Meanwhile, the two guards exchanged deep sighs. They tapped their crystal spears on the ground, causing the stone slab to descend once again and seal the entrance shut behind them.
"As you've probably heard, I'm Crystalia. So, what should I call you?" Princess Crystalia asked, her gaze focused on the unfamiliar man wrapped in her crystal-imbued cloth, cradling a tall, unconscious woman in his arms. With just one glance, she could easily gauge the woman's impressive height.
"I'm Orion," he responded straightforwardly, his gaze shifting from the guards stationed by the other entrance to Princess Crystalia. Her face remained concealed behind the peculiar textured cloth, aided by the dimness of their subterranean surroundings. The same type of covering hid him and Saria.
Though he could have made a false identity, he found it unnecessary in this situation.
After all, they had just saved him, and it seemed more prudent to establish a positive rapport from the outset.
So, despite maintaining his guarded stance, much like he had with the White Flame, he saw the potential benefits of starting on the right foot with them.
"Orion," Princess Crystalia repeated, nodding her head in a way that suggested she was committing his name to memory.
She then gestured toward the young man standing beside her and introduced, "And this is Flintor. He's the one who proposed the idea of rescuing you while we were out practising, so you can thank him, not me."
Flintor raised his hand, a faint smile gracing his features as he waved it dismissively in response. "Don't worry about it," he said with a reassuring tone.
"The fact that you were attacked by White Flame and ended up injured shows that we're on the same side." His gaze shifted forward as they moved through various tunnels, eventually emerging into an open space within the ground.
It was heavily guarded yet bustling with people engaged in their daily routines.
Among them, Orion noticed individuals of all ages, heights, and appearances, all with the same unnatural smooth skin that seemed to glow and unique hair like Princess Crystalia and Flintor, though in a spectrum of colours.
Interestingly enough, Orion could even spot a few individuals with the same skin colour he had seen like the tree nymphs, albeit without the two distinct shades.
Their attire appeared relatively uniform, yet unique in colors and designs.
Moreover, casting his gaze further down the path, Orion stumbled upon another intriguing sight. As they strolled along what appeared to be streets, or at least resembled them, he observed a myriad of stone-built stores lining their path.
Nestled among these structures were stone homes, their interiors slightly visible through open windows that revealed glimpses of families within.
Suddenly aware that he had momentarily lost focus on their conversation, Orion quickly redirected his attention to Flintor and managed, "Of course, I understand," in response.
Flintor, who had been keeping a watchful eye on him to make sure he didn't get lost or fall behind, nodded slowly with a smile. "Stay close so that you won't get lost," he advised, as they ventured deeper into the bustling market section.
Then, Flintor turned his head towards Orion, noticing that he seemed eager to say something. Orion's gaze remained fixed on the two figures ahead, his curiosity overwhelming him. "What..... Who are all of you? Where do you come from?" he asked.
When he had begun his descent down the mountain, he had expected many things: navigating through dimly lit caves, contending with the Vylkr vines, dying or making even it down the mountain hopefully. Yet, encountering a mysterious imprisoned being claiming to be god with amnesia, who proceeded to show him a vision of the world from centuries or perhaps millennia past, and stumbling upon an underground community, all in a matter of hours was definitely not on his list of expectations.
However, what Orion was most curious about, beyond the revelations and encounters he had already faced, was how was it possible that their paths had never crossed until now.
He wondered if their cultures and worldviews aligned in any way—perhaps in how they approached matters like relationships and sex.
Were they more informed or as uninformed as his fellow villagers?
Princess Crystalia unexpectedly halted and turned to face Orion, causing him to come to a stop as well. He gazed at her, his eyes catching hints of her features through the interplay of faint silver, orange, and other hues of light that radiated from the vast crystals suspended from the subterranean ceiling.
"When we arrive at the castle, I will personally address all of your questions and provide you with all the information you need," Princess Crystalia said with a slight smile. "Also, my father and his council will likely have some questions as well." She continued walking, with the rest of the group following her.
Her words reached Orion's ears once again, "So, let's make our way back to the castle as soon as possible to gain a better understanding of what is happening."
Orion nodded slowly, then let out a deep sigh. He quickened his steps to avoid colliding with a passerby and hurried to catch up with the rest of the group.
"Furthermore, we are known as Prismerions, beings with a special connection to crystals. After our world was destroyed, we migrated to this world and settled down. However, our ancestral teachings tell us that we have been trapped here ever since. Despite this, our god Naka has granted us peace and paved the way for us to thrive and flourish in this world." Princess Crystalia suddenly added.
Orion's eyes widened at Princess Crystalia's words, causing him to momentarily lose his balance.
Luckily, his heightened senses allowed him to remain steady. "Naka," he repeated, unable to contain his shock.
Princess Crystalia gave a nod of agreement. "Yes," she replied thoughtfully. "And now, even though I'm still struggling to understand the situation or how you've ended up here, there's one thing that's certain." She glanced at Orion from the corner of her eye and continued, "...perhaps, Naka has decreed that it's time for us to leave this kingdom."
