It's fully dark, closer to the next morning the previous day, when Kay's two comrades awaken from their long and well earned slumber, both regaining consciousness at nearly the same time. Both are surprised to see the naked mouse fully awake and hardly even tired looking (well, no more than usual) with no sign that her rather limited sleeping arrangements had been used.

"Have you been keeping watch all night?" Frederich asks. He'd had no intention of resting for so long, of course, but it was hardly an option after the long day.

"Um... sure." Kay replies. That, of course, hadn't been her intention. While keeping a lookout for any potential dangers which exist through the night, and there are no shortage of them, is far from a bad idea, it wasn't due to any active planning on her part. Sleep simply wasn't an option, and not due to general worries, of which she has a few, or due to regular insomnia, which she's experienced on more than a few occasions in her relatively long life. It proved to be simply impossible. She could settle herself, close her eyes and try as hard as she wished, but never even came close to losing consciousness. This isn't necessarily a problem for her, as she still has her usual energy, really far more than usual if we go back more than a few days, but it's still unsettling to her on multiple levels. Even beyond the worries of what caused this, and more specifically, what other sorts of issues that it may cause, it's a difficult sensation to adjust to. Maybe she doesn't require sleep, but both her body and mind do expect it and going without offers a strange sensation that she can't quite put her finger on, yet knows she doesn't like one bit.

She turns away from the armored mouse and towards her other companion who looks to her with no more comforting a stare. This stare is broken not when she finds nothing worthy of being stared at, rather once she realizes how rude she's being and abruptly turns away, regularly sneaking the occasional peeks back towards Kay's face, trying to be subtle about it but doing a terrible job.

"Is it just me, or..." she says, her already soft voice trailing off long before reaching the proper end of the sentence.

"No. It's definitely bigger." Fred replies.

For a moment Kay has no idea what they're talking about, it taking her a good several seconds to even remember the presence of the curse mark. She reflexively reaches up for her face, rubbing around her eyes although she should know better than to expect to actually feel anything unusual. The fur, even if the appearance is miscolored, feels completely ordinary to touch with her fingers, even if the reverse, feeling her fingers on her head proves impossible. The numbness remains and even if she can't see the mark itself, the space lacking in sensation has grown to the inner corners of her eyes.

"Are... are you okay?" Fred asks, directed at Kay this time, his expression of genuine concern doing little to comfort to older woman.

"I'm fine. It's no big deal. it looks like I don't require sleep anymore. Must be some benefit of the mark, right?" she says. She doesn't necessarily know that she'll never require sleep again, and especially doesn't know if it's a proper benefit. Frankly, she doubt's that is the case, but it was the easy thing to say in order to try to end the conversation. It technically works, even if not in the way she had intended. She certainly made it clear that she has little interest in discussing the matter, but similarly hasn't exactly convinced anyone that it's a trivial matter, unworthy of conversation.

The pair both nod, looking away, making for an awkward experience all around before someone finally speaks up, and seeing as how only one of the three has a proper gift for gab, it's no surprise who it is that tries to restart the conversation.

"Anyways, it might not be the proper hour for it, but how about some breakfast? Maybe you're not sleepy, but I'll bet you're getting hungry!" Fred says.

The naked mouse considers denying it, not just out of pride or natural dismissal but because she genuinely believes she isn't. The night before, while she sat awake trying to convince herself that not requiring sleep is no big deal and nothing to worry about, she had also grown to believe she might not need food either. She certainly wasn't hungry, but as it turns out, that was more due to her mind being focused on other matters than a lack of biological need. She hadn't really noticed just how hungry she was until he mentioned it. She looks away, giving a slight nod in response.

Obviously, the meal is a less than lavish one. Even putting aside the lack of a fire or meat, mice have a very diverse appetite and can eat practically anything. One would expect this to entail that they eat a wide variety of different things quite frequently, but the reality is that it more means that they just eat whatever happens to be available, which is often very similar sorts of items. In this case, it's the usual hardened bread-like items which can come from a variety of sources but when kept for long enough, always come out looking the same: hard, dried balls of crunchy, nourishing material which last for a long time, are easy to carry around and still have hints of the proper flavorings that human foods are known for.

"You know, we've got a long journey ahead of us, so maybe we should take some time to get to know one another?" Frederich says.

"Do we have to?" Kay replies.

"Of course! Journeys aren't just about fighting monsters and finding treasures, they're also about growing closer and learning more about ourselves and others!" The armored mouse says with a smile which fades as he sees the default non-enthusiasm present in Kay. "Uh, anyways, Mia, how about you go first?"

"Do I have to?" she asks, shyly.

"Yes." Kay answers. After all, if she doesn't that might mean Kay has to go first instead, which is clearly not a viable option.

