The branching paths

Sarcony carefully unfurled the scroll and read.

Her face paled.

<<Mo'er, burn the scroll away.>>

<<Yes, Onee sama.>>

Mo'er burned the scroll using her flame.

She then picked the locket up.

<<Onee sama, what is this? Feels weird>>

<<Let me examine it.>>

Sarcony's pupils turned golden.

Faint smoke billowed from her eyes as they stung.

They were an imitation of one of the most exclusive skills of Monkey King Sun Wukong, fiery-eyed golden-gaze (eyes that see through all the facades and reveal all evil)

However, the imitation amplified the disadvantage.

Her eyes stung if she used it for long.

Also, she will risk blindness if she uses it for more than a few lunar units a day.

The golden pupils revealed the necklace to be an ordinary, thin gold chain with no adornments.

The locket was a Golem, a polar bear like figurine made from the earth.

It was put in a dormant state, made into a small pendant, and attached to the necklace.

When the chakra is poured into the golem, it can be brought back to its original size and be activated.

As Mo'er was the first one to pick it, the golem formed an unbreakable pact with her.

<<Onee sama, isn't it adorable?>>

<<It is. Now, go on. activate it.>>

Mo'er poured some of her meagre amount of chakra into the golem, activating it.

The golem expanded to double her size.

It stood on its hind legs and roared.

It then bowed down to its owner.

" Golem, please carry Sakura and Maria on your back " (Mo'er)

The golem gently picked them up, placed them on its back, and ambled along behind them.

Sakura and Maria were barely healed as the duo were exhausted.

They finally reached the entrance of the cave.

There was a trail of blood leading in the direction of the exit.

It led them to a small clearing in the woods, right at the spot they entered the cave.

The place was saturated with spiritual energy, a remnant of the dematerialisation of the familiars.

Alas, neither of them had the ability to sense it.

At a slight distance from the entrance, there was a small pool of blood and a foul stench.

<<Mo'er, look, a pool of blood.>> (Sarcony)

<<It radiates a familiar scent>> (Mo'er)

<<It reminds me of Mantle somehow>> (Sarcony)

<<Mark??!!>> (Mo'er)

<<Don't say they were attacked by that dead wendigo!!>> (Sarcony)

<<Was it the mysterious woman who saved them?>> (Mo'er)

<<Probably, the wounds and the foul stench on the wendigo do resemble the ones we saw when she saved us.>> (Sarcony)

" Lily, Mark, where are you people??? " (Mo'er)

" Lily, we are all right, come out. " (Sarcony)

<<Something isn't right.>> (Mo'er)

<<Where could they be?>> (Sarcony)