Naren didn't hear Cairo leave. His footsteps were silent now, just as they were back in Thera. Actually, it was the same for that curly haired girl as well. Not a sound came from her since earlier. The thoughts hung on him, something interesting that he'd have to look into later. If he felt like it.
Right now, Naren's focus was more so on where Yuna pointed: A chamber was carved into the ice, roughly circular, maybe five meters across with low arched ceilings.
If he focused enough he could hear the sounds of feint breathing. Just barely enough to signify people were there, nowhere enough to give any other information. Well, her guess was as best as his own. The only problem was, the chamber was on the opposite side of them, past the open air.
"So I don't presume you can teleport can you?"
"I would've left already if I could."
While Cairo and Chrys just had to ascend the ladder to the floor above, Naren and Yuna were now met with a deeper issue. They could try to hug the wall as they did before, but given how far they would have to go and how little time they had, it would be way too risky.
Yuna tilted her head looking at Naren, studying him.
"What's your fable?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
She kept gazing at him unamused.
"Tell me so I can figure something out."
"I can manipulate reflections and walk through any reflective surface."
Normally, he would've told a lie. Said something similar enough to give Yuna a hint for her plan, but not enough to help her if she ever decided to turn on him. Normally, he would've, but for whatever odd reason. Naren just couldn't bring himself to lie to her.
Even so, Naren didn't want to give everything away. He didn't want to tell her that he could bring her with him. He felt that at least that should be kept a secret. She was smart after all.
He fell into a seat, leaning against the wall.
"What's your bright idea?"
Yuna leaned against the wall as well, thinking. Her gaze unchanging.
"Don't tell me you got nothing?"
She didn't answer, instead stared aimlessly ahead. Until she finally lost her mind.
"It can't be helped."
She pointed towards the opposing ice wall, dimly glistening from the swaying lanterns.
"You can teleport there right?"
"Mhm. What about you?"
"I'll just have to walk through."
Naren recoiled his head back in surprise, hitting it on the wall behind. He grabbed it, rubbing the aching part. Did she lose her mind. Even he was barely able to move and she thinks she could move under that pressure?
Yuna let out a little giggle seeing Naren in utter shock, hitting his head back.
"Did you go looney? How're you gonna walk under the Pnoe? How bout I just go and get Vera, you can stay here."
"As if. I'm not staying here alone if any guards come back. I can't fight. Besides you woulda just left without me, right?"
Naren clicked his tongue.
"Prolly."
"So what other choice do I have than to follow through."
A sly grin made its way to Yuna's face. Something that Naren wasn't expecting.
"Or are you going to keep me company and leave your friend?"
Naren yawned, rubbing his tired eyes. How long had it been since he was able to sleep? He got up reluctantly, pushing up on his knees. Then, his gaze focused on the opposing wall, the glimmers that reflected the orange glow of the lanterns.
'After I get out of here. I'll let you sleep for a whole day. You deserve it, body.'
A pair of bare feet walked out from the wall. Naren grabbing onto them, while rubbing them. It was cold. With Cairo gone, there was no warmth left between them, and the bare ice floors weren't helping. Especially, with his lack of footwear.
Through his sleepy eyes, he decided to look up. To see what that crazy girl could have fought that pressure. Though, what he saw in front of him couldn't really be classified as a fight. It was a massacre. Yuna being on the losing end of course.
The dark blue-haired girl moved forward, one step at a time. Her jaw was clenched tight, teeth grinding. Her eyes were forced wide, unblinking, staring straight ahead. Every step cracked the ice beneath her boots.
Blood trickled from her nose, running down her chin in a thin line. Her arms hung limp at her sides, not swinging, not bracing. Just dead weight.
She didn't stop.
The pressure bore down on her — crushing, relentless — but she kept moving. Step. Crack. Step. Crack. Her breathing was ragged, shallow, forced through clenched teeth.
But she didn't stop.
It looked as if she would topple any second. As if her brittle bones would snap in two at any point. Her body would fall to the ground, and as the pressure accumulated would eventually be swallowed up by the ice.
