The portal behind them vanished after the carriage rolled out of it. Although they were shown an image of Sanctuary’s forest, the scenery was entirely different. The forest they were teleported to wasn’t as colorful and lively as the one displayed.

Travelling through Sanctuary for the first few days, they found the scenery to be dull and colorless like everywhere outside the range of each country’s world trees.

“We, we were lied to! Wasn’t there supposed to be glowing mushrooms and beautiful blue leaves? Why is everything so grey and dull?!”

“It brought us to where we wanted. Let’s head south.”

[Scout.]

“Go ahead.”

With Kihet’s permission, Aten picked up his spear and flew into the skies as he scoured the area. He flew a full circle before landing back on the cart and shook his head to indicate there were no threat within the vicinity.

“Not even a Shadow?”

[No Tower?]

“There’s no Tower? Could it be underground like the one in Vivrus?”

“Kihet, I’ve been meaning to ask, but what’s that?” Lily pointed.

It was a crystalized structure standing tall to the left of Sanctuary’s World Tree. Even though they were hundred of kilometers away, the group could clearly identify each facets reflecting light off its surroundings.

“Ice? That can’t be.”

“I think they’re crystals.” Lily focused on it. “It’s so pretty and bright.”

“Isn’t there something in it?”

“You’re right. It looks like… wait, there’s a Tower in there!”

The tower was encased within it, and it was difficult to see because the exterior was snow white.

“I wonder what happened? Is it sealed off?”

“As long as it doesn’t spawn any Shadows near us, we’ll be fine.”

Kihet took frequent glances towards the large mushroom behind the veil of light behind Sanctuary’s forest. To think he was this close to the country Sorah was sent to and yet, can’t go find her. His heart ached a little. Beyond the forest, beyond that light was where she was. As much as Kihet wanted to cross the barrier, it would damage his future diplomatic relationship with the fairies even if he was the Oracle.

Their cart handled the broken road well. Every few hours they stretched their legs as the ward Kihet placed deterred wild monsters from approaching. In Vivrus, it should be noon, but at Sanctuary, it was dark.

The time zone difference was a few hours from Sanctuary and Vivrus. The sun should be well up. Kihet read about Sanctuary’s forever darkened skies was because its World tree had the ability to refract light. The magicites spores spread over the country’s skies created a canopy of a forever starry night.

“We’ll take a short rest here. Lily, can you unpack cooking utensils? I’ll get the fire started.”

“En! You got it!”

[Me?]

“Oh right, we have an extra set of hands. You were so quiet I almost forgot you were here.” Kihet handed several branches to Aten. “Can you make some skewers and help Lily prepare ingredients?”

Aten nodded and sat next to Kihet sharpening some sticks. After the Dragonfly set the bundle aside, his next job was to skewer and watch over the food roasting over the flame. After their meal, the group took a moment to let their stomachs properly digest food before they erased their tracks then resumed their journey to Stusis.

Aten sat on top of the canopy, utilizing the wide view from his compound eyes watching their back. Lily was on her usual seat next to Kihet folding origami to pass the time while Kihet focused on the road.

“Wanna take a break?”

“I’m fine. Shouldn’t you sleep?”

“I’m fine.” Lily mimicked his voice. “You look troubled. Care to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“You can tell?”

“A girl’s intuition.”

“Isn’t that right?” Kihet was skeptical, but he couldn’t deny Lily was sharp to notice. “For one, I haven’t seen Elenora pop into my dreams for a while.”

As for the other, Megith warned him about Lily. Was it because she was curious about Sorah? He would like to confront her, but with Aten present it was difficult to openly ask.

“Do you think something happened to her?”

“I doubt it. She can’t interact with the real world, and I was told she’s working on something. Don’t ask me. I wasn’t told anything else.” Kihet answered before Lily opened her mouth.

The cart fell silent as the three of them went about their business. On occasion, Kihet asked Lily to check if Aten fell off because he fell asleep from watch duty or something.

Suddenly, Aten tapped his spear against the wooden support at a fast pace to alert the two of danger. Lily immediately jumped into the back to arm herself while Kihet strained his ears, listening for foreign noises.

“NYAAAAA!”

“Nya?”

“Kihet, did you just try imitating a cat?”

“I heard it from over there. It sounded like a scream.”

A Beastman in a thick beige coat, carrying a comically large knapsack crashed out of the bushes and ran towards the carriage. Somehow the person looked familiar. Kihet couldn’t put his finger on it, but he wasn’t given time to think. The fleeing beastmen led something out of the forest.

