The 2nd floor

As the whole group continued to descend down the stairs, John felt a familiar vibe which he was sure he had forgotten. 

Yes, there was no way he could forget, the change in the moisture in the air and the amount of water in the steps 

"God... I hate this part." John muttered as they were about to reach the bottom 

Ariel also seemed to have notice what the 2nd floor was going to be and looked a bit troubled, but she let out a sigh in regards to this and gripped her staff. 

Ariel's staff wasn't the same as the one of the past, she changed it half a year ago, or rather, she the changed the magic stone to upgrade it. 

John suggested that it would be better to change the whole thing, but she was insistent on keeping by claiming that it was precious to her. 

Eventually John gave up and just upgraded it, but he never got to know why it was that precious.