Deep inside the rainforest lies a mystical white wolf. She's curling lazily against a structure that represents an altar, the very objective the cult's after. The reason why they stopped taking people away is probably because they're focusing on securing the altar first.
"Report one done." Nein mumbles before sending the letter to Ava with his crow.
The beast seem to have intelligence at how she defend the altar from these people easily. She often stare at Nein lazy form hiding on the trees, spotting him through his disguise but do nothing about it. He simply smile and continue his investigation.
He goes around the forest hoping he'll find something useful. After roaming around, he finally found the cult temporary settlement. Builded with material that not supposed to be found in a forest. He take another note and send it again to Ava.
When he's about to leave, he spot a woman figure commanding the others. He went closer to eavesdropping their conversation.
"Ugh...do you guys taken care of that beast already?." Said a woman dressed in silk frustrated.
"N...no ma'am. The beast keep defending the altar no matter what we do." Said one men nervously.
"Tch, you bunch of worthless people. You can't even taking care of a single beast after receiving such power from lord Silos." She mention a name that immediately make them cower.
Nein taking a note of their conversation. The woman keep nagging her men furiously and spilling all the names and information for free. Based on what he learned, this people, in fact were not a part of Salus sanctum, even doesn't ever mentioned that name while she keep running her mouth.
Their plan is to use the altar to summon a devine being and using it's power to control the hostile creatures in the desert to invade the land beyond the sand.
Back to Ava's room, she looks so done after hearing so much information from Nein. Starting with their fact of their enemies, the altar and their plans. Her feet tapping the floor relentlessly as she try to process this situation.
"So you're saying that there's a bunch of people planning on controlling the sand creatures and planning to using them to invade the land outside the desert?." She ask frustratingly.
"Promptly." He reply briefly before sipping on his cold tea.
"And the reason why nothing happened yet is because there's a devine beast protecting the altar right now?. How the hell they even know that when we're not." She mumbles to herself.
Nein set his cup down before standing up.
"I'll keep updating the news. I'll be going now." He says walking to the door.
The door closed leaving her with her mind. There's a lot for her to handle now. To think the peace that last for 54 years is going to end because a bunch peoples.
She rose up from her seat and wear her guns on her side, a sign of her seriousness. She exit the room and making the guard outside widen with shock at their leader rare attire.
"Gather all six shell, tell them there's a meeting." her voice filled with purpose and fury.
Meanwhile at the same night where the meeting holds, Nein went to visit the beast at the altar and approaching slowly when he saw no one's around. The beast open her eyes and saw him standing on the distance with arms placating.
"I'm here to ask something. Do you understand my words?" He ask carefully as he stopped on his spot.
"What do you want for me human?. To finally show yourself to me.". Her voice echoes in his head.
He's a bit taken with that but immediately school his expression as he look around to check no one's there.
"May I ask the reason why you're protecting this altar?. I'm curious and I assume you know that I'm not a part of these people." His voice friendly.
The beast silence for a moment before rising up from her curling form and sit, her front leg crossed against the altar floor with grace.
"This very altar is the source of life of this forest, left by the god of nature, Mundus. And seeing that there's someone planning to use his power for evil, I stepped in to protect this place as his guardian." She explain briefly.
"Mundus?...I've heard that name somewhere. So you're saying that you're the guardian of this rainforest?. Then why don't the people in Vastium never heard about you while they literally using this forest as their life supplies?" Nein ask critically.
"I choose who can see me. Most guardian remain hidden from others to maintain stability and to prevent humanity to treating us like a god since we're simply a force of nature created to maintain the stability of our domain." Her gentle voice echoes in his mind.
He begin to think and learn something new that he never learned from books. Turns out there's a multiple devine being for each region along with their appointed guardian. It's a great discovery but he can't write it in his reports since it'll make people went crazy.
"Then why don't you chase them away with your power?."
"Because I'll fall right to their trap if I leave this altar."
"And why's that?."
She goes silent immediately, deciding whether to tell him or not. She asking him a question instead.
"May I ask what kind of correlation you have with them?." Her tone worried.
"I'm here to oppose them. I assure you everything I heard will remain a secret between us. You can trust me." His eyes honest and certain.
She spot no lies behind it and sigh as she rose up and calling him to get closer to her. When he's standing before her, her form slowly fading and changed into a woman with ethereal looks. Her long white hair touching the floor like spilled milk, her blue eyes kind and gentle as she stand with grace.
Seeing that transformation, Nein can't help but see his sister for a split second due to the loose white hair behind her and that kind smile. The longing clear in his eyes as he force himself to look away.
"Do I... remind you of someone?" Her voice coming out from her mouth with the same gentle and kind tone.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. And yes, you're reminding me of my sister..." He composed himself before looking at her eyes.
She smiles and holding both of his hands between them. Her touch gentle and grounding, her tails curling around her lazily as she begin to speak.
"O human who travel through space and time. I, Sylva, the guardian of Mundus asking for your to help cleanse the corruption brought by those evil people from my home and to prevent them from using me to open the seals."
Her words caught him off guard and makes him chuckles fondly. Convinced that the woman Infront of him truly a devine being by knowing his secret without even asking. He give her hand a gentle squeeze and nods.
"I, Nein winter shall give you my aid." He says with confidence.
She relieved and release his hands to cup his face and leave a kiss on his forehead.
"Then I shall grant you my blessings Nein winter. May Mundus protects you from all harm."
And with that, under the moonlight deep inside the forest, Nein learn more about the secret of this world and convinced that there's a way for him to get home.