Kay tells the pair the general story. She leaves out more than a few details, such as the more graphic aspects of her former comrades deaths, as well as some of the things the dark lord had specifically stated to her, which she considered irrelevant. As such, the explanation was a rather short one, perhaps shorter than it should have been, but she is not one to speak any more than is necessary, or really quite as much as is necessary, some might argue.

"Three pillars of light, huh." Frederich finally speaks up. "And you're sure they actually lead somewhere?"

"No, I'm not the least bit sure." she replies.

"It feels like there must be something there to draw her focus like that. If it were simply empty space with absolutely no physical or magical significance, I don't see why those points would stand out compared all the countless other empty spaces with no physical or magical significance." Mia chimes in, clearly deep in thought, brow furrowed. "In your travels last night, did you get any sense of growing closer to it?"

"Yeah, I did." Kay replies once more. "Quite a bit closer. But it's still awfully far away."

"That's good! If it were something that required, say, weeks of travel to reach, if you'd only traveled a tiny speck of the total distance, you likely wouldn't have had any sense of drawing closer." Mia nods. "Of course that still takes us back to the original question of what, exactly is there, and whether it's the sort of thing worth traveling to."

"I'm going." The naked mouse says bluntly. "You two can stay here if you want. I don't care."

"Hey, hey, we didn't say we're not going! Just that it would be nice to have some idea what we're getting into." the armored mouse smiles. "Who knows? You got this mark from a dark lord. Those lights could lead to some super powerful monsters or something! Not that I'm scared of any monsters, but if we've got to fight, I just want to be ready for it!"

"Hmmm. Blue, green and pink. That sounds... strangely familiar." Mia says in a soft voice, practically to herself, head lowered. Despite this, the other two, being right there of course, can hear her quite clearly. "Yeah, it was a story in an old tome. Something about three keys of light which open... something?"

"Hey, wait, yeah that does sound familiar! My mom told me a story like that when I was a kid! Three powerful ancient keys, and if you can bring them all together..." Fred says, his enthusiastic face suddenly going pale, his eyes wide.

"What?" Kay asks warily.

"If you bring them together... all of your wishes will be granted." The armored mouse says, his expression which earlier seemed frightened is instead clearly dumbfounded.

"Yes." Mia says, looking similarly surprised by the revelation. "That's what the text says. But it's just a legend, we can't be sure that it is true."

"But we can't assume it's not!" Fred exclaims, his energy and enthusiasm reaching new heights. "Wow, when I said we should take on a real quest I was thinking, you know... find a hidden cache of materials or defeat a dark lord or rescue some princess imprisoned in a haunted tower or something."

"Do you know of any princesses? Or haunted towers?" Kay asks, raising an eyebrow.

"So far as I can tell, there are no current female heirs to the kingdom." The mage interjects.

"Wait, this place is a kingdom? With a castle and everything?" The naked mouse says, having absolutely no idea that the city was anything more than, well... a city. Due to the high construction and the 'roof' of the city proper, one cannot see all that far before being blocked by some structure or another, so the nobles district and the castle are not visible from most areas of the town.

"Of course! Would you like to go see it?" Mia asks.

"No..." Kay says with a frown. She does want to see it a little, in truth. Not very much, but a little, even if not quite enough to actually say so aloud. A tiny part of her hopes that one of her new companions will insist they take the trip, but of course that doesn't happen.

"Anyways, I was hoping it would be something rewarding... you know, one where you'd get something we want, but instead... instead we could get everything we want! Everything we ever wanted!" Frederich says excitedly, his inner childishness spilling out.

"I don't really want anything." Kay says. This isn't to say she's disappointed with the news, but it doesn't really resonate with her. In truth, she won't be too disappointed if she finds nothing at all at those points. So far as she's concerned, going there is only marginally better than staying here. It's all simply time spent.

"Oh, come on! You can get money or power or... or your youth restored!"

"I'm not that old..." she grumbles.

"If nothing else, you can get that curse mark fixed, and more importantly, get your name back!" Fred grins wide.

"You know that this mark is probably supposed to kill me, right? And probably pretty soon?" Kay says, arms folded, wearing an annoyed expression. "How exactly is a name more important than that?"