"Um, well, there's no much to say really. I kind of explained everything already... I studied at the university and found it lacking so wanted to get some proper first-hand experience." the small mouse says, every word after the first growing a little more quiet, with even the first being far from a loud shout.

"There has to be more to it than that. Where did you get the fancy staff? And the robes? And you clearly have a lot of money. I'm not expert when it comes to the university, but most people there seem to be dirt poor." Frederich says.

"My parents are merchants." she continues, far more out of obligation than a genuine desire to communicate the matter further. "They, of course wanted me to follow in their footsteps, but I was never very good at it. I'm not much of a people person, I'm not very good with numbers, and have no real interest in the accumulation of wealth. From there, I was sent to the palace to work as a diplomat... and, well..."

"The whole not a people person thing." Kay says.

"That's right!" Mia chimes in once more with renewed enthusiasm before resuming her usual shy tone. "And, well... as you can guess there are only so many high profile occupations within the city. They arranged for me to be the squire to a palace knight, but I was too weak and clumsy. I briefly served as a translator at the library, and while the work was interesting, it proved somewhat beyond my talents. There, however, I first learned about magic: The ability to create objects and energy from nothing through sheer force of will. What could be more fascinating? Well, from there, of course, came the university, the only real place to go to study such matters..."

"I take it that didn't go well?" The armored mouse says.

"It wasn't so bad at first. On the upper levels, people were enthusiastic, and there were plenty of research materials... I learned much from the books about distant lands, the dark lords, religions, philosophies, but it quickly became clear that while people learned, nobody was really taught. You were left on your own, which again, isn't so bad at first, but the students became more insular and started seeing others, like me, as a nuisance or an obstacle. This leads to both an arrogance and an insecurity, where you convince yourself everyone else is inferior yet still live in dread of the idea that maybe you simply can't compete with them, and that everything you've worked for is for nothing." she says, lowering her head, her voice no longer soft and shy, as though she had forgotten she was speaking to others. "You focus less on knowledge for the sake of knowledge and instead on ego, since you grow so disconnected with people that it's all you have left, until eventually it's the only thing that matters. Even those with less noble dreams such as accumulating power or annihilating their enemies forget about them within that purgatory, where only cold, bitterness thrives."

She pauses for a moment, suddenly remembering where she is, and smiles, rubbing the back of her head, finishing quickly. "...anyways, I wanted to learn more magic and more about the dark lords so I looked around for an adventuring trope to join and met you two!"

"I see..." Frederich says, trying to take all of that in, having no expected so much information to bubble out of the mouth of the small mouse.

"So, in other words, you couldn't hold down a job so you decided to follow us around instead." Kay says.

"Um... yes, in a manner of speaking." Mia replies, her earlier shyness returning in full force.

"Heh, my turn I guess." Fred adds. The three are sitting in a circle but still he feels the need to rise to his feet. "So, I'm the youngest of ten siblings. Guess you two probably don't know what that's like, as families these days tend to be smaller, but it's pretty terrible. You get the hand-me-down clothes, nobody cares about any of your big milestones because it's old news as far as the parents are concerned, and you're the smallest one so everyone is always pushing you around. The first few kids are special, but by the tenth? You're just another face in the crowd who nobody expects anything out of. It's not just at home, either. Even when you go out, you're just another of your parents kids, and always one of the lesser ones, always compared to one of the bigger or stronger or smarter ones.

So, I decided to make a name for myself... and not just any name, I was going to be famous. People were going to see my parents and say, 'hey look, those are Frederich the Mighty's parents'. I wouldn't just be somebody's little brother or sister, I'd become a great champion, fight against evil, protect the helpless, and impress all the ladies!"

"Impress all the ladies?" Kay says, one eyebrow lowered.

"Well, uh, you know... that's the sort of thing heroes do!" he says, chuckling nervously before regaining his composure. "Anyways, I worked really hard. Trained with a sword every single day, exercised, became stronger, took every low level quest I could get my paws on to properly gear myself up. It wasn't easy. I wasn't the strongest or fastest or most talented mouse out there, but hey, I worked hard and didn't give up, and that's why everyone calls me 'Frederich the mighty'!"

"Does anyone actually call you that?" Kay asks.

"Of course! Well, you know, maybe not everyone. It admittedly hasn't caught on quite as quickly as I hoped, but hey, these things take time, right? I'm just getting started and I don't plan on quitting now!" he grins.

Mia lowers her head once more. "I'm sorry. You worked so hard to get where you are, and meanwhile I simply come along with no real experience and already, undeservedly, am at the same level you are."

"Heh, uh, yeah..." he says. "I'll admit that didn't exactly thrill me, but hey! We've all got our goals and we're all in this together, and your success doesn't do anything to take away from mine. If we can all become stronger in the process, all the better!"

The pair smile to one another reassuringly before both at once turning to Kay. She similarly looks from one young face to the other.

"What?" she asks.

"Well, what about you?" Fred says.

