Chapter 3
156.
It's the third day for team Kita in Blizshore and the second one inside the cave. After a progressive first day in the realm, the pace went slower as the day came by. It is not because of slacking off, the dungeon is just too complicated to deal with. Everyone in team Kita is trying to deeply analyze the situation, but by the looks of things, Kita and Hana forgot another important detail. It is something that every dungeon has, the Templarites protecting the Mystical Runekey.
Going back to the team's progress, Celeste warned them that the trial and error method isn't the most efficient technique in research. It would require indefinite resources depending on the success rate. As of now, their chances of proving their theory are pretty low, which means they'll need more items. It is not an optimal situation for them because their resources are limited, and it will inevitably create more problems for the team in the long run.
While the team continued to do as they planned, Maiko alerted the group, "Ah, guys… I don't think we can continue igniting small planks. We are running low on wood, not to mention, we will be needing this later at night."
"But we are almost at the end of the path, reaching the dead end will give us the final answer if it works or not. Let's just use all of the wood now and then restock after." Kita suggested.
"We cannot do that, it will be afternoon by the time we reach the edge. The snowstorm will prevent us from restocking woods." Linx argued.
"Anooo… Why not restock now so we can still secure wood for the night, and then continue the trial and error while the snowstorm happens?" Celeste intervened.
"But what if we need to complete the whole path before leaving, it will be a waste if it resets or something, right?" Kita argued.
"True, that's a possibility. But that theory will put us in a bad situation regardless of the outcome." Maiko responded.
"Not to mention, we are still not sure if doing this is the right answer," Celeste added.
The discussion once again started to heat up but Hana decided to stay out of it this time. She just observed everyone's behavior.
"That's why it's called trial and error. We have to try and see if it will error. Nyu will stay as beginners if nyu guys keep playing it safe," Kita said.
"I thought being beginners is not a big deal?" Linx questioned.
"Nyu should reassess yourself," Maiko told Kita.
"This discussion is just wasting our time, we need to decide now," Celeste replied.
The tension builds up once more and before words pierce through their friendship, Hana halts the argument. "That's enough, none of this matters if nyu will all turn against each other. Let's head back to the camp and fix this issue first." Hana firmly said.
Hana's words shook the rest of the team. They, themselves, were clueless about why they were acting this way. Kita, Maiko, Celeste, and Linx looked at each other, guilty of their actions. They all followed Hana as they slowly regained their calmness.
Upon reaching their camp, Kita explained herself, "Look, I don't know what's happening to me… I swear, I didn't mean any of what I've said."
"Let's all calm down for now, I'm sure it was just the heat of the moment," Maiko replied.
"It's just strange how we keep fighting but only whenever we are inside the dungeon…" Linx mentioned.
"Heat of the moment… Inside the dungeon…" Hana muttered. "That's it! I finally figured out what's happening!" She added. The rest of the team looked at Hana, waiting for an explanation.
"It only happens inside the dungeon, therefore something is messing up with us and making everyone hot-headed. There's only one to blame behind all of this, it's the Templarites! Cold as it could be, but be wary of the opposite, the answer is the heat of the moment!" Hana explained.
"I completely forgot about that! Templarites are spirits that directly attack our minds, forcing us to leave the dungeon. But don't worry guys, they cannot hurt us physically, it is just a way to fend us off." Kita added.
"Templarites in BijouTerra make the intruders extremely wary and uncomfortable. In Noctambulist Land, they'll make nyu sleepy and fall asleep. Here in Blizshore, the Templarites put your patience to its limit, making us angry." Hana said.
"I guess it all makes sense now…" Maiko commented.
"But solving the dungeon is still our problem, right?" Linx mentioned.
"I agree, if the answer to the riddle is being wary of anger, then it means it's a warning when exploring the dungeon, not the answer on how to solve it," Celeste responded.
"Or it could be…" Kita replied.
"What do nyu mean?" Hana questioned.
"Think about this… Whenever we are inside the dungeon, there's a certain part wherein it is just irritating and makes us notice every small thing. If I remember correctly, we fought in the same spot yesterday." Kita answered.
