When they reached the bottom of the stairs their legs met with a soft and warm floor. Mike's eyes darted downward, and he saw that the floor was covered in a black, murky material that resembled bitumen.
Although the material was sticky, it left no stain on their legs, and they experienced no difficulty walking on it.
However, the floor did leave behind their footprints, as well as those of others who had walked there before them.
The footprints seemed to fade slowly into the surface of the material, leaving behind a subtle impression of their presence.
Mike's astonishment knows no bounds as he whirls around the building. The room he found himself in was enormous, spanning approximately twenty meters in width.
The space was illuminated by the soft, yellowish glow of the shins and shanins that covered several parts of the walls.
As he gazed around the room, he was struck by the sheer number of Anthropters present. Males and females, all with their partners by their side, filled the space.
Some sat on wooden chairs, engaged in hushed conversations, while others stood on the ground, either discussing with their companions or simply observing.
It was rare to see a single individual or a loner, as each Anthropter seemed to be paired with a partner. The pairings varied, with some consisting of two males and others of two females, but the majority were mixed-gender pairs.
Mike's attention shifted to one spot in the room beside the spiraling stairs, where a large desk stood. Three female Anthropters sat behind the desk, their eyes locked intently on him and Miram.
Their appearance reminded Mike of receptionists on Earth, and it took him a moment to realize that what Garo had referred to as Palor was essentially a hotel.
The population of Anthropters in this room was impressive, especially considering they had only recently awakened.
Apart from the sticky and murky floor, the room was remarkably tidy and clean, a testament to the hard work of the Anthropters responsible for maintaining the space.
As Mike continued to take in the sights and sounds of the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe at the complexity and organization of the Anthropters' underground society.
He also noticed that apart from the entrance they had taken, there were no other doors at the same level. However, above the room, on each of the three sides of the walls - the front, left and right - a multitude of balconies came into view.
There were about twelve to fourteen balconies on each side, one about five feet above the other. Most of them were occupied by Anthropters, both male and female, who were enjoying the view below.
At the back of each balcony stood a sturdy iron door, which likely led to private rooms. Below the upper balconies clung several shins and shanins, illuminating the lower balconies.
And below the lower balconies, an array of frames and portraits adorned the walls, depicting Anthropters who were either past Jyurans and Jyuran Slayers, or popular people in their lifetime.
The images appeared to be painted using a thick, viscous liquid, possibly animal blood or blackish ink.
Just as Mike was becoming engrossed in the portraits, Garo's voice echoed through the room, jolting him out of his reverie. "My Jyuran!" she called out, standing on a balcony above.
Her words had a profound effect on the room. A feminine voice resonated down from one of the balconies above, "Jyuran!?"
The room erupted into a flurry of movement, with everyone staring at Mike in a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"Is he really the Jyuran!?" A masculine voice chimed in.
The Anthropters above began to descend from their balconies, while those on the ground slowly started to approach Mike.
Miram, who had been engrossed in the view of the Palor, turned around and saw everyone's attention fixed on Mike. She swiftly swished toward him, her movements fluid and urgent.
"Let's go now!" she urged.
Although still astounded by the scene unfolding before him, Mike took off, fluttering toward the balcony where Garo was standing. Miram followed, protecting him from behind.
As they both landed on one of the lower balconies ahead, Garo hurriedly rummaged through her pouch, hidden under her black leather robe, producing a short, metal-like double-blade spike.
Without anyone telling him, Mike instinctively knew that this was what they used as a key in this world.
"They're approaching, open the door now!" Miram yelled.
Garo's hands trembled with fear as she fumbled with the key. She mistakenly dropped it, her eyes wide with panic.
"What are you doing!? I can't hold them any longer!" Miram shouted again, her voice strained with effort.
Mike's eyes widened as he heard her, and he turned around to see Miram holding a gastral barrier with her hands, repelling the advancing Anthropters.
The Anthropters were shocked and amazed by the sight of Miram wielding gastra. "She's a witch!" one of them shouted, his eyes widening in disbelief as the gastral shield shimmered, bouncing them all off.
"I thought all witches were murdered, but one actually still survived?" another Anthropter wondered.
Miram's breathing grew heavier as she struggled to maintain the gastral shield. "What are you still doing? I can't hold it much longer!" she grumbled, her voice rising.
Miram's mind flashed back to Djuma's concern for her before leaving for Earth. It now made sense why her father had been worried about her facing Dahra's warriors alone.
It hasn't been a full minute yet and she was already tired just by repelling the Anthropters from approaching. How would she survive if she were to face Dahra's army?
She definitely wouldn't stand a chance!
She was able to defeat Domra earlier simply because her attack was unexpected, catching the army commander off guard. She was still too young to handle such a daunting task.
Just as her strength seemed to be waning, the door shrieked and opened, allowing the trio to rush inside. Garo slammed the door shut behind them, breathing heavily.
Miram glared at her for a moment, her eyes blazing with a mix of exhaustion and frustration. She wanted to speak, but her fatigue rendered her unable to utter a word.
"I know what you're going to say, and I admit it," Garo spoke up, sensing Miram's anger. "I shouldn't have called out the Jyuran's name like that. It's my fault."
Mike, meanwhile, turned around to verify that they were safe, only to discover that he was standing on another balcony.
Below him lay a spacious room, although not as expansive and high as the previous room, it was still quite large for a normal room.
The height of this room was impressive, with the balcony attached to the wall that separated it from the large room they had just escaped.
Garo descended from the balcony, and as she landed on the floor of the room she beckoned Mike and Miram to follow. Her fear seemed to have dissipated.
Reluctantly, Miram descended, whirling around the room as if searching for any signs of danger. Mike dived down, his wings folding neatly behind him as he landed on the floor. He took a moment to survey the room, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.
A lantern hung on the wall, casting a soft glow over the space. However, Mike noticed that there were no shins and shanins in this room, which made it seem a bit gloomy.
He moved closer to examine the lantern. As he drew nearer, his eyes widened in surprise, and a smile escaped his lips.
The lantern seemed ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, Mike saw that it didn't contain a burning flame. Instead, two shins were mating inside, their gentle glow illuminating the room.
Mike couldn't help but think of Stefan, who would have found this sight hilarious.
As his thoughts drifted to his best friend, he felt a pang of longing and nostalgia. He missed him, and the realization brought a mix of emotions to the surface.
Mike's gaze drifted to a large, crystallized portrait hanging on the wall. As he stared at the portrait, a sense of longing and familiarity washed over him and sadness crept into his heart.
What's wrong with me? He thought to himself. He felt a strange sensation on his cheek and reached up to touch it. To his surprise, he found tears streaming down his face.
Why am I crying? He wondered. He felt a deep sense of sorrow, but he couldn't quite explain why. The portrait seemed to be stirring up emotions within him, but he couldn't understand the connection.