It is a fairly long walk to the city gates from the city square. The city square is a somewhat short walk from the castle courtyard, but from there the distance is about ten times as far. I have no idea how many people gathered around my party as we walked the streets towards the gates, but many of them quickly turned away. My expression read as determination as I marched at a steady pace alongside a number of buildings. I noticed Keia glancing over at me every now and then, although I pretended that I had not known. I could start to feel Ceae's smile burning into the back of my head.

As we approached the gates, anyone that followed us there quickly dispersed. After all, outside of the gates is fair territory: needless to say, we will become fair game to anything out there.

"I've never seen the city gates so close before…" Keia softly said.

"They're really big," came from Ceae.

"I'll go and tell the guard our business," I said.

Keia nodded and uttered, "Uh huh." I walked up to the two guards standing in front of the inside of the gate. Both guards bowed down hastily.

The taller of the guards said, "Prince Cryos, m'Lord, your business sir?"

"Father's orders to open this gate for my party and I. We're on a mission that requires access to the outside," I explained.

"M'Lord? Are you sure? You are our future King! It's dangerous out there!" The other guard looked utterly confused.

"Yes, I'm sure. There is no other choice in the matter… Please open the gates."

"Yes, m'Lord." The taller guard turned around and shouted up at a tower up next to the gate. "Gatekeeper! Prince Cryos requests access for he and his party! Open the gate!" There was no response, yet the gate still opened. On the other side of the gate was a large expanse of canyon cliffs. I could faintly see the green of the treetops that were part of the FoxWoods.

"So, m'Lord, what exactly is it you are doing?" the shorter guard asked.

"Necril's reign of terror is coming to an end…"

"Necril? M'Lord, have you lost your mind? Nobody knows where his Keep is!"

"There is one," Keia said as she and Ceae walked up to either side of me. "Rona."

"That is equally dangerous!"

"We know that, but it's a risk we have to take. Finding Rona will not be easy, but if we can… We have found Necril's Keep." I pointed out towards the FoxWoods. "That is our priority destination. Keia says he may be somewhere around there… The fox spirits should know."

"M'Lord, you talk crazy, but anyone seeking Necril must be. I wish you luck… Rysta watch over you."

"Keep protecting the city so we have a place to come back to!" Ceae shouted. I shot him a look.

Keia sighed. "I just hope we'll be able to come back home…" We walked through the gates and watched them close behind us. I turned back to the horizon.

"Keia, are there any towns on the Plains?" I asked.

"There should be maybe one or two out there… I'm not sure, but we could search. We may find some ruins from Rona's battle with the Darklings."

"If we find ruins, that means any spoils are ours," I suggested.

"True, but towns have food," Keia said.

"Yeah!" Ceae exclaimed.

"Well, we search the Plains then," I said. "I can say, this is the beginning of our journey." I started down the rocky mountain path, followed by Keia and Ceae.