Death... and me

3040  I will try

Even Foliana was surprised. "Didn't Rean say you could leave whenever you wanted?" Well, she was also speaking about that so she could forget the previous event.

Little Fisha floated in the air with the help of her Spiritual Energy, feeling conflicted. 'Well... you did say that you had something to ask me, didn't you?'

Rean shrugged. Indeed, he mentioned he had a question to ask her, but he didn't expect she would take it. She had been trying to escape all this while, but it seemed like the effects of the Blood Reformation Pill changed her mind a little. "Okay. I was just curious. Since we have come this far, do you want to leave this Spiritual Canyon? That means also abandoning the Spiritual Pond forever. With the Blood Reformation Pill, you shouldn't have any issues reaching Stage Seven, but that also means you won't be able to return here."

Little Fisha was taken aback. 'You can bring me out?!'

"I can," Rean nodded. "But that's what makes me confused. I haven't mentioned it before, but the Galapadien Organization is the one that takes care of the formation that protects the Spiritual Canyon. Anyway, they told us before we came inside that the Demon Beasts weren't blocked by it. They could go in and out, and only at Stage Seven or above they couldn't enter anymore."

Rean continued, looking seriously at Little Fisha. "Since that's the case, why didn't you simply leave the Spiritual Canyon? Your race would rather risk your lives approaching this inheritance in the past than going out on their own. Could it be that your Swordhorm Sea Race can't cultivate if it is away from the Spiritual Pond?"

Little Fisha was shocked by that revelation. 'Wait! Are you saying we could go out anytime we wanted?! And what is this thing about not being able to return after Stage Seven?'

Rean and Foliana looked at each other before they returned their attention to Little Fisha and nodded. They then gave Little Fisha a quick explanation of what they were told. "...At least that's what the Galapadien Organization told us."

At the same time, Rean asked Sister Orb. 'Sister Orb, does the formation have something that prevents the Swordhorn Sea Race from going out?'

[Not really...] Sister Orb knew the entire formation by now. [If they go out and reach Stage Seven, then they won't be able to come back. But they should be able to leave without any issues. At the very least, I do not see anything in the formation itself that prevents it from happening.]

Little Fisha, however, seemed completely lost. 'It can't be... Our race has always believed that going out of the caves is certain death, regardless of going to the surface or approaching this inheritance...'

Rean pondered a bit and asked. "Let me guess. When you guys reached Stage Six, you either tried to get close to this inheritance or tried to leave the underwater Caves, right? And in both cases, you never saw anyone ever returning."

Little Fisha confirmed Rean's words. 'Yes, pretty much that.'

Rean sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Then it should be pretty obvious. There is indeed a chance that those who tried to leave the caves and go to the surface might have died. However, your race members never go out before Stage Six. It makes sense since Demon Beasts don't gain sentience before Stage Six, either. It would be useless to send them out and hope they would come back to tell you anything since they don't have intelligence."

"So, here's what is probably happening to quite a few of them," Rean continued. "They did manage to leave the Canyon, but they also took the chance to reach Stage Seven. That meant they were blocked out. They simply couldn't enter the Canyon anymore. Since they never came back..."

"We thought they had died..." Little Fisha quickly understood. "We also never tried to talk to the cultivators since we see them all as enemies. They always try to rob us of our Algae, which is our only food. Not only that, our water loses a lot of its Spiritual Properties during the time they are here, so you can imagine how none of us even think about trying to talk to them. Just how long has it been like that?"

Rean and Foliana could only imagine. "No less than a few thousands of years at the very least."

Little Fisha looked in the direction of the exit and asked. "So... I can go out right now, right?"

"I wouldn't recommend that," Rean stopped her. "At the moment, the cultivators are all on the surface, making use of the Spiritual Pond's water. If you go out now, chances are you will be hunted down by all of them at once."

Foliana agreed. "He is right. Wait until tomorrow. Today is the last day the Spiritual Canyon is open. Tomorrow, there won't be anyone anymore other than other Demon Beasts, so you should be able to make your way out of the Spiritual Canyon. However, it is like Rean meaning. If you reach Stage Seven, you will not be able to enter the Canyon ever again. How important is the Spiritual Pond for your cultivation?"

Little Fish thought about it for a moment before explaining. "The Spiritual Pond... Well, that's what you call it. For us, it is just our home. Anyway, it does indeed contribute a lot to our cultivation. That doesn't mean we can't cultivate out of it, though. But, as an aquatic race, we would rather be in the water, even if it is not the water of our home."

Rean sighed in response. "Then you should think carefully about it. Since you have never been out, I might as well tell you this. The water of other places outside the Canyon doesn't have anywhere near as much Spiritual Energy as this place. Also, the outside world is dangerous. Do you still wish to go out?"

"I do!" Little Fisha didn't need to think twice. "Even if other ponds or whatever don't have the same amount of Spiritual Energy, at least I can cultivate and reach Stage Seven. All the Spiritual Energy here in my home is useless if I can't go to the next level."

Rean smiled. "Good. So, wait until tomorrow and set off. Try to find some body of water near the Canyon's location. I have a feeling you will find quite a few members of your race there."

Little Fisha couldn't take that from her head anymore. "I will definitely try."