Chapter 8
171.
Half of the day is already done, and it's time for the Nocturnal ones to take over while the Diurnal Kemis close their stores. The setup around them changed but the situation for the group didn't, they were still empty-handed no matter how hard they tried. While brainstorming in the bench area, the group realized something that might solve the equation. Unfortunately for them, someone else was listening to their conversation the whole time. Now the question is, what will Teni do?
"Ah… Hi Teni," Kita said as she nervously chuckled.
"Quit the facade, I know the truth. Lucky for you guys, I'm the only Kemi who's great at analyzing speech patterns. Or should I say lucky nyu?" Teni said as she laughed, "Follow me, let's talk somewhere private," she added.
"Yeah… I've seen this before," Raven commented, referring to their first encounter with Scraz, and then inviting them to the hidden room.
In due course, they arrived at Teni's place. Teni hasn't opened her store and most probably, she won't do so for now. The group walks around and checks the random items placed on the shelves. Teni's shop is an antique store, she buys and sells different items that are unusual or extraordinary.
"So what's your deal?" Scraz questioned.
"Probably just the same as yours," Teni answered.
"Ha? I thought everyone hated outsiders." Scraz confusedly responded.
"They still do, I just hold a different opinion, like you. It's a characteristic that I developed since I interact with random Kemis almost every day in my shop. Oftentimes, the strangest ones possess something more valuable than the usual." Teni replied.
"We don't have any valuable items for nyu," Yuna said.
"Don't worry about that, items aren't the ones that I consider valuable. Experience and storyline are the best aspects for me. That's why most of the items here have their own story, representation of their past as they exhibit their beauty." Teni elaborated.
"She's good, her words are compelling," Raven commented.
"I'LL BUY ONE!" Kita immediately said while Hana stopped her.
"FeLinE thinks we can trust her. What's your plan?" FeLinE:1000X asked Teni.
"Hmmm… I have a bit of a reputation here in Innard, Kemis seemed to be unbothered regardless of the things that I bring to the shop. If we could put some dirt on your item, they would think we dug it somewhere and no one would suspect a thing. Also, we need to carry it on my wheelcart, it will make our story more believable." Teni explained.
The group finds the plan convincing, all they need to do is act accordingly and it will be worth a shot. With that said, Teni joins the group as they execute her plan. Upon reaching the labyrinth, Scraz let Teni know about his hidden room. Teni was startled, it was a rare discovery for her. Afterward, they put some dirt on the Relic and proceeded as planned. The group was a bit nervous at first, but it all faded away when they realized no one was paying attention to them as they walked through Innards.
"Now what?" Kita whispered.
"FeLinE can't use the Relic if FeLinE isn't holding it," FeLinE:1000X replied.
"Teni said that she needs to be the one pushing the wheelcart, and so far, it's pretty effective. I guess it's better to use it once we are inside the store." Yuna suggested.
"FeLinE agrees, the Relic can categorize the surroundings from Kemis to artifacts within the radius. If there's an unusual artifact in Innards, we can just draw the location from the map that we created." FeLinE:1000X added.
"Aight, sounds good to me," Kita commented as they headed straight back to the store.
The group successfully returned to the shop. FeLinE removed the dirt on her Relic and then started to scan the area.
While FeLinE uses her Relic, Teni can't help but be amazed as they all watch, "I've been wanting to say this, seeing you wield your Relic proves that you really are a Sentient Kemi, just like the previous one. A fascinating moment indeed!" Teni suddenly said.
"Regarding the previous incident, do you also believe that the previous Sentient Kemi is innocent?" Scraz curiously asked.
"Hai, I find the narrative illogical. Why would she innovate the place if she was planning to corrupt us? We are still using those Luminous Rocks even after the chaos and everything is fine. Also, she was the one who healed us, right? She could just leave us all corrupted here but she didn't. Her actions show that it was an unfortunate timing rather than a planned attack." Teni explained.
"I see… You truly are a unique one." Scraz responded.
It took FeLinE a couple of minutes to assess what the Relic showed. She also rechecked it a couple of times but again, they gained nothing from this experiment, leaving the group extremely puzzled.
"So Relic isn't the answer?" Hana questioned.
"I legitimately thought that we got it right this time…" Yuna mentioned.
"Do we need to find another difference between us and a Sentient Kemi, or are we still gonna try things out with the Relic?" Raven asked.
