Chapter 402: The Road Beneath the Earth

Arthur studied the five marks on Steven’s expedition map as Vedas leaned over.

"They resemble the fragment," Vedas admitted. "But five lines aren’t exactly rare."

"True," Arthur said. "Still, it’s our first lead. Can I show Athena?"

Steven handed him a folder of copied records. "You may examine these in the archive. The originals stay here, and nobody touches the fragment without supervision."

Arthur grinned. "I wasn’t going to."

"You reached for its case twice during our conversation," Vedas observed.

Steven laughed. "Which is why I mentioned it."

Eden settled on Arthur’s shoulder as they left the office, still excited about Sunday’s discovery. "Will the ancient road take us to Stillwater Basin?"

"Not necessarily," Arthur explained. "But it’s in the same region. We could visit once you’re recovered."

"Then we’ll solve two mysteries!" Eden declared.

"One mystery and one evolution requirement," Vedas corrected. "They aren’t necessarily connected."

Arthur nodded. "Let’s find Athena before I start guessing."

...

Athena had taken over a reference table by the time Arthur arrived. Athy perched beside a stack of books, while Sun and Kong occupied the neighboring seats. Mithra and Melo joined them shortly afterward.

"So the principal actually gave you expedition records?" Sun asked as Arthur spread out the maps. "I thought his reward was supposed to be training, not permission to find another dangerous ruin."

"Apparently I did well enough to earn both," Arthur replied.

Athena barely looked up. "Show me the fragment’s markings. Not the stone itself—the sketch."

Arthur passed her the drawing he’d made in Steven’s office. She set it beside an older illustration of the five Mirror monuments and frowned.

"At first glance, the number matches," Athena said. "But the arrangement doesn’t. The monuments were recorded in an arc. Your five grooves run parallel, with different spacing."

"So they’re not the Mirrors?" Mithra asked.

"They could still be related, but I wouldn’t label them that way yet," Athena replied. "Look here instead."

She turned a map of the underground desert city they had explored during the Earth Mirror expedition. Roads radiated from a central junction, several disappearing beyond the edge of the surveyed area. Athena traced five narrow routes on a separate archival drawing.

Arthur leaned forward. "Wait. Those gaps actually match the grooves."

"Approximately," Athena cautioned. "This may be a route marker rather than a depiction of the Mirrors."

Sun blinked. "So we’ve been staring at a piece of ancient road signage?"

"Possibly," Arthur said, delighted. "That’s even more useful. A sign can tell us where to go."

Kong leaned over the map. "Road to food?"

"Nobody knows," Sun told him. "Stop making everything about lunch."

"You asked about lunch first this morning," Athy remarked, earning a laugh from Mithra.

Athena opened three expedition reports, laying their survey drawings side by side. "Here’s the strange part. These teams apparently examined the same branch of the network, but their measurements disagree."

The first report described a dead end. The second showed a long passage ending at a sealed gate. The third recorded severe Mana interference and the recovery of a dark stone fragment, with almost no information about what lay beyond.

"Maybe one team got lost," Sun suggested.

"That wouldn’t explain why the same entrance appears at three different distances," Athena answered.

Arthur studied the sketches and remembered the violet sky in his vision, the giant surfaces, and the creature whose evolution path he’d been unable to see.

"The passage I saw was enormous," he said. "There were five structures and a doorway beyond them. I couldn’t tell whether I was underground, even though I touched something found beneath the earth."

Mithra compared the diagrams quietly. "What if the explorers weren’t measuring the same version of the route?"

Everyone looked at her.

"I mean, what if something in the passage changed?" Mithra continued. "The entrance stays in the same place, but the distance inside doesn’t. Or a gate opens and closes, making one team think they’ve reached the end."

Athena’s expression sharpened. "That fits the measurements. It doesn’t prove the route changes, but we can test it."

Melo flicked her tails proudly. "See? Mithra notices things the rest of you walk past."

"She did save my simulated town that way," Arthur said, smiling at Mithra. "I’m starting to think I should ask her to inspect every suspicious doorway."

Mithra laughed. "Then you have to promise not to run through it before I finish."

"That might be harder than the expedition," Vedas muttered.

...

Steven met them in an Academy planning room that afternoon. Athena laid out the conflicting reports and explained their interpretation, with Mithra pointing out how the passage might have produced inconsistent distances.

Steven examined the drawings before looking at Arthur. "You’ve identified a question worth investigating. That’s not the same as proving your theory, but it’s enough to justify a survey."

"So we’re approved?" Arthur asked.

