The Northern Region.

A grim expression darkened my features. For a while, no one said anything. Instead, we sat in silence, and all we could hear was the deafening sound of our own heartbeats. 

Their rhythmic thump, the only constant sound within the quiet.

In those moments, it felt as though even the dune structure and the surroundings had gone silent. The wind had stopped rustling, and the thundering footsteps of the nightmarish creatures below had come to a stop. Within the tense silence, I struggled to keep my calm. 

"Huk… Huk…" 

Even much more than that, it was proving more difficult to breathe. 

"Hah… Hah…"

Each inhalation felt like I was breathing in fire. And the more I pondered on the blind girl's insight, the deeper the scowl on my face became. 

After all, her insight already said it all. From the northern region being our only source of hope, perhaps, to it also being our path of doom. The circumstances surrounding its presence was rather overwhelming to say the least. On one hand, we were torn between going on with the path, and on the other hand… we feared and dreaded the fate we'd encounter should we do so.

'...Dammit! Just dammit!'

I scowled in annoyance.

"So, even with all we know, we are still going to head north, right?"

I turned to the source of the voice, and it was then that I took note of Aezel. He had a somber expression on his features, his eyes seeming to dim a little. Even his hair seemed to be a little… disheveled and ruffled.

…Right now, he looked no different from a zombie.

"..."

Perhaps a little bit much worse.

Mia turned to face Aezel. With a dark grimace, she said:

"We have no choice. North is the best shot we have got at finding other humans."

That… I couldn't refute. However, was it really worth it to venture on such a path, just for the little premise of meeting with other humans.

Or perhaps…

"The human acropolis held much more importance than I had previously thought."

However, 

A grim outlook crept up my features.

How great could a safe zone possibly be?

"True."

Aezel nodded, not able to refute her words. However, the darkness suffusing his pupils said enough.

Creak!

A tense silence crept in once again and for a while, we all said nothing. And to be honest, I really valued this quiet. Because, just like they were probably doing, I was also trying to sort through my mind in an attempt to figure out one or two things. 

"..."

Or rather, figure out the balance to this fucking divination. 

...With a dark expression, I pondered harder, and it was then that I took note, something I had taken note of earlier, but only stopped now to consider it in more minute details.

Based on what Mia said about the Human Acropolis, I had previously thought it has some random safe zone of sorts. But, what if it wasn't? W-What if it was a sure way ticket out of this hell?

And the reason as to why I came to this conclusion was rather simple?

Mia seemed eager, almost too eager, to reach this so-called Human Acropolis. And based on what I knew about her, very few things could trigger her to such an extent. Hence, I was more or less inclined to believe that this human acropolis held much more importance attached to it. Rather than it simply being a mere safe zone.

Also, based on the memories I found upon rummaging and sorting through the hundreds of memory fragments hidden in cracks and fissures within my mind.

"…It was just like I thought."

There was no way I wouldn't have, at the very least, a minute amount of information about a place with such great level of importance attached to it. 

'If I was correct, which I did believe I was, the Human Acropolis was some sort of safe citadel where one could find a gateway that leads one back to one's world.'

Based on that fact, it was safe to assume that the arcane trial encompassed within it, various arcanists from numerous other worlds. 

'...Crap!'

I would have been glad about this information. After all, the only thing I wanted desperately, more than any other thing was to leave this cursed and wretched land. And what better way than more fools to shield me from death?

However, based on Livia's vision and insight, it was pretty safe to assume that heading to the Human Acropolis would lead to our… doom. And the reason for that would be the Djinni I'd killed earlier.

'The one who was supposed to stay dead!'

My expression darkened at the thought. But with a dark grimace, I shrugged it off.

"On the bright side of things, life is always fair in its own wretched sense, and that is what I had come to learn of after my repeated encounters with death."

Indeed, we would die without a shadow of doubt should we encounter the dark shadow. But at the same time, it also presented to us, an opportunity. If we could somehow acheive the impossible, even if the chances of doing so were rather slim, then, we would certainly be able to leave this cursed and wretched land.

 And to me...

"This is a bet worth taking part in."

However, the only dark side to it is the dark shadow.

My face darkened at the thought.

...The only thing I can do now is hope that we don't meet this horrifying creature. At least, not until we are close to making it to the Human Acropolis.

Even when I knew that the chances of that happening was very low. But still, I had rather hold on to that, than wallow in despair and desperation.

And then... 

"Kekeke~"

I allowed a dark smile to creep up my face. 

Aezel upon seeing that felt his muscle tense up, his eyes lingering on Dean in a scrutinizing gaze.

"..."

"..." 

Why the fuck is the bastard still smiling in such a situation?

His hands twitched. However, he was too occupied with his own thoughts to even bother himself with the bastard.

With a light frown, he shrugged it off and said nothing. Mia as always, was cold and indifferent to the sudden change in Dean's attitude.

…Seeing that everywhere was silent. Unnaturally so. With the silence seemingly starting to gain sentient, creeping in and making every hair at the back of my neck stand on end. 

"..."

My expression paled as I stared at the others.

At least say something you idiots!

However, no one said anything. And, as time ticked by, it was clear as day that everyone was too bothered with their individual thoughts to even say anything. Or perhaps, they were waiting for someone to break the existing tension.

Alright, I will do that for us.

I grimaced. "Hmm alright."

With a dark expression, I turned to face the crimson haired lady. 

"So," I paused. "When do we leave?"

Mia turned to face me, eyes blazing with unwavering determination. Her gaze lingered on me for a few tense seconds or so, before her mouth opened as a soft, grim voice echoed through the darkness:

"Right about now."

I, however, stared at the sky and then back at Mia.

"B-ut."

I tried to refuse, after all…

"If we're to move right now, we can make it to the next dune structure before the dark mist comes gushing back."

The dark miss would soon stretch its fangs into the dark maze.

But she was right. However, that was only to a certain extent.

If we were to come across some really nasty creatures, then things wouldn't end so easily. And worse, we might not make it to the next dune structure in time.

…But alas, I knew we had no other choice.

'Fine! What could possibly go wrong?!'

I could only try to comfort myself. Sighing in exasperation, I knew I had no other choice but to keep quiet and follow her decision. After all, they more or less made sense. And…

Having known the threat linked to me, I couldn't possibly dare to journey alone.

Just the thought alone now sent chills down my spine. I knew just what would happen to anyone who traversed through this dark maze alone. There was only one certain fate that awaited such individuals. And that was:

Death!

And so, left with no other choice, I could only begrudgingly follow along as we began our descent down the dune structure. However, as we headed down, a deep sense of unease slowly started to creep in, intensifying with each step that I took down the ancient building. Somehow, I just couldn't shake off this deep feeling of dread and uneasiness that:

Today was going to be a rough one. 

But...

Flick! Creak!

...How rough could it possibly get?