The trees in its path tumbled out of the forest as its body rammed through them. Now in full view, the six meter long crocodilian shaped creature had slimy dark navy skin. Its external reddish pink gills branched out and swayed like jellyfish tentacles drifting in water. Instead of crawling on all fours, it slithered over the ground like a snake and left a trail of slippery mucus.

“You there, please help me, Nya!”

“Lily!”

“On it!”

Lily loosened an arrow to test the defences of the creature. Her arrow sank into its soft flesh between the eyes. Even though it was a direct hit, the monster showed no sign of slowing down.

“It didn’t work!”

The salamander used its shovel shaped snout to scoop the Beastmen into the air and opened its mouth underneath. As it raised its belly, Kihet hurled a throwing knife that was deflected by hard scales underneath.

“NYAAAAA!”

The monster attempted to swallow the Werecat whole, but her bag was wider than its mouth and ended up clogging the entrance to its throat. The Salamander whipped its head around trying to spit the baggage out, tossing her wares all over the place, but it was now stuck. The Beastmen clung onto her bag’s strap for her dear life.

Aten flew at the Salamander once he saw an opening. He rammed his spear half a meter into its spine only to find his weapon sank through it easily like jelly then the spot around the wound quickly solidified. The Dragonfly was forced to release his spear and flew into the air when he saw its tail whipped towards him but missed.

His spear that was stuck in the monster was slowly pushed out of the body.

Lily’s arrow bounced off its cornea as if it had a film protecting its eye. Although the tip made a dent, the deformed lens immediately reshaped itself like Oobleck. Knowing she couldn’t take away its vison, Lily aimed elsewhere trying to exploit a weak spot at a different part of its body. Her projectiles had the same result as Aten’s spear where the skin around the arrows would harden and slowly push out of the body.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The Salamander thrashed its head side to side until it shook the Merchant and her large knapsack out of its maw. The Beastmen bounced and tumbled over the ground eventually landing on all fours.

[No effect.] Aten dropped a message next to Lily and flew up to the skies to observe the creature.

“W-what is that thing? Nothing we do is working!”

“It’s a Swamp Salamander! It’s immune to physical attacks due to it’s gelatinous body!” The Werecat took a quick glance at her rescuers and warned. “Does anyone here Nyow magic? It’s weak against ice!”

“We don’t have any spellcasters.” Lily replied as she loosened an arrow strapped with firecracker into the beast.

The explosive arrow detonated in its flesh and as the shockwave bloated beneath the skin trapping the air. Before its body deflated the blister, Aten burst it with his spear and thrust his weapons at it hoping it was a weak spot. Unfortunately, it was a repetition of his last attempt.

“Nothing’s working!”

“That Werecat said it’s weak against ice, right?” Kihet asked.

“And I guess you have something for the right situation?”

“Well… it’s something I’d like to test the potency of it.”

Kihet rummaged through his coat for a vial. As he popped the cork off, frost built over the lip and a ribbon of mist trailed after it.

The Salamander’s feelers stiffened and flowed irregularly in the air as it felt the temperature difference around Kihet and was now wary of him. It stood its ground hunched over, increasing in size to make itself more intimidating.

“I’m going.” Kihet drew his sword and made a beeline towards the monster.

“HIISSSSSSS!”

“Kihet, it’s going to throw it’s tail around!”

“Aten, use this!”

The Insectoid acknowledged Kihet’s call as descended from the sky and pinned down the Salamander’s tail with all the javelin he had on hand. The spears punctured the edge of its tail and firmly anchored to the ground so that the Salamander’s tail was immobilized. Aten then caught the Macahuitl Kihet threw towards him. The embedded shards were effective at continuously tearing into its fleshy tail and managed to saw off its tail.

Before Kihet closed the distance, the monster balanced itself on three legs. One of its stubby claws suddenly extended and swiped at Kihet who dodged using [Crescent Moon Dance].

“I’ll stop it for a few seconds!” Lily said as she slung her bow on her back and rushed towards the monster.

She shook her new gauntlets until tiny arcs of electricity formed over it and punched the Salamander’s soft body. There was enough current travelling through it to stun it for a few precious seconds.

Having to draw the Nagamaki, Kihet struck it with [Blooming Petals] quickly land four strikes at the side of its head. One cut at its eye, the second severed several strands of its feelers, the third struck its throat and the fourth at its cheek. Every blow connected except for the gills felt was like he trying to cut though rubber with a dull knife.

