When the sun had set, and the birdfolk returned, Zynis and the others began to move . They would split into four groups and search the area around the lake .
While it was night, there were boats floating on the water, and torches that used magic stones reflected brightly on the surface .
On the side of the lake that was opposite to the villa, there were steep cliffs . And just like the mirror lake in the dwarf lands, there were caves where the water seemed to be pouring from . However, the cliffs were not too high, so you would be able to climb them from the other side and get a good view of the surrounding area, including the town and villa .
Zynis was currently standing on top of the cliff . The air that blew from the lake moved his ash-colored fur .
“My first form feels the best for this place . I see . It’s important to know which skin to inhabit . ”
He said as he pointed his nose windward . If Dilon were there, he would have muttered, ‘That’s not what I was trying to say…also, you may think that you sound cool when you say that, but you really don’t . ’
“However, this side of the lake is clearly thicker with miasma . I didn’t notice it during the day . But we’re much farther from the Shadow World now that we’re inland . So it should be thinner than it was in Midland . ”
Zynis sniffed in different directions .
“Hmm . This way . ”
He headed to the north side of the cliffs where the lake ended . There were several small caves here as well . There was one cave that you would be able to enter from the ground, and there were four soldiers guarding the entrance . Two soldiers blocked the cave . And two guarded it from a short distance away . He could feel the miasma coming from the rocks of the cliff .
“It’s strange that there are guards here at all . Why are they protecting this cave? Hmm . ”
Then the guards turned and seemed to be looking inside . At the same time, a small group of people approached them . They were dwarves who were escorted by soldiers . As Zynis continued to watch, a group of dwarves and soldiers went inside the cave as another group came out .
“Father . ”
“Dilon . ”
Dilon approached him quietly .
“There’s a dwarf settlement over there . ”
“A settlement?”
“It’s a short distance away from the town . There are only about ten houses, maybe . It doesn’t seem like they are being forced to stay there, but isn’t it strange that there are enough dwarves here to create a settlement?”
“Look . ”
Zynis indicated towards the cave .
“Ah! I see . They are being made to work then . But I’ve never heard of ore being mined inland . ”
What Dilon was saying was true . It wasn’t that the human territories had no natural resources at all . But they had no problem leaving the mining and smithing to the dwarves, since they were so skilled at it .
“They seem really exhausted . Dilon . Go and follow them . ”
“Got it . ”
Dilon disappeared quietly .
Zynis stayed up and watched the cave for the whole night . But aside from the dwarves and soldiers leaving after a few hours, nothing else changed . However, even when the cave should have been empty, there were still four soldiers guarding the entrance .
When he returned to the first spot in the morning, the others were all gathered there and had returned to their first form . Zynis also transformed and asked them to make their reports .
“I’ll start . ”
Ortha began .
“I tried walking through the town once everyone was asleep . I didn’t notice anything strange . If I had to point out one thing, it would be that I barely smelled any grilled fish, in spite of being so close to the lake . ”
“Hmm . Next . ”
Zynis said as he nodded at the brisk report .
“My turn . ”
Corete said .
“I mainly watched the lake . There were so many lights on the boats . I knew there had to be something . ”
“So?”
Zynis urged him to continue .
“Half the time they watched the water, the other half they watched the sky . ”
“And what was there to watch?”
“I don’t know why they were watching the sky . However, I found out why they were watching the water . ”
Corete looked serious .
“No . ”
“Zynis . I don’t know what you are thinking, but I’m sure you’re wrong . They were looking for the merfolk . ”
“The merfolk…”
It wasn’t unthinkable . After all, the lake was supposed to be connected to the sea . There were always rumors about people seeing merfolk .
“And how did you know there were merfolk?”
“Because I saw them . ”
“You did?”
“Their heads came out of the water . But the humans didn’t notice them . ”
“What? They are so stupid . ”
If the merfolk were stupid for poking their heads out when there were guards on the water, then the guards were even more stupid for not noticing them . Zynis looked a little exasperated .
“So much for being careful when going to the mirror lake . ”
Dilon said . He was about to say more when Ortha interrupted him .
“So, Corete . There is more, isn’t there?”
“Yes . It seemed like the merfolk were interested in the villa . Of course, there were even more lights over there, and they could not get close . ”
“But merfolk will walk on the land like it’s nothing . Just like birdfolk can live in the sky and on land, the merfolk can live in the sea and on land . There is probably something they want to do, if only they could get out of the lake . ”
Kleo, who hadn’t been part of the night reconnaissance, said .
“What’s happening…”
“Before we start speculating, it’s your turn, Dilon . ”
Dilon looked surprised and then straightened his posture .
“I checked the area behind the town . And I discovered a small dwarven settlement . There appeared to be a family living in each house, because I saw children . We think they are working in the cave near the lake, but we don’t know what they are doing exactly . ”
“Merfolk and dwarves . Is this really inland?”
Ortha looked puzzled .
“I was watching the cave . Soldiers and dwarves went in and out, but I wasn’t able to learn anything other than the fact that they were guarding the entrance . ”
Zynis said . Then he looked towards the lake .
“Also, the miasma is very thick here . ”
The others nodded .
“Now, this is not enough information to take back with us . What are the merfolk trying to do? What is happening in the town? We need to investigate this further . ”
Zynis decided their direction .
“Corete, Ortha, Dilon . You all go to the nearest town and disguise yourselves as merchants and then return . You can conduct your business while you investigate . ”
The three nodded .
“I and two of the birdfolk will stay here and continue to search . I want to see if I can talk to the merfolk during the night . ”
The birdfolk nodded . However, they seemed a little restless .
“What is it?”
“Would you mind if we went out a little farther during reconnaissance?”
“Of course . It would look strange if you just flew here all day . ”
“Good . It looks like there is going to be a complicated wind current . I want to go and check it out . ”
“Uh, right . Very well . ”
Kaela seemed very excited about it, but Zynis looked a little disturbed . But birdfolk would always be birdfolk, regardless of their color .
“Well, until tonight, then . ”
Everyone moved in order to fulfill their role . This was the morning of the day that Maki and Chiharu reached Lowland .