When they returned to their camp, they found their tents ruined. everything was covered in a thin layer of mud. But thankfully their bags, which were inside the tent were intact.
"It's a mess. The tents we bought are all broken," said Ashton.
"On the good side, the bags aren't covered in mud," said Damian.
"Let's take the bags to the deck first," said Jason.
"Why take them there?" asked Yosef.
"Do you want to keep our bags here where everything is eventually covered in mud? Or do you want to carry those heavy bags with you all the time?"
"Aren't we leaving now?" asked Ashton.
"Let's go with Fred. See what else he has for us," said Jason.
"Do you think Fred's got some kind of superpowers? Why does it feel like you are hiding something from us, Jason?" asked Yosef.
"I am just curious. Many odd things have happened. Isn't that fascinating!" replied Jason.
"You and your curiosity. You can go with Fred. I am not going anywhere. I will be at the docks waiting with the bags," said Yosef.
"What do you all think? Want to go with us or stay with Yosef?"
"I will stay with Yosef," said Abbey and Damian. Ashton also wanted to stay.
"Then I will go with Jason. I am also a but curious," said Thomas.
"Alright then, you guys stay at the dock. We will be back in no time," said Jason as he went with Fred and Thomas.
"Was it safe to let them go by themselves? Wouldn't it have been safer for all of us to go together?" asked Abbey.
"Wasn't you the one who agreed to stay. Now don't talk much. Pick up the bags," said Yosef.
'Nothing will go wrong as long as Jason is there,' thought Yosef while shaking his head.
Yosef and the other three took the bags to the dock and waited for the others to return.
On the other side, Fredrick was leading Jason and Thomas to where he felt something moving.
"Do you think Fred's behavior has anything to do with what's going on?" whispered Thomas.
"Who knows? Let's just see what happens," replied Jason.
After walking for a while, Fred's lead brought them in front of a cave.
"Are you suggesting we go inside, Fred?" asked Thomas.
"But that's where I felt something was," said Fredrick.
"We have our flashlights with us, don't we? So why not take a quick look?" suggested Jason.
As they ventured into the cave, they realized that the walls of the cave were too clean for it to be naturally formed.
"It's strange. The shopkeeper didn't mention anything about a cave," said Thomas.
"Maybe he forgot or maybe he didn't know about it, like the previous shrine," said Jason.
As Jason and Thomas were talking, Thomas suddenly realized that Fredrick, who was leading them, wasn't in front of them.
"Hey, where did Fredrick go? Wasn't he in front of us just now?" asked Thomas.
"Let's stop here first. You go the other way out to see if he somehow went outside. I will keep moving forward. If you find Fred then wait for me outside with him, if not then no need to come in again, wait outside. If I find Fred then I will bring him out instantly."
"Ok, but be careful," said Thomas as he left Jason.
Jason looked back to check if Thomas went far enough or not.
"I am here. How long are you planning to keep me waiting?" said Jason.
"You don't want them to find out, do you?"
"Do you still have time to gossip when your daughter's life is on the line?"
"I am a researcher just like you. I know she will survive and I also know you won't let her die."
"Enough with the talks, open the way."
Suddenly a different path was opened in front of Jason. That path led him to a chamber. There was a table made of ground at the center of that chamber. On the table, there was a girl restrained with chains made from solidified ground. And there was a man, in a lab coat.
"How's her condition?" asked Jason.
"I believe you just saw what happened out there. She's stable for now."
"Do you have a knife?"
"Why ask?"
"Sara told me you needed a container. And there wasn't any complete container in the lab."
"Wait, you didn't come here to give her yours, did you?"
"What else is there to do? You are the only one who can assemble the containers. At your current state, you won't have enough time to assemble one even if I bring the components."
"But then what about the..."
"That thing won't be waking up any time soon. And you will go straight to the lab to assemble one for me right after you finish your work here."
"I don't have a knife or anything that's sharp."
"But you can make a block of ground with a pointed edge, right?"
"Using that, there's a chance of infection."
"Aren't you worrying a bit too much for someone else while your daughter's life is in danger right now?"
"You are also like a son to me."
"We will talk later."
The man made a block of ground with a sharp edge. It was as if he was using magic. Jason didn't seem to be fazed at all. He used that sharp edge to make a cut on his left arm. Then he took out a cube shaped metallic object from inside where he cut.
"Here. And by the way, next time Sara goes to someone to ask for help, make sure she should at least act like she needs help."
"I am sorry for my eldest daughter's behavior. I know you understand. By the way, that kid who was in the front, I sensed a slight aether fluctuation in him."
"It seems he will also become an awakener. I will bring him to the lab with me when I go there."
"So you are speeding up your plans?"
"I don't have a choice, do I?"