Chapter 2
153.
Team Kita managed to solve the corruption problem of the village, and because of that, Chief Iberx will assist them with their mission. Since Queen Grace isn't really suited for dangerous adventures, they decided to let the Queen take the scholars back to Kemitopia. It has been more than a decade and the scholars are longing for their hometown. Queen Grace also needs to make a public statement that will explain the whole situation, but at the same time, without causing panic among her citizens. It's already a tall task for the Queen, that's why the rest of team Kita will obtain the Mystical Runekey without Queen Grace.
After a short while, the sled is ready to be used. Just like the plan, Maiko holds onto their map and rides on Byakko while Queen Grace and the scholars are on the sled. They head straight back to UniPaws while Kita, Hana, and Celeste await their return.
Since they have idle time, Kita suddenly thinks of a way to make the place safer. When Kita saw a snow shovel, she suggested using it as a tool to pick up the Forbidden Runes around them and store those somewhere off-limits to the villagers. Linx, Hana, and Celeste also liked the idea, and the four of them immediately told Iberx about the plan.
With the lead of Iberx, the Chief gathered the villagers and explained the instructions carefully. Truly, the Kemis in this village are suited to this realm; Polarbearman, Sealman, Penguingirl, and every other Artic-type Kemis. Their thick fur makes it easier for them to work in this environment. Half of them will create deep storage while the rest will gather the Forbidden Rune. In this way, the village can return to their normal lives without the risk of stumbling into a Forbidden Rune.
Team Kita witnessed how organized the villagers were. No wonder Linx feels pressured about being the next Chief, Iberx is truly an outstanding leader. Linx may lack leadership skills for now, but she can communicate with everyone effectively.
"This is working way better than I expected." Hana suddenly said.
"What do nyu mean?" Celeste curiously asked.
"Don't get me wrong, knowing that the other scholars passed away is horrible news. I'm referring to how everything is going despite the problems." Hana clarified.
"Yeah… Imagine, if those corrupted Kemis earlier were all unconsciously driven by the Forbidden Runes, then we need to fight all of them at the same time. That will be the end of this realm, we might not even survive that. Luckily, none of them were violent." Kita responded.
"I haven't seen that, but based on your stories I would like to keep it that way," Celeste replied.
A few more minutes later, Maiko returned to the village and witnessed the busy crowd.
"Ara, what's happening here?" Maiko asked as she stepped down from Byakko.
"They are creating a room where they can store the Forbidden Runes, Kita came up with the idea," Celeste answered while Kita proudly smiled.
"I see, that's impressive. So, are we ready to move now? Byakko seems fired up." Maiko replied.
Linx overheard Maiko's question and immediately approached the team. "Anoooo, going out right now is not a good idea. Snowstorm occurs during the afternoon, there are times that it is still manageable but oftentimes it's too dangerous. We might encounter hail in the middle of our travel." Linx explained.
"Sooooo… Does that mean we should wait until the snowstorm is over?" Kita questioned.
"I suggest that we should travel early in the morning instead. It's easier that way because the snow already melted a little by then. We just need to make sure that we can accomplish our mission in the cave before afternoon." Linx answered.
"I guess we'll spend a night here, though I doubt we can obtain the Mystical Runekey within half of a day," Hana mentioned.
"Why? Is the cave really that big? I've never been to it, to be honest." Linx replied.
"It could be, but it's not about the size of that cave. It all depends on what's inside, nyu'll eventually see it for yourself." Kita said.
"That's exciting to hear, it will be also my first time entering such a place," Maiko commented.
"I'm actually more terrified than excited at this point. Some of their journeys traumatize me!" Celeste warned Linx.
Due to the regular afternoon snowstorm, team Kita decided to help the villagers before the snowfall got heavier. As the Kemis work together in cleaning the village, they notice that the depth of the snow is getting thicker. Iberx halted the villagers and told them to take shelter. The Chief also ensures that no one else is left wandering off, everyone should be in their homes before the situation gets worse.
