Kaito and his companions began walking outside the mysterious insect's house, each carrying the weight of unasked questions and unsaid answers. Kaito remained silent, recalling her last words:
"One person's mistake can be the consequence of all..."
He didn't know if she was referring to him or someone before him, but he felt something strange... as if she knew him better than he knew himself.
As they made their way through a wide stone corridor surrounded by walls bearing ancient inscriptions, a shadow appeared at the end of the tunnel. It was tall, with a dark furry body and protruding ears. It resembled a wolf in appearance, but its face... its face... appeared blurred, as if obscured from perception.
"Back off!" cried Haeru Shin, brandishing his weapon.
Everyone took a ready stance, even Tsuki placed her hand on her dagger, while Kaito stared blankly at the creature.
But the creature calmly raised its hand and said in a strangely melodious voice, "I am not an enemy... If you want to stay, follow me."
The strangeness wasn't in his words, but in the fact that everyone understood him... even though his language was unfamiliar.
Kaito's companions looked at each other in surprise. Kaito's father was the first to calm down, saying seriously, "We follow him, but carefully."
They all began walking behind the unknown creature, through the branching corridors of the tunnel.
Hairu Shin said in a low voice, "Did you notice his voice? It's as if it passes through our chests, not our ears..."
Kaito's father smiled faintly, "Yes... a voice laden with ancient tales."
They walked a long distance, then the creature spoke without looking back:
"This world... is called Noxar."
He paused for a moment, as if recalling buried memories, then continued:
"It wasn't like this... It was balanced, filled with light and shadows together. But the breach happened... The covenant was broken."
Tsuki asked him quietly, "Which covenant? And who broke it?"
He replied in a deeper voice:
"Between the surface dwellers and the deep dwellers... there was a covenant written thousands of years ago, forbidding ascent, forbidding descent."
He was silent for a moment, then said:
"But one of you, or your fathers, stole something... something that must not be touched."
Kaito suddenly said, remembering the inscriptions and symbols:
"You mean... the necklace kept in the rock vaults?"
The being stopped suddenly, turned for the first time toward Kaito, and said in a low voice:
"You read their symbols?..."
Kaito nodded his head affirmatively. "I don't know how, but it makes sense to me... it's as if it speaks to me."
Their steps retrace their steps until they reach a gap overlooking a ruined underground kingdom. At its heart are the remains of a tilted palace and a collapsed temple.
The creature said, its hidden eyes watching the devastation:
"Breaking the contract unleashed a curse that distorted souls and destroyed systems... And since that day, the light has been ripped from the hearts of kingdoms."
Hairo Shin leaned closer, raised an eyebrow, and said, "And this king you speak of... Who is he?"
The creature fell silent, then turned his face toward the wall and said in a low voice, as if whispering to the void:
"The king... didn't want all this to happen."
There was silence, as if the stone itself had ceased to breathe.
Hairo Shin tried to ask another question, but the creature raised his hand and then continued walking without answering.
No one dared to speak, even Kaito's father said quietly:
"Sometimes... stories are only told in silence."
They kept walking, the shadows deepening around them.
Fin chapter