Shadow Of The End

Eiria nodded to herself when the image of Priestly faded. Maybe she had been expecting something else, or more, from the echo stone but at least they had direction. But even then, it felt like they following a trail of bread crumbs. "Okay, so I suppose we'll head to this cave," she said with a sigh.

"...your kidding, right?" Aediox said. "He said its through Novafaita territory. I was under the impression they were the sort that prefered stabbing people rather than talking to them."

"We either go and die trying, or do nothing and end up dying anyway." Steven said to Aediox. "Which do you prefer?" he asked with folded arms.

"...living?" Aediox asked.

"Exactly. And that is why you will go there and be a scientist, so you can actually do something good for once instead of accidentally blowing something up." the Oocca said smugly.

"...mmhmm." he moaned in reply.

Eiria nodded. "We will need someone like you," she said to Aediox. "I know I certainly don't move in scientific circles, plus, maybe we'll need someone who is good at blowing things up should we run into any trouble," she added lightly.

Aediox hung his head. "...but I don't want to be good at blowing stuff up."

"Well, you are. Get used to it. And your missing the point." the Oocca said. "Stop moping, and go be a scientist. I'll be there to help you when you fail miserably."

Aediox looked up at the Oocca, and just stuck his tounge out at her. "Yeah, I guess I'm coming then." he said to Eiria.

"Good," Eiria said, moving towards the door. "If you're ready now, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get out."

"Just...let me pack a few essentials." Aediox said, rushing off up stairs.

The Oocca held her chin up. "Hmm. I always tell him to be organised, but, no...of course he's not."

Steven nodded and followed Eiria. "I must admit...that I am afraid, anxious about this next task."

"Who wouldn't be," she said. "If by some streak of luck we're not butchered on the way through, those barbarians will be waiting for us on the way back. But it's worth a try..."

"Agreed." Steven said. "I would ask for divine protection, but I've learned not to depend on the Goddesses for my troubles."

"Alright, I got my-" Aediox said before he fell down the stairs. The Oocca sighed.

Aediox got up, and dusted himself off. "...ouch. Anyway, I got my stuff."

"Oh, good, now we can finally go..." The Oocca said, hoping across the desk, jumping into Aediox's backpack and burying herself in it. Aediox slipped it onto his shoulders.

"...thats Beltha, by the way. She can be...well, you'll see." Aediox said, scratching his head.

"Useful?" Steven said. She seemed pretty harsh the way she spoke to the young man, but it wasn't any of Steven's business to argue. Besides, she seemed pretty "motivational" when Aediox didn't want to do something...

"Alright..." Eiria said. She headed out of Aediox's house and into the street.

"So, uhhh..." Aediox said. "...does anyone actually know how to get to the Novafaita settlement? I heard something about Snowpeak..."

"That's what Priestly's message said..." Eiria said. "I've never been there myself so I only know as much as you, I guess."

"Well, last I heard there was a Vox camp up on Snowpeak, so...might be difficult or easy depending on your war disposition." he replied.

"I was with the Vox until I learnt more about the Corruption," Eiria said.

"Been clean, and still am." Steven simply replied.

"WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT?!" Beltha said, suddenly popping out of Aediox's backpack. "Your one of those savag-?!"

"Shut up! They could be anywhere..." Aediox said, shoving her back into the backpack and closing it. "...yeah, sorry about that....what did you learn about the Corruption then?" He said as he walked.

"They, and I suppose me included, were convinced the Hylian Amry had discovered a cure but were only administering to important figures," Eiria explained. "But then Priestly said a cure is basically impossible so I guess it's all just one massive misunderstanding," she shrugged.

"Really now...well, I suppose that now Priestly is dead, the only way to stop all this is to...well, do what Priestly says. Or just be as smart as him." Aediox said.

"I won't argue with that." Steven replied. "It's not like there's a better solution."

Lyn nodded silently as Allard held up his fingers. She was ready. And as soon as Allard jumped down, taking two of his own, Lyn had followed landing right on top of the third one. But instead of using her bow, she held the arrow tightly in her fist, and plunged it deep into the back of the neck of the moblin. The beast groaned and gurgled in pain, and, jerking the bloodied arrow out, Lyn took a step, kicking the dying moblin off the edge of the cliff, where it tumbled to the ground below, its body breaking with a resounding crack. She wiped the blood off the arrow off on the one remaining moblin's body, and put it back in her quiver.

Eiria nodded in agreement. "Let's just focusing on staying alive until we get there, and then we can start thinking like Priestly," she said.