"I suppose such a thing was inevitable," Terra said as they walked through the streets, led by Park.

  Marco finally spoke up. "I hope this leader's not… too big…"

  Atzi glanced at him. "Cyclopes are just crazy tall, huh? I didn't realise Hemm was tiny all along."

  "Give me another hundred years and I'd be her size," Hemm said informatively.

  "A hundred years?" Atzi imagined a seven foot tall Hemm. "Y-you're gonna get that big?"

  "We don't really age the same way you do. Instead we just get bigger, until we're so big we can't really eat enough to keep living."

  "So if you had enough food, you could get bigger even than Park?" Atzi wondered why Hemm had called herself an old woman before. Maybe because stuff's different in Sostra, and she was more used to that?

  "Yeah. The longest living one, besides the Uniter, is maybe four hundred or so? At least when I was here last."

  "Wow," Atzi said. "They must be huge."

  "Twenty feet tall."

  "T-twenty? That's- Water, that's massive- Oh, I guess the Water's gone now." She blinked, considering this for a moment. "I didn't think about that before. Weird feeling."

  "We're here." Park said. What stood before the group was the singular building in the city that wasn't a mushroom. Instead, it was a giant obsidian block, reminding Atzi of the Branek Bank. Whereas most of the cavern floor looked natural, the space immediately surrounding the block looked impossibly smooth and polished. The building itself almost seemed to absorb the light of the surrounding mushrooms and crystals, blanketed in impossible flickering shadows.

  "Woah," Atzi intoned intelligently.

  "You will be utmost polite," Park stated firmly, "not just because the tribal leader is due it, but because she will decide whether you may seek refuge with us."

  Atzi gulped. "Of course! I'm polite!" She brushed the wrinkles from her clothes to look more presentable.

  Park led them all in through a large entryway.

  The interior was lit by potted mushrooms. There were multiple curved pews of stone, surrounding a central podium in a half-circle. Nobody else was there.

  "This is just where public forum is held," Park said. "They will be further in."

  Park led them further in. They traveled through stone halls, like the caverns, but carved to be square. They were empty of anyone, too. Eventually, they came across a circular chamber with three large gates, each themselves fashioned from stone.

  "Three tribes?" Atzi guessed.

  "Yes. For as long as the Uniter has been our god, we cyclopes, the bats, and the Atlanteans have lived together in harmony. However, we still observe differences between us and our needs."

  "I get it, we used to have those back home. Not really anymore, though. Well, definitely not anymore now the place is-" Atzi felt bad, pushing the thought away.

  Park went to the rightmost gate and grabbed it from the side. It didn't appear to be attached to anything, as she just lifted it and set it aside. Atzi couldn't see into the dark tunnel beyond.

  However, instead of entering, she then called inside. "Honored cavern lord, I" - she gave her own name, also absurdly long and starting with Park - "have brought outsiders from Sostra."

  From inside, a loud voice rumbled, as though from someone many times larger than Park. "You may enter."

  Park stepped into the darkness.

  Atzi looked about nervously, then followed in after.

  The chamber they entered into was massive. A giant stone throne, draped in a plush looking pale yellow cloth, sat in the middle. It towered over them, casting them in a shadow from two tree-sized glowing mushrooms in planters behind it. A stone axe, built for someone three times Atzi's size, hung on the wall to her left. On the opposite wall was another dark hallway.

  The only normal sized thing in the room was a table that looked to have a stone tea set and cups on it.

  Despite there not being anyone else in the room, Park knelt, and motioned for Xathy to do the same.

  Atzi followed suit, afraid that not doing so would get her killed by some giant cyclops.

  All the others did so as well. Except Terra.

  "Terra!" Atzi whispered at her frantically, "Just do it!"

  "Why should I?" Terra asked.

  "Because they might try and kill you if you don't! And if you blow them up then we can't ask about anything!"

  Terra thought about it for a few seconds. "Fine," she eventually said. She didn't kneel, but instead just sat on the ground.

  Atzi could barely conceive of someone as big as the room suggested. The 'half-giants' of her home were her closest reference, and they were still smaller.

  But she was even more confused when out from the hall on the right stepped a woman only slightly larger than Hemm.

  She wore an extravagant black dress embroidered with shiny grey stitching in the image of crystals. Her short black hair had a glowing flower in it, only for Atzi to realize moments later that it was several crystals carved into the shape of one. Her red eye swept over everyone in an emotionless gaze.

  Atzi wondered if she was a maid, or some other form of servant. She looked into the darkness behind her for the oncoming giant.

  "What brings you here?" the cyclops asked, her voice the same as the one that beckoned them in, only far less loud.

  Atzi realized she must be the tribe leader. "Isn't she meant to be huge?" She whispered to Hemm.

  Hemm did not reply.

  "Cavern lord, there is an important matter," Park said. "These outsiders - and one of our own, long outside - declare that Sostra is no more. Overrun by undead. I brought them to you so you might verify their words, and take appropriate action."

  "Thank you, you have done well." The cyclops leader turns her eye onto Atzi and the others. "You four, introduce yourself."

  "I'm Xathy!"

