The crew revolved around the forest. They obeyed the way sticking to the elevating path. Kairui stood at the top of the hill. Below lay the open gorge. Behind them lay a deep forest, in front sat a now humble lake. Running alongside were two corresponding rivers one of which enveloped the Known province.

Surrounding Eein, and its two adjacent twin towns Rhein and R'einsel.

It was common knowledge the notable legendary Twin Śeingtt's met here. Upon reuniting and establishing lasting Twin towns, they ascended entering into the Linniq.

They laid their love below raining eternally their empathy for the Śeinq and people of Eein. With the rivers as an everlasting sign as their promise to their land.

The Sel'nijj being the eternal spring that birthed them both and resting place of all under the Linniq.

The two rivers both bearing the true secret names of the Great Śeingtt were revered entities. Highly respected by the people. Noted and Worshipped by some small sects.

Locals and villagers praised around the river waters on it for their livelihood.

The unit sat at the top. Stood under the dark night, preparing.

Kairui knelt, removing her famed gadget.

"Sa'qast…. You ready" she murmured kissing and praising it.

"So what's the plan?? What's next!?" Quine approached whispering while freaked out by her admonishing of the crossbow.

Aya made her way to the edge, squatting down. Her eyes followed the lake then rested on the river the Śeikl had dashed upon making its eloquent escape. Her eyes led past the canyons further and further into the great unknown. In the distance a white beam radiated pulsating back at her, calling her, her soul cried out to it.

"The realm past!" she said to herself.

"That's our next destination!" Quine responded confidently.

"Guys am not too sure about this, I mean if we can make it quickly across… you know of the.." Ussu chipped in worried.

Yannu came hugging her tight.

"It'll be okay, your referring to those childhood scary stories of the Labayi. They are just rumors nothing to worry about" he reaffirmed.

Ussu turned to him scared.

"Yannu, it's not just rumored, if infidels go missing…."

"Infidel… Ussu! their mere godless or are mere Ābid, they can't survive the canyons let alone desert!"

"There's a reason they call it the realm past!"

"It's told of in the ancients! Yannu! Being a Śeinq doesn't make us invincible!"

"Ussu, you're overthinking things!"

"Shassii, Aya, Quine! You don't think am overreacting, do you?"

Quine sighed, looking at Yannu then looking down to play with the dirt.

Ussu swiveled her head at Shassii who stood above looking out behind them.

"Shassii??"

"I don't know!" Shassii responded angrily.

"Am sorry… am just shook up from before. Maybe, I don't know. But we need to get out of here" she said letting go of her anger.

Aya took notice of her frustration but kept peering over the edge. Monitoring the Ethereal mist wall as it slowly dissipated.

"Aya!?"

No response came back.

"The girls right!" Kairui finally spoke out, standing up.

Everyone shook up, spinning back at her in surprise.

"The creatures of the night, the realm past, as you call it... In that desert… they exist!"

She announced rolling her eyes, it was a topic she had hoped to avoid mentioning until the last moment.

The trio stared at her surprised.

"Am not shocked. Didn't the Śeikl give us an early greeting just now!" Aya spoke out breaking their silence.

"Told you..., see, see!" Ussu said shaking Yannu and Shassii frivolously.

Shassii stayed silent remembering the tiger at the lake and Aya's actions. She buried her head, trying not to think of it.

Quine slowly collapsed to the floor cross sitting hearing the news. Her spirit felt crushed, she didn't anticipate this.

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"You sure… maybe your disillusioned?" Quine fumbled over her words, hoping for the best. That maybe she was wrong. Something didn't sit right with her soul. She felt her fingers and thighs grow cold as a wave of wind entered her bones.

"Wish I was, but I've encountered them every now and then…" Kairui explained, pulling the bolt and arming up.

"But… but… I've lived in Rhiniss a city nation past here. We've been wanderers of the desert and great plains; how come I've never witnessed them"

"How old were you then?"

"About six" she answered, reflecting over her question.

"Explains it, they feed on the life force of humans. The soulless they call them by some nomads and merchants. Many orphans I've encountered crossing that desert! Many lost children too"

"They terrorize the wanderers across. It's said, only the desert wind reveals their grotesque forms"

Quine opened her palms, staring blankly at them.

