While Elwynn of the Radiant Legion and Lyon, commander of the Imperial Azure Dragon Knights, were traveling along two entirely different routes toward the ruins of the ancient Kingdom of Baldia, a certain troublesome little girl—who had already taken the shortest route—abandoned her carriage once again. With her four followers in tow, she took another shortcut and entered a mountain cave that had been abandoned for who knew how long.
Matthew, Gernier, and Aimee had never wanted to enter an unknown cavern like this. They would much rather take the main road over the mountains, even if it meant wasting a few extra days.
But...
Their opinions obviously didn't matter!
The little girl was determined, so in the end, they had no choice but to follow behind her obediently, their hearts uneasy, and enter the ancient mine that was supposedly a quick way through the mountains.
"It's so hot..."
"Yeah..."
"I think I smell sulfur, too. Just how deep does this cave go? Could it reach all the way underground?"
"I don't know!"
"But it must be really deep. Otherwise, they wouldn't call it a shortcut. If they didn't dig deep enough, how could it go straight through this whole mountain range?"
"True!"
"Let's go!"
And so, they chatted as they walked, without giving it much thought.
"Wait!"
"What's that thing?"
Suddenly, Gernier called out and pointed to the side. Everyone ahead of him had to stop and look at the walls of the cave in confusion.
"No idea..."
"Aimee, do you know?"
Matthew looked at the cave wall Gernier had pointed to. He soon spotted the yellowish-brown crystals embedded in it, but unfortunately, he didn't recognize them.
"I'm not sure either..."
"But I can feel a strong magical fluctuation coming from them?"
Aimee stepped forward and studied the yellow