Tavaras walked, scowl on his face. How was he the only one who wanted to learn about this Church business? Sure, the siblings needed to hash out whatever shit they needed to, but couldn't that wait until the next day? Deon and Senna were nowhere to be found - Floramon had been asking about Palmon; those two must have gone into the woods with that little plant. Too bad. He had assumed Deon would have wanted to go, but as Cherrymon only made the trip weekly ROOT insisted they go with him now.

Fair enough; he hoped a week from now he'll be in his own bed.

As they walked an unfamiliar path through the forest, he heard the gentle swaying of Cherrymon's branches ahead of him, and the slight tap of his cane intermingled with the heavy footsteps of Guardromon. Tavaras was glad that bucket of bolts was going with them. He had been a reliable ally, and he found an immense amount of respect for the silent machine.

ROOT walked beside him, her red eyes staring ahead deep in thought. What was the enigmatic Keeper thinking about? As if sensing his questions, she turned her head, red eyes staring into his black. "There isn't much I don't know about this world. Everything that's been documented is in here." She tapped her helmet. "These last few days... I've found there is so much I don't know. And it's bothering me."

Tavaras narrowed his eyes. "You already know so much, why does it bother you that there are things out there you don't?" He spent enough time with Deon to know the young boy at least would have been more eager than anything to learn. ROOT shook her head.

"You don't understand. It's my job. It's my purpose for existing, to know everything." She glanced up at the noon sky, scar piercing through the gaps in the dense leaves. "Ever since that thing appeared, I've been left wanting again and again. Clockmon going crazy. Human's appearing. Your Digimon partners. All enigma's that I have no knowledge of. And the icing on the cake? An entire religion popping up from under my nose!"

"Perhaps there is more that we can all learn from each other." Cherrymon replied, his soft voice turning heads. "If you ventured out of Log temple and lived among us, you would not find yourself so... lacking in knowledge." ROOT scowled. "Ah, forgive my wording." Cherrymon continued. "But, consider. Log Temple keeps recorded history of everything that's happened in this world. Up to a certain point. And although it's true our growth as a society slowed down considerably after the creation of the Dark Area, there is still some innovation happening. We still live on, creatures of curiosity and learning as we are."

The Keeper looked down as she walked, and Tavaras swore he could see a hint of red on her cheeks. He almost smirked; he knew her type. All up on their soapboxes thinking they know everything. The fall as they're humbled was almost therapeutic to him. As he thought, he sensed Dorumon glare at him from the other side. The small little dinosaur had an uncanny ability to know exactly what he was thinking.

Tavaras frowned. He knew deep down his partner was reflecting his own conscience back at him. Maybe he shouldn't be such an asshole to her.

Doesn't matter. The group continued on in silence, and Tavaras found his own thoughts wandering to Dorumon and their connection. He would miss the little guy when he got home. Home, he wondered what was happening. If Deon was right about the time, he was probably still passed out at the bar with his friends drinking over him. Assuming his body was still there. He chuckled as he imagined his body completely disappearing in front of his buddies, only to reappear an hour later.

—

"Through here." Cherrymon stepped to the side of the path and lifted up a dense thicket made of bushes, revealing what looked like a hole in a small hill hidden amongst the trees. Tavaras stretched and walked forward, cracking his neck. He hadn't expected such a long walk; he estimated four hours since they left the village. No wonder the old tree only made the journey once a week.

There was a stale draught coming from inside the hill, illuminated only by Guardromon's light and the glow of ROOT's flaming sash. The high walls were solid rock and Tavaras could smell the dampness, as if he were wearing a shirt soaked by a torrential downpour. His mind wandered as they walked. They were going down, like into a basement. What's with all the secrecy surrounding this? A large portion of the village followed this church anyways.

Minutes passed, and Tavaras started hearing the roar of fire, not unsimilar to that of Log Temple. He saw an orange glow around the corner, and rounding it he was greeted by the sight of a large cavern. Four human-sized torches stood on the corners and illuminated what he would call a hall with ceilings three times as tall as Cherrymon.

It was strangely empty though. Nothing but the flicker of shadows dancing between rock walls. Empty, other than for what looked like a shrine at the end of the hall. Tavaras's eyes widened: on a large pedestal lay a black hexagonal cube trimmed with gold. Just before it stood a hooded figure around his own size, standing atop an open book.

Hearing them come, it turned to face them and Tavaras saw two yellow eyes peering from a hood of the same colour. "Welcome, I was wondering when Cherrymon would bring you here."

Wisemon [https://wikimon.net/images/thumb/8/8d/Wisemon2.jpg/320px-Wisemon2.jpg]

"Apologies, Wisemon." Cherrymon shuffled in behind them and bowed his head. "A lot has happened." He turned to Tavaras and ROOT. "Wisemon and I both lead the church. While I take charge of spreading our teachings and enlightening other Digimon of the Way of Nothingness, Wisemon spends his days learning and absorbing what is happening in the Digital World."

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Wisemon looked around. "Only one of the humans came?" Cherrymon nodded his head.

"It is unfortunate, but the others have their own demons to deal with."

"It shall suffice." Yellow eyes then locked with red. "Ah, but you brought the Keeper of the Chronicles." He bowed his head to ROOT. "This is indeed a welcome surprise. Tell me, what brings you all the way from Log Temple?" ROOT walked forward a few paces, scanning and taking in the room.

"So simple." She mumbled. "No writings, just one keeper and an artifact." ROOT stopped a few paces shy of Wisemon. "Log Temple was desecrated. By those who follow your church. I'm here to figure out why." Wisemon looked taken aback and glanced at Cherrymon.