The three walk as they speak, moving back down through the market district, towards the front gate of the city. Earlier on, they were all very hesitant to speak aloud matters of dark lords and curses, but since then it's become quite apparent that absolutely nobody is listening. It makes sense when one thinks about it. Everyone is where they are for a reason, otherwise they would be somewhere else. If they have a reason and a purpose, they're more likely to focus on that rather than random idle conversation. All the moreso considering how noisy the place is, and how difficult it would be to clearly overhear any given discussion. If one had, in fact, gone out purely motivated by the goal to eavesdrop, this would be a very poor place to do it.

"Names are incredibly important!" Frederich says. "A name is the first thing in this world that's truly yours, and can never... well, normally never be taken away. Not only is it your first real possession, being named a privilege very few things in this world have, it's also your first gift. A sign of love from your parents, a way to let you know, as your first real experience in an otherwise large and cold world that you? You matter, and that there are people who care about you." He frowns, growling. "For something to ever dare to take that away it-it's abhorrent!"

"Wow. That was... surprisingly poignant." Mia says, looking to him with her large black eyes. "You know, coming from you."

"Too bad it's all nonsense. Names don't mean anything. Naming something isn't a gift. People give names to everything. See that rock? Now it's named 'Ted'. That puddle? I'll call it 'Jeremy'." Kay says, shaking her head, pointing from one object to another, before pointing back over her shoulder. "This weapon of mine? Now it's named 'Catherine'. It's not some precious gift that gives something greater purpose, it's just a word, and mice love making as many words as possible because it makes them feel like they're smarter. I don't have any need for a name... hell, I got a new one easily enough. Who's to say my real one is any better?"

"Oh really?" Frederich smiles. "Hey, if you really think things and just things and words are just words, why don't you hand that axe of yours over to me? I'll trade you my sword for it."

The cream colored naked mouse blinks. "Huh? Why would you want it? You can barely even lift it?"

The armored mouse smiles wider still. "I'm sure I'll just get used to it. As for you, it's just another thing, right? And one is as good as another? It's not like you really care about it or anything else, so why not?"

Kay huffs. "You'd just hurt yourself with it. Catherine is better off staying with me." she blinks. "Um, I mean my axe... the axe is better off with me. It's just more convenient that way."

Frederich shakes his head and chuckles. "Sure, sure."

By now the three stand before the massive imposing gate, looking no less heavy and unyielding than it had to the formerly nameless mouse from the outside. They stand side to side looking up at it before Mia finally speaks up in her typically soft and weak voice.

"So, are we heading out? Shouldn't we maybe gather some more allies before we leave?" she asks.

"No." the other two say in unison. Kay simply doesn't want any more people to deal with, and for Frederich, well, he doesn't want the experience point rewards split even further.

"I guess we're ready, right?" Kay says, "Unless we happen to need to get something from the castle."

"I don't see why we would." Mia responds.

To this, Kay simply nods. "Right." she says, followed by a lowering of her head, and repeating in a softer voice. "Right."

The three step forward before the barrier, looking up at the gatekeepers. A vaguely familiar one looks down to the naked mouse woman with annoyance. "Huh? Didn't we just let you in a few hours ago?"

"Yeah. And now I need to leave again." she raises her head, glaring at the crotchety mouse with her unnatural eyes. "You got a problem with that?"

"Uh, no, no, of course not. Hey, open the gates!" he says, as from either side levers are drawn pulling the ropes which slowly lift the massive doorway up from the soft earth.

"That was so cool..." Mia mutters, to which Kay responds with a low sigh. From there a familiar landscape reveals itself, albeit somewhat more familiar to Kay, a little more familiar to Frederich, and virtually alien to the robed mage. Admittedly, even to Kay the scenery offered some novelty at first, but now it was just the same old overgrown green grasses and weeds. To the young mage, however, it offered an endless range of new flora and fauna to discover, each of which showing their own behaviors, reactions and physical properties. She did have the sense to not linger here long, however, as the three had a lot of walking to do, and even if there were many discoveries to be made right here, there is no doubt even more up ahead which certainly softened the blow of having to leave this place.