"That is actually true, it was when Kita mentioned that we had been there yesterday. And earlier in the same spot, I was the one who halted everyone because of the resources." Maiko agreed with Kita.
"Maybe if we can remain calm and collected in that area, we might find something?" Kita hypothesized.
"We didn't make a small bonfire there, that means we can still trace the end of our tracks and pinpoint the exact location," Celeste reminded the team.
"Sounds good to me," Linx replied.
"Then it's settled, let's go back there and analyze that spot. Remember, no matter how frustrated or angry nyu are, we cannot lose our temper." Hana said.
"Hai!" The rest reacted.
Half of the day had already passed and after a quick meal, team Kita made their way back to the dungeon. The trails of the burnt wood planks made it easier for them to pick up where they left off, luckily they didn't have to deal with wind problems inside the dungeon that might blow the ashes away.
Everyone on the team feels better now that they know about the Templarites. It is the first time Maiko, Celeste, and Linx encounter such an event, but the three of them think that it is easier to believe in the so-called Templarites than to doubt the experienced members of the team. Nothing is guaranteed as of now, and they will be tested inside the dungeon once more.
157.
Tracing the burnt trails from earlier, the group eventually reached the same spot as they were last time. It is their third time wandering in the area, though the difference is they are now aware of what they should do. While thoroughly examining the room, everyone on the team is getting a little bit impatient. Inch by inch, looking at every thin gap between the bricks. It requires a lot of patience to find a hidden trigger. FeLinE and Lulu managed to find one in BijouTerra, but neither of them are here. Not to mention, the Templarites in this dungeon make things worse.
A couple of minutes passed, and the Templarites were slowly getting into their minds. They feel like there's a little itch, making them lose focus and burst out. Their strategy is to occupy each area with enough distance between each one of them. In that way, they won't bump into each other, making it less likely to blame others.
As the search continues, everyone is evidently pissed off. But since they cannot lash out their frustrations at others, they end up venting out in different ways, taking the blame on themselves.
"Why can't I find it!" Kita frustratedly shouted.
"That's good, just shout your heart out so nyu won't explode," Hana mentioned.
"In my case, I don't yell when mad. I just stare at the thing that made me angry…" Maiko responded while glaring at the bricks.
"I think that's scarier," Celeste mentioned as she chuckled.
"Just a heads up, I'll remain silent until I find what we are looking for, or at least when we leave the area. I'm the type of Kemi who does silent treatment when mad." Linx explained before going full silent mode.
"I guess we all have different ways to vent out," Celeste commented.
"How about nyu? Looks like nyu rarely get angry." Hana asked Celeste.
"I do get mad, but oftentimes I just kinda absorb everything like a sponge. I'm used to getting scolded back in the Northern region even if it's not my fault. I guess it comes in handy now." Celeste softly answered.
Celeste's response made Hana realize how hard it had been for Celeste. Because of that, Hana rethinks her actions. All of them have their own hidden battles and being more cautious about their choice of words would truly mean a lot.
It has been a lot of work, countless minutes scanning through small spaces. Good thing the group is slowly beating the Templarites mentally, managing to stay calm despite the irritating situation that they are in. A few moments later, Linx noticed an odd-looking brick on the wall. Curious about what she saw, Linx pushed the brick, and in that instant, the wall next to her tilted as it opened up.
The anger was immediately replaced by joy and excitement. With that, the Templarites can no longer influence the team. Their sheer triumph heavily outweighs every other emotion and there's nothing else that the Templarites can do about it. The team celebrated as they all shouted, "NYATTA!"
"Nyu found it!" Maiko said as she patted Linx's head.
"At last, it's over!" Celeste shouted.
"Well done Linx!" Hana happily added.
"Ano… I'm proud of nyu. Nyu are a legit adventurer now." Kita shyly said. She is aware that her words earlier probably hurt Linx.
"I guess this beginner beat the experienced one this time." Linx kiddingly said.
"Good thing we reassess ourselves," Maiko added to the joke. They all laughed as the mood got lighter.
