Tristan's brow furrowed at the information he had just heard.
An ancient civilization really lived in that region?
"So, they're angry because we invaded their territory, is that it?"
Jin's expression turned heavy, his gaze drifting for a moment.
"It's not that simple. Apparently, the human race was a major enemy of the Ckryllophiterros in the past."
He paused briefly, then added in an even tenser voice:
"And recently, their people have been going through a serious problem."
"A problem? What kind of problem?"
"For a while now, some members of their clan have been mysteriously disappearing."
"Members of their own kind? Disappearing how?"
"Vanishing without a trace. And since they saw humans lurking nearby, they think we're involved."
Tristan crossed his arms and looked down. He silently reflected on what he had just heard. This was more serious than he had imagined.
'People from the underground tribe are being abducted?'
His thoughts immediately turned to the Marked. They had been kidnapping animals and creatures throughout the region. Could they also be behind the disappearances?
'No, something's off. Jin said the cause of the disappearances is a mystery... The Marked are too big. Unless this tribe is blind, there's no way they wouldn't notice them.'
He recalled the eyes of the Ckryllophiterros — small, deep-set, almost indistinguishable among the natural deformities of their faces.
'Hmm... their eyes are so small, maybe they really are blind. But even so, how wouldn't they notice a bunch of beasts moving near their city?'
"I suppose telling them we had nothing to do with it didn't work."
Jin sighed, exhausted.
"Of course not. We tried to keep the herbs a secret, so we only said we were on a mission in the mountains. But even if we'd told the whole truth, it wouldn't have helped. They nearly killed us just for trying to reason with them. They say we're 'causing too much disturbance.'"
"Hmm... and how do you know all this?"
"Because of Nyssra. She's the one who told us. She's the only one here who even tried to listen to us."
"Nyssra? Who's that?"
"She's the daughter of the Shaman of the underground people... Their Saint."
Tristan blinked, surprised by the term. The word "Saint" hit him like thunder. But upon further thought, he realized the meaning could be different in this context.
How could someone so powerful, someone considered saintly, live hidden away in the middle of nowhere in caves beneath the earth?
"Saint?" he repeated, suspicious.
"I was surprised too." Jin stepped a little closer and murmured the next words, almost inaudible: "I thought it was a lie at first... but it seems there's some truth to it. These people really believe in it. Take it seriously, Tristan. Show respect if she shows up again. We nearly died for refusing her 'gift.'"
"What gift?"
"They threw a bunch of bugs into the hole. They thought that would be our food. We said we needed meat. Nyssra tried to get us some."
Jin's shoulders shuddered, as if recalling something unpleasant.
"And she did. But it was raw. We only found out later that they don't know what fire is. When Tu Zhen saw it, he got furious and threw the meat on the ground. The guards got angry instantly. If Nyssra hadn't been there, they probably would've killed us."
Tristan kept his eyes on Jin for a few seconds, digesting the information.
"Do you know why they call her a Saint?"
"Not exactly. They say she was chosen by something. I also heard the guards murmuring strange things... talking about blessings, miracles, changes. Apparently, she went through some kind of transformation."
"Transformation?"
"Something like an evolution."
Tristan averted his gaze for a moment, immersed in thought.
'Blessing, evolution, disappearances... could it be…'
Before Tristan could ask more questions, a sound echoed through the hole. Slow, dragging footsteps reverberated off the stone walls. Jin immediately fell silent, and the other disciples shrank back further, anxious.
Tristan raised his head. His eyes shifted side to side, avoiding directly focusing on any point — but even so, he could clearly make out the appearance of the newcomer.
She was very different from the others.
While the other Ckryllophiterros had compact bodies and wrinkled skin, she stood with an imposing posture, close to two meters tall. The skin on her face was surprisingly smooth, like that of a newborn.
Her thick hair fell in heavy waves, almost reaching her hips. Tristan couldn't identify the exact color — he only knew it was a light shade. She wore a tunic made of animal furs, stitched together with rustic threads, covering her body up to her neck.
Her large, calm eyes seemed capable of seeing through anything.
Nyssra.
He was certain it was her.
"We are grateful for your presence, Saint Nyssra!"
Tristan heard the disciples of Zaguhan paying their respects. Surprisingly, the reverence seemed genuine. He saw them bow their heads in the darkness.
"Saint Nyssra! It's very good to hear your voice. Has your father decided anything about our situation?" — asked Yan Rui, nervous but still firm.
Nyssra remained silent for a few moments. She observed them all with an enigmatic expression, until her eyes landed directly on Tristan.
"You." Her voice was low, firm. "It was you who defiled the sacred altar."
The tension spread like poison. Jin flinched. The other disciples held their breath. Tristan, however, remained still.
'Damn.'
His mind raced with thoughts. The confused expression he wore was genuine.
"Sacred altar? Saint Nyssra, could you explain what you mean by that?" — asked Tu Zhen, sweating cold.
The guards behind her ground their teeth in anger, but Nyssra raised her hand, silencing them. She stepped closer to the pit, until she reached the edge.
"That altar is one of the last remnants of our time above the earth." Her voice sounded like an authoritative and powerful whisper. "Before we were driven away by your kind. Before the hunt. Before the fall."
Tristan felt the weight of those words.
"The creature it represents," Nyssra continued, "is the Progenitor Worm. The guardian sent by Mother Earth who carved the paths for our survival."
She took a deep breath.
"And you, human, stepped on it. With your filthy feet. And even… damaged it."
A cruel silence settled.
Tristan remained silent for a moment. Then, he bowed his head slightly.
Nyssra's face was like a slate — hard to read, even for him. Her expressions were so subtle that others might not perceive them at all.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about. But if I did something that insulted your people, I sincerely apologize. It wasn't intentional. I beg you to forgive my ignorance."
He kept his head down, gathering all the information he had. The truth was beginning to unfold in his mind.
Nyssra kept her gaze fixed on him. The disciples were anxious, as if a single word could seal their fate.
"Empty words," said one of the guards, spitting on the ground.
Once again, Nyssra raised her hand, and silence returned.
She briefly turned to the other disciples, then looked back at Tristan.
"I stopped them from being killed." Her voice was clear. "I tried to feed them. I tried to understand their customs. I'm trying to ensure they gain their freedom. And you… spat on all of it. You stepped on the altar. You mocked my people."
Yan Rui swallowed hard.
"Saint, please… you can't blame all of us for the actions of a single individual…"
Nyssra raised her voice, cutting him off:
"Enough. I've already done more than I should. My people are on the verge of fury. The elders demand vengeance. The youth cry for blood. And even so… I came here, once again."
Tristan raised his head slightly. Peeking subtly, he noticed something new: Nyssra's eyes trembled slightly. There were more emotions there than she seemed able to express.
"Do not cross any more lines," she said, now in a calmer tone, similar to before. "I will try to speak to my father again and calm this situation."
And without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away from the pit. The guards followed immediately.
Silence returned — dense and suffocating.
Meanwhile, Tristan was thinking about his new discovery.
After having seen Nyssra with his own eyes, he was certain of one thing.