As for Kay, she looks up at the green light. It somehow feels closer, even though she knows it that isn't, at least not to a significant degree. Perhaps it's because after what feels like forever, but really was only a couple of hours, she's finally working towards it once more. As much as she wants to be annoyed at having to drag others along, she can't deny the practical benefits. She does, in fact, wish to reach it, along with the other two, of course. Maybe she doesn't desperately crave it, but she wants it more than she doesn't want it, and if one wants something, they should do everything they can to help achieve that desire. In this case, a few extra bodies will unquestionably help. Her mind briefly wanders back to the earlier discussion and the supposed rewards but dismisses them. Even if she had many significant desires, the idea of something as nebulous as wish granting not only existing but happening due to bringing three objects together? It's absurd and childish.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Ah, it's nice to get some fresh air!" Fred says, stretching his arms, arching his back, scanning the skyline. Sure, the city is rather opened up, these days more than it was in the past, but there's still the sensation of being enclosed.

"Don't relax too much." Kay says. "There are still dark lords about."

"Ooh, do you think we'll see one?" replies the mage, eyes wide with excitement.

"We'd better hope not."

The path to take is fairly clear, at least it is to the former healer. As for the other two, no matter how hard they look in the direction the naked mouse stared, they see nothing, and as such they could only follow as she continues towards it. There is little discussion at first, with both of Kay's allies rather excited and normally happily chattering being distracted by the novelty of the surroundings. This wouldn't last too long, however. The route Kay lead them towards isn't through some ancient ruin or toxic bog or volcanic chamber. It is largely plain grass, with the occasional odd house or car in the distance to break up the monotony of the landscape. Actual significant landmarks are few and far between.

"So, what are you going to wish for?" Frederich asks Mia, making a point to continue speaking before Kay can raise her predictable objections. "You know, assuming the legends are true."

The small mage hmmms to herself, brow furrowed. "I'm not entirely sure. On one hand, what I seek above all else is knowledge. Of magic, of the world, of creatures, of everything. But, on the other hand, it hardly seems the sort of thing appropriate to wish for.The joy of knowledge comes from discovery, after all. Simply having it all handed to you in a single gesture feels wrong somehow. It feels like it would be unrewarding."

"Okay, so getting all the knowledge in the world is out." Fred says, clearly a little annoyed with her response. "There must be something you want, though? Something more tangible?" he pauses, "Okay, let's just go backwards a little bit: Why did you want to come along with us in the first place?"

"I've already explained it. I'm seeking information about the dark lords." Mia replies.

"Okay, good! Now we're getting somewhere! Why do you want that? Are you trying to become more powerful?"

"No. I'm simply trying to understand. To learn exactly what they are, what we are, what the Makers are, and how we're all connected." the mage says after a moment of thought.

"Why do you need adventurers for that, though? You're a sorcerer, right? Can't you just research that stuff at the college?" the armored mouse asks. At that last word, the small mouse mages expression turns cold as she frowns.

"No. No good comes from that place. For all it's reputation, that is a place where proper ideas and innovations go to die, and innovators and idealists along with them."

Both Kay and Fred look to her with surprised expressions, having never seen her like this. While not one to speak up, generally speaking, the curiosity of the naked mouse eventually gets the better of her. "What's a college?"

Despite her obvious misgivings about the place, the expression of Mia once again lights up. "Oh, it's a place of study and text, where one can go to debate philosophies and research the nature of the universe." she pauses, biting on her lip. "Or at least that's what I thought it would be. What it's meant to be. Instead it's a den of bitterness and paranoia, where the experts rarely speak to one another. The tension of the place ages you before your time, and before long, even the younger students look worn and withered. I had to get as far away from that place as possible. I-I just had to."

Another awkward pause, this time with Fred finally speaking up. "Anyways, that doesn't really answer the original question. What would you want if your wishes could be granted?"

"Hmmm... time maybe? Sure, life is pretty long, but it's nothing compared to all there is to discover in this world. Oh, maybe some manner of travel as well? Most things to discover would be very far away I would imagine!" she blinks, looking down, once again in deep thought. "That second part is rather vague, however. Perhaps the ability to master teleportation magic? No mouse has ever been capable of such a thing, but seeing as how many dark lords can, it feels like it must be theoretically possible."

