After three days of going by horse, we used Roy's gate to speed up for two days by 15 minutes. After another three days, we used the gate again and reached the entrance of the valley by horse. It sure looks dark in there just by basing on the clouds hovering above it and the mist filling every space in there.
"Let's go, don't go too far from me"
"Yes ma'am" they both said then we entered the valley. Nothing much is happening not until I got distracted and noticed that my comrades are not beside me anymore. I pulled the horse to slow down since we're running in full speed.
Roy's POV
"Sister Belier? Where are you?" after I got distracted, I can't see brother Bare and sister Belier. We fell on the illusion. This is bad. And it was too late when I pulled my horse to stop and entered a strange gate and it's bright in here. I can't see anything but white and my horse. Suddenly my sister's images appeared everywhere from infantry until she grew up but what caught my attention is when she went at the Dark Dungeon.
I saw how they captured her and treated her like an animal, then, a man wearing a hood touched her forehead while two guards hold her down. Then she stood up. Both of the guards left my sister and that man behind. She suddenly threw all her guns away then that man with the hood picked it all up and shot her until there were no more bullets left. Then he brought out two swords under his cape and continuously slashed my sister until she fell down with her limbs almost torn from her body. Then the last thing I saw is when that man took off his hood. I saw the scar that made the man uglier.
"Claude Greenday" I grounded my teeth at the very name of that man.
Ethan's POV
I think I've entered a strange gate and it seems rather bright in here. Then a scene flashed in front of me, it's a scene I can't remember. It's the murder of my family by a person who looks exactly like the general but in some points, he differs.
"Zoid" my father called that man then his head got crushed into the ground by a huge hammer wielded by that Zoid.
Nightingale's POV
When I got out of that strange gateway, I saw my comrades beside me. They both seem... angered and so am I.
"What did you see in there?" I asked as I make my horse move as they follow.
"My sister's suffering... scar... damned Greenday" Roy seethed glaring into nothingness while looking down. He doesn't seem to have heard me, and neither do Ethan.
"My family... murdered by--" Ethan stopped when he realized he's not alone anymore. They both looked grim, truth is never delightful most of the time.
"Let's go and look for my sister" I told them and sped up.
Those are not illusions; those are the truth hidden from us.
My ring suddenly lit up pointing to a direction. We followed it and it led us to a cave. What bothers me now is the fog hovering above us. So I took out my weapon and swung it around us clearing the fogs away showing us the bright sun. We can now see that the name of this valley is the exact definition of it.
"Put your anger away for the mean time" I told them as we enter the mouth of the cave. From the inside, I can hear a hissing sound like that of a sleeping snake. When the way got a little darker, we went down our horses and continued on foot.
"Illuminate" I chanted and a ball of light appeared before me lighting up our way until we were forced to stop when we saw a gigantic snake hibernating in front of us.
"Sophie" I called out then I heard a slithering movement. After a moment, a head of snake appeared before us.
"Is this you, sister?" I asked then the snake withdrew its head. The snake disappeared then a woman who looks exactly like me but with the black and green eyes of a snake and straight long brown hair wearing a white dress came into the light.
"You really came" she cried.
"Your voice finally reached me" I told her then she came running into my arms and made my eyes wet.
"I'm sorry it took me so long. We're you lonely?" I asked and she nodded in response.
"You won't be lonely now, you'll be coming with us" I told her.
"But I can't leave this place. I already promised him that I won't leave this place"
"Him?" I asked.
"My father" she answered.
"You can leave this place at your own will. I can't leave you alone in this place"
"But..."
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm the guardian of this valley. Thus, my home and territory"
"Sophie, you know I can't stay here"
"Yes but..."
"You need to decide Sophie"
"I can't"
"What will happen to this place if you leave?" I asked.
"The miasma will escape from underneath through this cave" she answered.
"How can we seal it?" I asked
"A sealing ritual, but it should be done by someone who's more powerful than the miasma. If the ritual fails, this will be covered in darkness, all the hominids will die, and the land and water will slowly die too"
"Am I capable?" I asked.
"I'm sorry but you're not that strong yet. It should be done by an Ethereal predecessor"
"Mine are long gone" Ethan said.
"So am I"
"I too"
"Claude Greenday is still alive" Roy said and I can trace the bitterness and grudge that came with it.
"He's not an Ethereal anymore" Sophie told us.
"And so does my father" she continued.
"It seems to me that you know everything. Do you know anyone who can do that seal for us?" I asked as I start to get irritated from this conversation. Ethereals shifting to Elysians, it's frustrating.
"None" she answered as she look down.
"Ethan, Roy, let's get this done" I stepped forward and made our crest. They both did the same. A full Ethereal can be matched by four successors.
"Sophie, you need to help us too"
