Esato seemed to read Zalgo’s thoughts, a weary smile gracing her lips. "Rest now, child," she admonished, guiding Zalgo towards a stone bench nearby. "You've earned it."

Zalgo, her body and mind screaming at her to rest, allowed herself to be led. She slumped onto the stone bench, the cool surface a stark contrast to her burning skin.

Esato took a seat beside her, her movements slow and measured. The toll of the ritual was clearly evident on her as well.

Noelle watched over them both, her gaze a mixture of protectiveness and admiration. She leaned against the side of the bench, the sound of her steady breathing adding to the tranquility of the moment. After a moment, she spoke up: "Um, Miss Esato? Not to bother you, but do you know where the World Core is? We need to seal it off quickly so that Dark forces can't creep into this world.”

Esato's eyebrows drew together, her gaze turning distant as she considered Noelle's question. "There is a chamber deep within this mountain," she finally responded, her voice a quiet rumble. "It's heavily fortified and hidden. Only those of us who are guardians of the World Core know the way.”

"So.... Can you take us there?" Noelle asked, her hands wringing nervously. She was still dressed in the torn remains of her uniform, the scars on her face making her appear even more like a warrior than before, despite her petite size.

"Yes," Esato replied softly. "But let us rest for a bit first. The journey to the chamber is...difficult, and we need all our strength.”

"But..."

Noelle looked torn, her need to act warring with her common sense. Just as she was about to protest, a gentle hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see Zalgo standing beside her, her face set in a gentle, understanding expression.

"Esato is right," she said softly. "We all need to rest first. You included."

Noelle opened her mouth to argue, then shut it with a snap. She knew Zalgo was right, even if she was loath to admit it.

"Fine," she muttered sullenly, plopping down on the ground on her rump with a huff. "We can rest. I still think we're wasting time, though."

Zalgo chuckled softly at Noelle's grumpy expression, patting her head affectionately.

Esato leaned back against the stone bench, her eyes closed in exhaustion. "I assure you, girl," she said softly. "Resting will do more good than harm. The World Core has been kept safe for centuries; a few more hours won't make much difference. Not with my presence here, no less.”

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"Okay," Noelle grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. The exhaustion from the battle was catching up to her, and she was finding it harder to keep her irritation alive.

Rachel, who had been dozing on the stone bench, opened one eye to regard them lazily. She made a soft, amused sound in her throat before closing her eyes again.

Esato's lips curled into a small, tired smile. "You all amuse me so," she murmured, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

Zalgo huffed out a soft laugh, glancing down at the now-sleeping Rachel. "You should rest too, Esato.”

"I will," Esato responded, her voice a tired hum. "Just give me a few minutes to rest my eyes."

Noelle, now yawning and exhausted, decided to follow Rachel's lead. She curled up on the ground, resting her head on her arms.

Alice, the only one who didn't feel any need to rest, fidgeted with her fingers. She wasn't tired, but looking around at the volcanic walls surrounding her was no fun either. Alice's restless movement didn't go unnoticed by the others. Esato, still slumped against the stone bench, opened one eye to regard her. "Can't sleep, child?"

Alice shook her head, feeling a bit embarrassed at the sudden attention. "No," she admitted softly. "I'm not tired. I just... feel restless.”

"I see," Esato murmured, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Sometimes, even when our bodies are exhausted, our minds refuse to rest. It is the way of things."

Zalgo chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on Alice. "Why don't you explore a bit, then? Just stay close and don't touch anything you're not sure about.”

Alice brightened at the suggestion, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. She nodded eagerly, a grin spreading across her face. "Okay!"

Without waiting for a response, she hopped to her feet and began exploring the massive room. Her footsteps echoed off the obsidian walls, each step carrying her further away from the group.

Esato and Zalgo watched her go, a mix of protectiveness and amusement in their eyes.

"She's an adventurous one, isn't she?" Zalgo remarked softly, her eyes following Alice's every move.

Esato nodded, a weary smile on her lips. "Indeed. It's refreshing to see such vitality, given our current circumstances.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, each woman lost in her own thoughts. Esato's eyes fluttered shut once more, her breathing beginning to even out as fatigue started to take over.

Noelle had long since fallen asleep, her face relaxed in exhaustion. Rachel, still on the stone bench, was snoring softly, oblivious to the world around her.

Alice continued to explore, her small feet carrying her farther and farther away from her guardians. The enormity of the room amazed her, and she felt a strange thrill at being able to explore it unhindered.

She examined the walls, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns in the volcanic rock. She found a small crack in the wall, big enough for her to peek through.

Curiosity piqued, she knelt, peering through the crack in the wall.

From her vantage point, Alice could see into an adjoining room. It was dark and deserted, its surfaces covered in a thick layer of dust.

A sudden noise startled her, her heart rate accelerating. It sounded like... footsteps?

She held her breath, straining her ears to confirm the sound. Her mind raced, wondering if she was imagining things, or if there was really something in that room.

The footsteps grew louder, the sound of boots thumping against stone reverberating throughout the chamber. Alice swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. The footsteps were coming closer, each thump sending a jolt of fear through her body.

She should go back. She should get the others. But the thought of waking them up, and potentially alerting whatever was in the connecting room, kept her in place.

The footsteps were almost right next to the crack now, their ominous cadence sending chills down Alice's spine. Her fear was almost crippling now, her body frozen in place as she fought the urge to flee.

The footsteps halted right outside the crack, the silence that followed deafening. It was as if whatever made those footsteps was... waiting.