Chapter 812 Into The Canyons

"Keng!" Lee Seng shouted. He sighed as he jogged after Keng. Lee Seng followed Keng through the town, catching the eyes of many. Lee Seng smiled and nodded at people as he passed. A large gate opened up, leading downwards. Keng quickly passed it, ignoring the guards as they tried to stop him.

"Halt!" The guards shouted. Lee Seng came to a stop.

"Sorry, he's not in the mood to talk." Lee Seng apologized to the guards. The guards turned to address Lee Seng.

"No one can go this way. It's too dangerous." The first guard told him. "Those who got sick, got sick from this area. Fox Spirits aren't an exception to the rule put in place by the Village Leader."

"Everyone who went this way got sick?"

"Sixty-eight percent of people who've descended down into the canyons, came back with the affliction. We've blocked it off for now until people are healed. We still don't know what the disease is." Guard 2 explained. Lee Seng nodded and noticed Keng had completely disappeared.

"Well, I need to follow my brother." Lee Seng motioned. "I'm, uh, Savior if they means anything down here." Guard 2 immediately lightened up.

"I don't care who you are, you—" Guard 1 began to say when Guard 2 hushed him.

"The Village Leader said the Saviors might come by, again, and figure out what's wrong." Guard 2 quickly cut off Guard 1. He moved to the side while Guard 1 was confused. "We should really remember your faces. I'm sorry, Savior. I assume your brother is a Savior, too?"

"Mmm." Lee Seng nodded.

"Probably why he looks so familiar…" Guard 2 whispered. He shook the thought away and cleared his throat, speaking louder for Lee Seng to hear. "This is your first time here? I believe I've seen Savior Keng and Squadron Lee Seng come by a lot for the last couple of years. Do you not need a guide?"

"I'll be fine. I'm just trying to get my brother. If I have time, I'll look around for the source." Lee Seng answered. Guard 2 nodded and looked at Guard 1.

"Burn his face into your mind! He and the other one can pass without reason. Village Leader's orders." Guard 2 told Guard 1.

"Sorry, Savior!" Guard 1 saluted. Lee Seng awkwardly smiled and nodded at both of them.

"Thanks." Lee Seng nodded and rushed off.

The path quickly descended. Coral, kelp and shiny rocks planted as the carved path weaved itself downwards. The path curved along the rock wall on the right, leaving the kelp and coral to quickly descend down the hill to Lee Seng's left.

Lee Seng found Keng standing at a cliff. The canyons were deep beneath the dark abyss. It was pitch black down here where no shiny rocks, luminescent fish, or coral could light their way. Keng quietly wiped away tears as the crunch of Lee Seng's shoes hit the floor. His breaths filled the space and Keng tired to shake off his upset feelings. Lee Seng slowly walked over to Keng and stopped next to him.

"Even with that explanation… Why would his memory suddenly be taken away?" Keng asked. "Does it make sense to you?" He already knew what Lee Seng was going to say. Lee Seng sighed and looked out at the long fall below them. The sea's pressure pushed down on him, but his necklace relieved him of most of the pressure. Lee Seng cracked his wrists while he thought.

"I don't fully understand what it means to be a clan head, but it seems pretty intense." Lee Seng started off. "I didn't know you got closer to Calis in the two years I was in a coma, but don't be too upset about what he did. At least the mission was completed. These people… they have their Cup and they can expel whatever disease is killing them."

"He attacked us! He thought we were the enemy! Why would he do that? And why did that stupid fish brain remember the mission and not me!" Keng shouted. Lee Seng watched Keng. His hands were balled into fists.

"Our relationship with the Merfolk have improved because of you."

"That doesn't matter if he doesn't remember it! All that hard work to be seen as an ally, a friend - All of it gone!" A blast of stars flew outwards, lighting up the canyons below. Keng's voice choked up with sobs. "Argh! Why am I even acting like this?!?" Lee Seng sighed and turned Keng to him and hugged him.

"It's okay." Lee Seng whispered. The sound of movement caught Lee Seng's ears. They twitched. "For now, why don't you take me to the places people were afflicted with the disease?" Lee Seng pulled away. "One of the guards told me people caught the disease over here."

