Inside the Moon.
The First Elder slowly woke, feeling that his mental state had improved somewhat.
How long had Saito been gone?
The First Elder pressed a button beside the bed.
A humanoid puppet entered and waited at his bedside.
"How long has Saito been gone?"
The puppet lowered its head and reported, "The Second Elder has been gone for six hours and thirty-seven minutes."
A sense of foreboding rose in the First Elder's heart.
"Did Saito send back any messages?"
The puppet continued its expressionless report:
"The Second Elder sent his final message three hours ago. He was preparing to launch a probing attack against them."
"There has been no word since. The twenty combat puppets have likewise not returned."
The First Elder fell silent for a moment.
For thousands of years, no outsiders had ever come here. Yet the moment the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been recovered, people had arrived.
The Second Elder had gone to probe them and never returned, and even the combat puppets had failed to come back.
It seemed there was little hope of survival.
"Where is Toneri?"
The humanoid puppet replied:
"Lord Toneri is in the refuge isolation zone on the lower level of the castle. His vital signs are stable."
Knowing that Toneri was obediently staying in the isolation zone put the First Elder at ease.
As for the Second Elder's disappearance, the First Elder wanted to make one final attempt.
Forcing his sickly body to move, the First Elder waved his hand and formed a seal.
Specks of light gathered in his hand.
As time passed, no voice from the Second Elder came through.
Grief filled the First Elder's face as he dispersed the light in his hand.
Saito, how could you leave before me?
There were only