*Continuing at Athena's place both Athena and Ken wanted to learn more about The Traveler's journey there. But would it really feel any exciting?*
Athena: "Hey Traveler! Sit down with us for a little bit!"
*He comes and sits down on the couch near Ken.*
Traveler: "So? Do tell me what's it about?"
Athena: "We are a bit extra curious about your journey with Lady Hinako. Care to tell us some more?"
Ken: "Yea man! I only thought the mine that is between Iceland and Lunia is a myth."
Traveler: "Well what can i tell ya? I didn't know it existed in the first part. But if i am honest... It was a blast really. We found a ton of stuff there. And well we fought something called The Void Reaver.. if i remember correctly we saw a note telling us to be aware of the Void Reaver... And to my shock they weren't lying. Hinako was struggling a little bit against it. Our exit was blocked by it when we tried leaving. Once Hinako managed to defeat it i think it retreated somewhere.. not sure where.. but presumably the shadow realm. Since i noticed it had shadow powers just like her."
Ken: "How big was the cave?"
Traveler: "Uhh... I'm sorry but i don't remember. But if i am right i dropped twice or thrice in some places to go further down. But on one side it was mostly flat ground covered by walls blocking the view mostly."
Athena: "If i remember the big mine is one of the oldest things in the world of Damron. It's around 304 centuries old. It hasn't expanded much. Mostly getting older over time, and well.. damaged by Topalia's Vulcan as it erupted over the years."
Ken: "Can we go back there? I want to experience it myself."
*Athena looked at Ken furiously.*
Athena: "Do you want to die you moron!? I'm not going there! Not risking my life for something i am not tasked to. If i am not tasked then i am not going there!"
Ken: **"Party pooper..."** "Fine sis. Can we go together Traveler..?"
Traveler: "I think i side with your sister on this one."
*Ken threw his controller across the living room*
Ken: "GODDAMMIT! Come on man! I really want to go!"
Traveler: "You're that desperate...?"
Ken: *nods*
Traveler: "Uhhh give me a break... The only one who can survive there is Hinako 100%. And knowing she's severely wounded we have no chance ourselves..."
Ken: "I know someone!"
*But Athena knew where he was going.*
Athena: "You're not involving mother into this are you?"
Ken: "Huh!? How the fuck did you know!?"
Athena: "I can read minds idiot..."
Ken: "Right..." **"Read this sucker!"**
Athena: "I'm going to kill you! I swear!"
Ken: "Aight! Chillax for one second bruh! There's no need to throw seven tantrums here!"
Athena: "I need a break.. you are impossible."
*She got up and went outside*
Ken: "Tho... I can call someone from Lunia and maybe they can help us."
*He looked more curious*
Traveler: "Oh? And who're you calling?"
Ken: "One of the best medics there!"
Traveler: "And what's a medic supposed to help us with...?"
Ken: "She's not just a medic! She's a famous traveler among the nations! Just help me set the custom projector here on the wall so we can call her on video."
Traveler: "Fine..."
*After 5 minutes of bonking and setting things up.*
Athena: "Ken! What are you doing with the projector!?"
Ken: "Calling someone!"
Athena: "What do you need that for!"
Ken: "16k quality?"
*Athena didn't say a word facepalmed and with her phone she went to her room.*
Traveler: "All done?"
Ken: "Yep. Just give me one second to connect it to my laptop and call her. Also, don't focus on the laptop's camera. On the projector. That's how she'll see you when it's connected. It has a separate 1024MP camera and supports up to 16k quality. This projector truly is awesome! Praise anexis for their creations!"
Traveler: "I won't ask what that is but whatever."
*Ken connected the projector to his laptop and then called his friend.*
*RING*
?: "Uhh what Ken...? I just woke up..."
Ken: "Oh sorry Funo! I never meant to wake you up! It's just it's 11 AM and i thought you were already woken up."
Funo: "Mhm sure you did. Tho! We haven't talked in almost 2 months! What can i help you with? And... Your new friend...?"
Ken: "Oh call him Traveler! He's a good friend of mine who ventured towards the big mine!"
Funo: "Oh you mean the mine connecting Iceland and Lunia? Interesting... Tell me more.. but excuse me for not introducing myself! I'm Funo Demana! I'm the best healer you can find inside Lunia, and a really experienced traveler. Tell me now, what can i help you with?"
Ken: "Can you give us some more info about the big mine? I really want to go there but he told me it's very dangerous and should'nt risk my life for it."
Funo: "Well your friend is indeed right! Tho hey not saying it would be a too bad experience ahem coming from me of course, There are some high risk things you need to consider! That cave is the home of The Void Reaver. It's a really strong monster capable of killing a dozen. But really strong element wielders can try taking on it. But depending on the person's strength you can fail miserably. But sadly you gotta know that it's not reccomended to go there. But if i remember correctly your friend was assisted by Hinako right?"
Traveler: "Yes. On behalf of the sickness wave coming from your nation miss. We were asked to take a look in there and try to fix the problem. How's the situation there going?"
Funo: "Slightly better... I managed to catch a break... I'm immune to the wave... Because i am a element wielder. But well the citizens almost 80% of Lunia's population catched this sickness.. it's sympots are major.. it can vary from just minor normal sickness like sneezing and having a runny nose all the way to coughing black blood all the way to your body literally decomposing.. we lost around 10% of the population to this sickness and i had to work nonstop for 4 days to cure everybody.. it's only today that i managed to take a break since the virus could'nt spread anymore to Lunia with Hinako and your's help."
Traveler: "I'm glad we solved a potential crisis.."
Funo: "It can still happen anytime soon... As for other stuff about the mine from my travels there i guess the earthquakes that can happen. I don't think it happened during your journey did it?"
