep my composure under Zarek’s gaze.”

“Huh, what do you mean?” Yuriko frowned.

“You didn’t feel it?” Saki piped in. “As if something squeezed you from all sides, or as if you’re holding a boulder above your head and you can’t put it down?”

“Uh, no,” Yuriko shook her head.

“I felt nothing either,” Gwendith said.

Desire rolled her shoulders. “There was a rather oppressive weight.”

“Burning Moon,” Marron repeated.

“It shouldn’t take that long.” Yuriko reasoned. A few hours later, she was obviously mistaken. Marron trod on impassively, while Saki grumbled under her breath. Gwendith plodded down the slope, mind obviously elsewhere. Desire…well, the Chaos Lord had taken her supper and had wrapped herself on Yuriko’s back, snoring slightly as she napped.

Another couple of hours and they stopped to make camp and dinner. The tunnel remained empty save for the crystalline light sources. Thankfully, there was enough moisture in the air to allow their condenser canteens to harvest water, even if Yuriko knew that she could simply convert a single mote of distilled Chaos into more water than they could carry. For that matter, could she make food too? There was more than enough supply so there was really no need to experiment, but she should find out if she could.

And…well, she managed to make a single ration bar from a mote. Actually, it wasn’t even a full bar, more like four-fifths of one. It tasted like a ration bar, but there was still something off with it.

You don’t really know what goes into making a ration bar, Damien said. Knowledge and imagination, as well as a firm and iron Will is needed for Chaos Shaping. Experience will help, of course, so don’t give it up. And it’s not as if you’ll run out of ambient Chaos to distil anyway. Just don’t do this outside of the shelter of a plane.

‘How come water is so easy to make then?’

Because it is a homogeneous substance, as well as a prime element. Almost all Chaos particles contain the seed of that element within, and it doesn’t take much to bring it out. Now, that ration bar is as far from homogeneous as it could be. If you tried with something as simple as bread, you might have succeeded. Oh, wait, you don’t know how to bake. Curious.

‘Do you know how to bake?’ Yuriko thought furiously.

Of course. I’ve had a long life, and I’ve forgotten more skills than you’ve ever dreamed of.

‘Which means you forgot how to bake?’ Otherwise, the knowledge would have seeped through to her by now.

That’s correct.

‘Why are you so proud of it?’

It’s simply my nature.

Shaking her head at Damien’s shenanigans, she took the first watch of the night and retired to her bedroll a couple of hours afterwards.

The next morning, they continued their travels, and it was about noon when the tunnel finally levelled off and they arrived into a largish chamber. Unlike Zarek’s tunnel, this one was dim, and Yuriko’s aura flared out to illuminate their path. And the first thing they saw when her light shone out was a corpse leaning against a mound.