And so, the group set out and soon arrived at the Ancient Museum, wiping out monsters along the way.
"Well, it looks like we're at the right place. The security here proves that." Nesma said as she spotted Beastfolk at the entrance.
"They might be able to let you guys through, no problem. But not us humans. We'll need to find another way inside." Galil said.
"Hmm… Look at this." Cheetah said as the group saw some cracks on one of the walls. "If we can tear down that wall, we might be able to get inside."
"Heh. Just leave it to me." Rayleigh grinned as he cracked his knuckles before he landed a powerful punch at the wall, crumbling it down.
"Nice punch, Ray!" Aoesia said.
"No doubt the Beastfolk have heard that. Let's get inside before we're caught." Esmeralda said as the group went through the hole in the wall.
They soon reached a room filled with statues, and after some messing around, they heard something open, and after solving a few puzzles, the open a chest to see a sort of cross-shaped tablet.
"Is this…a cross?" Azura asked.
"Look. There is something graved in it." Cheetah said.
"Yeah, but it's in another language. I can't understand it." Galil said.
"In that case, we should take it with us." Azura said.
"Yeah. Good idea." Luke said.
They traverse further into some kind of armory.
"Whoa… That's a lot of weapons." Belladonna said.
"Indeed. Though, they seem to only be used for decoration." Jade said.
"If that's the case, then hopefully no one will mind if we take them, right?" Zamazenta asked.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, though?" Rosalie asked.
"This museum seems to have been long abandoned. I don't think anyone passing by would mind if some of these weapons happen to be taken." Cheetah said.
The group stocked up on weapons and placed a stone staff from there onto a statue that seemed to be missing one. As soon as that was done, stairs of light appeared, leading them up above.
"Whoa… Check out those stairs." Matthew said.
"I wonder where these stairs actually lead." Glacius said.
"Well, only one way to find out." Valfor said.
The group climbed up the stairs all the way to the top. Upon reaching the end, they placed the tablet they found earlier in the pedestal on the ground. The staves in the room started to glow as beams of light hit the tablet.
"H-hey! Look, over there!" Azura pointed out, as they group then saw a picture of a plain on a sunny day, and indeed, just as Azura said back in town, the sky is blue in this picture. "See, Galil? I told you that it exists!"
"No way… That's the blue sky?" Galil asked.
"It's exactly how I imagined it would look!" Azura said. "I'm so jealous of our visitors right now. They probably see this kind of sight a lot."
"You have no idea. It's actually quite a peaceful sight on most days." Cheetah said.
"Now I am more determined than ever to see a sky like this one day!" Azura said. "And that ship… Is that the ship that can cross the Dark Current?"
"I'm not so sure I believe it, but…" Galil said. "With these guys all around us, I am willing to believe anything at this point. Besides, it looks just like Svalna. But it has a completely different feel to it."
It was at this moment that they heard footsteps.
"Be careful, we have company." Cheetah said.
"Hmm… Quite the ears you and some of your friends have on you. I'm impressed that you were able to sense my presence." the figure said as the group turns to him. "I may be a dullard with no talent for arts, but even I can appreciate the appeal of this picture. Although, it still smacks of primitive barbarians."
"And who, may we ask, do we have the pleasure of meeting?" Nesma asked.
"You may call be Grossa Radan. I am here to secure these ruins under Council decree." the man named Grossa said.
"You're…a Daemon? Azura asked.
"That's right." Grossa said. "It is unfortunate, but I cannot allow you all to roam free. You have all broken into this facility, after all. And now that you all have seen this picture, any chance you had of escaping are nigh impossible now."
"What are you going on about?" Tear asked.
"The law is the shield of order and equality, and I merely serve as its sword." Grossa said. "Thus, all I must do is pass judgment."
"This scent… He is very strong. There is no way we can defeat him right now." Cheetah said.
"Quite so. So, I will finish this quickly." Grossa said as he fires a dark blast before Azura shields them with light. "Human Signimancy? An impressive feat, but not much compared to our Sorcery." he said as Azura was pushed back.
"Azura! Are you okay?" Galil asked.
"Y-yes, I'm fine, but… I… I can't anything." Azura said as she brought a hand out.
"This is bad… She's completely blinded!" Glacius said.