"Good question, I have no idea," Kita commented.
"What should we do?" Hana asked.
"Beats me, I think blindly scouting the place again will be pointless and just wastes our time," Yuna said.
"FeLinE still cannot believe that the Relic isn't the answer." FeLinE:1000X reiterated as she kept on using the Relic repeatedly.
"This is driving me nuts, even this piece of paper doesn't give us any clue!" Kita complained as she brought out the map made by VesTris. All of a sudden, Kita's frustration led to something surprising. When she stretched out her arms, accidentally pointing the map toward FeLinE's Relic, the small amount of light from the Relic illuminated only the islands on the paper. "Wait a second, what's happening?" Kita confusedly added.
"What do nyu mean?" Yuna asked.
"Only the islands glow when pointed at the Relic's core, the rest of the paper doesn't," Kita answered as she pointed the paper in and out of the Relic. The rest of them approached Kita to check her claim while FeLinE steadily held the Relic.
Bewildered by the situation, the discovery certainly fascinated everyone. The group felt that they finally had an integral lead, something that they could work on henceforth. Even though there is still a lot to unfold, knowing that their efforts are not wasted is enough to ignite their fire again.
172.
The atmosphere lightens up, the same way the islands did on the paper. No one can comprehend how VesTris managed to create this invention. The technique is similar to a hidden ink that only shows when a specific type of light is pointed at it. Using this principle might be the answer that they are looking for.
"This is phenomenal, I've been trying to create an invisible ink but this one is superbly integrated! Look at it, it glows! Can I have it after your mission? NAME THE PRICE AND I'LL PAY DOUBLE FOR IT!" Teni bargained.
"Hold on now, I'm the one who keeps VesTris items," Scraz immediately replied.
"Slow down nyu two, we are still clueless about what to do with this discovery." Yuna intervened.
"To be honest, the way it lights up kinda feels familiar…" Hana mentioned.
"Have nyu seen it before?" Raven asked.
"Well, this is the first time I encountered such an invention, though I just feel like the way it glows resembles something, which unfortunately I cannot remember…" Hana clarified.
"It does look similar to something, or perhaps VesTris just used a common item here in Euchambersia, like the Luminous Rock or something," Kita commented.
"Wait a second, that's it! It glows exactly like the Luminous Rocks in the Innards!" Hana excitedly said.
"You're right, it's the same color shade," Scraz agreed with Hana.
"What if we point it to the Luminous Rocks, would it show more details?" Raven guessed.
"Good idea, let's try it out!" Kita replied as she sprinted outside. The rest of them follow while FeLinE stays with her Relic. Kita tried to point the paper to the Luminous Rocks but it didn't react the way it did with the Relic.
"Hmmm… Nothing's happening. Maybe the map needs to be a little closer, the Luminous Rocks are way too high." Kita said.
"Bat Kemis are the only Venomous-Flying Kemis here, even if Yuna can levitate, it will still be a problem for us," Scraz added.
"It will be easier if we can just fly to it, but it will surely draw everyone's attention," Yuna replied.
"Wait, Yuna can levitate?" Teni questioned.
"Clearly, nyu don't know enough about us." Kita boasted as she tapped Teni's shoulder. "Let's head back to the store for a little bit of show and tell." She added. They all went back inside and started to share their talents.
Scraz and Teni were tongue-tied, they were not aware of such feats. Scraz already witnessed Yuna and Raven's talent, though he was surprised to see that Kita and Hana have talents too. The group wants to use Yuna's talent to close the gap and obtain an optimal distance with the Luminous Rocks, but they must think of a way where they'll be stealthy.
"As impressive as your talents are, I doubt that you guys can sneak and approach the Luminous Rocks without being spotted. I mean, it's an open area." Teni shared her thoughts.
"What if, instead of being stealthy, let's create a massive diversion while others fly to the target! I'm really good at distractions!" Kita suggested.
"That is still risky, you need to attract their attention consistently without a break. Considering the size of the place, it will be all over for us by the second someone looks up," Scraz argued.
"Hmmm… What if we dress up as Bat Kemis and then fly toward it." Hana also suggested.
"Oh, I recently bought wing gliders, we can paint that up and redesign it to look like bat wings!" Teni added.
"I guess that's a better plan than mine, but I will still prepare something just in case," Kita said as they all agreed to Hana's suggestion.