"Savior." Calis called out. Keng froze at the voice. Calis popped into the twins' night sight. He hovered their in armor and with a glaive strapped on his back. "Saviors, what're you doing down here? There's no—"

A warm silver light washed over the twins. Keng pushed himself into Lee Seng, disappearing and leaving Lee Seng with Calis. Calis's mouth was ajar and Lee Seng sighed and turned.

"W-what just… happened?" Calis asked.

"I guess you're going to take me around?" Lee Seng changed the subject.

"Excuse me?"

"One of the guards that stopped me up there said you escorted my brother down here to look at the area. Supposedly there's a disease down here, right? Do you remember where they are?" Lee Seng asked.

"I was given a briefing on it since I lost my memories… I… I don't know where to look, if I'm being honest. I'm sorry." Calis lowered his head. Lee Seng sighed and braved a smile. He could feel Keng's anger swelling inside of him.

'Stop it.' Lee Seng told Keng. 'I don't need your feelings to sway mine. Let me do our job since you don't want to do it.' The anger feeling moved farther back, growing distant.

"C'mon." Lee Seng started past Calis. "Let's look around since we're here."

"B-but shouldn't we really be looking at the sick?" Calis stuttered. Lee Seng ignored him and descended further into the canyons.

"Savior Lee Seng." Calis called out.

"Hm?" Lee Seng turned his head to acknowledge Calis.

"Village Leader explained more to me in private and I'm really sorry about what I did. I didn't know—"

"You didn't know." Lee Seng brushed it off. "It's fine."

'That isn't the problem.' Lee Seng thought. 'The actual problem…' Lee Seng sighed. 'Doesn't want to come out and fix it.' Calis scratched his head and looked down. There was an awkward feeling between them that Calis couldn't quite figure out what it was about.

'Did I offend them both?' Calis wondered. 'Savior Lee Seng seems more reasonable than me versus the other one… Why?' The two ended up at a flat area. Something went off in Lee Seng's head. Between the seismic sensing and casual energy sensing, Lee Seng stopped, throwing his hand out in front of Calis.

Calis snapped out of this thoughts and looked around. Energy swirling into his eyes as he scanned the area. Something was off. Something dark dashed from the right to the left, turning the heads of both humanoids. The beast was scaly and on all fours. It slid to a stop as two milky white eyes appeared.

"A Fale?" Calis whispered. "Why is this one alone? They're supposed to hunt in packs… Where are the others?" The Fale growled as it slammed its paw against the ground. "Be—" The Fale rushed forward towards Lee Seng and Calis. Lee Seng didn't move.

'What's he doing?' Calis wondered. He reached for the glaive and watched as the Fale grew closer. It shrieked yet Lee Seng didn't do anything. Calis lunged forward, starting to swing his hand to push Lee Seng backwards, when the Savior disappeared into nothing. The Fale leapt upwards, revealing its large sharp fin tail. It opened its jaw open as the glaive slashed across the Fale's mouth. It screamed and more screams grew afterwards. Eight more Fale appeared from the shadows of the first Fale.

'Crap, there's more! Where did the Savior go?' Calis panicked.

"Cosmic Bolt." Lee Seng's distorted voice spoke. Gold and silver bolts flew out of the first Fale, ripping it to shreds as light rained down onto the floors. A ball of light formed from the broken Fale, filling the space as Lee Seng reappeared.

[Nine Fale have been destroyed. You've gained a boosted 275 souls! 275/1,000,000 souls]

"The possession ability works wonders still." Lee Seng whispered. "I should've used this earlier."

"What… was that?" Calis asked. He shifted in his spot, pointing the glaive's blade upwards to avoid injury to Lee Seng. Stars fluttered around Lee Seng, occasionally billowing outwards as he turned to scan the area. Stars fluttered over to Calis, disappearing in his body. He felt a charge of energy, refuel him.

pαпdα-ňᴏνê|·сóМ "There's a cave over there." Lee Seng pointed. "There's something odd about it. I think those shark dogs came from there. I'd like to check it out while we're here."

"What did you do to me just now?" Calis asked. Lee Seng looked at him and smiled.

"You're our ally. You get a share of our kills. C'mon, Leader Calis. Let's check out the cave."