The lingering issues were finally resolved, and their friendship stayed intact. The team immediately proceeded to the newly discovered path and eventually, the team saw 7 sandstone pillars surrounding an old slab in the middle, it was the shrine and the Mystical Runekey was waiting to be claimed.
"Is that it? It looks amazing…" Linx said.
"Its aura is both mesmerizing and frightening," Celeste responded.
"It's the second time I've seen this but it still amazed me," Maiko commented.
"Welp, since FeLinE is not here to collect it, time for me to do it. Here goes nothing," Kita said as she approached the shrine. They are aware that collecting the Mystical Runekey is not dangerous, its general purpose is to be collected and used as an emergency key towards the Realm Sanctuary. It's the overwhelming presence that makes everyone near it nervous. It was indeed nerve-racking but at last, team Kita secured their Mystical Runekey. Kita carefully stashed it inside her bag, and they all headed toward the exit of the cave.
Once again reaching the surface, the team looks around and everything seems fine. It is still afternoon but the surrounding tells them that the snowstorm already passed by. Since their resources wouldn't last long, the team decided to proceed with their journey and enjoy their meal at the village. Maiko hopped at Byakko as the rest of the team rode on the sled, Linx could handle herself this time because downhill is her expertise. The team sled down the mountain, enjoying the cold breeze as they sprinted down.
"This is fun!" Celeste said.
"Nyu like this but not the motorcycle?" Kita questioned.
"Well, this is less extreme and safer," Hana commented.
"She's right, this suits me more," Celeste responded.
"Nyu know what's more fun? THAT!" Kita said as she pointed at Linx, snowboarding through the hill.
"I told nyu this is the best part!" Linx shouted.
While they were in the middle of their way, Byakko seemed uneasy, "Guys, we might be in danger, Byakko said something is coming," Maiko warned.
Upon noticing, a noise from afar can be heard, "Do nyu guys hear that? It's like there's rumbling behind us." Hana asked.
"Oh no… This can't be happening… We need to go faster!" Linx suddenly said.
"Why? What's up there?" Kita questioned.
"That noise means an avalanche is coming, meaning the snowstorm hasn't passed yet. WE'RE TRAPPED IN A LATE SNOWSTORM!" Linx answered.
"WHAT?" The rest reacted in shock.
"ARE WE GOING TO DIE?" Celeste screamed.
"If we can outrace it, there's a good survival chance. I did it before and the odds aren't that bad." Linx answered.
"Then I guess it's time to go faster. Byakko, go full speed!" Maiko said. Byakko roared as he exerted every bit of his energy, sprinting downhill to his best efforts. The team already accomplished their mission but it turns out, they need to return safely as well.
158.
Currently in a pinch, team Kita faces a situation that could end their journey. They fall from a false sense of security after thinking that the mountains are already safe. Late snowstorms rarely happen, but unfortunately for them, they were caught between a rock and a hard place. Can they outrace the avalanche and the snowstorm?
"Anooo… I can finally see the avalanche behind us…" Celeste nervously said.
"Plus the snow is suddenly starting to fall harder," Hana added.
"The place is all foggy, it will be hard to outrace the avalanche with low visibility," Maiko said.
"Maybe we could find a cave or at least some cliff to hide," Linx replied as she snowboarded close to Byakko.
"I can't see anything around us," Kita said as they all looked around.
"We need to think of something else…" Hana replied.
"Snow is related to ice, can Kita control it?" Celeste asked.
"I can only create ice, not mold or control it. Hana is the one that can control elements." Kita answered.
"But I can only control water," Hana responded.
"Snow still has a small percentage of water molecules, let's test if it will work," Celeste replied.
"I hope it will," Hana answered. She tries to sway off the falling snow near them but the best that she can do is make it slower. Hana cannot fully control the snow since its composition is mostly air with very minimal water vapor. "I can only slow them up," Hana updated.
"Wait a second… that's it… Linx, match our speed. Byakko, run slower but still maintain enough distance to the avalanche." Maiko instructed.