The creativity kicks in as the group uses the resources available at the shop. Everyone was exhilarated, the momentum kept them going despite the foreseen obstacles. They must deceive the residents, especially the marshalls known as the Pack, the ones that keep the order in Innards. Most of them are roaming around in blue vest uniforms, while some of them are in civilian disguises, making the mission more complicated.
Creating the perfect outfit surely takes a lot of time, Scraz even ordered takeouts for them to have dinner while completing the costume. They need at least 2 bat attires; one for Yuna and the other one for the Kemi who will accompany her. Eventually, the Bat wings were done, and the costumes were even more impressive than the ones that the Catgirls were wearing. It just shows that Teni is truly attentive to details, they even added handles on each side so the pilot can flap the wings and accurately pretend like a Bat Kemi. Hiding their tails will be the only remaining task for them to completely deceive everyone.
Moments later, the group decides that FeLinE will join Yuna, and the rest will stay on the ground to observe how the Pack will react. They must intervene if someone tries to halt Yuna and FeLinE. The group also hides FeLinE's Relic inside the store to ensure its safety.
Judging the scenario at hand, the timing for the plan is almost perfect. The Bat Kemis only go out at night, giving them the window to act like one. Yuna and FeLinE changed into their costumes, and as soon as a flock of Bat Kemis circled the ceiling, they immediately blended in and executed the plan.
"I can't believe this is working," Kita commented as they watched Yuna and FeLinE fly toward the ceiling.
"Please don't jinx it," Hana responded.
"The costumes are perfect, I would say no one bats an eye, get it?" Teni humorously said.
"Keep your guard up, we must be vigilant with our surroundings." Scraz reminded them.
"Haiii," the rest replied.
The Catgirls' wristwatches were set on call prior to the mission, in that way, they could update each other in real-time. "Can anyone hear us clearly?" Yuna asked, trying to modulate her voice while they flew. Their conversation shouldn't be too loud because Bat Kemis has enhanced hearing.
"Yes, we do. How's everything up there?" Hana responded.
"As it turns out, pointing the map to the Luminous Rocks will reveal a certain number on an island. Though not all of them, there are only certain Luminous Rocks that do so, we still need to find the other ones that react with the paper." Yuna replied.
"What do the numbers mean?" Raven asked.
"FeLinE thinks it's the chronological order of where VesTris is heading," FeLinE:1000X answered. A discovery that left the rest of the group speechless.
173.
Approaching the ceiling gave them a valuable info, finally, a fruitful hypothesis. When Yuna pointed the map near the Luminous Rock in the far north, number 7 showed in the middle of the BijouTerra island. FeLinE thinks that it will be the last island that VesTris will head to, the rest of the group believes it too. Yuna and FeLinE tried another Luminous Rock in the Northwest, and then the island of Euchambersia showed number 1. It made their guess a lot stronger since Euchambersia was the first island where VesTris landed and stayed. Keeping in mind that not all Luminous Rocks react to the paper, they must do multiple trials and errors to complete the sequence on the map, thus the assessment continues.
While waiting for Yuna and FeLinE's next update, Kita started to get impatient and asked, "Isn't easier to just find the island that has the number 2 on it? I mean, it will tell us her current location, no need for the rest of the numbers."
"Calculating the amount of time since she left Euchambersia plus our stay here, VesTris could be on the third or fourth realm by now. She might even move to the next realm once VesTris notices that the Mystical Runekey is no longer there. Considering that we managed to take the majority of those, it's likely for that to happen. She will only slow down if she enters the Underworld." FeLinE:1000X explained.
"In that sense, why not just wait for her at the UniPaws, she'll eventually enter there multiple times before jumping to another realm," Raven questioned.
"That would take a lot of resources, time, and effort. We need to divide our resources and then deploy them to the 7 islands connected to the realms just to catch her in that way. We also need to stay alert the whole time coz we don't know when will she come out. Considering the current state of the UniPaws, it's improbable to get the help that we need in that plan." Yuna answered.
"FeLinE thinks that going after her is faster. We can also ensure that she's safe if we meet her personally. We can no longer guarantee the safety of the other realms after the acts that we did, plus the influence of the Forbidden Runes. Their conditions could potentially be different by now." FeLinE:1000X added.
"I think they are right. No more shortcuts for now." Hana said.
"Haiiii." Raven and Kita responded.
