Seria narrows her eyes at me. But then she sighs dramatically.

"Back in the empire, saying that would get you drawn and quartered, boy." She says something scary.

"Mmmm... but I guess the inquisition is long gone." She taps her own cheek.

"In theory... this is forbidden knowledge. But... there was at least one Sage of Metal and one Sage of Void. They are... were... demons."

Aria, Kiku and Rishya look shocked.

But you know what, that is like the missing link, isn't it?

I've recently learnt Void spirits manipulate the dead.

Cultivator is a six armed necromancer dragon.

"So is Cultivator the Sage of Void?" I assemble my conclusion.

Arias mouth works like a fish, her eyes wide. I don't think she considered this.

"Fufufu... A logical conclusion, boy. I don't honestly know the answer, though." Seria laughs.

"I am not one for trifles and speculation, but there is a persistent rumour we sages are all descendants of demons." She continues.

Rishya sharply intakes a breath. She's clearly heard that one before. Seria cackles at this reaction.

"That is hodgepodge of course. But all rumours have a basis. The first sage was taught by the original dragon, Rah'lyah."

"What? But wasn't it Rah'lyah's children that..." Rishya queries.

"...Formed the demonic nations? Yes... Belthegor Seth'lew and Balthalsar Rolens'takar. The twin demon emperors of yore. They were apparently the offspring of Rah'lyah and Agon."

There is silence among the girls at this revelation. As an outsider looking in, I'm fairly sure this is probably because Seria's bomb dropping is rocking the boat of basic facts they gave likely been taught since childhood, especially the saintly types, Aria and Rishya.

"In any case. Enough boring history. Shall we proceed before these necrofires bloom?" Seria stretches like a cat, her neck chain clinking.

I should really ask about that chain at some point. It doesn't look like a comfortable fashion accessory, for sure.

But she's right. There are three potential ways from here, as the arena type formation is also a crossroads of sorts.

"There has been a battle here quite recently, yes?" Kaede proclaims, crouched whilst rubbing some of the dirt from the floor between her fingers.

She digs further at the earth patch that appears to have interested her, and pulls up a serrated black arrow by the quarrel.

"Eh wot? That's a scary looking arrow." Kiku exclaims.

"It was impaled quite far in the ground. And then there is a small splatter of fresh blood just here." Kaede says, pointing.

"Not to mention... these are probably dead skeleton knights. Someone is fighting down here indeed." Aria contributes.

Now I am less distracted by the plinth, it is pretty obvious to pick up the same signs the girls are. The floor is like a loose dirt, and even though us tramping in has disrupted proceedings, there is clearly plenty of footprints from either a dance-off or a battle.

Whilst challenging skeletons to a necrodancer battle humorously reminds me of a certain game, it's almost certainly the latter.

I try to follow the path of the footprints a few times, but all the layers just lead me to confusion. I don't think professional tracker is going to be in my job description any time soon (well, at least not without serious aid from the Multivultus Scientica, at any rate).

But strangely I do come across one slightly odd thing. I crouch and retrieve a long curly golden blonde hair from the ground.

"Is Rishya moulting at the moment?" I joke, twirling the hair as I hold it up.

"W-w-what!!? How dare you...! Nnn!" Rishya gives me a death glare, but then almost leaps at me and snatches the hair from my hand.

Woah, down girl!

"This!! This must be Yuuzu's!! She ~is~ here after all!!" She breathes a sigh of relief.

I don't know how she can be so sure at a glance. But I guess it is a similar shade of resplendent golden blonde like her own, except longer and curlier.

"That's great, Rish, you can catch up after these last few months." Aria pats her on the shoulder.

Kaede has been following the prints like I did, and then pipes up.

"Appears the same three I noticed earlier, yes? They went down the left intersection."

Should we follow? I guess that would keep Rishya happy as we can confirm or deny the presence of her cousin.

Suddenly there is a rumble and a bloodcurdling roar from the left.

"The skull beast?!" Aria exclaims.

"From... the left... NO!!" Rishya shouts. She drops the hair, grabs Michael, and dashes towards the noise.

Kiku stops her, however.

"Let me go! Yuuzu could be there!" She squeals, flailing ineffectually against Kiku's strength.

Aria looks to me. Well, I'm not such a bastard to leave something like this. I nod.

Aria dashes over and slaps the hysterical Rishya.

Rishya looks shocked that her best friend has just done this.

"Rish. Running off and getting yourself killed won't help her. We will all go." Aria explains.

"Of course. Let's hurry." I confirm, patting the still shocked Rishya on the head. She blushes and looks away.

We fall back into formation and start to run.