Today officially marked the fourth day since the eight exiles had been cast into the Nether Lands.

The realization felt somehow strange...

Only three days had passed, yet to each of them, it felt as though weeks had gone by. Because within that short span of time, a lot of things had happened.

They had fought Wights, survived an encounter with a twisted Drake, destroyed a Sauryean’s Breeding Nest, battled Scaled Wights, fought against Winged Wights, escaped the grasp of five horrifying monstrosities, and only yesterday, four members of their group had nearly lost their lives fighting a Rank One Anima.

Thinking back on everything that had happened, it almost felt impossible. Most Awakeners would have considered surviving even one of those encounters an achievement.

And the fact that they had endured all if them within a matter of days made it feel even more absurd.

Then again, if there was one thing the Nether Lands was not known for, it was mercy; because this realm seemed determined to remind its inhabitants that survival was never guaranteed...

Morning arrived much like every other ones... Or at least, what passed for mornings within this cursed place.

The crimson heavens overhead remained unchanged; there was no rising sun, no golden dawn creeping across the horizon, and no gentle warmth heralding the arrival of a new day.

Instead, it was the usual dull haze blanketing the sky brightening slightly that was enough to inform them that another day had begun...

After yesterday’s battle against the Anima and the discovery of the mysterious temple hidden above the waterfall, Veyrath had spent most of the day healing the Injured members of the group.

The remaining time had been dedicated to more discussion as Regaleon fully informed the other four about everything they had discovered within the ruined sanctuary.

Kaeloris had also explained the existence of the underground intersection and the three tunnels branching from it. One had led to the ruined temple, but the other two remained unexplored...

And eventually, after much deliberation, the group had arrived at a conclusion. For now, the temple could wait and before investigating it further, they first needed to understand what existed within the other tunnels.

And this was exactly why all eight of them currently found themselves walking through darkness once more...

The tunnel stretched endlessly ahead, rough stone walls enclosed them from both sides while shadows gathered beyond the reach of Kaeloris’ Lantern.

Just like yesterday, the passage remained dry with pebbles littering the ground and several cracks marring the walls.

The group walked through it, maintaining the same formation the Forgotten Knight told them about; Regaleon walked at the front, Vaelorin occupied the right flank, Aureleah remained to the left, and Valmyr guarded the rear.

Meanwhile, the noncombatants stayed within the center of the formation...

The failed Gnost held his Soul Essence aloft, its warm glow pushing back the darkness pressing against them from every direction.

"Seriously guys..." Veyrath’s stuttering voice suddenly echoed through the tunnel.

The failed Alchemist kept on glancing over his shoulder, then toward the ceiling, then toward the darkness beyond the Lantern’s light...

His excessive movements would have appeared comical under normal circumstances, but unfortunately nobody laughed as they all wondered what the bozo was up to now.

"I know I’ve genuinely said this before..." He continued, lowering his voice slightly. "But this place actually freaks me out."

Hearing that, Vaelorin also rubbed both of his arms before releasing a small shudder.

"You aren’t the only one. And that’s rich coming from someone who had walked through this place yesterday." He added.

"See..." Veyrath pointed at the failed Pyromancer. "Even he understands my sentiment."

Caelestra rolled her eyes slightly. "Honestly, you two really have to stop behaving like crybabies. You are adults, so grow up."

After saying that, she folded her arms before turning toward Kaeloris and asked.

"So, how much further? I mean, we have been walking for quite a while now."

The failed Gnost adjusted his glasses before replying.

"To be precise, we’ve been walking for approximately twelve minutes and some seconds now. Based on our pace and the duration of our previous journey through the tunnel, I estimate that we should arrive at the end of this passage within the next three to five minutes."

"Whoa! Hold on for a minute..." Valmyr suddenly spoke. "Do you mean to tell me that you were seriously counting the seconds we’ve spent walking?"

Kaeloris simply shrugged. "Yes. Or how else do you think I estimated the distance?"

Valmyr gave him an odd look before shaking his head.

"Well, that’s truly weird." He muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, Sylveris had been looking around curiously. Through most of their walk, the younger girl had been quietly observing the tunnel with her silver eyes.

Eventually, she tilted her head and spoke softly. "You know... I’ve been wondering something. None of you mentioned who built all of these during your explanations."

Then she gestured toward the walls around them and asked. "So, who do you think dug out this tunnel?"

Her question was directed at no one in particular, but the silver-haired Knight took it upon himself to answer.

"It’s probably the same people who built the temple." He stated as a matter of fact.

"Yeah. No kidding, genius." Vaelorin groaned, then he spread both hands dramatically. "I mean, that is literally the most obvious answer possible."

Sylveris laughed softly. "Okay then..." She turned toward the failed Pyromancer and asked. "So who do you think built the temple?"

Vaelorin was dumbfounded, and for several moments, he found himself unable to answer the question. Then he simply scratched his head before whispering.

"I don’t know..."

"Wow, you are also a genuis." Sylveris said sweetly, but her silver eyes showed a completely different emotion.

The failed Pyromancer felt a furious blush creep up his cheek while Veyrath glanced at him empathetically. Clearly, the failed Alchemist understood very well the sensation he was feeling now...

Suddenly, Kaeloris decided to help Vaelorin out of his awkward state as he spoke up.

"Actually, none of us have an idea. Sure, we found murals, a statue, and ruined architecture, but none of those things helped us identify the people that created them."

He adjusted his glasses once more as he continued. "But what I can say for certain is that whoever those people were, they possessed considerable resources."

Sylveris was intrigued. "Oh. And why did you say that?"

Kaeloris maintained a thoughtful silence for a heartbeat before replying.

"Constructing a temple of the size we saw requires manpower. Also excavating tunnels of this scale requires even more. These kind of resources aren’t something a person could fund alone. Instead, it would be the work of an organization... Or better still, an entire civilization."

His suggestion settled heavily upon the group as they considered it carefully...

Then Veyrath, in his infinite frowardness, decided to ruin the atmosphere. "Well, those things doesn’t matter anymore cause they are already extinct so why worry about them?"

Then he pointed toward the silver-haired Knight. "Instead, what we really have to worry about is why we are suddenly following Regaleon on another expedition again. Have we all forgotten what usually happens when he leads us to some place?"

"Aetherium... Would you stop your whining. You’re making my head ached." Caelestra rebuked, rubbing her forehead.

Veyrath looked offended as he turned toward her. "Well, forgive me for being the concerned one. I’m merely trying to protect us."

"Protect whom? You aren’t even capable of keeping yourself safe, much less, talk about protecting us." Caelestra said mockingly.

Valmyr let out a loud laugh before adding.

"She’s right Veyrath. When will you learn to fight like a real man?"

"Excuse me..." Veyrath gasped horribly. "I’m merely seventeen years old, so..."

"That makes you a man already." The failed Vanguard quipped.

"No, it doesn’t." Veyrath retorted.

They were just about to engage further in their bickering when Regaleon’s voice interrupted them.

"Enough! We’re here..."