"For a supervised expedition, yes. Archivist Celia will accompany you as the Academy’s field researcher. Your travel route will be registered, and you’ll have emergency communication equipment. Any sealed chambers remain off-limits until Celia evaluates them."

Sun raised a hand. "Quick question. Does the route include another collapsing mountain?"

"Hopefully not," Arthur replied.

Sun stared at him. "That’s the exact answer I didn’t want."

Steven chuckled and turned to the others. "Arthur may invite qualified teammates, but no one is obligated to go."

Arthur turned to his friends. "Well? Want to see where that road leads?"

"Yes," Athena replied immediately. "Those measurements alone warrant a closer examination."

Mithra smiled. "Count me in. Someone has to check the doors before you touch them."

Sun sighed theatrically. "I suppose if I’m staying behind, I’ll miss all the treasure. Fine, I’m coming."

Kong punched the air. "Treasure!"

Athy settled her wings. "Research."

"Both can be good," Melo said, looking smugly toward Mithra.

Eden tugged Arthur’s sleeve. "And Stillwater Basin?"

Arthur turned back to Steven. "There’s another stop I’d like to request. We found a monitored temporal Mana site that might help Eden fulfill her evolution requirement safely."

Steven reviewed the location on the route map. "It’s a reasonable detour. Celia can arrange a research visit with the station, provided Eden has recovered and the conditions are safe when you arrive."

Eden hugged Arthur’s cheek. "We really are going!"

Steven smiled. "Once the preparations are complete."

...

The Academy equipment depot issued expedition credentials, protective clothing, field instruments, and emergency communication crystals. Athena immediately tested a measuring device against the room’s Mana lamps.

"It records fluctuations remotely," she said. "That will help compare the surveys."

Sun examined a compact emergency beacon. "Now this is useful. If Arthur decides to touch another ancient object, I can call for help before the ceiling falls."

"You make that sound like a habit," Arthur protested.

"It is a habit," Vedas replied.

Kong discovered the sealed food provisions and reached for one. The depot keeper gently stopped him, explaining that emergency rations were reserved for the expedition.

Kong’s face fell. "Emergency now? Hungry."

Melo burst out laughing. "He hasn’t even left the Academy!"

Arthur bought Kong a pastry, prompting Sun to call it their cheapest rescue operation yet.

...

Near sunset, Arthur and Mithra walked across the Academy courtyard after helping the others carry their supplies. The festival charm still hung from Arthur’s jacket, and the crescent ornament shone from Mithra’s bag.

"You’re excited," Mithra said, watching his expression. "You were talking about that road all afternoon."

"Can you blame me? An ancient network nobody fully surveyed, inconsistent measurements, and a fragment that showed me something my Talent couldn’t explain." Arthur grinned, then looked at her. "And we might finally help Eden evolve."

Mithra smiled, but her next question came more quietly. "Arthur, can I ask you something about Saturday?"

"Of course."

"I had a wonderful time," she said, touching the ornament. "But I want to know whether you thought of it as just one nice evening, or whether you’re hoping for something more."

Arthur stopped walking so he could face her properly. "I hope it’s the beginning of something. I meant what I said at the exhibition. I like you, Mithra."

She looked relieved, though a small blush crept into her cheeks. "Good. Because I like you too, and I’d rather not spend months pretending I only want to study with you."

Arthur laughed. "Then let’s go on another date after the expedition. Somewhere without ancient ruins."

"I’ll hold you to that," Mithra replied, smiling. "Though I wouldn’t mind exploring ruins with you too."

Their hands met as they started walking again, and neither let go.

Arthur’s communication crystal chimed. Athena’s voice came through, unusually excited. "Arthur, come back to the archive. I found a photograph you need to see."

...

Athena had enlarged a faded survey photograph across the reference display. It showed a ruined entrance rising out of a barren landscape. Five immense pillars stood in front of a dark rectangular doorway.

Arthur stopped beside her. "Those pillars..."

"Compare them with your sketch," Athena said, placing his drawing alongside the image. "The scale and arrangement are remarkably similar."

Sun stared between them. "You’re telling me he saw this place just by touching that fragment?"

"Maybe," Arthur replied, his excitement returning. "But I didn’t see these broken stones. I saw something much larger, with a violet sky behind it."

Athena nodded. "The photograph doesn’t establish what you experienced, and there’s no sign of the creature you described. But this entrance gives us a specific place to investigate."

Mithra studied the doorway. "And if the passage beyond it really changes, we’ll find out why those explorers couldn’t agree on its length."

Arthur looked at the dark opening in the photograph. For the first time, the strange vision wasn’t only an unanswered question. It had a location, a team, and an expedition waiting to begin.

He smiled. "Then that’s where we’re going."