As the microorganisms in the clouds awoke from their dormant state, morning arrived in this underground world beneath the cloudlight. Patches of white cloud lit up one after another like panels being powered on in sequence, and a mysterious glow spilled down from the cloud tops, illuminating the entire grassland. The locals had their own worldview to explain the alternation of day and night and the wind and rain. They believed that a gigantic monster breathed at the end of the world, and the smoke it exhaled formed the clouds covering the land. Every morning, a huge Flame Giant Bird called "Kudla" flew out of the monster's nostril. The bird lit up the clouds, and light spread across the earth.
A group had arrived on a high slope near the ancient city of Dorashir. Vivian and Hao Ren stood at the highest point, observing the distribution of the city's buildings. Several small bats circled above the city, using ultrasound to probe the details of the megalithic ruins. Vivian had seen some of the city's secrets in the Blood Crystal's illusions, and she was now searching through her bat clones for things that matched and corroborated those visions.
Gai Ze'er and Bania had been brought along as well. The latter now had her eyes closed, praying to the clouds and constantly muttering profound sentences that seemed especially strange for someone her age. Heiserana was bored out of her mind. Curious, she asked Gai Ze'er, "What is she doing?"
Gai Ze'er explained Bania's actions. "The Saintess is thanking the Flame Giant Bird 'Kudla' for lighting up the sky and bringing light to this world. At the same time, she's praying that Kudla will remember to return to its nest on time when dusk arrives, so that this world won't suffer the legendary