"Ugh, you're still thinking too small." Frederich says, shaking his head. "This isn't some minor benefit that's promised, it's all of your wishes coming true! As for me, it's simple: I want power, and lots of it."

"That doesn't sound very noble." Kay says, not that she's really judging.

"I don't necessarily mean power over others. I don't want to be a tyrant or even a ruler necessarily." the armored mouse continues. "But in the end, power is everything. Whether it's physical power, mental power, emotional power or power over reality itself. It's the way to accomplish your goals no matter what they are. It gives you the way to solve any problems that arise, protect yourself and others, and even if you don't use it, people always respect it."

"Still sounds kind of pointless. If you want the ability to get rich, you can just wish for money. If you want to protect yourself, you can wish for immortality. If you to get people to listen to you and do what you want, well... there's lots of ways to do that more directly." Kay says.

"No, it's not about specific things. Well, if it was just for me, yeah, I guess it would be, but it's for others. I want people to be able to come to me when in need, to be able to protect them, to be someone they can depend on. That's why I always dreamed of being a great hero."

"How very noble." Mia says.

"Not really." Kay says. "He's not wishing for world peace of an end to sickness or hunger or anything. He doesn't simply want them helped, he wants to be the one to help them. He wants others to depend on him, to need him, and for whether they're helped or not to happen because he chooses it."

"I... see." Mia says, eyes downcast.

"Hey, you're making me sound pretty awful, here!" the armored mouse shakes his head. "Yeah, I want a little recognition, too, but it's not like I'd punish anyone who looks at me the wrong way! Heroes who can help people are important, though. More important than the specific things they can accomplish, they act as symbols. Their presence makes people feel better, it inspires people, it makes them feel as though anything is possible. Just look at Jerin. Because of what she did, sure, people are still afraid of the dark lords, but they're no longer seen as invincible. Her actions, as simple as they were, changed the world, are are continuing to change it, and we as a people are getting stronger every day for it." he smiles. "And hey, that was without any crazy powers like wishes. Just imagine how much better I could make things with the help of such powers?"

Kay pauses in her tracks. "Wait, Jerin? Are you talking about the blacksmith? What does she have to do with anything?"

Both Mia and Frederich are about to speak up, but look to one another simultaneously, giving the matter a bit of thought. "Um... that's kind of a long story." Mia says in an apologetic tone. "I suppose as a foreigner, it's no surprise that you wouldn't know. Perhaps it should wait for another time."

The naked mouse can't quite understand why now isn't as good a time as any, but offers no objections. She's had enough conversation anyways.

As the group travels, the scenery gradually changes, even if not necessarily for the better. The already sparse landmarks grow fewer and further between with the roads, houses and other fixtures reduced to simple shapes in the distance, the grass and plant life showing no hints of being tended to and even refuse, discarded bits of glass and metal which are abundant pretty much anywhere the Makers go being seldom being seen. Still, for all the simplicity of the environment, Mia can't go more than a few minutes before finding some new and exciting variety of tiny fiend of form of plant life which she enthusiastically babbles about to a less than appreciative audience. As far as Kay and Fred are concerned, everything she points out looks the same making it difficult to share her enthusiasm. As for Frederich, he's grown more quiet as well, as his constant efforts to engage in idle chatter with the naked mouse woman are rebuffed by curt, often monosyllabic replies which he finds surprisingly exhausting. He unconsciously finds himself emulating the approach, his own questions and statements similarly growing simpler until he gives up entirely. This results in a semi-uncomfortable silence. Only semi because it's rather one sided, Fred never quite feeling like himself unless he's speaking, Kay very much content with the silence and Mia meanwhile lost in her own endless world of newly discovered life and relics.

While the 'getting to know one another' aspect of the journey could be going better, the actual travel part goes well. Were it up to Mia, they'd be constantly stopping to take in all of this world's majesties in greater detail, but Kay maintains a quick pace and when it comes to actually requesting things from others, the small sorceress has always been shy. Nobody waits for her or calls to her to keep up the pace, and she naturally hurries as soon as she finds herself falling behind, briefly languishing the inability to study her past discovery more closely. That disappointment is always short lived, however, as there's always another new discovery to be made which always seems more significant and fascinating, purely by nature of novelty.