In the next couple of minutes, Yuna and FeLinE were slowly completing the list one after the other, checking the Luminous Rocks as they rotated counter-clockwise beside the ceiling. Euchambersia at 1st, BijouTerra is 7th, Hachtile is 4th, and Noctambulist Land at 6th. The only missing placements are 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, which will be designated to Nesuto, Blizshore, and the Underworld.
Clearly, combining the two most analytical in the group can speed things up, especially if their task requires a combination of extreme focus and patience. Yuna and FeLinE already covered the north side down to the southeast, in due course, they can potentially reveal the full sequence. Unfortunately for them, the situation happens to stop going in their favor. While Yuna and FeLinE continue to investigate, Kita and others overhear a member of the Pack who's wearing a uniform, talking to his two-way radio, "I just noticed two suspicious Bat Kemis circulating the ceiling, can someone check them, they are on the east side, over." The Dartfrogman reported.
"Aaaah ano… We might have a problem. A member of the Pack just instructed someone to check nyu." Hana warned Yuna and FeLinE.
While Yuna continued with her task, FeLinE checked the surroundings and saw a Bat Kemi from afar, looking like he was communicating with a two-way radio. The Bat Kemi isn't wearing a uniform, unlike the ones that Kita overheard, meaning he could be one of the disguised civilians.
"FeLinE thinks a Bat Kemi is on the move, we better pick up the pace," FeLinE:1000X said.
"On it," Yuna responded as they moved in haste.
The Bat Kemi seemed to notice their sudden speed up, and because of that, he also tried to approach Yuna and FeLinE faster.
"Wha-what should we do? That Bat Kemi is getting closer to them." Teni asked. In that instant, Kita went inside the shop to get the Relic. As soon as she came back, the rest of the group got a gist of what was about to happen.
"Why did nyu bring out the Relic?" Raven asked.
"First of all, Scraz and Teni, thanks for your help." Kita told Scraz and Teni, "On my signal, we will sprint towards the exit. Raven, nyu know what to do." She then instructed.
"Yeah, I kinda saw where this was going," Raven replied.
"I guess it's time for running, again... I'll try to stir things up too," Hana responded.
Kita climbed up to the top of the store, and yelled as loud as she could, "ATTENTION!" When the Kemis near the vicinity looked at her, Kita removed her costume and said, "A Sentient Kemi has arrived!" The crowd dropped their jaws, surprised by the sudden announcement.
"GET HER!" The crowd erupted as the wild chase began.
To make it more chaotic, Hana controlled the water around them and flooded the area, Kita then froze it, halting the majority of the Venomous Kemis as their foot got stuck on ice. Kita, Hana, and Raven run through the labyrinth while the rest of the residents try to catch them.
"THIS IS FUN!" Kita shouted. With Raven's talent, it will be impossible for the others to catch the group. This allowed Yuna and FeLinE to peacefully complete their tasks since the Innards were completely empty by now.
"Oof, that's quite a scene. Kita truly fits that role." Yuna commented as they watched from the ceiling.
"Let's finish this quickly and then follow them," FeLinE:1000X added.
Meanwhile, Teni and Scraz accepted that neither of them would get the map. "I failed to acquire that map but this was fun. The chaos makes up for it." Teni said.
"I also failed to achieve my goal. Maybe I'll just meet her some other time. I just hope VesTris is safe." Scraz replied. It could have been the perfect opportunity for him to look for VesTris since the Catgirls will also do so. But Scraz thought that now might not be a good time, he would patiently wait for the time being.
174.
Kita, Hana, and Raven successfully reach the Ruin. They did escape from the chaotic chase, but it's not yet over. The problem now is FeLinE holds the Runekey, they must wait for them so they can cross the portal. As of now, the residents lost track of the group, but it won't take that long before they can find them. Kita, Hana, and Raven are now hoping that Yuna and FeLinE will arrive as soon as possible.
The surroundings were already dark and the Beast Mimis lurked around just like last time. It may be dangerous for Kita's group but it somewhat helps them. The appearance of Beast Mimis made the residents of Euchambersia more cautious. Even so, the danger still lingers around. Either the Beast Mimis or the Kemis, one of those will eventually jump out to them. The longer Kita, Hana, and Raven stay in their current position, the higher the possibilities of the two aforementioned cases. The three of them hide at the back of an old tree near the Ruin, waiting for Yuna and FeLinE.
"This is way more nerve-racking than the night we collected the scales," Kita mentioned.
