Chapter 85

When the sun had set, and the birdfolk returned, Zynis and the others began to move . They would split into four groups and search the area around the lake .

While it was night, there were boats floating on the water, and torches that used magic stones reflected brightly on the surface .

On the side of the lake that was opposite to the villa, there were steep cliffs . And just like the mirror lake in the dwarf lands, there were caves where the water seemed to be pouring from . However, the cliffs were not too high, so you would be able to climb them from the other side and get a good view of the surrounding area, including the town and villa .

Zynis was currently standing on top of the cliff . The air that blew from the lake moved his ash-colored fur .

“My first form feels the best for this place . I see . It’s important to know which skin to inhabit . ”

He said as he pointed his nose windward . If Dilon were there, he would have muttered, ‘That’s not what I was trying to say…also, you may think that you sound cool when you say that, but you really don’t . ’

“However, this side of the lake is clearly thicker with miasma . I didn’t notice it during the day . But we’re much farther from the Shadow World now that we’re inland . So it should be thinner than it was in Midland . ”

Zynis sniffed in different directions .

“Hmm . This way . ”

He headed to the north side of the cliffs where the lake ended . There were several small caves here as well . There was one cave that you would be able to enter from the ground, and there were four soldiers guarding the entrance . Two soldiers blocked the cave . And two guarded it from a short distance away . He could feel the miasma coming from the rocks of the cliff .

“It’s strange that there are guards here at all . Why are they protecting this cave? Hmm . ”

Then the guards turned and seemed to be looking inside . At the same time, a small group of people approached them . They were dwarves who were escorted by soldiers . As Zynis continued to watch, a group of dwarves and soldiers went inside the cave as another group came out .

“Father . ”

“Dilon . ”

Dilon approached him quietly .

“There’s a dwarf settlement over there . ”

“A settlement?”

“It’s a short distance away from the town . There are only about ten houses, maybe . It doesn’t seem like they are being forced to stay there, but isn’t it strange that there are enough dwarves here to create a settlement?”

“Look . ”

Zynis indicated towards the cave .

“Ah! I see . They are being made to work then . But I’ve never heard of ore being mined inland . ”

What Dilon was saying was true . It wasn’t that the human territories had no natural resources at all . But they had no problem leaving the mining and smithing to the dwarves, since they were so skilled at it .

“They seem really exhausted . Dilon . Go and follow them . ”

“Got it . ”

Dilon disappeared quietly .

Zynis stayed up and watched the cave for the whole night . But aside from the dwarves and soldiers leaving after a few hours, nothing else changed . However, even when the cave should have been empty, there were still four soldiers guarding the entrance .

When he returned to the first spot in the morning, the others were all gathered there and had returned to their first form . Zynis also transformed and asked them to make their reports .

“I’ll start . ”

Ortha began .

“I tried walking through the town once everyone was asleep . I didn’t notice anything strange . If I had to point out one thing, it would be that I barely smelled any grilled fish, in spite of being so close to the lake . ”

“Hmm . Next . ”

Zynis said as he nodded at the brisk report .

“My turn . ”

Corete said .

“I mainly watched the lake . There were so many lights on the boats . I knew there had to be something . ”

“So?”

Zynis urged him to continue .

“Half the time they watched the water, the other half they watched the sky . ”

“And what was there to watch?”

“I don’t know why they were watching the sky . However, I found out why they were watching the water . ”

Corete looked serious .

“No . ”

“Zynis . I don’t know what you are thinking, but I’m sure you’re wrong . They were looking for the merfolk . ”

“The merfolk…”

It wasn’t unthinkable . After all, the lake was supposed to be connected to the sea . There were always rumors about people seeing merfolk .

“And how did you know there were merfolk?”

“Because I saw them . ”

“You did?”

“Their heads came out of the water . But the humans didn’t notice them . ”

“What? They are so stupid . ”

If the merfolk were stupid for poking their heads out when there were guards on the water, then the guards were even more stupid for not noticing them . Zynis looked a little exasperated .

“So much for being careful when going to the mirror lake . ”

Dilon said . He was about to say more when Ortha interrupted him .

“So, Corete . There is more, isn’t there?”

“Yes . It seemed like the merfolk were interested in the villa . Of course, there were even more lights over there, and they could not get close . ”

“But merfolk will walk on the land like it’s nothing . Just like birdfolk can live in the sky and on land, the merfolk can live in the sea and on land . There is probably something they want to do, if only they could get out of the lake . ”

Kleo, who hadn’t been part of the night reconnaissance, said .

“What’s happening…”

“Before we start speculating, it’s your turn, Dilon . ”

Dilon looked surprised and then straightened his posture .

“I checked the area behind the town . And I discovered a small dwarven settlement . There appeared to be a family living in each house, because I saw children . We think they are working in the cave near the lake, but we don’t know what they are doing exactly . ”

“Merfolk and dwarves . Is this really inland?”

Ortha looked puzzled .

“I was watching the cave . Soldiers and dwarves went in and out, but I wasn’t able to learn anything other than the fact that they were guarding the entrance . ”

Zynis said . Then he looked towards the lake .

“Also, the miasma is very thick here . ”

The others nodded .

“Now, this is not enough information to take back with us . What are the merfolk trying to do? What is happening in the town? We need to investigate this further . ”

Zynis decided their direction .

“Corete, Ortha, Dilon . You all go to the nearest town and disguise yourselves as merchants and then return . You can conduct your business while you investigate . ”

The three nodded .

“I and two of the birdfolk will stay here and continue to search . I want to see if I can talk to the merfolk during the night . ”

The birdfolk nodded . However, they seemed a little restless .

“What is it?”

“Would you mind if we went out a little farther during reconnaissance?”

“Of course . It would look strange if you just flew here all day . ”

“Good . It looks like there is going to be a complicated wind current . I want to go and check it out . ”

“Uh, right . Very well . ”

Kaela seemed very excited about it, but Zynis looked a little disturbed . But birdfolk would always be birdfolk, regardless of their color .

“Well, until tonight, then . ”

Everyone moved in order to fulfill their role . This was the morning of the day that Maki and Chiharu reached Lowland .