Kihet unleashed one last strike and anchored his weapon at its side, climbing on its back. Although the monster’s unique soft body was able to protect itself from physical harm, its hardening skin gripping the blade helped Kihet from being thrown off.

Once he balanced himself, Kihet splashed some cryogenic solution over the creature’s face. Since the body was mostly made of liquid, the entirety of the monster’s head froze in mere seconds. The weight of the ice snapped from the rest of the body and its limbs went limp.

[Dracelefic Fly?] Aten asked as he returned the Macahuitl looking at Lily’s sparking gauntlet and the frozen creature.

“I figured it’d be a good defensive tool for Lily. As for this, I found out they have two kinds of fluid they make in their bodies that can freeze and burn things. It seems to be liquefied from magic crystals which is why its concentrated of mana. Since they don’t have skin or fur, I think they rely on those organs to regulate their internal temperature.”

Kihet drew his carving knife and prod into the Salamander’s corpse lightly. The blade sank in without much resistant but when he wanted to yank it out, the flesh wrapped around the blade tightly held on to it. He was immersed at discovering unique properties of the Salamander’s skin that he momentarily forgot about the reason they defeated it.

“Thank you, thank you, you two saved me! Nyie thought I was a goner!”

“Hey, aren’t you the merchant we met at Vivrus?” Lily asked.

“What a coincidence! You two were dear customers from that time!” The Werecat merchant rummaged through her belonging. “If Nyie recall, you tried on this pin. As thanks, Ni’ll give it to you as a gift of appreciation.”

“Really?!”

“How sly.” Kihet thought as he worked his knife to separate the Salamander’s plated belly. “Say, why are you in Sanctuary?”

“I finished some business there and I’m on my way back to Pamalyra.”

“You went through the barrier?! How did you get entry? Did you meet with the fairies? Have you seen a girl with red hair, purple eyes? No-, Did you see an Enui in there?!”

“Nyah?! Too many questions!” The merchant jumped. “First of all, nyanyone can get through the first barrier if they can resist the ward there. Beyond that, you would need a special trinket. And, did you mention an Enui was in Sanctuary?”

“Tch. Forget it.” Kihet turned his attention back to the Salamander.

“Excuse me for asking, but are you an Enui yourself by any chance?” The merchant gave Kihet a curious stare.

“What do you think?”

She examined him from head to tail, unable to recognize his race. He had neither Alf’s long droopy ears, Scalemen scales, Giant’s size, Fairy’s wings, but he had horns on his head though she doubted the authenticity of them. His appearance was neither a beastmen nor insectoid. From her perspective, the merchant couldn’t find Kihet’s feathered ears or long fan tipped tails as well.

“A Devil Folk?”

“Then don’t ask.” Kihet coldly turned away. “Lily, how’s the cart? Do we have any room to fit some things from this monster?”

“I can make room, but just barely.”

“Aten, help me drag this back to the cart.”

The Merchant’s expression morphed into spotting a monster as Aten emerged from behind the corpse.

“Nyanother monster!”

“He’s not!” Lily objected. “He’s a Vivirian.”

“Him? Nyie don’t recall any insectoids with such… monster like appearance.”

“He’s unique.” Kihet tugged the rope securing the carcass. “Alright. Lily, Aten. Let’s get back on the road.”

“En!” Lily climbed back to the front while Aten sat at his usual spot atop of the canopy. “Onwards!”

“What about me?” The Werecat asked.

“We don’t have space.”

“B-but! Narn’t you going to Pamalyra? Can’t you give me a lift?”

“I already said we don’t have space.”

“I know we’ve been acquainted, but you’re still a stranger to us. We can’t really trust you.” Lily chimed in.

“Ack! How forgetful of me to not introduce myself! Nyie failed as a merchant for forgetting such basic Nyetiquette!” The Werecat made a grand bowing gesture. “The Nyame’s Tama, a wandering stray peddler! Please to make your acquaintance!”

“Okay, Tama. See you.”

“Wait, wait!” Tama desperately cried. “Nyie understand you want payment if Nyie ask you to escort me to Pamalyra, correct?”

“Depends how much you’re willing to give, I might consider.”

Tama stretched a business smile across her face, rubbing her hands together. Her ears flicked, her tail swayed calmly as a shady look casted over her face. She changed to the Beastmen language to speak with Kihet.

“How much would information about the Enui in Pamalyra be worth?”