"Such is a consequence of seeing what is not meant to be seen. Consider it a mercy that she is still alive." Grossa said. "The rest of you, however, will not be so lucky."
"Everyone, get back. I'm going to try something." Azura said.
"You're crazy, you know that? You're already blinded! You should stay back!" Aoesia said.
"No, it's okay. I think my mother would prefer if I used this technique now." Azura said as she took out her knife. "Finishing Strike: Crimson Echo!" she said as she swung her knife, engulfing Grossa in a pillar of fire. When the smoke cleared out, the group was already gone.
"Hmm… So they managed to escape." Grossa said as he saw the broken knife. "It seems I have underestimated them. And those other figures with those two… Perhaps there might be some interesting new discoveries after all."
Esmeralda's Narration: A thousand years ago, the Humans were annihilated by the overwhelming power of the Daemon invasion. It has been several centuries since the Daemons set up a Great Barrier to divide the world. As the ruling elite, the Daemons are served by their lessers, the Beastfolk. It became normal to see Humans as the most inferior race of them all. But the flames of Humanity's resistance refuses to be extinguished. And now, great change will sweep across the world once again…
The group returned to the pub to reflect on the events that transpired.
"Wow, Jessica. Quite the scenario you slingshot into, did you?" Koren asked.
"And just how is this my fault?" Jessica asked. "How was I supposed to know we'd be dragged into a war against Daemons?"
"Jessica is right. We only came to this world under happenstance. We had no idea things would be this big." Toya said.
"The humans here have been giving us the stink-eye, though." Bassam said. "But that Barbarosa guy doesn't seem so bad."
"Yeah. He seems pretty well regarded around this place. I wonder what his story is." Kayra said.
"At any rate, that picture of the blue sky in the ruins was quite something." Cheetah said. "Those two seemed very intrigued by it. It shouldn't be a surprise, though… This world hasn't seen a blue sky in quite a long time."
"We know that much. Now we know they're not gonna just sit around. They're gonna want to free this world from the Daemons' clutches." Guy said.
"But what about that Azura girl? She's gonna be a bit of a hamperance if she is blind." Rhatla said.
"While it is true that she is blind, she does have her other senses to rely on. If our trip to the Circle of Fraud taught us anything." Cheetah said.
"Ah, now I remember. When one sense is lost, all other senses are heightened. Is that how it went?" Rayleigh asked.
"Yes, exactly like that." Cheetah said. "Besides, once Grossa is defeated and his Sorcery is nullified, her eyesight should return to normal."
"Exactly what we are thinking." Galil said as he walked in with a blindfolded Azura. "You guys want to come down? I'm sure you all would want to know the details as well."
"Sure thing." Luke said.
Galil led the group downstairs to where Barbarosa, the man who runs the operation, and Renzo were seen.
"Ah, good. It looks like everyone is here." Renzo said as he placed the mirror from the museum on the table. "This is what you all found at the museum, correct?"
"Yes, it is." Cheetah said. "There seems to be some sort of ancient writing on the surface."
"Ah, an archaeologist, I see." Renzo said.
"Former archaeologist, actually." Cheetah said.
"However, we are still unable to figure out what this mirror is even for." Renzo said.
"Hmm… We were hoping that it would be connected to the blue sky and a ship that can cross the Dark Current." Azura's father, Wyatt, spoke up.
"And that Daemon that showed up before seemed to be in a position of high power." Nesma said. "If he was willing to go out of his way to secure the ruins, then this mirror must be very valuable."
"That so? Good thing I didn't come empty-handed." Renzo said. "Not that I doubt your expertise." he said to Cheetah. "But I believe there is a linguist in the Living Forest that specializes in these kinds of texts. Perhaps they can help you uncover these texts."
"Very well." Cheetah said.
"Then we will depart at once. I'll even take Barbarosa and Renzo with me." Galil said.
"Barbarosa and Renzo, but not me?" Azura asked.
"But you're blind, Azura. I can't put you in any more danger." Galil said.
"I have Signimancy and my other senses too, you know!" Azura said. "Right, Dad? I can work hard even without my eyesight."
"I had a feeling this would happen…" Wyatt said. "The two of you have been inseparable since I took Galil in. I only ask that those accompanying them would keep them out of trouble, is that understood?"
"Don't worry about us. We've got it covered." Yangus said.
"Now then, shall we be off?" Barbarosa asked.