After leaving the Dwarf Sacred Hall, Ang, Dana, and Linya returned directly to their stone house.
The flames flickered, and candlelight danced across the rock walls, dispelling some of the oppressive gloom.
"Ang, do you think... the dwarves will really choose to leave?" Dana asked impatiently as soon as she sat down, her tone carrying a hint of urgency.
Ang shrugged, leaning against the Stone Wall as he said softly, "Who could say? I'm not a dwarf. How could I possibly guess?"
"Then just take a guess." Dana smiled, seeming to want to lighten the mood.
"Guess? It's really hard to guess." Ang shook his head. "This isn't something you can figure out with a simple guess."
"Should we go ask Barn?" Hope flashed in Dana's eyes. "He's the successor of the Barn Dwarves. He has to make a decision, doesn't he?"
Ang raised an eyebrow and asked in return, "Do you want them to leave, or stay?"
"Of course I want them to leave." Dana did not hesitate. "This place may be safe, but it's far too cramped. The dwarves can't reproduce normally here at all. Besides... this isn't truly 'safe.' Look at how their numbers have dwindled year after year."
"You're quite clearheaded." Ang looked at Dana with faint approval in his eyes.
"I think they most likely won't leave," Linya said calmly from the side.
Dana looked at her. "Why?"
Rather than answering directly, Linya posed another question. "How strong do you think the lizardmen are?"
Dana frowned and thought for a moment. "Very strong... otherwise, our tribe wouldn't have clung to the Lake Grace Volcano Belt and dared not expand outward."
"Then are you afraid of them?" Linya pressed.
"Afraid?" Dana slapped her chest. "Of course not! It's not like I've never fought lizardmen before."
"Then