The symbols

"Sorry about what your father said to you the other time. He shouldn't have."

"Tanya, he should have told me a long time ago. I don't know why he isn't telling me the things. I know that there's still a lot he isn't telling me, but I just can't explain why."

"Me neither."

"You're lying to me aren't you? You know the King's secrets, but you also aren't telling me. Why does everyone in the underworld always keep secrets? It was the same when I was in the camouflage. The Queen refused to explain shit to me."

"I can't speak for the transitionists, but I assure you that your Father is protecting you."

"Protecting me from what? Just tell me the truth." Walter said as he stopped walking.

"Walter…do you trust me?"

"Well…a little?"

"Alright then, just take this walk with me." She said, walking forward.

"I'mma need you to pay attention to all the details of the places I'm taking you. If possible, take notes."

"I didn't bring any note or a pen."

"Right! I forgot. But you get what I mean."

"Yes, I do."

After a few hours of walking, Walter asked.

"Aren't we there yet?"

"We're almost there. I hope you've started taking notes."

"Notes of what?!"

"The environment. There are things you should see. I don't think you'll get another chance to pass through this place so please, observe."

As they ventured deeper into their journey, they got to a landmark. The ground was beautified by a delicate greenery that spread everywhere like a mystical carpet. As they walked on it, its tender texture was felt on their soles. The moss spread its beautiful tendrils as it crept up the trees, and even enveloped the rocks just up ahead. This natural beautification turned the forest into a vibrant paradise.

This place's beauty is the closest to how life is on earth, Walter thought.

"Alright, Alright. Well I can see that this place has beautiful vegetation, and that the moss has grown everywhere. It's beautiful if you ask me. I love the greenery."

"Yes, it is. Now, look at the bridge."

As they walked further, they got to a long bridge that separated the lush forest from a humongous rock. As Walter took a step on the bridge, its sturdy feeling was what informed Walter that it was a metallic bridge. The whole bridge was completely covered in an emerald-green blanket. The moss covered every detail of the bridge. The railings of the bridge which were supposed to have a cold and rusty nature now had a spongy feeling, an irresistible feeling.

"This bridge feels like a passageway to heaven."

"I know right? It really is beautiful. But we need to hurry. We've spent too much time. I don't want the King worrying about us."

"By the way, how did you get to the underworld?"

"Well, I went for a sleepover in one of my friend's houses. We had just met, and were supposed to do an assignment together. So we did. I was a bit tired and decided to sleep early while she just kept watching her show. I just woke up here when I did. I woke up tied to a tree."

"A tree?"

"Yeah…and a few hours later, the soldiers of Nether came to pick me up. They came not by coincidence, they came looking for me, like they knew I would be there."

"Sounds like what happened to me too. But it was more than one group waiting for me…us"

"Us? You came with someone?"

"Yes…Nicole, we woke up exactly how we slept."

"Oh wow..that's really interesting."

"I guess it is."

"She didn't want to leave you."

"What?"

"Yeah, she didn't want to leave you. Nobody ever wakes up with someone, and in the same position. I wonder how she did it. What it must've cost her too."

"Yeah…" Walter said, sliding back into his depressed stage.

As they got to the other end of the bridge, standing before them was the humongous rock they had to climb. The rock wasn't free of the charming grasp of the moss, but unlike the other terrain, the moss hadn't covered the rock halfway yet.

"It's going to take some time for the rock to be completely covered if you ask me."

"Kinda, considering its size. But the moss just keep on climbing higher and higher."

Without hesitation, they began climbing the stairs.

"Isn't the moss degrading the rock?"

"Yes, they are."

"Isn't that a bad thing?"

"Yes, it's a bad thing for the rock."

"So the moss…They're the bad guys?"

""Not necessarily. They're just trying to live."

What is this woman driving at? Walter wondered.

After a few minutes, they got to the top of the rock.

On reaching the top, a structure stop at the top that would catch the attention of any one. Walter walked closer, it was large, it was beautiful, it was powerful, it was scary.

Perched on the rock's peak and staring down the forest was a statue with terrific size. The statue was carved out with the outline of something that looked like a bat, but on close observation, had some features of a dragon-like being.

The bat's wing was carved in a stretched out position, with its colossal size. It had sharp teeth that reflected its rage, and eyes that pierced through the soul.

Its aura gave off nothing less than majesty. Even though it was just a statue, its presence made their hearts skip as if it was actually alive .

"A statue of a giant bat? That's really not the usual. One would think it would be a lion or something...but a bat? Not the usual at all."

"I brought you here for a reason. Yes, it's a beautiful scene, but there's more to it."

"There is?"

"Yes. What have you observed about all you've seen?"

"Do you mean the moss and rocks and the bridge?"

"Yes."

"All I could observe was that the moss beautified everywhere it perched on."

"That is correct, but that's not all. C'mmon you can do better."

"I'm not the fastest learner, you know."

"Walter, everything we've seen symbolizes where we are. The rock, the moss, the forest, and this rock…everything."

"I don't understand these things, Tanya, just tell me."

"It's better you figure these things out yourself…but I'll tell you what I know… By the way, I figured this out myself becauee the King didn't tell me anything too. So my theory might be a little sketchy."

"Just tell me what you think is going on."

"This statue represents our Kingdom. There are 3 major power houses in the underworld. The first and most powerful is Nether, the second is Jotunheim, and the third are the transitionists."

"Okay?"

"They all have their source of powers. For Jotunheim, this bat represents ours. The moss represents the souls that have been brought from earth and into the underworld to give it beauty. The bridge is a gateway, and the rock we're on belongs to Jotunheim."

"Wait wait. This bat is Jotunheim?"

"Yes."

"So the bat gets weaker the more the souls tha come into the underworld?"

"Yes."

"What about Nether?"

"Nether's spiritual representation is a waterfall. That Waterfall keeps running as far as souls keep coming here."

"Polar opposites with Jotunheim."

"Yes."

"I don't know much about the transitionists, but they are somewhere in between."

"What does all this mean? Why are the souls keeping Nether running, but weakening Jotunheim."

"Only the King knows. But that's one of the reasons we have to defeat Nether…to stop them from bringing more people here."

"What does this bat mean?"

"Walter, I don't know but I'm certain that your Father does."

"Something's missing. There's something we don't know. Why do the souls weaken Jotunheim and why do they strengthen the Nether…plus, what do you mean by weaken?"

"Our gifts become less powerful."

"So how does Jotunheim counter this?"

"We stop them from bringing people here…or…reduce the numbers they've already brought."

"What? You reduce the number? I hope it's not what I think."

"It is…"