The steady progress leads to its own issues. Frederich's armor isn't too heavy, at least in the sense that it's easy enough to lift, but it's still extra weight to endure over a long trek and drains ones stamina accordingly. As for the magic user of the group, it will come as no surprise that she is not exactly an athlete and while the city is, indeed, large by the standards of mice, one can still cross the entire perimeter of it with little time or effort. That means that for even the most energetic and enthusiastic mouse who constantly travels from one vista to another, there's only so much exercise to be gained from walking within the city walls. As such, she's less than suited to long journeys.

When it comes to Kay, however, the one who should be at their most weary, having journeyed far to reach the city, her stamina seems boundless. She doesn't notice this, of course, as she feels no real energy or enthusiasm, just that each step, no matter how many it's been, feels no more difficult than the last, and she doesn't stop to consider how unusual this is. It's no surprise, she's not one to think at all unless absolutely necessary, similar to Frederich in that regard, in principle, but both follow that philosophy for entirely different and borderline opposite reasons, with similarly opposing results. This continues for quite some time, longer than one could reasonably expect, the armored mouse, a would-be champion, too proud to admit to fatigue and needing to rest while an amateur can still keep walking, and Mia not wishing to feel like more of a burden than she already does. As such, neither speak up, and as for Kay, she's oblivious to their plight at first. In time, however, it becomes impossible for her not to notice that she's walking largely on her own and the pair are falling further and further behind.

The nameless mouse finally looks back to them with an expression somewhere between annoyance at them slowing her down, concern for their exhausted states and a little shame at having not realized it sooner. She isn't very good with feelings, so when she does feel something, it tends to be multiple issues at once and occasionally downright contradictory ones.

"I guess we can camp here for a while." she says. She can't really express any disappointment, as it isn't as though she's in any particular hurry. Well, technically she should be, as she'd been told that the strange curse mark is dramatically cutting her lifespan and she has little reason to doubt the accuracy of that claim, but still feels little sense of urgency. She may not be tired and is more than capable of continuing forward but she can't claim the distance that the three have traveled so far is disappointing. Quite the contrary, in fact. Were she to guess prior to beginning this journey, just how far she would have been able to walk without rest, she wouldn't have imagined coming nearly this far. She might not be as small and naturally frail as Mia, after all, but like the young sorceress, she's still hardly a natural athlete.

Naturally there were no objections from her companions who were both about ready to collapse. The fact that Mia had made it so far is particularly remarkable but the combination of her natural shyness which made her unwilling to speak up and request a break and her excitable curiosity which granted her a little boost of energy with each and every new discovery helped push her much further than her natural constitution would normally allow. It is still early evening, but time of day means little. Travel by both day and night each carry their own risks and rewards, after all. One would naturally expect that moving by cover of darkness would be safer, at least leaving one less visible to potential foes, but there are no shortage of especially dangerous and keen-eyed creatures which roam the lands while the rest of the world sleeps. Setting a fire would be rather dangerous but thankfully proves unnecessary, the light evening breeze offering a natural coolness but not intense enough to pull the heat from a resting body, especially a furred one.

Now would be a fine time for a fireside chat, minus the fire, of course, where the three could properly connect in a safe and comfortable environment. That isn't the case, however. Kay was never much of a conversationalist, and while the other pair do try to provide good company, they suffer a quick and crushing defeat at the hands of natural exhaustion, barely having time to set out some simple blankets, getting comfortable on them, both vowing to just rest their eyes for a few minutes before falling into a deep and well earned sleep.

As for the nameless mouse, she attempts the same but it doesn't nearly so smoothly. She's restless, fidgety, every rested position feeling uncomfortable and unnatural. Even as she closes her eyes, the pillars of light remain visible within her mind. No matter how she tries, she finds no rest but also no physical need for it. The mental need remains, however. Without the ability to focus on the journey, the simply act of putting one foot in front of the other, without the distractions of the chattering of others, without immediate sensations in front of her, she's left alone with her terrible, terrible thoughts.

Unable to sleep and with no desire to eat, the night proves to be a long and lonely one.