I was led out of the temple. Five guards escorted me, along with Eli, through stone steps and into a cobbled street. The city I found myself in was, to say the least, amazing. I never thought I’d see an underground city. It never even occurred to me that they existed. The temple was perhaps its most outstanding building. I didn’t have the luxury of time to stop and look at it though.

I was led through a plaza with a large marble fountain in the middle. Strange, multicolored flowers surrounded a green garden in which marble benches were neatly placed. The three tailed fox was depicted quite realistically on the fountain too.

Jets of cold water left his three tails to fall into the fountain, and around it. I shivered as the cold liquid landed on my forehead when we passed by the giant water source. The animal’s red eyes were two large oblong rubies.

“Move,” a guard grunted at me then hit me with the hilt of his spear. I couldn’t detach my eye from the fox that saved me from Eva’s possession.

‘This is quite the view, isn’t it?’

‘Speak of the devil,’ I mentally replied. ‘Where did you go?’

‘I let you have your reunion in peace,’ Eva said. ‘I didn’t feel any ill intent coming from him either. I preferred to stay out of it.’

‘What a considerate empress,’ I joked.

‘My consciousness says I’m an empress,’ Eva retorted. ‘But everything else says I’m part of you now.’

‘Not entirely though,’ I said.

‘Well, you’d better get to work then,’ Eva said.

‘Miss our meetings?’ I teased.

‘I don’t think you have the energy for it,’ she retorted.

‘We’ll see about that, after I get some sleep.’

‘Let’s hope they don’t make it eternal,’ Eva said. She had to go and remind me of the possibility of death.

‘I’m used to being in danger,’ I said. ‘When was the last time I wasn’t running away from death?’

Eva chuckled. ‘If all goes well, you might have to face it this time.’

‘Here’s hoping,’ I said.

I felt cheerful. It was perhaps the atmosphere around this underground city. It may have been built underneath the ground, but it was luminous. Remember those glowing mushrooms on cave walls? Imagine them now bigger, larger.

Imagine a jelly fish, sparkling in the water, swimming upward as it beat its thin tentacles. Then give it a mushroom shape and leave the tentacles hanging. These were the source of light in this city. They floated everywhere. Some had an orange-red glow to them. Others had a bright blue glow. Each district was differentiated by the color each giant, floating mushroom emitted, or so I guessed anyway.

We reached a building on top of which a mushroom with thin tentacles nested. This one emitted a dark blue light. I was asked to stand before the marble stairs that led inside. The door to the building was closed. There were some runes etched on a marble board on top. I figured they meant Chief House or something of the sort.

I heard the guard, whose spear almost pierced me earlier, speak in a harsh tone. Their foreign language had barbaric feel to it. In other words, there was too much rolling of the “r” and some explosive sounds too. The door creaked open. Eli was led in first. I was asked, quite aggressively, to stay put and wait.

I took the opportunity to look around some more. I had forgotten about the narrow tunnels and dark caves now. This place had a majestic feel to it. It felt serene too, peaceful. It felt as though the earth had moved aside and allowed for a big sphere, the size of a castle, with its inner and outer walls, to form. I could hear water rippling somewhere in the distance.

Everywhere I looked, I saw high marble walls and glowing mushrooms. There was a spot, far away in the distance, that had some sunlight, pouring in from an unseen hole above ground.

I suddenly felt as though someone, or something, was watching me. I turned around to see a cloaked, tall creature advance toward me. It had red glowing eyes that pierced through my soul. It felt as though this person, or creature, immediately knew who I was, and what I was doing there.

“You bear a gift of power,” the creature said. It had a hoarse voice, similar to that of the Sebyan I met in the temple.

I nodded. There was no need to hide it from this one. I felt as though he knew everything. He just wanted to hear me say the truth.

“You know your purpose then,” he said. He rolled his “r” pretty harshly. His “t” was accentuated, sounding almost like a rough “d”.

“Is this where the fox lives?” I asked. I couldn’t help but think of all the symbols I saw around the city, and in their books in Lemien’s tower.

“This is up to you to find out,” the cloaked Sebyan said. “Survive your trial first,” he went on, “then come and see me. Remember what you heard the day you received your gift.”

The cloaked Sebyan kept staring at me for an uncomfortable period of time, then turned on his heels and left me standing, facing the steps. The door creaked open a few heartbeats later and I was asked to come in.