Kihet shot a cold piercing glare at Tama that caused all her hair to stand up for a second. To think he’d encounter someone that might know of Vol so soon. Kihet doubted if the information about one of his friend was credible.

All the countries should’ve sent word envoys from his village visited them. For all he knows, anything related to Vol coming out of Tama’s mouth could be anywhere from twelve years ago to present time.

But it was very tempting.

“Get on.”

“With pleasure~!”

“H-hey, Kihet?! What did she say?”

“She has information I need and if she wants to continue to stay on the wagon, she’ll act as a guide for us into Pamalyra, right?” He raised his tone a tad aggressive.

“Nya, nya. Whatever the Holy one wants.” Tama climbed on the back and set her baggage across from her. “By the way, where is your group going? You don’t seem like you three are going to stop in Pamalyra.”

“Stusis.”

“You do know there is a territorial war between the Scalemen, right?”

“That’s why we’re going.” Kihet curtly answered then fell silent.

“Nyot much of a talker, is he? Neither is that insectoid up there.”

“Aten can’t speak and Kihet has an attitude towards strangers.” Lily responded. “The name’s Tomoe, nice to meet you Tama.”

[Aten.] A slate popped up above Tama.

“Likewise. Tomoe, that pin looks great on you. Wish Nyie had long hair like you, but all us Beastmen got is fur or short hair.”

----------------------------------------

Thunder cracked, lighting flashed. Heavy rain poured down nonstop from the sky almost thinking they were underneath a waterfall looking out from where they were.

They weren’t out of Sanctuary just yet, but fortunately they weren’t complete soaked. There was a hole in a large tree enough to fit them before the weather worsened. The carriage was well protected by leather tarps and leaves overhead sheltered the horse.

“The roads will get too muddy after the rain. Won’t the wheels get stuck?” Lily asked.

“As long as we dodge those roads, we’ll be fine.” Kihet answered as he and Aten dug a channel outside to redirect rainwater away from their rest stop. “After the rain lightens up, I’ll take point and prod around to lead the cart.”

“It doesn’t look like it’ll end anytime soon, nya.”

“Which mean you have time to pay your due diligence.”

Lily tossed them glances after Kihet switched languages to speak with Tama. She strained her long ears, ready to eavesdrop on their conversation even though she did not understand a word of Pamalyarian.

“What would you like to know?”

“Everything. Specifically, from when he first arrived and what happened to Pamalyra on that day.”

Lily listened to their discussion as she hanged her socks and boots over the campfire. It was mainly back and forth bickering as Kihet barraged Tama with questions that were answered one by one. She read Kihet’s expression changed depending on how Tama responded. Sometimes he sulked, frowned, looked confused. Other times he looked tense and took a moment to process the information, but not one time did he lash out or criticize the answers given to him.

“Aten.” Lily sat beside him. “Do you understand what they’re saying?”

The Dragonfly dropped the piece of log he was carving and reached for his writing tablet.

[Briefly. Beastmen language changed. Some not understand.]

“Could you tell me the parts you understand?”

[Oracle searching. Unknown.]

“It’s probably his friend in Pamalyra.” Lily tucked her knees in and fed a bundle of kindle to the campfire. “He said eight of his friends were sent to each country, but one of them didn’t make it. He probably still blames himself for not being able to save her.”

[Hope alive. Like Megith.]

“Same here. I want to see him smile again. He hasn’t smiled once since I found him from his village.”

[May ask? What Enui village look like now?]

“Not good. And I don’t know if it’ll ever be rebuilt. Ah, sorry, I brought on such a depressing mood! We should stop talking about that stuff. Hey Aten, could you tell me about yourself? I heard you mentioned you were older than Kihet, is that true?”

Aten’s feelers flickered when he felt surprised of Lily’s question. He shifted his back upright and plucked a small stick from the bundle of kindle and poked the fire.

[Past Lengthy.]

“It’s okay. Seems like Kihet will take a while and I’m curious! Do you have any hobbies?”

[Wood Carving.]

“I think I saw some back at your orphanage. They look awesome! Could you make me a sculpture of a rabbit- no, a squirrel one day?”

[Can try. Question. Teach me fold dragonfly?]

“En! I have some papers right now I can show you!” Lily flashed a smile, bringing out a bundle of papers from her satchel.

Their exchanges continued for a while a little after the storm lightened up.

Despite the weather, the gust kept going strong. The air was ripe with the pleasant dewy petrichor. Running rainwater flowed downhill between the muddy roads. Kihet poked at the ground with a stick and eventually guiding the carriage out of the swampy land.