"Kiwimon, along with Gotsumon and Thundermon, gave in to the lure of evil." The sage old tree said somberly. "In their misguided attempt to prevent the humans from moving forward in their journey, Devimon used them to try and kill the humans."

"And in that, they attacked the Temple." ROOT finished. Tavaras growled under his breath, but said nothing. Cherrymon was making it sound like it wasn't Kiwimon's fault.

"I can only apologize, and promise I shall work with you to help rebuild." Wisemon responded. "This church was built on the foundation that we are but small cogs in the wheel that is the Digital World. Data, Vaccine, Virus. We all have our predetermined roles to play and we should not attempt to fight against it." He turned to Tavaras. "You humans coming here upset the balance of the natural order in the minds of many."

"That doesn't make any sense!" ROOT countered. "The humans. They were brought here by the Digital World in response to the Breaking."

"Yes. But they are outsiders." Wisemon kept looking at Tavaras. "Why should the Digital World rely on an outside force? When a Palmon is being hunted by a Kuwagamon, does the Palmon pray for humans to save it? No. It fights back using its own power, finds its friends, or it perishes."

"This is an entire world we're talking about, not just one Digimon."

"When that Palmon dies, it doesn't disappear. It becomes one with the Kuwagamon, and eventually reforms into another part of the Digital World. It's the same thing with what we're going through right now. Data is flowing everywhere. Too much data, but eventually things will settle down. Eventually our world will grow enough to handle it."

"And if it doesn't?" ROOT was getting frustrated. Tavaras understood her viewpoint; why should everyone suffer when there was a way around it? Not that he would say anything if it meant he couldn't get home. Wisemon bowed his head.

"Then that is the natural order of things."

"So it's natural to not have a Guardian?" Wisemon paused and stared at ROOT. "That's right. Other worlds have Guardians to stop this. We don't. Are you saying they're not natural?"

"If they deem it so." Tavaras looked at the Keeper. He could sense she wanted to debate more. She had talked about the Guardians before, and that they were supposed to have one. It seemed to be against everything Cherrymon's church preached. ROOT walked past Wisemon and stared at the Hexagonal cube.

"So... what is this?"

"An artifact from the very beginnings of this world." Wisemon replied. ROOT spun around so quickly Tavaras thought her helmet might come flying off.

"Impossible! Surely there would have been a record of something like this. Where did you find it?"

"Here." Wisemon replied simply. ROOT scoffed.

"Thousands of years and you're the first to find this? I find that hard to believe."

Tavaras heard Cherrymon's leaves rustle as he shook his head. "We never said we were the first to discover it, my dear Keeper. There have been many before us; we just chose to bring the teachings to others."

"Hold on." Tavaras interjected. "You say teachings, but there's nothing written here." If Tavaras could see Wisemon's face, he could swear he'd be able to see a smug smirk.

"Of course not. This is a relic of a time so ancient, the only way of communicating was through this." He tapped his head and pointed to Cherrymon and Guardromon. "Chosen Digimon such as the three of us can hear the universe speaking to us from that." He pointed at the artifact.

"This is insane!" ROOT cried. "Your entire religion... it's based on a voice only you three can hear?"

"I'm aware of what it sounds like." Cherrymon said. "It's true, whether you believe us or not. Right now, it wants nothing more than to expel our human friends." Tavaras and Dorumon tensed up, and the small dragon growled. Was this it? No way he and ROOT could take them all on.

"Ah, fear not." The ancient tree smiled at him. "A poor choice of words. Expel, not kill. It wants you to find your way back home. I understand the impression Kiwimon gave you; I brought you here in an effort to try and change that. We are not a religion of violence, Tavaras." He slowly walked up to him, and Tavaras felt more assured at his calming voice. "You were brought here against your will, we all think in an attempt to save us. We fight against that, not against you. Getting you home fixes all our troubles."

"Afterall." Wisemon interjected. "You are data. If you die here, you become part of this world. The cycle will continue, with you part of it. We do not want that."

Tavaras felt at ease. These people were on their side. Jijimon wanted to use them, use him, to fix their problems.

"Do not blame Jijimon." Cherrymon said, sensing his thoughts. "He wants what is best for the Digital World. Afterall, if your world was in trouble, would you not try everything you could to save it?"

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for bringing me here." Tavaras sighed. He did like the kindly old man, and found it hard to be mad at him. "What's next?"

"Guardromon, take our guests back to Sanctuary Village." Wisemon said. "You were going with the Keeper to Echo Mountain, correct?" Tavaras nodded, glancing at ROOT who stood staring at the dark cube. "Continue there to find the answers you seek. Cherrymon and I will try to find out what we can about opening up the scar between our worlds."

—

"I don't like this." ROOT whispered to him as they followed Guardromon. Tavaras glanced at her.

"Why? Because they don't give a shit about using us?"

"No." She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. The setting sun glinted off her helmet. "This doesn't add up. That artifact. Their responses to the idea of a guardian. Nothing makes sense. Thousands of years and no one thought to make a record of this? You know how hard that is?" She gritted her teeth, seeing his nonchalant face. "Fine. I get it, you want to go home. I don't trust their intentions. Just be careful."

Tavaras closed his eyes. What was even happening? Jijimon and ROOT wanted to save their world, by using him and his friends if necessary. He understood and respected that. Cherrymon wanted to help them get home; their goals aligned, but ROOT was right - completely ignoring the presumption the Digital World wanted them here was weird, but it's not like there wasn't precedence for people wanting to do things their own way.

He thought back to what Senna had said in Log Temple. What if there was a way to help the Digital World and get home? What would he do?

The only certainty he had was the Nightmare Soldiers wanted them dead. Devimon's face flashed in his mind. A face of pure, evil malice. If nothing else, he wanted to get the hell away from that.