I climbed the stairs, thinking of what he’d just told me. The way he looked at me was unnerving. I didn’t like the feeling I got from it. He also spoke of trial and survival. I sighed. I really couldn’t catch a breath. All I wanted was to lie down somewhere and sleep.

I got inside. Fire crackled in the middle of the hall I was admitted to. A large kettle hung above it. Warm smell of boiling broth invaded my nostrils, and caused my mouth to water involuntarily. My stomach growled and protested. I had to chase the thought of warm food away.

A dozen Sebyan stood above. I was in a long hall meant for tribe meetings. They all stood in front of tall chairs and turned to look at me the moment I got in. They wore multicolored wool robes. Their hoods were drawn, hiding their faces. Their long sleeves hid their crossed arms. They observed me with keen eyes, which all glowed yellow.

“Come forward, human,” one of the cloaked Sebyan said. “Let us have a closer look at your face.”

I approached the observing committee. I made sure I held my chin high and puffed my chest. The previous encounter with that warrior told me the Sebyan didn’t like weakness. I walked past the delicious smelling broth and into the torchlight. I felt like I was standing in court, awaiting judgment from people who stood a good three feet above me.

I heard their murmurs as I stood before them, pausing as I looked at each one of them. I couldn’t understand what they said, but I could read their tones. They definitely did not like me. I caught a glimpse of Eli, standing behind the Sebyan in the middle.

“What is your purpose from coming here?” the one in the middle asked.

“I heeded the call,” I said. The idea came to me almost instantly. It was perhaps because of that Sebyan earlier. He reminded me of a song I’d almost forgotten.

“What call?” another one asked. I could tell this one was female. Her voice was slightly gentler than the ones I’ve heard so far.

“Seek us where the land meets the seas, where the dead come to mourn, where the living come to hunt,” I said. I was referring to the song I first heard when I received the Fragment of time. It was a long shot, but I hoped it would do the job.

The cloaked Sebyan exchanged glances. The one in the middle, the chief I assumed, removed his cloak. This one had a long brown, braided beard that extended to his chest. His long hair was braided and tied backwards. The side of his head was clean shaven though. Two small horns protruded from his forehead, adding to his intimidating lower fangs.

“Finish the song,” the chief urged me.

“Accept this gift, speak the forbidden truth! Stay off the beaten path, seek the fox that plays the luth,” I said.

“What’s the forbidden truth?” the chief asked.

“I’ve already spoken it,” I replied. “I’m not about to repeat it to strangers, whom I thank for not killing me by the way.”

“Have you ever met the fox?” the chief asked.

“This is stupid,” another cloaked Sebyan said. I could tell he was a male from his harsh voice. “Anyone can repeat a stupid song!”

“Have you ever met the fox?” the chief repeated his question then shot a warning glance at the cloaked Sebyan.

“Yes,” I answered.

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing,” I answered. “He just hit me on the head a couple of times.”

The chief threw his head backwards and laughed. His voice boomed across the hall while his brethren watched in brooding silence.

“Give this man a room and a hot meal. See to his wounds too. I’ll come and talk to you later.”

I thanked the chief for his trust. My lips curled into an involuntary smile. I didn’t think things would go that smoothly with them. Then I remembered Lemien and how I was easily led to believe he was a naïve schmuck, if I may steal Eva’s words here.

Two guards came to escort me and I turned to follow. The Sebyan I left behind me were arguing quite vehemently. I caught a short glimpse of Eli who winked at me.

My nose tickled at the scent of warm broth. I rubbed the bridge of my nose, calming my stomach and urging it to be a little more patient. I felt the tickling get more intense. Then I sneezed. The hall grew silent. I lifted my head to look at the guards whose eyes expressed utter terror.

“What’s the meaning of this?” the Sebyan who protested earlier screamed.

“I just sneezed,” I said. “It’s probably just the dust, or the smell of warm food.”

I sneezed again, and again. This wasn’t helping. For some reason I couldn’t understand, my sneezing scared the living daylight out of these people.

“Cover your noses and mouths!” the chief ordered. “Take him to prison and send that human healer to see him!”

“What?” I protested. “I’m fine!” The “n” I was supposed to pronounce came out as a “d”. Did I really catch a cold? Was I sick?

“No!” the one who first protested against me yelled. “Kill him now! Burn him! We can’t allow him to contaminate our people!”