Linx helped Iberx in their patrol and then proceeded to the room where team Kita was waiting. "Sorry, it took us a while. Do nyu want some hot beverages? We got hot choco." Linx offered as she entered the room.
"It's fine, nyu should take some rest too. We can have hot choco later." Hana replied.
"I'm just curious, do nyu do this every day? I also live in a cold place but this one is more hostile." Maiko said.
"It's our job to make sure that the villagers are safe during snowstorms. Though in my opinion, Crystalline Woodland is the safest area here, other places are way more dangerous. In fact, staying outside their house is fine. We gathered them just to ensure that no one will go outside of Crystalline Woodland. Other Kemis residing in different areas may disagree with us, it all depends on experience." Linx responded.
"How did nyu figure that out?" Celeste asked.
Linx looked around to check if Iberx was near them. "Well… To be honest, I've been secretly snowboarding in different places, which my father is not in favor of," Linx admitted.
"Oh, so that's why we bumped into nyu earlier while everyone was in a meeting! We caught nyu sneaking out!" Kita mentioned.
"Hai, I'm hoping we can keep this a secret," Linx replied as she chuckled.
"It's fine with us, though Kita is not that good at that," Hana said.
"I suggest that nyu should work it out with your father. It will be hard for both of nyu if something bad happens, especially in this environment." Maiko suggested.
"I agree, tracing your exact location will be impossible because the snow will cover your footprints," Celeste added.
"I understand, I'll try to talk to him again soon," Linx responded.
154.
Team Kita spent the rest of the day chilling inside the room, literally. They had a long series of conversations with Linx, exchanging stories and their experiences. The more they share, the more they understand each other. Comparing the difference between a Catgirl from UniPaws and Blizshore also kept the discussion going. It was completely out of nowhere, but a bond was created that night, a friendship that pulled everyone closer.
The following day rises and as soon as the depth of the snow went back to normal, team Kita moved out. Celeste explained the directions to Maiko, allowing Maiko to guide Byakko in crossing through the forest. While Kita, Hana, and Celeste are on the sled, Linx follows them using her snowboard, finally joining team Kita in their quest. Iberx allowed Linx to snowboard this time since she was with the rest of the Catgirls, though they still need to have a discussion about it once they return.
Running through the snow while pulling the sled, Byakko seems to enjoy it. He prefers the snow compared to any other pathway. On the other hand, Linx holds onto a rope with a handle, which is tied to the edge of the sled. It allows her to snowboard even on a higher slope using Byakko's speed.
"It looks like skateboarding but with a twist… I want to try that!" Kita said while watching Linx behind them.
"I'm sure Yuna and Raven would have the same opinion if they were here," Hana commented.
"The unforgiving environment makes this realm hard to navigate. I think the racers will see this as a challenge and will adapt well. Now I'm curious if we did pick the right Kemi for this realm…" Celeste mentioned.
"Well, I hope they don't feel the same way coz it will be a flop on our planning side if they do," Hana responded.
It didn't take them long before they made it out of the Crystalline Woodland. It was an easy breeze, but it all changed when they reached the mountains. Team Kita decided to walk since Byakko is already pulling the sled with their bags and equipment, thus the hiking in the White Mountains started.
"Why does the cave have to be on top of the mountain!" Celeste complained while leading the way.
"This is also the part that I hate the most whenever I snowboard, but trust me, it's all worth it once we're on the top," Linx said.
"I hope nyu are right coz we might stay there for a while," Hana mentioned.
"Good thing the Chief also packed a foldable tent for us," Maiko responded.
"It will be extremely cold here in the mountains but caves will keep us warm," Linx replied.
As the team chatter, Hana noticed Kita's silence. "Why are nyu oddly too quiet?" Hana suddenly asked Kita.
"I'm afraid that my noise will create an avalanche," Kita answered.
"Actually, it's-" Linx was about to correct Kita's belief but Hana stopped her and said, "Let's keep it this way, this is a rare moment."