  "Not you, Xathy." Park set her hand on Xathy's shoulder.

  Polite. Polite! "I'm Atzi. Um, from Pomaria."

  The leader nodded.

  "Madam Terra, Sage of Sostra."

  The leader's expression did not change.

  "I am-" Hemm said, and then gave her long name again.

  Atzi saw the faintest hint of a smile on the tribe leader's lips before her face returned to its previous expressionless gaze.

  That's not a good sign.

  "I am Marco."

  "Hence, you four are now known to me. And so too may I make myself known to you. As to not have my name butchered on your tongues, you may refer to me as Wu. You come here seeking shelter, correct?"

  "Y-yes," Atzi said, intimidated by the woman's demeanor. "Um... wh-when do you want us to talk about what happened to Sostra, Wu?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Park cleared her throat.

  "I-I mean cavern lord!" Atzi amended herself quickly.

  "First, you will tell me exactly what occurred, as far as you know it." Wu walked in front of the throne.

  So Atzi gave the story of the experiments on the mountains they were doing, only for the city to get blown up and undead to start swarming everywhere. She left out everything about the loop, afraid that it would make her unbelievable. She used the excuse that Terra was a genius mage, for as to how they knew the undead were across the Empire.

  Xathy interrupted once, but Park silenced her with more food.

  After Atzi's story, Wu motioned to the exit. "Park, go fetch my Earth Reader."

  "Right away," Park said. She stood up, and Atzi realized how much taller the woman was next to the tribal leader. Atzi wondered why the biggest one wasn't in charge, though she didn't say it.

  "And you sought shelter here, that is correct?" Wu turned back to Atzi as soon as Park left.

  "Y-yeah. Since Hemm's from here and all, she knew how to get in..."

  Wu seemed to consider this, pacing from side to side for several long seconds. Then she turned back to the group and declared, "First, I should tell you. The war is not over." She glowered. "I received word this morning that the Sostrian army is still in our caverns, alive and butchering our people."

  "Th-they are?" Atzi asked. If she thinks we're with them, what will she do to us?

  "Of course, who knows how they would react if they heard the truth. But who would tell them, that they would believe?" Wu smiled.

  Atzi thought about the question. "Terra was important in the capital, but- well, I dunno if a soldier would wanna hear any of this. They'd be hearing that everything back home is gone."

  "It would be useful to shatter their morale. Saving us any further bloodshed." Wu seemed to consider something. "I am willing to grant you all safety here, as full citizens, if you accomplish this task."

  "I could do so," Terra said.

  Go Terra!

  Wu nodded. "Good, then-"

  "But there's more I want."

  Atzi whined. Don't screw this up, Terra! Well, there's more I want too. I wanna find out if I'm the prophet of that goddess they hate.

  "Your safety and security is not enough?" Wu's brow raised slightly.

  "I am a powerful mage. If I'm to live here, I want to be able to continue my research. Of course, I'm willing to share my results. I need only appropriate lodging and supplies."

  "Our people have no shortage of powerful mages, and they do not show me such disrespect, nor come from an enemy," Wu stated. "Why should I give you more power?"

  Atzi's tail curled. "T-Terra never actually did anything to hurt you guys, though. She was at the university the whole war."

  "I will have more power whether you give it or not," Terra said.

  Atzi stared at Terra in disbelief. This woman has zero sense of danger.

  Wu's red eye glowed.

  "Y-your mages specialise, right?" Atzi interjected quickly. "Back home that's how it was too, that's how it is most places, isn't it? Terra is a- a sage, so she's- she can share stuff your own best wouldn't normally know about. That's right, isn't it, Terra?"

  "It is so," Terra calmly replied. "I am certain there are many secrets of magic unknown to you. Even if you believe me of the enemy, I could share with you their every secret. My only loyalty is to myself."

  Wu's eye stopped glowing.

  Atzi sighed in relief.

  "Very well. If you succeed in stopping the army, I will see you have an appropriate laboratory." Wu said plainly. "However, you will not be given any gems for research, unless you purchase them yourself."

  "Standard," Terra replied.

  Just then, Park returned. "I've brought your Earth Reader," she said.

  The cyclops who entered after her had a very strange colored eye, flashing through different hues like a rainbow. It looked as if her eye was made of crystals. She wore white robes adorned with strange orange symbols.

  "Leader Wu. I'm glad to be of service to you," the earth reader said. "Please, tell me what you need."

  "Jih, there is a matter that needs verifying. These outsiders claim a great many fantastic things from the surface, armies of the dead and the fall of Sostra. Verify these." Wu waved her hand.

  "Right away!" Jih declared. She immediately ran out.

  Wu put her hands behind her back, looking down on everyone else. "For the time being, continue staying with Park. You are not permitted to leave the city until we have verified your words. Once we have, you may embark on your task," she said. "It should take only until tomorrow."

  Then, Wu waved a hand again. Park stood up first, followed by Hemm, then Terra and Marco. Atzi realized they were being dismissed and also stood up.

  "Um, thank you," Atzi said. People in charge expect you to say thanks even when they're being assholes to you.

