After a long moment occupied with the two parties simply staring at each other, Kestra stepped forward. Thanks for your help, she said. Do you know a safe place where we can spend the night?

The two Black Mages looked at each other, then back at her. Neither said a word.

...We don't mean you any harm, Kestra continued. We're just passing through, and we'd like to live through the night.

Again, the two Black Mages looked at each other. Then, one nodded. Then, the other nodded, turned back to her, and stepped forward.

You speak, it said. Like this.

It was strange; as the Mage's mouth was completely invisible, the voice seemed to come out of nowhere. It was an odd voice as well, with an inflection which the others couldn't quite identify, as though it were coming from a long distance away but yet was perfectly audible.

Kestra glanced back to the others. she said.

You're human. It paused. I mean, not like us. Not Mages.

...That's a little complicated, Kestra replied. But you're right; we're not like you.

Are you soldiers? asked the first, speaking for the first time. Its voice seemed a bit lower than the other one, but the effect was not pronounced. From the grassy land up North?

Not even close, said Aster. Look, I can guess why you'd be a bit suspicious, but do we really look like any kind of army? Like she said, we just want a place to stay the night where the Beasts won't kill us.

The first Black Mage looked at Linnis. She wears the same clothes as them. She can use Magic, like them.

She's different, Aster said. Trust me.

Linnis looked at him, frowning. He didn't notice.

You've been to the lands up North? asked the second Black Mage. What are they like?

I'd be happy to tell you whatever you want to know, said Kestra, but some of us are hurt, and we'd like to get out of here before the Beasts come back.

Why did you come here? it asked. There was no hostility in its tone; it seemed to be genuinely curious.

We're running away, said Gavin. we're not going to hurt you.

Away from who?

The first Black Mage stepped forward, looking at its companion. The second looked at him, and they simply stood for a moment staring at each other. Then, the first one nodded. Then, the second one nodded, and both of them looked back to the five companions.

We will take you to our village, it said. You can spend the night there.

Thank you, said Kestra.

It's this way, said the Black Mage, and it turned around the way it had come.

The light of the Black Mages' staffs provided just enough illumination for the cliffs around them to be visible, cast with long shadows which wavered as they walked in a slightly foreboding manner, as was slightly discomforting to look at. None of them managed to keep track of which way the Black Mages led them, or whether they were going up or down; they simply followed the bobbing lights and straw-hatted figures in front of them.

How much farther? asked Gavin eventually. It seemed like they had been walking already for the better part of an hour.

The Black Mage who had spoken first glanced back at him. What do you mean?

Some of us are hurt. I was wondering how much longer it would be before we got to your village.

It seemed to think for a moment. It's not as far as you've walked already.

...Okay. Thanks. There was a pause. ...So what's your name?

The Black Mage looked at him again.

Yeah. What do people call you? Like, I'm Gavin. This is Aster. She's Kestra.

The Black Mage was silent for a moment. I don't understand.

Gavin and Aster looked at each other. What's with these guys? Aster asked quietly.

I wouldn't guess they'd have much contact with outsiders, said Kestra.

No kidding. That explain why they're invisible?

They're Black Mages, said Darren.

...Does that explain why they're invisible?

This is the place, announced the second Black Mage.

Before anyone replied with the universal thought that the rock walls flanking them now looked identical to those which they had seen for the entirety of their time in the Highlands. However, the Black Mages led them around a corner in the ravine, and they suddenly found themselves looking out upon one of the strangest sights they had encountered so far.

The walls widened outwards to form a small valley, at whose sides they sloped upwards at a relatively gentle incline for much of the way. Built into these walls were a series of roads and stairs, creating a tiered appearance within which were placed large, man-sized holes far to regular and smooth to be the entrances to natural caves. A small river flowed through the valley bottom, apparently running down from someplace deeper in the Highlands; and a pair of small bridges had been built across it. Illumination came from a number of poles set about the settlement, on which were set glowing crystals much like those in the Black Mages' staffs. There were a few others who looked like the Black Mages — right down to the clothes and hats — and they began to gather around the new arrivals, looking with an attitude resembling curiosity, as best as the others could read it.

For some time, the Black Mages simply stood there, looking at each other, then at the newcomers, then back to each other. It was their way of doing this while being absolutely silent, avoiding even the rustle of clothes, which seemed the most odd.

Remember that time when we accidentally ran into the Wind Shrine? Aster asked quietly, although his voice still resounded in the quiet of the night.

Gavin nodded. That's not the sort of thing I'll be forgetting for a long time, he said.

This feels sort of like that. Except way weirder.

Finally, the first Black Mage who had spoken to them turned around, and spoke again, his soft, neutral voice seeming to fit in much better with the silence of the village. You can stay here, he said. The crystals keep the Beasts away.

Thank you, said Kestra.

Are you going to wish to sleep?

That would be nice, Aster said, realizing that he had been awake for quite a long time, and it was by now well into nighttime.

Very well, said the Black Mage. We won't disturb you until morning.

And all the Black Mages turned and walked away, returning to whatever it was they had been doing. The five travelers looked at each other.

I'm guessing they don't have a hotel, said Gavin.

Doesn't look like it, agreed Kestra.

So should we just set up camp anywhere then?

We should pick someplace where we won't get in their way, said Darren.

And how are we going to know where that would be? asked Aster.

Let's try down by the river, said Kestra. The land's pretty much open there, and that looks like the biggest flat space we're going to find.

There were no objections, so they set to making camp in the middle of the village. None of the Black Mages seemed to object.

You know, I'm actually missing the trip to Delivert, Aster mused as he and Gavin tied down one corner of the tent. Back then, at least things were simple. Now, we've got Water Crystals and Black Mages and war zones, and whatever's going on down here, we're still right in the middle of it. I tell you, this is just going to get worse from here.

Gavin shrugged. Well, you know what they say. It's the bumps on the road that keep life interesting.'

I have got to find out which road they're taking.

Gavin smiled. You never know. Maybe that'll be us when this is all over.

Not a chance.