Traveler: "No.. however i did pass out from the toxic fogs there..."
Funo: "Ah that's a classic! Shadow element wielders can easily go through these fogs. Other elements cannot. They'll suffocate there and eventually die."
Ken: "Is it safe right now to go there?"
Funo: "Not sure. However i can check the radiation levels there and tell you. If they're above 50% i am sorry you should'nt go."
Ken: "Understood."
*As she opens her Computer she continues talking.*
Funo: "How's your sister Ken?"
Ken: "We argued just now... But it's all good. It's just normal sibling banter."
Funo: "You two never stop arguing.. gosh..."
*She opened a site containing cameras around the big mine and looked inside noticing the mine was fully covered in black fog and she could also hear the usual radiation noise.*
Funo: "I'm really sorry. But radiation levels are above 60% most probably. And the fog levels are fully covering the mine. Which should be over 90%, most probably 100%. So listen to me and don't go. For your best."
Traveler: "We understand. Tho Hinako is heavily wounded back at her workplace.. do you have something that can heal her faster?"
Funo: "It's back at my clinic. Tho Lunia borders are closed currently and i cannot head outside because the journey towards Iceland is connected to that long straight road and i can't go there unless i try sneaking out of Lunia. But i cannot help sadly because i risk my medical license revoked and worse if i try prohibited stuff."
Ken: "It's alright Funo. You don't need to worry. Thanks for telling us. Fk man! And i wanted to go there so badly..."
Funo: "I understand Ken.. but you have to take some precautions as well. It's a good thing you called me tho. If you would'nt i didn't want to see you dead inside the mine. Cause no one except a shadow element wielder can get your lifeless body out of there."
Ken: "Alright! You don't need to worry doctor!"
Funo: "Anything else i can help you with? I gotta head to the clinic still.. it's one of the days i get to sleep some more atleast.. but work i can't escape that."
Ken: "Uh no! I won't hold ya from work! Have a good day at work! And call me more often please!"
Funo: "You know i can't... Anyways! Have a good day! Goodbye!"
*They waved and ended the call.*
Traveler: *looks on his phone receiving a text*
**"Hey Traveler, it's Chris. Boss wants to see you. Can you drop by the headquarters?"**
*He answered with "Yes i will be there." closed his phone and told Ken.*
Traveler: "Yo!" *Whistles* "I'm heading out to visit Hinako. If Athena asks about me tell her this alright?"
Ken: "Sure man! Go ahead!"
*He left in a hurry to catch the bus for Iceland.*
Traveler: "Good. Now we wait."
*After a while he reached Iceland and then the headquarters. But when he tried opening the big gate it was locked with a sign saying "We're closed don't come in!" but the gate is opened from the other side by Chris*
Traveler: "Ah hey! I thought it was closed!"
Chris: *shakes hands* "Nah bro it's fine. We are, but i saw you on the cams so came to let ya in. Come on in."
*He comes in and Chris takes him to Hinako's office.*
Hinako: "Hey Traveler! Welcome, thanks for coming! Have a seat. You're dismissed Chris. You can leave. Do check on the criminals from the basement tho! Feed them! I'll not be this cruel this time."
Chris: "Your call!"
*He leaves her office leaving the two alone.*
Traveler: "What did you need me for Hinako?"
Hinako: "Well! Firstly i wanted to check on you and ensure you were fine after the intesne journey.. you see i was unconscious and did not believe Emily when she told me you were unschathed. But also to talk a bit about a certain matter."
Traveler: "Well to answer your first question i am unschated so you needn't worry! And yes go ahead. I'll wait."
Hinako: "I heard that the situation with the sickness wave in Lunia has dropped significantly."
Traveler: "Oh but is the topic about this?"
Hinako: "Yes mostly. Why?"
Traveler: "Allow me to tell you something i've spoken with a friend."
*She shrugs but told him to go ahead.*
*He tells her everything she spoke about with Ken and Funo.*
Hinako: "Oh! You've spoken to Funo Demana! Then i guess my part of what i needed to tell you is over then! Cause you know already!"
Traveler: "Yep mostly it. I wanted her to hand you some medicine to heal faster so you can get back to work faster."
Hinako: "Really? Well isn't that sweet of you..." *She blushed* "You didn't see that alright?! Uhh still thanks. But id rather let my colleagues work for me atleast until i recover... It will take a while."
Traveler: "Yea.. hope you'll recover safe and fast! I'm glad you're okay too.. The Void Reaver wounded you really badly i have to admit..."
Hinako: "I know. But you saw most of my power there. I can take on strong beings just fine. My wounds are also part of overuse of my powers. It can happen. But it's really rarely to happen to any wielder... To overuse.. because you never know your full potential and if you can go over the fixed power limit you'd have."
Traveler: "That was your full power?!"
Hinako: "Kinda... I still have to improve but! It won't be as hard as it once was for me to master my abilities when i was younger."
Traveler: "Guessing you had a tough childhood?"
Hinako: "Not really. I lived pretty well. But yea- hey! Why are you asking me personal questions now!"
Traveler: "Oops! Sorry! Tho i gotta go. But first. I want to give you this."
*He hands her a sort of book that's about shadow power mastery.*
Hinako: "Oh! But these kind of books are really not obtainable! How did you find one of these?"
Traveler: "On the ground when i left the bus to Iceland just now."
Hinako: "Hopefully you didn't steal it..."
Traveler: "Well i don't know but i guess cherish it!"
Hinako: "Fair! Alrighty! Go now! I might go back to sleep because im still tired... Safe travels!"
Traveler: "Goodbye! Fast recovery!"
*He left her office back towards Duran City*
**To be Continued**