...Waving?

I follow her gaze and come across the figure in question. The blizzard softens until it reveals an image I knew very well.

—?!

“What the hell! That is Taichi! What is going on here?? Did he also get access to Aether?!”

Without waiting any longer, we follow after him.

* * *

“Taichi, wait! It's us!! I don't understand, why does he keep running away?! That's really Taichi, isn't it?”

“From the looks of it there's no doubt, but from the logic, it makes no sense.”

"You say that because of the summoning crystals?"

Murakami nods at my question. “Yea. If he's here it's because a crystal was used, which is strange, since no more than two of those should exist.”

I remember this story... According to what she told me, there were only two crystals before we came to Aether. One was with the Empire and was used by the bishop to summon Murakami. The second was supposed to be with the moonstrucks, but it was found by Loveta on top of a tower to summon me.

Thinking better...

I was going to speak, but Murakami soon speak up. "Loveta, you said you were chasing someone similar to Ryouzen even before you found the crystal, weren’t you?"

“Grr! Again this story? Yes, I've said so many times already...”

“I see… So there's a good chance we're experiencing a similar phenomenon.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean that the person we are chasing now may not be Taichi, but some illusion like the false Ryouzen Loveta was chasing before. He may also be intentionally taking us somewhere. I won't say it's towards a third crystal, as was the case before since no more than two should exist, but perhaps towards some other object of equal relevance.”

“Gyaaa! But what if it's a trap?!”

“Well, that’s also a possibility that we can’t ignore. Um, funny that the one talking about traps is precisely the person who chased after the fake Ryouzen to the end...” Murakami makes a slightly smug expression, which is rare, extremely rare!

“Gi! Is this some sort of rematch...?”

“...Anyway, I doubt that Ryouzen has any intention of stopping here.”

I nod my head. “Yeah, however small the possibilities are, I'm still not convinced by this verdict on the existence of only two crystals. Not because I doubt your words Murakami, but because those words were spoken to you by the bishop, whom I do not trust. For me, this whole story got weird when the crystal that should have been with the moonstrucks was actually dropped somewhere random. That being it, I can't stop here until I confirm that person isn’t indeed him.”

Murakami smiles modestly. “I figured that would be the case. Hm? Wait!” She motions for us to stop. We were about to descend a steep slope, which bordered a semi-frozen river.

The apparent Taichi had descended the terrain without any problem, jumped the river, and entered a cave that existed a few meters away.

“Gya? What's the problem? It's just a river...”

“No, it’s not… Take a close look.”

Like Loveta, I slide my eyes down and so I notice several dead creatures around the river in question. They were, in greater numbers, the animals of Aether, that is, animal dreamians that people once dreamed of. Strange that... "Why is there no sign of blood?" I ask curiously.

Even though they were all lying on the floor, it didn't look like they had been murdered.

“…It's because they're not dead, but asleep.”

“Asleep…?”

“Yes, and the one doing this is the river itself, look at that animal.”

Loveta and I cast our vision in Murakami's direction and so we notice a ‘polar bear’. It was approaching the river to drink water, but just by getting close, it passes out.

“Gyaaa! What happened?!”

“It’s some kind of magic imbued in the river. If we get too close, this effect may also hit us.” She sighs.

“And from the number of dreamians lying around here, I don't think we'll be able to wake up once asleep…"

"Yes… If we do want to go after him, we must be cautious."

Loveta and I nod our heads.

* * *

“A palace? How beautiful~!!”

Loveta was delighted with the place the cave has brought us. We all were amazed actually. A palace inside a cave? For this, I did not expect.

After crossing the river and entering the den, we walked around it for a while. It didn't take long for golden bricks to appear along the walls, as well as marble pillars and granite floors. When we noticed, we were all in a huge hall.

It was possible to see the good finish, the good set of colors, and the good choice of materials for wherever the vision was cast. Everything showed signs of grandeur; ranging from beautiful fish-shaped fountains to emerald chandeliers and candles. It was indeed a very beautiful place.

The hall was also silent. The only noise we could hear were the ones that came from our footsteps.

“I wonder who lives here?” I ask.

"Um, from the drawings on the walls, I'd say it would be some kind of king or prince? Maybe even a god?”

The figures Murakami was referring to were carved all over the walls, as in the classic tombs and pyramids of pharaohs.

One of them revealed two men standing beside a large bed on which a giant was laying. One of them sewed golden garments, while the other sewed gray garments. Above them hovered an eye with a spiral pupil, which radiated light from the front, illuminating creatures who knelt there and worshiped them.

On another wall, two more people appeared in profile, twins, facing opposite sides. The girl on the left was looking towards trees, mountains, and lakes. The one on the right faced more abstract things, like squares, triangles, etc.

They were really interesting figures, but nothing that I knew so far.

Phanta, do you know anything about it?

[Yeah, I mean no.]

Okay, that sounded a little iffy...

“Hello?! Is there anyone here?!” Shouts Loveta, breaking the local silence.

Murakami panics. “Shhh! Speak down Loveta, we don't know if this place is an ally or not!”

“But it seems like no one lives here. Ah, look at what I found!” Loveta runs towards one of the palace rooms and we follow after her. When we arrive, we notice a huge bed surrounded by black curtains.

“Wait… Isn't this the same bed that was drawn in the walls?”

“Indeed.” Confirms Murakami. “But considering the way the air here is strange, I think we'd better leave things the way they are.”

“Oh, what a bummer… I wanted so much to jump in here with you Master. Um...?” Loveta puts one of her hands on the curtain and so they rise, revealing there a giant dead body covered in blood. There was a hole in his left chest, and he was also missing both of his eyes.

Loveta immediately puts her hands over her mouth, sickened, and Murakami turns away in disgust. I also avert my eyes.

…Just what the hell happened here??

* * *

“I'm sorry Master, I ended up making you see something horrible...” Loveta was distressed, with her wolf ears drooping.

Isn’t this girl indeed an anime perfection? She can be sleeping or she can be awake, she can be happy or she can be angry, her face is always pretty. There is just no damn way I'll get tired of appreciating it.

We are both sitting on the edge of one of the palace fountains by the way. Murakami had left to investigate the place better, and asked me to stay here and take care of her. Of course, considering what happened a moment before, she was afraid Loveta might do something else. Curious that she accepted Murakami’s suggestion way too fast.

“Don't worry Loveta, it was no big deal. Luckily nothing happened to you two, but it's good to be a little more careful from now on, I wouldn't want to see you in danger.”

I need to save that pretty face of hers at all costs!

Loveta looks at me in surprise, then blushes slightly.

"Would you mind patting my head a little...?"

Hey, hey! What's with this situation…? That vulnerable expression she's putting on right now is really making me nervous! But well... I don’t think it would hurt to pamper her a little, right?

“Ahem.”

Just as I was about to touch her head, Murakami appears, making both of us shiver.

What?! Why did we have this reaction?? It's not like we were going to do anything indecent! I guess…

Her expression wasn't one of her best.

“…I've just discovered a corridor further to the right, where your friend may have passed. Let's get going.”

Yeah, she was mad somehow. Loveta retorts with a simple “Tch”.