Bun and Cao Nyut traveled from land to land in search of Thermock. They found some adventures, and at other times, misadventures found them. But finally, one day, Cao Nyut announced that he felt they were nearing the end of their journey.

“Thermock is close,” he said, “I can feel her chaotic, self-serving energy.”

Then, suddenly, as if by command, Thermock appeared in front of their very eyes. She took the form of a pachyderm, for she was a shapeshifter, and she said, “you have followed me to this place. Idiots.”

Cao Nyut stomped his heavy foot. “Give me my innocence back,” he said, “it wasn’t yours to take.”

“Idiot,” Thermock said, “you can never have it back. Even if you kill me and take it by force, your mind already knows how to be jaded. There’s no going back, no matter what.”

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But Cao Nyut knew Thermock was a liar and a cheat, so he was not willing to listen to her.

“Seize her,” Cao Nyut commanded. Bun leaped at Thermock, unsheathing a long silver dagger (which he had won as a reward for completing a dangerous quest for a metalsmith’s daughter, but that is another tale for another day).

But Thermock was nimble, and she easily danced around Bun’s clumsy strikes, and, when the boy was exhausted, she pushed him down into the dirt and laughed.

“Idiots,” Thermock said again. “How far do you dare chase me for this lost piece of your soul?”

Then, suddenly, without further warning, Thermock shapeshifted into a small burrowing creature with soft fur and large black eyes. Using this form, she used her claws to dig a hole in the earth.

Cao Nyut was beside himself. “After her!” he cried, and the pair followed her into the mysterious underground catacombs as closely as they dared.