The next morning, the group set out before the sun rose, heading for the cliffside paths through the mountain range before them. Once they passed through the mountains, they would be in beastkin territory. According to Briar, Stella and the Batkins lived in the Caverns near the cliffside.
Via an agreement with the local ruler, the Batkins were allowed to live there so long as they kept an eye on the cliff pathways. If the roads needed repairing, or an accident happened, they would receive a corresponding reward if they reported such things. A separate reward would be given to those who helped in rebuilding the road, or rescuing any survivors of accidents.
"The Batkins usually go out on night patrols in the area. But there is a local custom which can attract their attention in the daytime as well." Briar said, tilting her head towards the window.
"Oh? A Batkin in the daytime? That is a novel concept." Keith agreed.
"It isn't anything too overboard." Briar chuckled. "The mountains are treacherous, and there is only so much food that can be gathered in one night. If you gift a Batkin patroller with a week's food and supplies, they will accompany you on your journey through the mountains, to ensure no incidents occur during your time in the mountains."
"So it's a temporary watchman?" Robin tilted her head.
"Something like that. But even so, their ears are sensitive. If you are too loud, then even if you give them ten times as much, they won't accompany you." Briar warned. "In the company of a batkin, it's best to keep voices to barely above a whisper."
"Oh…well, how come you're okay with normal conversation?" Robin suddenly realized. "You're an elf. Aren't your ears also sensitive?"
"They are. That's why I have this." Briar tilted her head to show one of her ears, where a simple ear cuff could be seen. "It's a blessed artifact that works as a volume modifier. It will lower anything above safe hearing levels, so long as I have the authority to sustain it."
"Then, why can't Batkins have something like that?" Christian asked innocently.
"Firstly, because Batkins have poor eyesight, so they use their voice to detect their surroundings." Briar rolled her eyes.
"Secondly, they receive instructions from others using a voice which can't be heard unless you are a batkin. An ear cuff would muffle the message, leading to lack of communication."
"Ah." Christian nodded.
"Rather than force others to adapt to your habits, why not practice thinking about others for a change?" Briar leaned back in her seat. "A good king who thinks for his people is a far better monarch than one who expects his people to anticipate his whims."
"Oh, and you know what makes a good king?" Christian asked bemused.
"I ought to, yeah." Briar smiles mysteriously. "If the name 'Moonbow' means anything to you."
Jasmine suddenly reached over and boxed Christian behind his ears.
"Ow! Hey, what was that for!?" Christian glared at Jasmine.
"It seems you missed more than one history lesson." Jasmine narrowed her eyes in irritation. "Have you never heard the name of the leading family of the moon elves? Moreover, this is Briar Moonbow!"
"Look, you can't expect me to have read every history book like you did, Miss Magi. Why don't you tell us just what exactly it is that I missed?"
"Let me put it into words you can understand…" Jasmine began. "The legendary adventurer Daenin, an SSS class adventurer, went missing for a period of over two hundred years. He was married to Na'Dethu Moonbow, the successor of the Moonbow legacy. The person who found the missing Daenin was his daughter, Briar Moonbow, along with Cedric Knowles the Archsage, and the legendary True Nighters."
"...True Nighters….Ah! That party!" Christian's eyes widened. He had heard of the many feats attributed to the party, but he had never really felt it necessary to memorize the names of the party members. Especially since it seemed like there were an awful lot of them.
Christian could only aspire to have as many achievements as they had accumulated as an adventurer.
"Incidentally, and this won't be written in the history books," Briar smirked. "Daenin is actually the older twin brother of the current king of the Sun Elves, Adrian Duskwalker."
"But isn't Adrian Duskwalker the current king?" Jasmine asked.
"My father had no desire for the crown, so he switched places with his twin brother and left to become an adventurer." Briar explained. "More importantly, I am indeed qualified to know what makes a good king."
Christian nodded his head perfunctorily. His views on the cheeky elf had changed, now that he knew one of his idols was in the carriage with them. He really did need to be more careful on the things he said.
