Dryads of the Stars

Chapter 20 : Underground

Everyone had surrounded Iliad with their gaze waiting for answers, but none seemed to come.
"Iliad, you-"
Zenith was interrupted by Iliad's gesture. He was making it obvious that he did not want to speak about it. As if what was spoken, was forbidden. 
"We should wait for the others. We strayed too far from them. Azul, please continue following us while flying safely above." 

"Does Luna know?" Zenith was not willing to let it go this time. Iliad shot a gaze of frustration at her but her defences were high. "I asked something and I would like to get a clear answer. No evasions."
After letting out a sigh for obvious reasons, Iliad decided to give in. "Yes, he knows. Now stop bothering me, will you?"

"Ha! I knew it. Favoritism, that is what this ridiculous situation is. Not that I did not expect it, but I am disappointed. Very much."
"I see you have assumed the role of a daughter perfectly now. Should I take Luna out so you can fight like the good siblings you are?"
"Ugh! I would rather return to the wretched sky before I see that feathered demon as my sibling."
"What about him being your Uncle?"
"No."
"Hmm. Grandpa?"
Zenith seemed to think about it. Not many seconds later she burst out laughing. "Now that one might be acceptable. He is one after all."
"I am glad you like it. I should inform you that Luna hates it a lot so do it in moderation please."
"I won't promise that I will."
"Well I tried." 
Iliad had managed to avoid her rage and questioning successfully once more. They were walking back to the cave where they had entered, in order to find the others. Azul could not fly in there since it was low, so she stayed behind waiting for them.
"Iliad, Zenith! Where were you?" They met halfway. Amir run towards them somewhat excited. 

"Have you seen something like this before?" He said while extending his hands towards his surroundings. "Should I show you around?"

Iliad smiled gently. "It would be an honor my friend. Let us go then."

Not much time passed and they reached the spot they had stopped at before. 

"We call this city Pnevma, which means spirit in some ancient language that got lost long ago. Our great ancestor discovered it and found a plate with that word on it, so we assumed it was its name. She also translated the word for us after becoming enlightened. I believe it is the perfect name for this underground heaven, since it breaths into a person's spirit new life and hope. As if an immediate connection with mother earth is formed here. It is very healing. What do you think?"

"I think that it is perfect indeed. I felt it the moment we entered. Here is where this planet breaths and that breath can be felt through the spirit."

"We should go brother. The view can wait but we cannot." 
"I hate to ruin you peaceful moment but Karam is right. We should make haste."

Karam and Yenu were not wrong with their concerns and the others were not late to agree. The trip underground would be lengthy and because of the storm outside, the light would keep diminishing until at some point it completely went off. The backup was designed to withstand a couple of days while giving out minimum amounts of light when the sun was hidden or when it was night, so it would save for a longer period of time. The city was too big for it to be lit longer, so even that amount of time was a mechanical miracle. 

"In two days at most we will lose the light. If that happens, we will have to stay put around a fire. There are things here that we do not have any knowledge about, but thankfully they avoid the light. We always take advantage of that. Our safety is most important after all."

They were constantly exiting and entering villages here and there as they were crossing the main road. Although it was mostly parallel to the cliff that separated the city in two, sometimes it went through parts of it. 

"Are there no residents here? The houses look so well taken care of, as if people live here. " Zenith was not one to be embarrassed about asking questions.

"Hmm, well you see, it is a very famous crossing for my people so it is often that caravans pass through here. They stay sometimes if is the trip is lengthy and the weather is good, but there are no residents as far as I am aware. If anyone is a resident here, then there is no other than the creatures that lurk in the dark." Amir was excited to answer any and all questions they had and that was made obvious by the tone of his voice.

Karam on the other hand was as calm as always. As if nothing could faze him nor bother him. "The buildings in here are at least as ancient as our first queen. To most, it seems as though they are far more ancient than that. Every generation preserved them with utmost care since they are parts of our sacred desert. Thus they look well taken care of as if people stay here permanently."