From a nearby crystal wall, a figure slowly stepped out. It looked almost like someone pushing aside a curtain made of stone.
Daiowon emerged fully from the wall and stood upright.
He bowed respectfully.
In the Quartzmen's grinding language, he spoke softly.
"Elder Daiope."
Daiope studied the younger Quartzman carefully. His amethyst eyes dimmed slightly as he observed him.
The elder had lived for a millennium. Reading emotions—even from a body made of stone—was not difficult for him.
"Tell me," Daiope said calmly. "What troubles you?"
He folded his arms.
"I could sense something bothering you after I left earlier."
Daiowon hesitated.
His crystal fingers moved slightly against each other with a faint clinking sound.
For a moment, Daiowon stared at the dark tunnel where the humans had disappeared. The echo of their departure had long faded, yet his eyes remained fixed there, as if he could still see them walking farther and farther away.
Then he gathered his courage.
"Elder… may I ask something?"
Daiope nodded slowly.
"Go ahead."
Daiowon's voice came out slower than usual, each word grinding softly like stone brushing against stone.
"May I… go to the surface?"
Daiope's amethyst eyes dimmed slightly.
"Is this about the humans?"
The young Quartzman hesitated. His fingers rubbed lightly against his forearm, producing a faint clinking sound.
Instead of answering, he asked another question.
"Elder… may I ask something else first?"
Daiope tilted his head.
"Speak."
Daiowon's voice lowered.
"Are we caged… or are we safe?"
Silence filled the cavern.
The glow of the crystals flickered faintly across the walls, and a drop of water fell somewhere in the distance.
Daiope slowly looked around.
Then he answered.
"Both."
He folded his arms behind his back.
"This sanctuary protects us from the chaos of the outside world. Here, our people live without fear of war, hunters, or greed. The creatures we shelter can survive without being hunted to extinction."
He paused.
"But safety always comes with a price."
His gaze lifted toward the unseen ceiling high above.
"We live deep beneath the earth, far from the rest of the world. Because of that, we also lose the freedom to see it, to learn from it, and to grow with it."
His voice softened.
"In that sense… Lumicryst Hollow can feel like a cage."
Daiowon listened quietly.
The grinding wind through the tunnels whispered around them.
After a moment, Daiope sighed.
"If you truly wish to leave… I will not stop you."
Daiowon's crystal eyes brightened instantly.
But Daiope raised a finger.
"However, I need you to do something first."
Daiowon straightened.
"What do you need me to do, elder?"
He hesitated before asking,
"Do you want me to follow the humans silently?"
Daiope shook his head.
"No. You gain nothing following those fools."
He pointed toward the deeper tunnels that led far beyond the sanctuary.
"I want you to travel south… west of Aegulus."
Daiowon blinked.
"South… of Aegulus?"
Daiope nodded.
"I want you to find out what happened to our kin who fled to Mount Dewhill."
Daiowon immediately understood.
"The Crimson Tribe?"
Daiope's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes."
His voice carried old memories.
"This task will not be easy. Finding them may take years. The desert and the barren lands between are full of dangers."
He stepped closer.
"But if you find them… tell them we survived."
Daiowon stood silent for a moment.
Then he lifted his head firmly.
"Do you still wish to leave?" Daiope asked.
Daiowon nodded without hesitation. Determination burned inside his crystal eyes.
Daiope studied him carefully, then nodded in approval.
"Very well."
He placed a hand on the young Quartzman's shoulder.
"Then go."
"May Lord Celize guide your journey."
Daiowon hesitated once more.
"Should I return and ask the other elders for permission, Elder Daiope?"
Daiope chuckled quietly.
"Don't you wish to go on a journey?"
Daiowon blinked.
Daiope continued calmly,
"If you ask the elders… they might reach a different conclusion."
He knew very well what that conclusion would be.
The elders would never allow one of their young to wander the dangerous surface.
Daiowon seemed to realize that as well.
"I understand."
He bowed deeply.
"Then I will go."
"Thank you, Elder Daiope."
Just as he turned to leave, Daiope stopped him.
"Wait."
The elder reached into a small cavity on his side and pulled out a pale bluish-gray metal piece.
The Ice Gold Shane had given him.
"Take this."
He handed it over.
"Present it as a gift when you find them."
Daiowon carefully accepted the metal and pressed it into his crystal body, where it slowly fused into place.
"I will remember."
He bowed again.
"I am leaving now, elder."
Daiope nodded.
"Go on."
The young Quartzman walked toward the darker end of the passage, where the glow of the sanctuary slowly faded into shadows.
Daiope remained where he stood, watching until the young figure disappeared completely into the darkness.
Then he murmured quietly to himself,
"I hope your journey will bear fruit…"
He looked toward the tunnel leading to the surface.
"…and that you return as a wiser man."
***
The group finally stepped out of the cave passage.
The sudden brightness of the sun made several of them squint.
Ulon threw both arms into the air dramatically.
"Freedom!"
His voice echoed across the empty land like a man who had just escaped prison.
Maddy rolled her eyes immediately.
"Stop exaggerating," she said flatly. "We were down there for barely an hour."
Ulon placed a hand on his chest and breathed deeply.
"Fresh air! Wide sky! Endless horizon!"
He turned to her with a serious expression.
"I'm claustrophobic, you know."
Maddy didn't even look at him.
"I don't."
She paused.
"And I wouldn't care either."
Petra quietly chuckled under her breath while adjusting her grip on the scythe.
Shalotte stepped out of the cave last and blinked several times at the sunlight.
"Oh… it's so bright…"
He lifted his staff to shade his eyes but immediately tripped on a small rock.
"Ah—!"
Ulon grabbed the back of his robe before he could fall face-first into the dirt.
"Careful there, clumsy mage."
"I-I'm a druid…"
Shane, meanwhile, stood a few steps ahead of his party, calmly observing the surroundings. The wind tugged lightly at his coat as he scanned the horizon to make sure no one had followed them.
Infront of him, the Kultians slowly led their horses in the rocky terrain. The animals snorted softly, clearly happier to be back under the open sky.
Alub stopped and stood beside Shane.
Shane glanced at him.
Alub nodded slightly.
That was enough for Shane to understood.
He turned to the group, "We need to return to our camp."
He gestured toward the distant rocks.
"Our wagon is still there."
Alub added calmly, "We will follow you."
Klaus casually walked closer to Shane while the others prepared to move. His hands were tucked lazily inside his coat pockets, and his expression looked almost bored.
He leaned slightly toward Shane and spoke in a quieter voice, "Aren't you going to look at the crystal?"
Shane didn't even turn his head, "Later."
Klaus studied him for a moment, then smirked slightly.
"Something interesting in there, perhaps."
Shane ignored the comment.
Instead, he glanced behind him.
Kiel was walking a few steps behind the group.
And staring.
Directly at Anaya.
She was leading one of the children beside her father, completely unaware of the pair of eyes following her every movement.
Kiel quickly looked away the moment she turned slightly.
Then looked back again once she faced forward.
Shane sighed quietly.
"Also," he said calmly without turning around,
"stop staring so much."
Kiel froze.
Shane continued,
"The girl might think you're a creep."
Kiel nearly tripped over his own foot.
"I-I wasn't staring!"
Ulon burst out laughing.
"You absolutely were!"
Petra tried to hide a smile.
Maddy shook her head.
"Honestly, Kiel."
Even Klaus chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, Anaya suddenly glanced back for a brief moment.
Kiel immediately turned his head toward the sky like he was studying the clouds.
Unfortunately for him—
There were no clouds.
Ulon leaned toward Klaus and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Yep."
"Definitely a creep."