"Once they brush past you or catch wind of you, you're instantly dead"

"The White Silence!" Quine wearily spoke out.

"You know of it then, it's proclaimed to be the ward that fended and hide you all for so long!…"

"Why's it called the White Silence??" Ussu asked.

"No one hears your harrowing screams as your life leaves you…" Yannu replied.

"I've read of it. In the ancients, its referred to as The Quiet Death".

"The Quiet Death!" Kairui copied.

"Interesting name…"

"I can see how you guys dubbed it that. Ingenious!?"

"What do you mean?" Aya asked.

"How far have you guys been?"

"What do you mean?" Yannu quizzed with a puzzled look on his face.

Quine started to shake as she fell into a fetal position covering her ears.

"I mean how far have you been?" Kairui said repeated her question.

"Well, Yannu there, is from Caciccaci so he's been the furthest out of all of us. But upon consecration, if we aim and seek.

To please the Śeingtt. The attainment of venturing past Eein is anointed to us at the end. Our final pilgrimage to the realm past before The Linniq is achieved..... " Ussu explained, methodically breaking down each process.

Although she hid her intent of leaving earlier than that, with Yannu to return to his homeland. When they finished their studies. This was an act considered unholy. Worthy of damning someone to the plains and reversing their consecration.

"It's Taboo to leave past the Canyons…" Shassii said, looking at Kairui confused and eager for an answer.

Kairui thought for a while before answering.

"Then I guess, you all have never seen the desert! Explains why you call it the realm past. Ahh, I can't wait till you see the Plains. Your minds will go null.

Something you'll champion to your kids and kids' kid's if we all make it past this.

You'll also know why your friend and her people call them Labaeyi! The White Silence!"

"I Guess different nations mark it down under different names. White Silence, Quiet Death same thing basically!"

"Best we avoid them. Although hard it might be"

"Why's it hard??" Shassii opened her mouth to speak after remaining so quiet for so long.

"They woo you in with cries of the heavens. You call it the Linniq I believe.

Ancestors or lost souls many merchants believe. If you turn to witness them or answer they swoop down and take your soul!?"

As Kairui spoke confirming the folktales Quine gazed deep into the etchings of her palm.

Memories flashed forth, her parent's death. The horrors of the war clothed her soul, she felt like she was living it all back again. The climbing flames which burnt her house down. The ferocious wind glades that swept past engulfing people like a wave. A bluish tint of mist would appear and dissipate for a split second, it caught her eye. Racing past in the village square as her fellow countrymen dashed for their lives. The sinister wind caught up to them. Their bodies dropped lifelessly as the wind gust fled past her very eyes. The dried ashes on her face, slowly she felt her skin start to peel. Each time she touched it, her skin fell to the ground.

Screeches yelled out, tearing the vacuum of the sky. The sound vibrated punching her eardrums. Blood dripped down her skull, no matter how much she wiped it away the more it increased. Drowning her, besides her bodies fell from the sky. Being ripped apart, limbs collapsing around her.

Then in an instant, her eyes went black, awakening her from her daze. She found the group still discussing, fright and horror consumed her. Her suppressed memories had awoken. She could feel the desert breeze hitting kissing her throat. The wet moisture of the rivers never felt so close.

"Well it'd be best if we have charms but ill have to use mine the old-fashioned way. Besides, I made it through the desert so can you..." she said enthusiastically, with hope brimming from her face.

The group sat quietly as they thought about the venture into the unknown of what they were about to embark on.

"Well, no more talking we've got to get going! It's still a race against the Śhinnou right!"

Kairui aimed the crossbow across the gap between the two mounds. Pointed at the other edge of the canyon from the hill. She rested on one knee to get a steady footing and started breathing down as she aimed down the sight.

"If you're going to shoot that thing or whatever. I suggest you do it now" Aya warned looking at the ravine entrance.

The mist was halfway at the bottom and was descending fast.

Kairui peered down at it before resting her pupil at a narrow tight rocky resting on the canyon.

"One...."

"Two…."

"Bang!"

The crossbow unleashed a powerful volley, thrusting through the night wind. The bolt cut past the wind glades before penetrating the rocky surface.

"Bullseye!"

