Chapter 102: Izolpha of the Central Falls

Here we are. The central falls. Time to do your thing Hollow Flame. Show us the way.

My word! The waterfall has inverted itself! It flows towards the very heavens!

To think the power of the hollow could even affect gravity!

Come on, then! Up we go!

Look at that!

The winged beast! But...

It's just some kind of stone monument.

You think that maybe the miu saw this ancient monument from the world below and that's how the legend was born?

I hope not, because I don't think a statue is going to help much when it comes to saving their race.

Nah, I can't imagine that'd be the only reason behind the legend.

Unfortunately I do not possess sufficient data on ancient relics from parallel universes..

Yeah, I'd imagine not. Let's just keep moving.

Dorzhova spoke of a settlement called Izolpha, did he not? Let's try and find it.

Is this...Izolpha?

Hmm... It doesn't seem like anyone resides here any longer.

It's like the entire village was forgotten by time...

I don't detect any humanoid lifeforms in the area.

...What happened here?

Let's take a look around. We might find some kind of clue.

Hey! Isn't that, ?!

Listen well, traveler from another world. In an age long past, red stones fell to this island from the heavens. The ancient prophecy was indeed fulfilled, marking the beginning of the end for the miu.

One after another the people of Izolpha fell victim to an illness we called the red blight. With all hope lost, we chose to enter a long slumber and seal ourselves off from the rest of the world. Our future had long been foretold, and we felt no need to call for outside help.

But we needed one to remain and guide any wayward souls who stumbled upon this place. It was a duty...I gladly...accepted...

H-Hey! What happened?!

Wait... They just accepted their fate and called it a day?

Hmph. Not my style.

Let's have a look around before we jump to any conclusions, shall we?

Yeah, you're right. There's gotta be something around here.

I wish to help you. But before that, I have a request. The thoughts and desires of my people still linger out in the Gardens of Bliss. I'd like you to find these fragments of resolve for me. We'll use them to try and call back the memories of my people. Do this for me, and I can show you the way to the Blood Ring.

The Blood Ring? That sounds ominous...

The Blood Ring is the red ring of light that crosses our night skies. The secret of the winged beast and the coming calamity lies somewhere within. Even now, my people can feel its pulse.

Its pulse? I wonder if that's some kind of psychic resonance... Is it like you feel a spiritual connection to some entity up in the heavens?

The red blight brought more than death to my people, It gave us strange powers. Were we to combine our wills together, it would not be impossible for us to spirit you directly to the ring.

The red stones were both a curse and a blessing. They opened the path to a new world.

Tell me. Just what is the winged beast? Does it have something to do with that stone monument?

It pains me to say that even we do not know the true nature of the winged beast. Our traditions teach that the stone monument has existed in its current form since the very beginning of time. Find the fragments of resolve and take them into your hearts, You may find that it nourishes you in mysterious ways. In any case, it would seem that there is already a lost soul among you who harbors the resolve of another.

Huh? What do you mean by that?

......

Alright. Basically we just need to fetch these fragments of yours, right? Sounds easy enough.

I can't really get behind yer way of thinkin', but that doesn't mean I can't help ya out. Sit tight for a while.