"What do you mean you can lead us to the temple?" Mathew asked.
"I used to play around there with the other kids when I was little." Era Belle said, "Before the adults said it was too dangerous to be out in the forest."
"Makes sense," Pandarus said. "I'd venture the kids of the city weren't super aware of what things were prowling around in the dark, huh?"
"We knew of the Nightspawn, but the Nightkeeper protected us. We thought we had no reason to fear…"
"But now you know the truth," Pandarus said, and Era Belle cast her eyes downward.
"Wait." Said Mathew. "Era Belle might know where the temple is, but why ask her to guide us there? Can't your Nightspawn creature do that for us?"
"Well, it's not as precise as you might think. Only simple commands, remember? Besides, Dokkebi's real strength is his ability to sense his own kind. Him scouting ahead is mostly just flying around us in a large circle, making sure we don't run into Nightspawn."
"But if we at least know the general direction, couldn't you have him move in a straight line?" Pandarus scratched at his bandaged face.
"I suppose I could do something like that… But if we are bringing the girl with us anyway, we might as well follow her direction."
"I can help inside the temple too." Era Belle added.
"You have been inside the temple?" Said Ophelia, her eyes gleaming like a hungry animal.
"Yes. The first floor is very simple and plain, but under the temple is a labyrinth of tunnels that would be hard to navigate without help."
"And you have memory of every twist and turn?"
Era Belle nodded: "Most of them."
…..
The matter had been settled. Ophelia agreed for the young girl to lead them, placing her on the horse and having her point the way. Once they had gathered their things and as much food as they could carry, the group set out.
Ophelia held the reins, leading the horse while she walked on the ground in front of it. Pandarus and Mathew stood on either side of the horse, with the sisters behind them, and Argus guarding the rear.
"So this temple, you said it was abandoned?" Said Mathew.
"Yes. It was an old Nightkeeper temple, but it hasn't been used in fifteen years." Replied Era Belle.
"Ah, that explains it," Pandarus said. "There's bound to be a few secrets left behind by a cult of Nightwitches. Surprised you were looking for it though, my Lady."
Ophelia continued to face forward and remained silent, not revealing anything.
"The Nightwitches or Nightkeepers, or whatever, sound like they had some sort of religion," Mathew said.
"Something like that. Nightwitches are the biggest crazies around after all."
"More so than the alchemists and the sea cultists?" Argus said from behind.
"Even more than them. You see, alchemists worship science and experimentation, and sea cultists worship the ocean. But Nightwitches? They worship the darkness itself."
"I see… That is quite insane." Said Argus.
"They do not worship the darkness." Era Belle said quietly. "They protect it."
"And what does that mean?" Pandarus pressed. "Protect the darkness from what?"
"From people who would use it for evil. They act as the mediator between the darkness and the people, keeping balance between them."
"That sounds mighty heroic. But Nightwitches can call Nightspawn to them, just as easily as they can repel them. Maybe that's what happened to your village, eh?"
Mathew winced, feeling that Pandarus was going too far, but when he looked at Era Belle's face, he couldn't see any expression of hurt or even annoyance. It was unnerving.
"That didn't happen. A real Nightkeeper would never do something like that." Era Belle said.
"Oh? And how are you so sure?"
"Because Nightkeepers are people too. If someone did do that…" Her tone lowered to almost a whisper, and Pandarus and Mathew had to lean in to listen: "they wouldn't even be human."
Pandarus shrugged. "If you say so. You forest dwellers are all a bunch of crazies to me anyway. Living in a place like this on purpose is strange enough, but I guess it takes bravery too."
Era Belle opened her mouth to speak, and Mathew expected words of forgiveness, but instead she said:
"At this bent tree, we should turn a little bit this direction. The temple shouldn't be too far from here." She pointed with her finger in the direction she wanted them to go.
Ophelia grunted her acknowledgment.
When they reached the tree, Ophelia began to lead the horse in the direction she had been told. It was at that moment that the cawing of a bird shook the entire group.
There were various reactions, with some of them flinching, and others straight up jumping backwards. Everyone looked up into the branches of the tree, trying to spot the source of the sound. Argus even instinctively held out his hand to summon a weapon.
It was a bird with black feathers, as well as a black beak and beady black eyes. Its eyes reflected the lamplight like tiny dark mirrors.
"W-what is that?" Siyah said, hugging her sister tightly.
"Inky black… Like a Nightspawn." Argus muttered.
"Guys," Mathew said calmly, after getting over his initial fright, "It's just a raven." Everyone's eyes turned towards him.
"A raven?" repeated Pandarus. "But ravens are extinct… As birds native to the Forest of Terror, they should have all been killed by Nightspawn centuries ago."
"They are a symbol of wisdom. They still live in the woods, but there are few." Said Era Belle. She held out her hand toward Mathew. "Can you give me bread from your pack?"
He nodded and reached into his bag, pulling out a small roll. Era Belle took it and began tearing it into pieces. When she was done, she had cupped her two hands together, and lifted the mound of bread bits into the air like an offering.
"Come here." She called softly to the bird. "Let's be friends."
The raven's head cocked one direction, then the other, before it flew down from its branch, perching instead on Era Belle's left thumb and pointer finger, and began to eat chunks of bread out of her hand.
"Well, that is something." Muttered Pandarus. The group watched in fascination as, once the bread was gone, the Raven allowed Era Belle to stroke its feathers a few times before it flew off.
"Are we done here?" Ophelia asked. "I feel like we have played around for enough time."
"Yes." Era Belle nodded. "My Apologies. Let's continue."
And with that, the group resumed their journey.
Siyah had moved up closer to the horse as they walked, attempting to engage Era Belle in conversation.
"That was so neat! I have never seen someone make friends with a wild bird like that, much less a bird everyone thought was extinct."
"Ravens are very smart. Once it realized I posed no threat and that I was offering it food, it judged that it could trust me."
"Really? So you couldn't do that trick with other birds then?"
"It's not really a trick… and no, I don't think it would work on other birds."
"Hmm… Well, why not teach it to me then?" Siyah pushed her hands together in a pleading motion.
"I don't think there is anything to teach… but alright."
Siyah smiled warmly.
"Alright! After we get what we need to at the temple, let's do it."
"Speaking of the temple, is that it?" Mathew interjected, pointing.
Siyah squinted her eyes and shook her head, and Mathew remembered that no one else in his group besides Dokkebi could possibly see the temple in the dark of the Forest.
"Yes, that's the temple." Affirmed Era Belle. Siyah looked at her in surprise, but it seemed like Era Belle hadn't caught on what Mathew had.
"You can see it too?" Mathew asked. Era Belle fell silent for a moment, as if realizing she had said something strange.
"Yes." She finally replied.
"You must have really good eyesight, Era Belle." Said Siyah with wide eyes.
"Thank you."
Once they were close enough that the lamplight reached the structure, Ophelia motioned them to stop.
"This is our destination. Let us head inside."