"For sure, I would prefer to move around and be chased rather than be idle and hide. We don't know where or when they'll come out, or even who's gonna get here first." Raven added.
"And most importantly, we cannot do Cannon Launcher without Yuna!" Kita said.
"Shhh! Keep your voice down, there's someone nearby." Hana intervened. The three of them can hear the snap of the small branches as they get stepped on. It's clear that the Venemous Kemis scattered through the forest to search for them.
A few moments later, someone approached the group. "Waiting for someone?" The voice echoed to the silent place. As Kita, Hana, and Raven slowly looked up, the bat wings tremendously scared them. They thought the Bat Kemis caught them but it was Yuna and FeLinE, still wearing the Bat Kemi costumes.
"WHY DIDN'T NYU JUST REMOVE YOUR COSTUMES, I ALMOST RUN AWAY!" Kita complained.
"I think my heart stopped for a second there…" Raven echoed Kita's sentiments.
"Our covers were not yet blown, they still believed we were one of them. It's easier to blend in and move out using this costume." FeLinE:1000X answered.
"Let's just get out of here first while we still can," Hana reminded the group.
FeLinE opened the gates of the Ruin, and they left the place swiftly. The group only managed to breathe freely right after the portal closed. They made it back to the UniPaws unscathed, but their mission was far from over. The group sat down on the grass as the adrenaline slowly wore off.
"Phew, I should start creating a tier list of which realm has been the most stressful one," Raven mentioned.
"Euchambersia could really be a contender for the top spot. I mean, after everything that happened, we still don't have the Mystical Runekey!" Yuna responded.
"Residents chasing us at night… It was like a deja vu of the Noctambulist Land." Hana mentioned.
"At least we didn't get caught this time," FeLinE:1000X replied.
"I think this one is the most exciting realm, collecting scales, wearing disguises, deciphering clues, running from the residents, not to mention, the jumpscare while waiting at the tree! I had fun!" Kita said.
"I'm sure your opinion would changed if nyu lost to that gambling stall, FeLinE was ready to sell nyu to them," Raven revealed FeLinE's idea.
"WHAT?" Kita reacted in shock while the rest of the group laughed.
Continuing to humor their experiences, their noise caught the attention of Rubi, Celeste, Mae, and Mittsy from the camp. The four of them run towards the group to deliver the urgent news.
"Thank goodness nyu are finally back!" Mittsy said.
"Why? What's the hurry?" Hana worriedly asked. The mood of the situation drastically changed because of the sudden approach.
"We've been waiting for your arrival since yesterday when Queen Grace messaged us the news," Celeste responded.
"Hideo escaped from the prison, Duke Nasmuir said that Hideo took advantage of the commotion during the last protest up to the UniKemis' announcement," Ma explained.
"WHAT?" Kita, Hana, Raven, and FeLinE reacted in shock.
"And that's not even the most surprising part, Hideo left Ovae in prison. When Ovae was questioned, she told the Duke that Hideo planned the escape and was supposed to take her with him, but Hideo doublecrossed Ovae by the moment they destroyed the Field Separator. Now that I think of it, Ovae is also capable of escaping using her talent but she elected to stay. I guess Ovae is also clueless and wary of Hideo's overall plan." Rubi added.
"Are there any other reports about Hideo within the last 24 hours?" Yuna asked.
"Sadly, none. Looks like he's hiding somewhere. Eve told us that there's also a possibility that Hideo already made it to the other realms. His Riftwalk talent will make it impossible for us to catch him." Rubi answered.
"First, we need to find VesTris, and now we need to find Hideo? This is turning into a hide-and-seek competition!" Kita complained.
"Who's VesTris?" Mae curiously replied.
"She's a Sentient Kemi who apparently collected the Mystical Runekey in the Euchambersia. We managed to decipher her clues and planned to follow her to complete the needed artifact." Raven summarized the answer.
"This is getting a lot more complicated. What should we focus on first?" Mittsy responded.
"I think we might hit two birds with one stone." Yuna said, "The 2nd realm that VesTris went to is the Underworld, and there's a huge chance that is also the place where we could find Hideo." She added.
Another puzzling situation welcomed the group as they continued with their journey. At this point, no one knows who's outsmarting who. It feels like everyone is reading each other movements and this time, Hideo makes the first move. The rest of them, including Cerono and Ovae, need to respond.
End of the Tale of Blizshore & Euchambersia