"The three of you will need a fast mount to reach your goal. But the Silver Mane and Pegasus cannot accomplish such a feat without suffering the dangerous miasma. I know it, it impossible." The Head Shrine shakes his head in defeat.

But Harold only raised his eyebrows and pointed his finger on the fort icon.

"No, we didn't need to go that far. We move this way." Harold finger slid his finger on the map with a straight line and ended to the black castle. Surprising three of them, who has followed Harold's finger.

The Head Shrine twitched while blowing a deep sigh.

"Look here, O' my child, Harold… This is the Chasm of Dead! How can you past here when any avian creature would dead even when they flying high on top of this place!" He snapped and yelled at Harold as he tapping at the middle of the Fort and the Black castle, an unshaped hole that giving a red smoke.

This place was the dangerous area that will kill everything. Like the abyss, it will make the one who dares to take a peek goes to the hell. The miasma on this hole was so potent that it still affecting a bird who flying high in the sky. Make it fall and be devoured by this hole. Griffin or Pegasus would reject to fly in this area. How do they go to the other side of the hole? Jumping?

When Shirley and Roland hear the Head Shrine worried shout did their face turned pale, so that is why the Head Shrine suggested the two roads and ignoring the ‘easy' way to move straight.

"Calm down calm down. I know about that, but this is the fastest route to reach the dark castle."

‘Then-' Before the Head Shrine can open his mouth to Harold word, Harold already speaking his plan.

"Look closely. If we move this way, we would only have to overcome 3 dangers to reach the goals. First is this." Harold pointed at the icon beside the forts, it was an icon of 5 house, like a village.

"This is the only village and was used as a signal post, which is also a place for the explorer and soldiers to check the surrounding. It was the crucial place used to notify us when the attack from the Darkness started. But until now there is no messenger come to report. We have to check it and make sure this location is safe. Then…" When Harold said this, the expression of understanding can be seen from the three of people. They also know that this village was filled with veteran soldiers and excellent explorer that scouting the area. And Harold is true as there is no message from that village.

They paled thinking something bad must be happening to this village. Then they hear the word of Harold as he slid again his finger on the map.

"This is the next thing for us to check. The previous Forest of Moon Treant was showing some abnormality. I received a report that the dead tree was turned into Hollow Treant and under control of something. If this continued, it would gather an army and attack this fort."

Harold's voice trembled when he explaining this place on the map, a black tree icon. This time the pale face of people turned white as their eyes also opened wide. Moon Treant was a tree that gained intelligent after the Mother Tree given them the Moon mana, They are famous from the legend of their ability to walking on the ground by uprooting and their thick bark is stronger that the iron. Actually, they are a gentle race that liked peace than war, but after the Queen of Darkness madness thousand years ago this race was annihilated and as the Mother tree withered, this race turned into a dead tree.

Hollow Treant was the monster that copied after the normal Treant and naturally was weaker than the real. However as weak as it is, even then their power was terrible for Humanity. So, if by any chance the ancestor of the Treant, the Moon Treant turned into Hollow Treant, this threat will be a real danger.

"And the next is this Chasm of Dead." Harold finger then pointed at the place that they speak as a hell gate.

"The report I last received was, the thick miasma in this place started to thinning. So this is the right time to check it, and by the chance, we should also go to the other side of this Chasm. We would become the first to pass this Hell Gate." Harold finished speaking plan and leaning his back to the chair rest and folded his hands.

Hearing the planned way that Harold suggested, the three people, The Head Shrine, Shirley, and Roland fell in deep thought while keeping their eyes on the map. Harold suggestion sure rings some bell on their mind and it was shorter than the previous two roads that the Head Shrine suggested. But why does it still something missing with this road that looked straight and shorter?

The long road but easy to pass, or the short road, the road with high risk but the result can be seen to help the Humanity.

Their mind only thought about the pros and cons of the three roads they must take. However, they never ask about the ‘report I receive' part that Harold was said.

The Head Shrine is in dilemma, the road Harold suggested sure is short and if by luck nothing goes wrong, they can arrive really fast. But he sure that nothing in this world can be done smoothly, especially the Queen of Darkness, for a thousand of years she was defeated and sealed. He believes that she will also grow stronger and she will plan ahead of time to make sure the Child of Fate will fail. He afraid he would lose his precious girl that he already thought as his own daughter.

He is afraid if the Queen of Darkness only giving this to lure them and trap them for eternity because of her hatred and deep grudge of Humanity.

"Right. How about our mean of transportation? Silver Mane, Pegasus or Griffin?"

However, like not knowing the Head Shrine distress, Roland asked Harold about the transportation of this journey.

Roland meaning about the transport was to the road of the middle. The population already knew that the Child of Fate already promised to seal the Queen of Darkness in a month, thanks to the certain person confidence. So he must finish it like the promised, so the middle road was the best.

For the mount, he has one that he proud of. One of the races of Silver Mane, the strongest horse with a silver hair. Their leg was stronger than a normal horse and their loyalty is top notch.

As he thought that he cannot mount the Pegasus or the Griffin he hopes Harold would choose the Silver Mane, But Harold faces irritated Roland as his smile is filled with scheme and tricks.

"We don't need any mount. They also a hindrance. You better prepare your beloved mount to wait for you at home to serve you as a mount to show your dignity later!"

With that, Harold laughed like a villain and make the three people to smiled wryly seeing him like that. Especially Shirley, as she was the one knowing Harold the most, she knew that Harold who was weak always make an advanced plan to defeat the bully that once tries to pick a fight with her. So she believes at the crying boy that she remembers now was grown up into a splendid man.

"Doesn't need a mount? So what will we do?" Roland was not like Shirley, he wants a complete understanding and to know his plan before decided.

"I will tell you later, You don't need to bring one. Just shoulder your bag and meet me at the gate tomorrow morning. We need to prepare our need and say your goodbye to your friends and the one you love."

However, Harold shrugged his shoulder and didn't answer Roland question. He glanced at Shirley when he said ‘told your goodbye' which she answer with a nod.

Seeing like the briefing ended as Harold was the one to make a suggestion and taking the lead of the conversation, a feeling of lonely filled the Head Shrine heart as he sighed. He turns his head to see beyond the window of the second floor of this room that is the guest room on the Holy Shrine, the previous orange sky now turned dark as the star filled the sky as if the sky was theirs. How does the situation be the same as this room?

"Alright then, I will prepare the item that you are needed. And Roland, please go to my room after this. All of you please rest and use this room as your own room. I need to write another report to the Majesty the King."

"Ah! Is that true!? Does Shirley also sleeping with us here?" Suddenly Harold excited voice can be heard after the Head Shrine speaks his word.

"Follow me, Shirley. I will guide you to your room. Rest your body." But of course, Harold was ignored as the Head Shrine already grabbed Shirley arm as he drags her away.