"You already heard my story."

"No, we heard what happened to you over the past day, but there's got to be a whole lot more to your life than that!"

"There really isn't." the naked mouse replies. She wishes she hadn't clarified in regards to the very limited nature of her amnesia, as it would give her an excuse to stay quiet. "I spent my whole life in a small village inside the wall of one of the Maker's shrines... and now I don't. That's all there is to it." she adds, taking a sip of water from an irregular clay cup.

"Come on, open up a little! Let's see... oh, well you kind of heard about my parents and Mia's, so what are yours like?" Frederich asks.

"No, don't ask that!" Mia blurts out, her tone wavering and falling off as she continues. "You shouldn't ask an... older woman... about her parents, is all."

"I'm not that old..." Kay grumbles, taking another sip.

"Oh, of course! You're right, Miss Kay, that was terribly disrespectful of me." Mia nods apologetically, "It was wrong of me to assume your parents had already passed."

"Well..." the naked mouse says, gripping her mug tighter.

"Uh, okay, maybe that's not the best topic of conversation... do you have any other family?" Fred interjects, trying to salvage the awkward situation.

"Let's just go." Kay says, rising to her feet.

Frederich bites down on his lip, trying to think of what to say next when he feels a small hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure she'll open up when she's good and ready." Mia says, smiling from behind him.

"Heh, fine... but don't think you're off the hook just yet! By the time this journey is finished, we're all going to be best friends, know all of our deepest secrets and be happy to stand side by side as honorable comrades in arms!" Frederich grins.

"I can't wait." Kay grumbles, gathering up her things. Once she does she raises her head, eyes turned towards the green light. It doesn't seem any stronger in contrast to the dark of night, but not easier to endure, either. She quickly lowers her gaze, continuing to walk towards it, forcing the others to rush to collect their own possessions and follow.

The night proves not much different from the day, only with less to see. Having moved further and further away from dense human civilization, the stars shine brightly overhead, the moon bathing the thick grasses in pale light. The relatively few landmarks about are entirely invisible in the gloom, only resurfacing once more as the sun begins to rise, the transition from night to day feeling particularly swift as the three continue their travels. All the while Frederich resists the constant, nearly overwhelming urge to ask how much further it will be. He knows full well that Kay has little idea and similarly that it hardly matters. They'll reach the destination when they reach it. Still, a tiny part of his mind questions whether they're actually going anywhere, or are simply moving further and further from home with no end in sight.

Although he feels guilty over having such doubts, he's not the only one. Mia has hardly considered the matter, as a non-trivial portion of her goal was to simply go outside and explore, a process she's taking great satisfaction in. So far as she's concerned, she wouldn't mind if the trio kept walking forever, as she's sure that even if there is no grand treasure to be found, there will always be sights to see, and new discoveries to be made.

The real source of such doubts is Kay. Sure, she feels like she's getting closer, but what does that really mean? Does she really feel any different than she had yesterday, or is it simply her mind urging her on, pushing her forward? Who knows, maybe the final destination is on the other side of the world, a distance that no mouse could ever hope to walk in their lifetime, or maybe there's no proper destination at all, it's simply 'away'. Naturally, they haven't been traveling all that long yet, and mouse trading caravans would often be away for weeks. It's far too early to be concerned about such matters, and yet, the worries won't go away. Even more frightening than the prospect of finding nothing after going all this way, is the prospect of finding something. Fine, if it's some trinket or treasure or something, even if she has little need for such things, but she can't forget the source of this mark. Ultimately, that creature is what is leading her there, and how could such a dark and murderous beast possibly lead her somewhere good? Who knows, perhaps it or another dark lord is waiting at the goal to finish the job?

She should have just stayed in the city. That would have been the sensible thing, and the proper revenge on the being who essentially destroyed her life. Why play by its rules, and do what it wants? Just take in the new surroundings, make a new life for herself and if this curse mark really is going to cut it short, hey, it happens. By all rights, she should already be dead, along with Amon and the others. It's not too late, either. She could turn back at any time, use her newfound strength to hunt fiends, accumulate some money, repay her debt to Mia and Frederich and spend her days, no matter how many are left, in peace. And yet she still continues forward, and even she doesn't quite understand why. Perhaps the hope, as slim as it might be, of something better ahead overrides the fear of what might be to come. The same reason everyone moves forward.

"Ooh, look at that!" Mia exclaims. At first neither Frederich nor Kay pay her much mind, figuring she's simply found some new variety of insect or moss, one which surely looks exactly like all of the others she'd previously found and been similar excited about, yet she insists is completely different and, should one dare challenge her on that fact, she'll go on and endless diatribe explaining exactly why. Ordinarily, they wouldn't even bother to turn their heads, as such an event happens to frequently, but it's fortunate that they do.

