11 Meet the Children (1/2)

Ivo leads the way towards the Bloody Sea. We're on the edge of the city, so the distance is short. As we get closer to the massive trees, I'm filled with dread imagining, once again, having to expend so much energy to move through the forest. I can feel my face twisting in distress. We reach the base of a tree. Ivo glances at me in amusement, noticing my dread. He pushes away a thick layer of vines to reveal a large tunnel. It's big enough for two grown men to move shoulder to shoulder comfortably. The inside is lined with clear Diao gems, giving off a white glow.

My eyes widen and my jaw slacks in surprise. At a loss for words, I look at Ivo biting his lip in a vain attempt to keep from laughing.

”Don't laugh!” I scold while slapping him in the arm.

Unable to hold it any longer, he howls with laughter, ”Your face! You looked like...you were walking to...your death!” He manages to choke out in between the bouts of laughter.

”Humph,” unwilling to deal with him, I storm off down the tunnel.

Gaining some control over himself, he catches up to me. He suppresses his laughter, but I could still make out the smile in his eyes.

”How did this tunnel get created?” I say to distract him.

”During the 100years war, the previous King created the tunnels so he could make use of his mageless army in the forest. When the war ended the tunnels were abandoned,” he shrugs. ”I doubt many remember these exist.”

”I'm surprised they didn't take the gems. Diaos are the cheapest, but they still have their uses.”

”They can't be taken.”

”Why?” my brows furrow in confusion.

”Haven't you noticed, no one is feeding them asura? That's because they're directly connected to the earth and receive asura through the connection.”

”That doesn't explain why they didn't take them,” I felt the need to point out.

”I'm getting to that,” he rolls his eyes. ”If the connection is forcibly broken it can cause a backlash. A backlash big enough to raze the entire Bloody Sea to the ground.”

”Oh...” was all I could manage to push out my tightened throat. I take a step back eyeing the innocent looking glowing gem with fear. I grab hold of Ivo's arm dragging him forward, ”I think it's about time we get out of this tunnel as soon a possible.”

Ivo chuckles while taking the lead. We travel through a myriad of interconnected tunnels. We leave the tunnel my head is spinning from all the twists and turns. I know I'll never be able to find my way back. We walk into a sliver of space illuminated by moonlight. My eyes are drawn upward. There's a space in the leaves large enough to see the breathtaking night sky. The moon at the center is the largest, with a broken off chunk making it look like a crescent moon; like the gods themselves took a bite out of it, the broken off piece split in two and orbits the center. Debris created from the separation of the pieces forms a ring similar to the one found on Saturn. Linking the two smaller pieces together. Unlike in the real world where the reflection of the sun makes moonlight. These moons have a soft glow that gives them a blue hue. So there will never be a moonless night.

Ivo goes to the small wedge formed at the base of the opposing tree.

/What the hell did we come here for?/ I look around uncertain.