Ivo leads the way towards the Bloody Sea. We're on the edge of the city, so the distance is short. As we get closer to the massive trees, I'm filled with dread imagining, once again, having to expend so much energy to move through the forest. I can feel my face twisting in distress. We reach the base of a tree. Ivo glances at me in amusement, noticing my dread. He pushes away a thick layer of vines to reveal a large tunnel. It's big enough for two grown men to move shoulder to shoulder comfortably. The inside is lined with clear Diao gems, giving off a white glow.

My eyes widen and my jaw slacks in surprise. At a loss for words, I look at Ivo biting his lip in a vain attempt to keep from laughing.

"Don't laugh!" I scold while slapping him in the arm.

Unable to hold it any longer, he howls with laughter, "Your face! You looked like...you were walking to...your death!" He manages to choke out in between the bouts of laughter.

"Humph," unwilling to deal with him, I storm off down the tunnel.

Gaining some control over himself, he catches up to me. He suppresses his laughter, but I could still make out the smile in his eyes.

"How did this tunnel get created?" I say to distract him.

"During the 100 years war, the previous King created the tunnels so he could make use of his mageless army in the forest. When the war ended the tunnels were abandoned," he shrugs. "I doubt many remember these exist."

"I'm surprised they didn't take the gems. Diaos are the cheapest, but they still have their uses."

"They can't be taken."

"Why?" my brows furrow in confusion.

"Haven't you noticed, no one is feeding them asura? That's because they're directly connected to the earth and receive asura through the connection."

"That doesn't explain why they didn't take them," I felt the need to point out.

"I'm getting to that," he rolls his eyes. "If the connection is forcibly broken it can cause a backlash. A backlash big enough to raze the entire Bloody Sea to the ground."

"Oh..." was all I could manage to push out my tightened throat. I take a step back eyeing the innocent looking glowing gem with fear. I grab hold of Ivo's arm dragging him forward, "I think it's about time we get out of this tunnel as soon a possible."

Ivo chuckles while taking the lead. We travel through a myriad of interconnected tunnels. We leave the tunnel my head is spinning from all the twists and turns. I know I'll never be able to find my way back. We walk into a sliver of space illuminated by moonlight. My eyes are drawn upward. There's a space in the leaves large enough to see the breathtaking night sky. The moon at the center is the largest, with a broken off chunk making it look like a crescent moon; like the gods themselves took a bite out of it, the broken off piece split in two and orbits the center. Debris created from the separation of the pieces forms a ring similar to the one found on Saturn. Linking the two smaller pieces together. Unlike in the real world where the reflection of the sun makes moonlight. These moons have a soft glow that gives them a blue hue. So there will never be a moonless night.

Ivo goes to the small wedge formed at the base of the opposing tree.

/What the hell did we come here for?/ I look around uncertain.

Ivo throws a smirk over his shoulder. Leans down and knocks on the ground. Instead of the expected dull thud, it was a hollow metal clanking. I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise. Smug, Ivo puffs out his chest. The ground opens up to reveal a little girl with long wavy black hair and eyes. She stands under a round hinged metal door with a large lever in the center. She sees Ivo, and her smile is bright enough to blind me. When she looks at me, her smile drops off quick enough to hurt my feelings.

"Who is this?" She questions, sounding suspicious and haughty at the same time.

She scans me from top to bottom with a sneer. I can already tell we are not going to be close friends. Ivo speaks before I could. A good thing too, because it wasn't going to be nice, and I shouldn't lower myself to the level of a little girl.

"This is Emma. She's going hide with us for a little while. Some people from the village are looking for her." She continues to stare at me, unmoving. He sighs, "Will you move? I'm tired." She hesitates a beat before stepping down the latter built into the wall of the underground bunker.

Ivo leads the way down, "she seems charming," I mutter.

"Forgive her; she doesn't trust easily."

I snort, "I picked up on that."

I make my way down the latter into a large bunker. The walls are made of smooth stone with more Diao gems embedded in the wall as the only source of light. It's clear that they're living here. A collection of random clothes and other items litter the floor.

There are two other children aside from Ivo and the black haired little girl. She stands as far away from me as she can while still being in the room. Glaring hard enough that any second I expect my hair to catch on fire. It was disturbing to have it come from someone who has known me all of twenty seconds.

/What could she possibly hate me for?/

Ivo takes a step forward, her attention shifts to him. Her expression became one of complete adoration bordering on worship.

/Oh.../

She shifts to me again. If possible, her glare burns hotter.

I withhold a sigh and listen as Ivo give introductions, "Everyone this is Emma. Those bastards are searching for her so she will stay with as for a little while." He gestures to the angry chick. "She is Monna." She isn't much older than Ivo, and she is as tall. Since they both reach a bit past my shoulders, I feel downright short. He points to the curly black haired boy with silver eyes. "That is Daric," he is shorter than Monna, reaching no higher than my chest and carrying a cocky, devil-may-care smile. "And lastly, Zain." He reaches no higher than my hip and the youngest one here. He has brown hair and bright green eyes filled with laughter. That made me love him immediately.

"We are going to be in here together for a time, try to get along." He looks pointedly at Monna.

Monna shrugs her shoulder. Acting like that doesn't apply to her.

/Gods above, give me the strength to not strangle this child./

Looking at his ragtag group, I ask the question that has been on my mind since I met Ivo. "Where are your parents? They can't be fine with you being out all night."