act36side

So can you tell us what's on them?

Of course.

The first one... 'North'?

You mean we should head north?

You're already northward bound, but Sami still says 'north.'

Perhaps It wants you to go even further north.

Even further? What's up there, Chilchuck?

The map says that once you leave the Myrkwood, you'll be in the center of Sami's forest. Further north of that are the huge snow-covered mountains and the endless icefields.

Don't tell me Sami wants us to go to the icefields?

Samivilinn often only casts a vague image.

But if you were to ask me, I'd say so, yes.

Huh?

The endless icefields? I asked around about them, and that's not the kinda place you return from.

But you just said earlier that you don't know how to get home.

An undiscovered path hidden in a place from which none have returned. Perfect, no?

As for the other piece... 'Hermit.' Haha. Interesting.

And what does that mean?

It can mean many things... but if you're talking about a 'hermit' in the 'north,' then there's really only one thing it could be referring to.

The Cyclopes.

THE WHAT?!

You know of the Cyclopes?

I... heard about them when I was gathering information.

Is that a kind of monster?

Um... no, they're a special kind of Sarkaz.

They use a completely different way to tell the future than we Sami do.

And they just happen to live in seclusion, deep within the mountains to the north.

Put the two Foldartals together, and I think this is what Sami is trying to tell you:

Go northward to ask the Cyclopes for help on how to get home.

I think I'm willing to give it a shot. What about you guys?

If there's a chance, we might as well take it.

...If it really works out, I suppose I'll go along.

Chilchuck?

The three of you already agreed to go, so is there any point in asking me?

Of course there is, you're a member of our party too.

...I'll be honest then.

I'm against it.

Do you not trust Oakcup?

That's not it. I can tell he's not lying.

Then why not?

Prophecies, divination... you guys are way too willing to believe that stuff.

What if someone planned this all out? Dropped two pieces of bark here and is trying to cheat us? Again?

But—

He has a point. But I still think there's no harm in heading north a bit further.

If we run into another shaman, we just have to ask them to read the bark and we'll know if Oakcup was telling the truth or not.

We've been here for a while now, so I wouldn't want to miss even a chance of finding a way home.

...Fine.

Speaking of going north though, why do I feel like we've been wandering around in circles this whole time?

Haven't we already walked past here before?

...I made some markers. I'm sure we've been making progress.

What's wrong, Chilchuck?

Senshi's right. But the terrain here is making me feel uneasy.

Like the land itself has been shifting the whole time...

You mean like the dungeon?

Yeah, something like that. But while the dungeon is always changing on the inside, this place is... the entire forest seems to be changing.

Look, there's a cliff up ahead. I'll go scout the terrain.

What was that?

The four look towards the source of the sound, and see a monster resembling a bull.

—Of course, they know by now to call it a 'hornbeast.'

A creature showing up in the forest should be a common sight, but this hornbeast has still drawn their attention... For one reason—

On its face is a black... black? No, it is a blank, an endless void.

The first thing that comes to mind is the galaxy of stars one can see in the night sky.

A cow with a void as its face. They find this reality hard to believe.

What's even more shocking is what lies dead center in the blank space. A circle.

An uncannily perfect circle.

A circle somehow even darker than the void surrounding it.

Darker than the night, deeper than the void.

But how can this dark circle seem to emit light?

Because it isn't. The circle is really a hole that sucks in all the light near it, to the point that it seems to be glowing.

Darker than the night, brighter than the light...

Well... this is a strange monster.

The void on its face doesn't seem to be part of its usual biology.

Fascinating. I really want to study it.

(Howls)

Sounds like it's angry!

There are wounds on its body, from weapons... Someone's riled it up, and now it thinks we're the enemy!

Eat my axe!

(Pained howl)

Wow does that girl have a ton of weapons...

Damn, the cliff's collapsing! Chilchuck!

Laios immediately sprints towards Chilchuck on the cliff, but is one step too late—

Chilchuck tries to jump backward to catch the outstretched hand, but Laios fails to grab him and can only watch as the Half-foot falls off the cliff.