The dust settled. The massive pile of stones marked the Gravelhide's final resting place, and Kaito felt no emotion—it was a problem resolved.
Shifting his focus, he noticed Auri perched on his shoulder, her light dimmed and weary. He assessed her status mentally.
[AURIWREN STA: 15/30]
She had lost half of her stamina. The battle had drained her too much, and it was a mistake he vowed not to repeat.
He needed to learn how to help her recover. "Auri, how do you rest?" he thought.
Instead of words, the LuminaDrive responded with a sensation, imparting insight. Lumenkins regained stamina by absorbing ambient light, with pure light being the most beneficial. The feeble light of the setting sun would assist them, albeit slowly.
[TIME UNTIL NIGHTFALL: 3 HOURS 31 MINUTES]
Time pressed upon him. He required shelter—a place for Auri to recharge. Staying exposed was not an option.
His thoughts began to analyze the surroundings. He was in ruins, which often had patterns like streets and plazas. He needed to locate the main power source of this abandoned city, as it would offer safety.
Climbing a steep mound of debris, Kaito slipped on the loose stones. Once at the summit, he saw not just streets, but a network of light.
Faint, glowing lines wove through the stone plazas below, resembling crystal veins in the rock. They pulsed with a gentle, steady energy. In the game, Sunways were mere paths of light, but here they were tangible—a map.
He slid down and approached one of the lines, feeling its smooth texture and the power it held.
[OBJECT: SUNWAY VEIN]
[FUNCTION: PATHWAY NETWORK, ENERGY CONDUIT]
A path made the most sense. Following it would lead him to the city's heart and its power.
"Rest for now, Auri," he whispered.
He found a relatively sheltered spot behind a fallen pillar and sat down. Auri nestled against his neck, providing a small measure of warmth. He closed his eyes, focusing on their connection, not as a tool but as a bond. He sent a reassuring thought: 'Safe. Rest.' Auri responded with a soft chirp.
After ten minutes, they resumed their journey, following the glowing line deeper into the ruins. The surrounding buildings grew larger and more formidable, but the world also revealed moments of beauty amidst the decay.
A small group of Flitlings, tiny moth-like creatures with glowing tails, danced around them, captivated by Auri's light. She chirped gently, welcoming rather than warning. It was a brief peaceful moment in an otherwise hostile environment, and Kaito noted that information was power.
Their path led them to the base of a massive structure—a stepped pyramid that reached toward the blue sky. It was a Day-Pyramid, a key landmark in the game and a source of great power. Now it stood as just another ruin, but it was the best lead he had.
He began to circle the base, searching for an entry point. Auri flew ahead, her light piercing through the increasing darkness.
'Here. Power. Inside.'
The thought was clear and persistent. Auri hovered near a section of the pyramid buried under rocks and earth. Kaito rushed over and noticed a straight line that contrasted with the surrounding debris—the edge of a door.
He started digging, using his hands to claw away the hard earth and sharp stones. His fingers soon became raw and bleeding, but he pressed on, driven by the ticking reminder in his mind.
[TIME UNTIL NIGHTFALL: 2 HOURS 12 MINUTES]
At last, he uncovered enough dirt to reveal a massive door made of an unfamiliar dark metal. There were no handles, keypads, or visible controls—it was sealed tight.
Frustration welled up within him. He had located shelter but couldn't access it. Leaning his forehead against the cold metal, he racked his mind for a solution.
The Auriwren landed on the door, her claws making soft clicking sounds. She chirped and pecked at a specific spot near the center.
'Warmth. Inside. Power.'
Kaito's eyes widened. He looked at the spot she had pecked. There was a faint, almost invisible sigil marked in the metal—a Callstone socket. He didn't possess a Callstone, but he had Auri.
"Auri," he thought intensely. "Can you open it?"
Auri examined the socket, then looked back at him with assurance. She chirped and hopped onto the sigil, fitting perfectly. She glowed brightly, channeling her remaining energy into the ancient mechanism.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then a deep groan echoed from within the pyramid, and the ground shook. With a grinding sound, the massive door began to slide open, revealing a dark, silent passageway beyond.
A surge of triumph flooded through Kaito, quickly tempered by caution. The passage was engulfed in darkness, and the air that spilled out was stale, heavy with dust and something ancient.
He had found shelter, but he had no idea what awaited him in the shadows.
[TIME UNTIL NIGHTFALL: 1 HOUR 58 MINUTES.]