Aya laughed high fiving Kairui.

The two cheered.

The mist underneath unlocked the entrance welcoming the army band in.

Kairui and Aya spotted it and quickly hid away.

Pulling on the tight rope to secure its security, Kairui backed away from the cliff slowly. Planting her feet securely into the ground as she tugged reeling the bolt away. Itself farther and farther away. and handing the crossbow to Shassii.

"Handle Sa'qast with care, please. Help me Secure the rope around that oak tree tightly and firmly or we'll all be dead! Did you bring the extra rope?"

"Yes, it's in my sack..." she earnestly replied.

"Good"

The men underneath rushed through into the lake.

Searching for the crew.

"Okay… now all of you stand up and get ready. We'll each one by one make our way across the chasm with the sacks on our backs. But we got to rush and move diligently. Once they catch wind of us, they might try to shoot us down!"

"Or better yet, come into the forest to anticipate us..."

Everyone nodded.

"They're searching for us already... we should get moving, they haven't spotted the rope it seems"

Kairui marched to the cliff, popping her head over to witness their movements.

"They're following the river streams, so we've thrown them off a bit. But be sure they'll send some men into the forest to scout for us too"

"Would they dare intrude the Śeingtt's forest???"

Kairui stared in amazement at Aya's words.

She couldn't comprehend how the girl could question the soldier's limits, even now.

"Yes, girl. Yes, they would!"

"What should we do?"

"Prepare for now!"

"Hey, get her up, what's wrong with her!?"

Quine was in a panic attack.

She rocked back and forth.

Stuck in a daze.

Taking heavy pants.

Ussu and Yannu slowly approached her.

"Quine"

"Quine"

"Quine!"

Ussu slapped her, making her awake from her shiver.

Her eyes were wet as tears glided down her face. Coincidently she wasn't crying, just shaken up from what she had remembered.

Although the talk of the Labaeyi brought back sealed, regressed memories. Quine was an expert in masking her pain. She immediately covered up her concerns to hide her trauma from her friends.

Quine looked at the two blankly and weak.

They stared back at her, worried. Their hands rubbing her shoulders comforting her.

She slapped Yannu.

Shassii heard the slap from behind the tree, she peeked out to see the commotion shocked as well.

"Ouch, what the hell?"

"What!? Am here!"

"Why'd you slap me?"

"I dunno"

"You don't know!"

"Ussu slapped you, not me… why me?" he pointed animated while his cheek bulged red.

"Felt like it…" she answered in a dismissive taunting manner.

Yannu whined, rubbing his red swollen cheek.

Quine packed a punch, she was like a cross between a tomboy with girly tendencies. She had small muscles which gave her a manly look sometimes.

Ussu gave out a small giggle.

The group gathered around laughing at the incident.

The click was stacked and ready.

"Are your bags firmly strapped to your backs?"

Everyone agreed.

"Ok, I'll headfirst across since I know how to handle this beauty. Sa'qast!" Kairui boasted.

Kairui took a few steps back.

The rope connecting to the crossbow tangled underneath her legs. She untied and flung it past her to the side.

The teens split up, parting on each side. To give way.

Kairui praised towards the clouds.

The group were surprised since she never gave praises to any gods or entities.

"Śeingtt bewith!" they each cohesively praised for her.

Kairui raced to the cliff.

Her speed, unfazed by the weight of the looted sack.

She leaped into the sky, gripping onto the rope. She tugged it tightly as she wrapped her arms and legs around it.

With unity, she pulled herself across quickly. Like a crab, her hands securely latched onto the rope, glided her across the gorge. In a minute or two she was safely on the other side.

The men underneath scurried around, searching for remnants and clues of the missing group. Unaware to them this cat-like rogue raced above them.

Climbing up to the Cliff.

She stood atop. Pulling the rope up as she fastened it around her waist.

Her hair once again swaying in the wind. Revealing her fair face, her sharp eyelashes flickered as they tried to ward off the sand flushing through the air.

She lifted her scarf, covering her mouth and nose. Her face once hidden again.

Just as she entered the town masked up, she would leave masked up.

Concealing her identity.

The group stood across in admiration and wonder seeing her. Her accounted abilities seemed to amaze them, each and every time.