  Wu did not reply, turning away.

  Atzi scurried out quickly.

  -

  "That was- oh man. I thought she was gonna kill us," Atzi said.

  "Wu is so funny!" Xathy smiled. "I like her a lot!"

  "I thought she'd be taller," Atzi said.

  "Her mother was," Park replied.

  "Did she take over for her mom recently?"

  Park nodded. "She came to power only a few years ago, after her mother died."

  "She's good at it..."

  "Her brother would've been the one chosen, but he failed to find a suitable wife."

  Atzi was silent as she churned this over in her mind.

  Hemm was silent as well.

  Atzi processed what was going on. "Was her brother..." She came to a realization, turning quickly to Hemm. "Wait-"

  "I'm starving! Anyone else?" Hemm tried to smile.

  Atzi thought for a moment longer. This is a good thing, right? She practically owes Hemm for this. "Same. Let's find somewhere."

  "There's only one place," Park replied. "The communal kitchens."

  "Oh. Well, that's fine. What kinda food have they got? Must have all kinds of juicy insects in a cave like this."

  "Insects? Ugh." Park frowned. "I can't stand that batfood."

  "Batfood? So the bats eat them? Great!" Atzi grinned.

  "You should try some real food. Like mushrooms," Park said.

  "I think the bats have it right. Warm-bloods wouldn't get it."

  "Bah." Park shook her head. "Hemm should know where they are. She'll take you. I'm heading back. Come along, Xathy."

  "But I wanna go eat too!" Xathy complained.

  "You won't be going with them. I'll make you food," Park replied.

  Xathy seemed to think about it. She looked at Atzi, and then back at Park. "Okay."

  -

  Five minutes later, as they were making their way to the nearest kitchen, Xathy ran up to the group.

  "Huh? You're back?" Atzi asked.

  "Yeah! I ran away!" Xathy declared happily. "Now we can eat together!"

  Atzi scratched her scales. Well, technically this isn't my fault. Park would probably be even meaner if I made Xathy upset. "Sure."

  Marco looked like he wanted to say something, but just shook his head.

  "Yay! What's your favorite food?" Xathy asked.

  "Oh, that's gotta be jewel beetles." Atzi paused after that, thinking back to the last time she ate them. The pain wasn't as fresh anymore, and she'd experienced plenty of new pain since then. Perhaps long enough she could enjoy them again.

  "Oooooh..." Xathy drooled a little. "What's that?"

  "They're really rare, you find them in the swamps around Pomaria. They shine like rubies but they taste like- ahh, I miss eating them." Atzi wiped away some of her own poison drool with her claw.

  "My favorite food is dragonflies! And lightning bugs! And mushroom stew! And-"

  "You really enjoy food, then?" Hemm asked.

  "It's the best!"

  "Can't argue with that!" Atzi happily said. "Let's see what they've got here."

  The building was another wide mushroom, the widest Atzi had seen yet. Crowds of people were entering and exiting it through an open doorway, big enough to fit the tallest cyclopes she'd seen. Atzi joined the crowd heading in.

  There were tons of stone tables and chairs, many filled with people chatting and eating, and many empty. It wasn't very decorated, just mushrooms for light. A long line extended from a long stone counter where a singular cyclops woman in an apron ladled food into stone dishes for people.

  "So everyone in the caves eats in these places?" Atzi asked as everyone joined the line. "Long wait."

  "Sort of? You can buy raw food at the quartermaster, if you want more or to make your own," Hemm explained. "I didn't eat here that often. My mom usually had chefs make stuff at home. But jokes on her, I made them teach me how to cook."

  "Nice. My mom got me an apprenticeship with a locksmith, I learned a lot about- uh, other stuff." Atzi decided to quickly change the topic "You think we'll run into your mom?"

  Hemm grimaced. "Maybe. She can be pretty busy. But if word gets around to her..."

  Before she could reply, Atzi spotted a familiar pair of eyes at a table, glowing yellow and slanted in disgust towards her.

  The bat woman who had thrown a rock at her!

  Jerk! Atzi scowled at her.

  The bat woman scowled back and started eating faster.

  Another bat woman was at her table, with light blue fur and wearing a nice looking black dress that reminded Atzi of Wu's. Atzi wondered if it was 'the style'. The bat woman turned around and looked at her, then back to the other bat. Then the two begin whispering.

  "Sure are getting stared at a lot," Atzi complained. Others ogled her, too, though most with curiosity rather than hostility.

  -

  Finally, everyone neared the front of the line. Xathy was first, followed by Atzi, and then the rest.

  The serving woman smiled softly. "Xathy, sorry we didn't have extra today. Here's your food." She ladled up a plate of mushroom stew, fried mushrooms, and some kind of black bread.

  "It's okay! I know it's because of the war!" Xathy declared. "But that's over! So soon you can give me more again!"

  "What do you mean, 'the war's over', Xathy?" The server suddenly looked very interested.

  "My friend here said so!" Xathy pointed to Atzi. "She told the cyclops leader lady and she was all, wow!"

  Atzi curled her tail around her leg as the surrounding gazes all turned towards her, much more attentive than before.