This was a bit nostalgic, actually. Robin remembered having to carry water buckets up such a flight of stairs for stamina training back on earth. Perhaps that is why Robin felt herself relaxing a bit as she climbed.
'Never thought I'd be spending my vacation climbing stairs.' Briar chuckled.
'You're on vacation?' Robin asked.
'Why not?' Briar asked. 'Several members of the True Nighters may have retired, but that doesn't mean that the True Nighters are through. Currently, I hold an advisory role. The title of leader has been passed down to another member.'
'I see. Did you get tired of it?' Robin asked.
'If it were a hundred years ago, I might have agreed. But it isn't really that, now.' Briar shrugged.
'I cherish the True Nighters, and I hope the party will outlast me for several lifetimes. But the party doesn't need me at the helm anymore.'
Briar looked in the distance, towards the horizon. The sun had disappeared, and the warm glow of twilight was starting to fade.
'My feet were always itching for the open road: for new sights, new people, new foods, new experiences.
I've got wanderlust in my blood, and this great big world for traveling.
It isn't that I hate where I have been before, but there is always more lands behind the horizon.
There is always more world placed before my feet.
Until I hit the edge of the world, I don't ever want to stop.
And even then, there's three world edges left for me to find."
Briar's words seemed to evoke within Robin a desire to travel, too. She saw herself discovering new places, new peoples, new lands and rivers, with just a rucksack on her back and a staff in her hand. She almost felt like that life could be hers: the life of a true adventurer.
And then Robin blinked, and the vision before her was gone. They had arrived at the top of the stairs, the giant maw of a cavern looming before them. The others too, seemed to be blinking away the vision before them.
'But this path I take isn't for the faint of heart.
You must be someone who can keep walking through the dark.' Briar mused. 'Like the stars in the sky, like the round moon at night. To be surrounded by darkness, yet not possessed by it. That is the path I tread.'
'That sounds…wonderful. If only I could hope to measure up to such a calling.' Robin sighed.
Briar glances at her, bemused. 'There are many stars in the sky, yet not all of them are the Northern Point. Regardless, each one is a testament of light within the darkness. You have your own path to seek out ahead of you. You have your own glories to gain.'
Robin nodded. She could sort of understand that. She looked up at the cliff in admiration. Briar also took a moment to admire the scenery, before she informed everyone. 'This way.'
Briar led the way from there, as she had been a guest here upon more than one occasion. The group soon entered a series of interconnecting caverns closer to normal room size for humans.
Robin looked around. There were no doors. The entrances were covered by colorful and elaborate tapestries with vivid scenery and delicate embroidery. Glancing back upon the tapestry, there was a completely different scenery on the other side.
Glowing moss lined the walls and floors, bringing a soft light to the surroundings. It wasn't brightly lit, but it wasn't impossible to see, either.
"I can see that you've mastered communicating silently. You have my thanks." A whisper came from Ella, who had come along with them silently.
"Now, for what purpose have you come all this way?"
Briar raised a hand. "I am here to see Stella." She muttered.
"I can see that. You are known to be a good friend of hers." Ella's eyes narrowed merrily. "And what of your new friends?"
Robin raised her hand. "I…am here to ask Stella for her Seal of Approval. I need to speak with the Demon King, and it seems that only those with all of the seals can do that.
I have here a letter of introduction from Arielle. If Stella needs any sort of help, I am willing to do my best to render proper aid."
"And by whose authority do you ask for this?" Ella watched Robin with unblinking pink eyes.
"By my own authority. I am Robin, the current hero of Ekkinshire. And I come hoping to gain Stella's approval." Robin whispered.
"Oh a Hero, huh." Ella whispered. "Were you not aware that you could be turned back out of these caverns after saying that? We are part of the Sylvan alliance, after all. A human hero would be a very great threat to us. If Stella didn't grant you her approval, would you then use force to obtain it?"
The whispers seemed to wind and twist about in the dim lighting, revealing a faint sense of pressure. Robin took a moment to think before she lifted her eyes to look into Ella's own eyes.
"I was aware of the possibility. However I would still announce my identity." Robin sighed lightly. "I believe any sort of requests need to be made honestly, especially about anything which might change her decision. To take her approval without her knowing who I am is a behavior more fitting of a thief than a hero."
Briar nodded in approval. Her newest little sister had no small amount of courage. She smiled in delight as she watched Robin speak her mind.
"And as for if Stella refused to grant me approval: isn't that her decision? She doesn't know me; it is only right for her to be cautious. If she decides to withhold her approval, then I would work to obtain it. A hero's sword is only raised to protect, and not to plunder that which belongs to others." Robin patted the hero's blade, having no intentions of drawing it out.
"...You seem to be telling the truth. At the very least, Briar isn't calling you out." Ella noted. "Very well, Hero Robin. You shall be granted a chance to prove yourself."
"A chance to prove myself?" Robin tilted her head, curious. "Isn't that something that Stella would grant me?"
"Providentially, our tribe is troubled by one very large issue. If you are able to solve it for our race, then even Stella would be obliged to grant you her approval, as you would become our hero as well." Ella smiled slyly.
"The food issue?" Robin asked.
"It appears you are already aware. Yes. Our tribe grows larger every year, but the number of prey on the mountain stays the same." Ella shook her head and sighed.
"It's becoming increasingly harder to ensure that everyone gets fed properly. Our kind are not built for farming. Neither are there enough people coming through the pass. Therefore, many children can only eat twice a day, and the adults only once a day. We are almost out of food, as is. What can you suggest?"
Robin pondered a moment. "...The area here is similar to some locations I have been through. Will you give me permission to look around the mountain? Perhaps I could find an alternative food source."
Ella smiled and nodded her head. "Hold on." She once again said something in an inaudible voice, then waited. "You have been given permission. You may search the area around the cave entrance, for now. It's best you find something before Stella returns, though."
Robin nodded. "Thank you." With Briar as a guide, she retraced her footsteps to the entrance. As this area was close to the desert, and near the ocean, the vegetation was of a tropical nature. Robin used 'Daylight' to light up a pebble, and 'Mage Hand' to lift the pebble up and light up the surrounding area.
"Any idea of what you're looking for?" Briar asked.
"Well, I have an idea, but first I need to confirm it." Robin replied. She was looking at the plants on the ground when a familiar leaf caught her eye. "...casava?" Robin muttered.
"That plant is no good. It's poisonous." Briar shook her head.
"That's because it needs to be processed first. The poison is actually removable." Robin replied. "Let's keep looking, though."
"Huh…I guess Heroes really do have foreign knowledge." Briar joked.
"Foreign knowledge, my foot." Robin muttered. "My brother likes tapioca based desserts. So I learned how to make it from scratch so that he would always have fresh tapioca."
"Hold on, you said Cassava, earlier. What's tapioca?" Briar asked.