The Ruins

Glancing at the corpse of the Dragon Xelfia defeated Xilo would have never guessed they were related. "So that's Xelfia's Mother." After Xelfia had finished crying she had talked about what happened with them. That little Lizard he had found long ago in the forest had turned out to be a Dragon this whole time. Feeling Xelfia leave his lap, Xilo kept an eye on her as she walked up to her Mother. Gliding her hand along the golden scales Xelfia stood there listlessly. Walking up beside her all of them let Xelfia have the time she needed. Letting go of the scales, Xelfia saw Tearia's necklace from the corner of her eye.

"Tearia, do you think you have enough room in there for my Mother. I really don't want to leave her here, I'd like to take her to where she belongs, next to her family."

"If I take most of the useless out I might be able to fit her, everyone else will have to carry it all or we can leave them here."

Knowing what Xelfia was planning, Xilo approved of it.

"We can let them lug some stuff around for a bit, they aren't here to relax. It's not too far away anyway. I'll call them back. While you all get it sorted out."

leaving the girls alone to get that all taken care of Xilo walked back towards the main cave. He had put the bulk of his people here since it was one of the few entrances he could see. "We made a lot of noise." For how much chaos had happened he was shocked no one had come to look. "I wonder why." Walking past a few corpses, Xilo saw Yulrin and Vandor up ahead with their little group. Waving to them they all came towards him at once. "They look bored." Noticing how quick they were to move, Xilo figured they were bored watching out for nothing. "Well let's get their hands busy." Explaining the situation to Vandor he sent Vandor and Yulrin's group back but kept Yulrin. Grabbing a hold of her shoulder he stopped Yulrin.

"Can you go get the others for me, your speed is the best so it'd be fastest with you."

"Sure, I can do that."

Patting her on the back, Xilo saw her run in the direction of Raran and Keld's people. Going back with the others, Xilo talked with Vandor. "They really didn't see a single person." He thought maybe they had just managed to fend anyone off however that wasn't the case. "Weird." Making it back Xilo saw piles of weapons all over the floor along with a bunch of other supplies. "So..much." Seeing just how much stuff there was, Xilo was glad he brought everyone back. "Might as well help too." Bending over, Xilo picked up as much supplies as he could while the others did the same. Once Yulrin had returned with the rest they all did the same without complaint as they left this place.

"Felli, Tearia, Xelfia, since you three aren't carrying anything do you mind taking out any Astral Beasts we see along the way?"

"Sure thing."

"Not a problem."

Xelfia silently nodded her head as the three of them took charge. Like a pack they went through the cave they entered as Xilo directed them where to go. It may have been a while but Xilo hadn't forgotten the way to the ruins. "How the hell do we get down though." Following the mountain's path they walked for about twenty minutes passing by a couple of Beasts that were swiftly taken care of. "Still no people." A Cliff came up in the distance that Xilo remembered all too well. Stopping in front of it Xilo peered around the weapons in his hand as he looked down the cliff. "A long fall." Turning around, Xilo looked at everything they were carrying as he tried to figure out how they could get down.

"We need to find a safe way down...."

Mumbling that out loud he heard someone approaching him.

"uhm..I may have a way."

A smaller man stood before him named Ray.

"You can get us down there?"

"I'm quite good at manipulating the Earth, given some time I can make a staircase all the way down. You'll just have to give me a few minutes."

"Take all the time you need Ray, thanks for the help."

With Ray stepping up to help Xilo let him go to work. "He's a pretty quiet person." He was glad to see someone breaking out of their shell a little bit. Stair's formed on the cliff's walls wherever Ray walked as he turned the long drop into a safe path. After a few minutes Ray called up to them to follow him down. Taking the first step Xilo led the crowd behind them as they all headed down. "Good job." This may have taken longer than falling but it was a lot safer. Eventually they made it to the bottom where that Spirit had attacked them. The entrance was already wide open, almost as if it was expecting them. Entering inside Xilo was sort of expecting them to have to take the tests again.

"They're all gone?"

All the doors were left open and everyone could pass regardless of the requirements.

"Something feels different about this place."

Going deeper Xilo's group eventually found the place where Xelfia and Xilo were forced to split up, this time it was wide open as well.

"Is this the right place Xelfia?"

"..It should be yes, follow me."

Looking all around Xilo felt the sensation grow stronger.

"It's like this place died while we were gone…There's no more energy or life in it anymore."

Caves surrounded them from all sides that Xilo assumed were the old Dragon homes that Xelfia talked about.

"Almost there."

Within a few minutes Xilo saw a sea of graves enter his sightline.

"There's...so many."

He couldn't even begin to count how many graves he saw.