Death… And Me

3040  I will try

Even Foliana was surprised. ”Didnʼt 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. ʼWell... you did say that you had something to ask me, didnʼt you?ʼ

Rean shrugged. Indeed, he mentioned he had a question to ask her, but he didnʼt 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 shouldnʼt have any issues reaching Stage Seven, but that also means you wonʼt be able to return here.”

Little Fisha was taken aback. ʼYou can bring me out?!ʼ

”I can,” Rean nodded. ”But thatʼs what makes me confused. I havenʼt 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 werenʼt blocked by it. They could go in and out, and only at Stage Seven or above they couldnʼt enter anymore.”

Rean continued, looking seriously at Little Fisha. ”Since thatʼs the case, why didnʼt 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 canʼt cultivate if it is away from the Spiritual Pond?”

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

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 thatʼs what the Galapadien Organization told us.”

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

[Not really...] Sister Orb knew the entire formation by now. [If they go out and reach Stage Seven, then they wonʼt 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. ʼIt canʼt 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...ʼ

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 Reanʼs words. ʼYes, pretty much that.ʼ

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 donʼt 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 donʼt have intelligence.”

”So, hereʼs 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 couldnʼt 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 wouldnʼt recommend that,” Rean stopped her. ”At the moment, the cultivators are all on the surface, making use of the Spiritual Pondʼs 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 wonʼt 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, thatʼs what you call it. For us, it is just our home. Anyway, it does indeed contribute a lot to our cultivation. That doesnʼt mean we canʼt 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 doesnʼt 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 didnʼt need to think twice. ”Even if other ponds or whatever donʼt 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 canʼt go to the next level.”

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

Little Fisha couldnʼt take that from her head anymore. ”I will definitely try.”