It took them a lot of hours, but luckily they managed to reach their destination before the snowstorm. Team Kita stays inside the cave near the entrance, starts up a campfire, and takes some rest as they grill fish for their late lunch. Iberx truly prepared everything that the team will ever need, including a sealed basket of fresh fish.
The place seems peaceful as of now, team Kita was able to relax and regain their strength. When the snowstorm started, it was their cue to resume their journey and explore the cave. After all, it will be a lot warmer inside.
Scanning the depths of the cave, this one is surprisingly similar to the other caves that they've been through. At first, the shallow part of the cave is fitting to the White Mountains. There are icicles in the ceiling, and the cave is mostly frozen. It all slowly changed as team Kita went deeper. Kita and Hana expected it to be a little different since the environment in Blizshore is the most unique one. There is still some snow on the ground but the details like the brick pathway, and Luminous rocks are similar to the other dungeons containing a Mystical Runekey.
"The pathway changed, is this the dungeon?" Celeste asked upon noticing the brick pathway ahead of them.
"I never knew this cave has a dungeon," Linx mentioned.
The entrance of every dungeon that Kita and Hana have been through has a riddle that will light up the Luminous Rocks. They managed to solve the one in BijouTerra, the residents of Noctambulist Land answered the second one, there's no cave in Nesuto, while the elders in Hachtile did the job for team FeLinE. Seeing the pattern resembling the other dungeons, the two of them stopped the rest of the team from stepping further.
"Wait on a second, we should find the riddle first," Hana mentioned.
"Riddle?" Celeste, Maiko, and Linx confusedly reacted.
"Hai, riddles are the ones that will help us in exploring the dungeon once we solve it. They are usually on the walls before the brick pathway." Kita explained.
"There's the brick pathway that nyu are talking about," Maiko said.
"That means the riddle is somewhere near us, let's start searching!" Kita initiated.
Thanks to their experience, Kita and Hana guide the others in their first dungeon quest. Each one of them carefully scans the area, looking for words carved into the wall. And just as they expected, there's a riddle near the entrance. Linx called everyone's attention, and the rest immediately checked it out.
"Cold as it could be, but be wary of the opposite" - The riddle says.
When Kita read the riddle, the Luminous Rocks glowed. Everyone was confused, they were expecting to solve the riddle first before the dungeon lit up, just like the other ones, but none of it was required in the current dungeon that they were in.
"That's weird… We haven't answered anything, right?" Kita said.
"Should we be worried or something?" Celeste asked.
"Maybe? But that won't take us anywhere. Let's just continue!" Kita answered.
"This is now getting more exciting," Linx commented.
"That's the spirit!" Kita responded.
"Let's just be observant as we explore. Also, remember that riddle, it could be a clue to something." Maiko suggested.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Hana said.
The group entered the dungeon despite the confusing state that they were in.
155.
The situation suddenly turned odd for team Kita. External interference like what happened to Noctambulist Land and Hachtile makes more sense compared to what's happening to them in Blizshore. Even the situation in Nesuto is much more understandable since the wind current already protects the Mystical Runekey. Kita is truly excited, Hana feels uneasy, and the rest of the team doesn't know how to react to the situation. As of now, the two with experience lead the way.
"Are they always like that? Polar opposite?" Linx whispered to Maiko and Celeste.
"Polar opposite? I guess nyu could say that. They have different preferences in multiple aspects based on my observation." Celeste answered.
"Even so, they are best friends. They both grew up at Seashore Tribe, and they are the ones who started all these adventures." Maiko added.
"Oh really? Good thing their differences don't affect their friendship." Linx said.
"Anoo… Just so nyu guys know, we can still hear nyu." Hana intervened.
"Though I agree with Maiko, we are best friends! Right Hana?" Kita added.
"I'm not so sure about that," Hana kiddingly responded.
"Oy!" Kita madly reacted as the rest laughed.
As the team continues, Celeste accidentally triggers a trap, making icicles fall from the ceiling. Luckily, they managed to dodge, it could be a problem if someone was hit. Ironically, the incident made Kita and Hana a lot more comfortable because it meant the dungeon was still protected, just like they expected.
