The team woke up in the morning with the lights, although most of them did not see it, the light appeared just as quickly as it had disappeared the previous night, and the inky blackness turned into a pleasant blue again. After everyone gathered themselves, the team, led by Achilleus, continued on their way deep into the sea. Although they did not know where they were going exactly or what would await them there, they were still very enthusiastic about it.
And when the sun set again under the sea, they drew another shaman's circle, where they spent another peaceful night. To their greatest luck, they did not encounter a single dangerous deep-sea creature during the three-day trip. Every night they spent peacefully and they were able to move forward without any problems.
According to some members of the team, it was a little too easy. However, their concern did not stop the others from moving forward. So it is possible that in the middle of the third day after their arrival under the sea, they had already seen the group of buildings that Achilleus had spoken of earlier. However, contrary to what the hegins had thought, the group of buildings consisted of only a single stone building and several smaller tents.
While the hegins approached the place excitedly and curiously, Llyr had to be practically dragged to the gate, where the team was stopped by two guards, just like they had done up on the sea route. However, unlike their last encounter with the undersea-walkers, this time they were not stopped because the country was closed.
"Papers." The soldier said seriously, and Llyir stepped forward with shaky legs and held out a sheaf of papers to the unknown undersea-walker. The soldier read the papers for a while, then stepped aside with a nod. "Sir." He gestured for Llyr to step through the gate of the building.
"Um... They are with me." Llyr said cautiously, pointing towards the team.
"They don't have papers." The soldier objected.
"I vouch for them." Llyr pulled himself together seriously, which made his aura command respect for a moment.
"I understand, sir, but I hope you understand that we still have to carry out the inspection. It's a security regulation." The man explained, and the undersea-walker ex-minister of foreign affairs grimaced for a moment, but finally just nodded.
"Of course I understand. Just do your job." Llyr said, putting his hands behind his back.
"You are about to enter the territory of the Warm Sea Association. According to our rules, before we allow you into the Association's territory, you must submit to an inspection. I ask you all to cooperate with us." The soldier explained with the confidence given by habit.
"May we know what kind of inspection this is exactly?" Kamu asked, an innocent smile on his lips but a calculating gleam in his eyes.
"Nothing special, sir, we just need to make sure that you are not coming to our territory with any malicious intent. It is a simple test, we will not even touch you." The soldier explains, even if his words leave room for doubt. "I would like you to follow me one by one to the test. Which one of you would like to start?" He asked the question, but no one moved.
"Scared you lot." Physalis Alkekengi rolled her eyes before leaving the group. "Ladies have priority. Lead!" The danovus lady smiled broadly, and the undersea-walker soldier was visibly shaken by the cold as he led the woman into the stone building.
"Undersea-walker, what the Fene is going on here?" Kamu asked in a cold voice, now turning to the ex-foreign minister, who even jumped in fright.
"They'll do the test." The undersea-walker man stuttered.
"We understood that, but what is this test?" The leader of the Immortal Mist continued to question the unfortunate man.
"I don't know how it works." Llyr gets shaken a bit.
"What do you mean you don't know?" The assassin snorted.
"I don't know. I have no idea how the stone does it! You just put your hand on the crystal and somehow they know what emotions you have." The undersea-walker ex-foreign minister scratched his head.
"Next, please." The soldier appeared, accompanied by Physalis Alkekengi.
"I'll go." Tele Tete sighed heavily, then followed the soldier into the building.
"That made no sense." The danovus lady grumbled under her breath.
"What emotions the stone said you have?" Wandi asked, and the woman rolled her eyes.
"Irritation. I don't know what they were waiting for? I'm not interested in this place, they're just wasting my time." The danovus lady rolled her eyes. "But how do you know what's in there?" She looked at the team, but when her gaze found the ubdersea-walker, she grimaced. "I didn't ask anything." She continued, then leaned against the wall and began to stare with a cold gaze at the other soldier standing not far away, watching the team.
Then the soldier appeared again and called in another team member. Only to repeat this thing with each and every one of them. That's how it ended up with Rahul being the last but one, who followed the soldier into the stone building with calm steps, just like his companions. From the inside, it became clear that there was only one room in the entire building.
In the middle of this room stood a stone pillar with crystal veins shining in it. The soldier led Rahul to the pillar. Then he motioned for the young chüvigh hegin to step in front of the stone pillar. For Rahul, like the other hegins, this was not the first time he had to stand in front of such a pillar, but unlike the last time, this stone pillar did nothing when the boy placed his hand on it.
Usually, the pillar starts to light up in colors, the colors show people's emotions, each color is a different emotion. From this, they can determine who has what emotions and which emotions are the strongest in them. But never in the history of undersea-walkers has the stone shown nothing but simply reflected the light of the phosphorescent algae in the room.
"Let me guess, that's not how it's supposed to work." Rahul sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Not at all." The soldier became serious.
"Can I make a statement?" He cocked his head to the side.
"I'm listening." The soldier nodded.
"This stone's job is to show what someone's intentions are when they come to your territory, right?" He asked, only to receive another nod in response. "Okay, then. It's doing what it has to do." Rahul shrugged.
"What makes you think that?" The soldier narrowed his eyes.
"I have no feelings for your country. I could be anywhere in the world." Rahul noted.
"I understand. I hope you'll forgive me if I report this to the management, it would be better if we were prepared for cases like yours in the future." The soldier explained.
"Only natural. Should I send our last man in while you write the papers?" Rahul asked.
"I would thank you." The soldier nodded, and Rahul left the building.
"You can go in, Tev!" He motioned to the Tele boy as he stood next to Razvan and watched the last member of their team enter the building.