But that never happened. They walked all the way to the narrowest edge before making the trek, but there was still ten meters Yuna had to cross through sheer will alone. Yet somehow, she was managing.
Naren couldn't help but stare, letting a small, annoying thought make his way into his mind.
'Am I trying hard enough?'
He wanted to find his sister. By any means possible. What he had to do was nothing more than a means to him, but was he being to passive?
Looking at Yuna, Naren couldn't help get a little annoyed, which was very unlike him. She was doing this just to get to Vera? To someone she didn't even know. Yet Naren wasn't doing this for Cendrine.
But that thought was quickly swallowed and shoved deep inside the sea inside his own soul. There was a reason for that. Cendrine didn't deserve his effort. She didn't deserve him ripping his skin apart to get to her. She would have to wait. That's what he decided was the answer to the annoying question Yuna brought about.
After ten minutes of waiting. Yuna had finally passed into the overhang. Immediately, falling to her knees and coughing up blood, while gasping for air.
"You have fun?"
She got up to her feet, limping.
"Wasn't...COUGH...that bad. I just thought about...COUGH...butterflies."
Naren couldn't but letting a slight smile creep up onto his face. She's definitely someone to be wary of.
"See, I never lie."
He looked up to the layer above them. Now that they were closer, he could clearly hear the breathing of at least fifty people. From the sounds of it majority were asleep. But there was definitely, one keeping watch outside. Probably taking shifts.
The two made their way up the ladder, careful to be as silent as possible. Thankfully, with the veil of fog present throughout the ravine, their stealth was greatly boosted. But nothing would cover up noise.
The floor was carved deep into the wall, many chambers carved in periodically. Behind one such chamber, Naren and Yuna waited to scope out the situation. Speaking in hushed voices, they couldn't quite reach a decision.
"Why would we even need to worry about it? We're leaving right after grabbing her."
"Are you stupid? How're you going to not account for anything?"
"Who cares? We'll figure it out when it's right in front of us."
"God, you're really dense aren't you. How far is that mindset going to take you?"
"Further than you."
"What?"
"I can promise you I'd make it further than you ever could."
Yuna leaned in closer, visibly irritated.
"As if. You'd be rotting in this ravine."
"As if."
Naren spoke mocking her. Suddenly, his scarf, blew onto Yuna's face with a slight breeze.
"Should just left you and this tacky scarf to die."
Naren got closer to Yuna. A sudden pressure emanating from him that wasn't present before. One that made Yuna, lurk back in instinct. Like a rabbit hearing the growl of a Griffin.
"Run that by me again?"
Just then a spear flew from their blind spots, causing the two of them to fall back. A woman with a bird-like mask lunged from the shadows. Specifically at Naren.
Naren parried her second strike, throwing her over behind his back. The warrior flipped onto her footing, ready to fight back. But Naren was no longer in her sights. Instead, all she heard were three movements, and a force hit her legs, sides, and neck before she was on the ground.
Naren walked out towards the gate of the barracks, swinging the doors open. Yuna made sure the warrior was truly unconscious, before following in Naren's stead, muttering under her breath: "Why get so bent over such a weird scarf."
"This scarf isn't ugly!"
"Shut up. Shut up. You're so loud!"
"I'm loud?! You're gonna burst my ears!"
Yuna was already at her wits end arguing about keeping their stealth, but by now she was completely done with Naren. She grabbed his ears, yanking them. His pressure failing to have any effect to her now.
"Yeah? I'm gonna tear them off!"
"Ow! Ow! Yuna let go!"
"Then stop shouting!"
The whole sleeper quarters sprung up at once. All ready with their weapons in hand. All facing them.
"Great, now look what you caused. I told you to keep quiet."
"How's this my fault. You're the one shouting."
Yuna looked straight up at the ceiling, breathing a deep and heavy breath.
"Alright fine, whatever. Now that it's come to this."
She pushed Naren forward. A slight smile creeping onto her face, while her eyes showed agitation and despondence.
"You may not know this, but I'm a princess. So go finish my fight, soldier."
"Princess my foot."