Further ahead and to their left a massive creature walks. Well, massive by the standards of a mouse, anyways. Four legged, like themselves, large ears, like themselves, a long tail, like themselves, covered in fur, like themselves. For all these similarities, however, it couldn't be any more different. Sure, it may not be wrapped in a black cloak or emitting an aura of pure evil or sitting in a throne made of bones, but it is a dark lord nonetheless. Frederich is forced to basically tackle Mia, her eyes locked on the distant creature. As for Kay, she requires no additional encouragement to crouch down within the grass. From this distance in particular, it certainly doesn't look very dark or lordly, its short fur a dull brown, moving forward at a slow, cautious and deliberate pace, thankfully not in the direction of our three heroes. Its eyes are transfixed on something ahead, nothing the mice are able to see and knowing such creatures, it could well be nothing at all. During this time, Mia dares not even blink. She resists the urge to stand upright and get a clearer view, but still can't help staring at the majestic feline. Her enthusiasm isn't entirely unjustified, either. Most mice never get a clear view of a dark lord and, even if such creatures aren't seen as quite the unstoppable forces of destruction they once were, most that do still don't live to tell about it.

"What do you think? should we take it out?" Frederich whispers to the party leader.

"You're kidding, right?" Kay replies.

"Come on, we've got good gear, you've got magic curse powers or... something, I'm not clear on exactly what it does, and we've got the element of surprise. We can win this!"

"Okay, even if, hypothetically, we could, we've got nothing to gain from it. Plus, do you think we can also take out that one?" Kay whispers back, pointing to her right. Less visible since the earth doesn't slope downward in that direction is the bobbing head of a Maker walking by and, more significantly, at least to current current argument is the large, excited canine head running along beside it, tongue lolling out of it's mouth. "...or how about that one?" she asks, pointing a little behind herself to a distant tree and the large black bird sitting within, it's beady eyes scanning the surroundings in all directions. A significantly smaller and weaker creature, pound for pound, than a cat or a dog, but certainly no less lethal.

Frederich's blood runs cold as the mental image of a triumphant victory crumbles, replaced by what would have invariably happened had they tried to land a pre-emptive strike. Perhaps the canine wouldn't have jumped into the fray, as they're seen as particularly loyal followers of the Makers, unwilling to leave their side without permission. They'd be easy prey for the keen eyes avian above, however. Even his own somewhat overblown self image won't even play at a fantasy which could overcome those odds.

"I..." he says, apologetically before Kay pushes a finger to his lips.

"Just shut up and wait."

As for Mia, the brief discussion draws her attention to the other pair as well. She has the sense to not draw any extra attention to herself but still takes copious amounts of mental notes on all three of the deadly creatures. Time passes, less than one might expect, before it becomes safe to travel once more. The human and his faithful companion continue on their path. the brown furred feline pounces at something beneath the view of the mice, promptly loses interest and rushes off in the opposite direction, and as for the bird, it simply flies off, as birds do.

"I'm sorry. I just thought..." Fred says, still in a low voice.

"You thought what? That you'd have some big story to tell you friends back home? That you were rack up some of those experience point things?" Kay growls. "I swear, you men are all the same. Any excuse to engage in violence you'll take, never for a moment thinking that it will turn out badly."

"I'm sure he was just considering our options. There's no need to be angry, everything turned out fine." Mia says. "Oh, and I'm sorry, too. I forgot myself and didn't even think to take cover."

Kay sighs. "It's fine." she says to Mia before turning back to Frederich. "Look, I'm sorry too, it's just that... well, Amon and the others, they didn't need to fight that dark lord. I just wanted to wait for it to leave, but they, they insisted we could win, and then..."

"No, no, you're completely right." the male mouse sighs. "There's no sense taking any unnecessary risks. If we run into a situation where we need to fight, we'll fight, but until then we should play it safe. It won't happen again."

Kay simply nods her head, continuing towards the green light. As for Mia, she's still dumbfounded by the sight, and while she had no real desire to engage in battle does regret the fact that she couldn't get a closer look. The grass begins to thin out and another road is visible, along with the sounds of traffic in the distance. In time they reach a foot path, the same one the feline dark lord had travelled upon, and come across a grisly sight: a mangled bird, no larger than the mice. A victim of the passing dark lord which the beast immediately lost interest in. They move past the carcass without a word. All three of them wonder if the growing numbers of animals about is a sign that they are close to their destination, as before it felt as though they were trekking through barren wilderness. Kay in particular thinks this, but her naturally pessimistic nature makes her fear the worst. Unfortunately, she proves to be right.

The three reach the top of grassy hill looking downwards. Frederich and Mia, of course, see nothing special, but as for Kay, she sees the expected green light only now it doesn't appear in the distance. It still stretches up into the far sky, but the base of clearly visible. The problem is where the base is located: encompassing a large, box-like building which humans continuously enter and exit from.