Robin only barely stopped herself from revealing a snicker at Christian's antics. She remembered that she was still mad at him. Briar glanced at Robin and smirked, seeing Robin's dilemma. Robin turned her head to look outside. She couldn't laugh now, or else Christian would think she had forgotten yesterday's blunder.
~~~
The mountain range was extensive. As they approached, Robin found herself sniffing the air.
"The Sea?" Robin asked, surprised.
"Not quite." Briar chuckled. "There's a large gulf area that cuts through the mountains. But the gulf harbors many aquatic monsters. A safe passage through the waters has not yet been discovered. That's why the land route is so important. It's one of the only ways through the mountain that is generally safe."
"I see…" Robin pondered something.
"...No, my dear sibling. There isn't one big monster you can kill to open up a sea route." Briar chuckled upon seeing Robin's thoughtful expression. "There's an underwater dungeon in that area, so monsters will occasionally overflow. What you did today might be undone tomorrow, in that respect."
"Ah…a shame." Robin sighed.
"Not such a shame. The Monsters are edible ones, so the coasts around the gulf will never be lacking for food." Briar shrugged.
---
Just before sunset, they arrived at the beginning of the cliffside passage through the mountains. It was a spot that overlooked the sun setting upon the horizon. While it was a brilliant view, the steep path ahead seemed rather daunting.
Briar's ear flickered. "It seems we have company." She muttered, pointing to a nearby tree.
"Oh, come on, Briar. You're no fun." A low voice sounded from the tree. Somehow everyone was able to hear it just fine despite the volume.
Robin scanned the tree, until her eyes found a humanoid figure, suspended upside down from a branch. The figure let go of the branch and fell to the ground, flipping over so that it landed on its feet.
It was a skinny woman with brown hair, and Green eyes. On her face rested glasses that attached behind her bat ears via two braided loops. Her wings folded behind her like a cape. She was slightly taller than Robin. Robin could see signs of malnourishment on the woman.
"And? By what name do you wish us to call you?" Briar asked in a low voice.
"...Ella you may call me Ella." The Batkin said. "Are you looking for safe passage through the mountains?"
"Among other things, yes." Briar said. "We're here to speak with Stella."
"..." Ella seemed to have said something into the air, without making a sound. She waited a moment, listening, before telling Briar.
"I'm afraid she isn't home at the moment. Is it dreadfully important?"
"Not so important that she needs to stop what she is doing, but it's important enough that she'll need to take the time to hear us out." Briar raised an eyebrow with a glance that promised repercussions to further nonsense.
"I see…In that case, why don't I lead you to Kaoli Cavern? You can rest for the night, until the leader returns." Ella had gotten the message. She stuck her tongue out playfully before speaking a bit more formally.
"That would be most gracious of you." Briar took out a satchet of food. "For your troubles." She whispered as she handed it over.
"You'll need to leave the horses in a different place, though. There isn't a carriage route through the caves, after all." For a batkin, Ella was rather talkative.
"Of course, we understand." Robin nodded. The carriage was taken to a hidden cave, where the horses were unhitched. Robin then stored the carriage in her bracer, and they started walking up the steps towards the canyon.
All that they had gotten from Ella was a 'So they have something like that, huh?' when she saw the carriage being conveniently stored on the bracer.
As they walked up the steps, Christian tried to reach out to Robin via Skye.
'Hey, Robin?...Rooobiiiin. Robin?'
Robin ignored him.
'Look, I really am sorry that I brought attention to your disguise, yesterday. I just didn't understand that you couldn't remove it. Could you please forgive me for my oafish blunder?'
Robin was quiet as she continued walking up the stone steps.
'Robin?' Christian sighed. Perhaps he wouldn't be forgiven as easily as he thought. '...If it'd make you feel better, I'm willing to wear the disguise too, and you can poke fun at me all you want. But please, could you stop ignoring me?'
Robin almost choked. The mental image of Christian disguising as a girl was a bit too spicy for her imagination.
'Can you please think normally?' Robin sent back. 'I don't want to see you like that any more than you do.'
'So you'll forgive me?' Christian asked.
'We'll see.' Robin replied as she continued climbing the stairs.