"WAIT, WHAT? WHY?" Kita questioned.
"When the snow is near us, Hana will slow and pile them up. Once it's big enough, Kita will freeze it. We will use that as a ramp and let the latter of the avalanche pass us while we hide under it." Maiko explained.
"I see… That could work." Linx commented.
"Sounds risky, but I suppose that's our best shot," Celeste added.
"THEN LET'S DO THIS!" Kita shouted as they all trusted Maiko's plan.
The plan itself sounds dangerous, a small miscalculation will bury them alive. If the ice created isn't thick enough, it will break. If it is too low, they won't survive either. But if they pull the trigger too late, the avalanche will fully take over. Everything will rely on their timing, and the team trusts Maiko's lead.
Going as their plan, the group matches the phase of the avalanche, just enough for Hana to push it back. The snowfall is getting thicker, and the visibility of the place is close to zero, even Byakko is now having a hard time running through the deep snow. Celeste and Kita try their best to remove some snow from the sled while Hana builds the foundation of the ramp.
"Anoooo… We're kinda in deep trouble now, literally." Celeste reminded the team.
"Hold on, just a little bit more!" Maiko instructed.
"We only got one shot on this one," Kita said.
"Linx stay close, the snow behind is building up," Maiko added.
"Hai," Linx responded as she moved closer to the sled.
Thinking that the avalanche behind them was big enough, Maiko finally pulled the trigger, "Freeze it now!" She yelled. Kita uses both of her hands to freeze the accumulated snow, Byakko runs slower so they won't be too far from the ice cliff that they are creating. It also helped Kita to stand her ground.
"C'mon now, we can do this!" Kita said as she ground her teeth.
The avalanche is getting closer and closer, which allows Kita to successfully create the base. The bottom part is all frozen, and with that, Kita created a concave-half-open dome, like a quarter part of a circle, as she freezes the avalanche all the way to the top. It serves as a slope wherein the rest of the avalanche went over them, plus the snowfall won't directly land at them. Everything went according to their plan, though it looks like the problem is not yet over.
The whole area is covered in snow enough to bury anyone, it is approximately 5-6 feet deep. Fortunately, the ice cliff created enough space for team Kita to take shelter, but now, they are trapped inside of it.
"I guess it worked?" Hana said as the situation calmed down.
"It's better than being completely buried in snow. Well, technically we are still under the snow but at least it's safer." Maiko replied.
"True, and I must say, nyu guys are really proving yourselves!" Kita praised.
"It's called beginner's luck, right guys?" Maiko kiddingly said.
"Hai!" Celeste and Linx responded.
"Let's just take this opportunity to rest while we wait for the avalanche to stop," Maiko added.
"The snow will eventually return to the normal depth after the snowstorm is over," Linx mentioned.
"Well, I hope it ends by the next couple of minutes, coz I'm starving," Kita commented.
"Me too…" The rest replied as they sighed deeply.
Leaving the team without a choice, they spent the rest of the afternoon in their ice cliff shelter. It wasn't even a peaceful time since the rumbling noise is above them. Even if the avalanche stops now, they still can't go outside because of the snow's depth. The team also couldn't cook food since a campfire would melt the ice dome. To top it all up, the air inside their small space is limited, it is not fully covered but the snow in front of them limits the airflow.
Almost an hour passed by, and the surroundings still looked the same. The rumbling noise already stopped but the group is not fully sure if the snowstorm is already done since they can't see what's above them. One wrong move would definitely be fatal, unfortunately for them, they still need to make a decision before the oxygen runs out.
After a long silence, Kita suddenly said, "I have an idea!"
"That phrase is usually what I'm afraid of…" Hana commented.
"Why?" Linx curiously asked.
"Nyu'll see…" Celeste and Maiko both responded at the same time.
"Usually, it does work, it's just… I suppose, in extreme ways." Hana explained.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Kita responded.
"So what's the plan?" Linx asked Kita.
Kita grinned, excited to tell her idea. Kita's imagination is truly beyond their comprehension, and it's once again her turn to change their situation.
End of Chapter 3