Repeating the same technique that they did in BijouTerra, Kita and Hana distributed tasks to the team. Celeste takes the job of creating the map, Linx studies the landmarks of the dungeon, Maiko monitors their resources, and lastly, Kita and Hana lead the way, making sure everyone is safe from traps.
Team Kita finally experiences the true dungeon adventure, with tons of deadly traps, dead-end routes, and confusing patterns, the team walks in circles repeatedly. At first, it was all fun and games, trying their best to accomplish the quest. But as the exhaustion kicks in, it looks like everyone's temper is close to its limit.
"C'mon Hana, we've been here before. That's the same wall where Linx marked a spot." Kita complained.
"Celeste is the one who suggested turning right earlier. I'm not the one who's holding the map." Hana argued.
"But, But, Linx told me we've been to the left side before. That's why I suggested trying the other path." Celeste defended.
"I only told nyu that because Maiko marked it, I didn't mark that path," Linx replied.
"Kita said that it looked familiar, so I put a mark on it. I was just trying to help," Maiko explained.
"Wait, so it's my fault now?" Kita questioned.
The argument continues and it's getting more intense. The dungeon is truly tricky, it pushes team Kita to the point wherein blaming others is a way to vent out their frustration. Before the situation gets worse, they decided to head back to the entrance of the dungeon in front of the riddle to reassess their map.
Team Kita set up the camp, and called it a day. No one was talking, everyone was just sitting in front of the fire, grilling their food. After a couple of minutes, the situation slowly de-escalates. Each one of them felt guilty for raising their voice and pointing fingers. Everything happened too quickly, it created an unintentional conflict.
Linx could no longer handle the awkward silence, so she decided to take the blame, "Anooo… I'm sorry for dragging the team down. I'm aware that being new to this is not an excuse, I promise to do better tomorrow."
"It was also my first time mapping out a dungeon. Sorry for confusing everyone, I'll try to fix the errors on our map." Celeste responded.
"No, none of nyu is the one to blame. It's my fault for instigating the commotion, I was the one who started the fight. I'm sorry for my actions earlier." Kita apologized to everyone.
"I also apologized for blaming others…" Hana added.
"I'm sure that none of us meant what we said, it was a long day and everyone was tired. Let's just take some rest for now and then we can think better tomorrow." Maiko suggested.
After their meal, they all went inside their tent and tucked into their sleeping bags. There is still some awkwardness in the air, none of them are used to this kind of behavior, but it all felt lighter thanks to their open forum.
The next day rises, and even though the warmth of the light hasn't touched their skins, team Kita resumed their mission. Blindly going inside the dungeon might give them the same result as last night, it's time to analyze what went wrong. The deeper they study the directions that they are in, the more confusing it gets. No one can explain what's happening but the assumption as of now is the paths are intertwined, that's why they are looping.
The team decided to re-enter the dungeon. This time, testing their hypothesis is the priority instead of finding the Mystical Runekey. Things could get easier if they understand the situation first rather than forcing their way. As of now, everything seems blurry. The only clue that they have is the riddle, no further leads other than that. Team Kita believes that solving the riddle could give them clarity on the situation. On that note, they also theorized that maybe fire is the answer, warmth is clearly the opposite of cold and fire can give it. However, knowing the answer doesn't automatically solve the dilemma, should they be wary of fire? Should they set a fire to test it? If so, where should they set one? There's a spot where they can put their answer to the riddle in BijouTerra, but that is not the case in Blizhore.
Without any idea how to solve the situation, the team was left with no choice but to do trial and error. At each corner or every suspicious spot that there is, team Kita will ignite a small bonfire whenever there's a chance, hoping that maybe it could trigger something and prove their theory.
For the next couple of hours, team Kita continued their trial and error method. There's no assurance that their answer is correct, though they didn't have any other idea besides it. Randomly shooting their shots may seem pointless, but it could still accidentally land at the right target.
End of Chapter 2