Northstar Vale That man is not your maker

His words sent a pang through her as her ears pinned back against her skull, I'm sorry... In reality there was nothing to prompt such a reaction, but the girl couldn't help but feel as if it was her fault. She had heard Hiromi say several times that she and the other kids shouldn't see what they saw. Did the others feel like her or was she truly alone in what she had experienced?

Either way, the rising guilt was enough to keep her silent for the rest of the trip through the territory. Eventually, they reached some cavern that she had yet to find on her own. Pausing, Hotaru glanced to the entrance and their surroundings taking in the new location before Takeshi nudged her, silently asking to follow.

She didn't need his convincing. The air had eyes and the only comfort she found was in the seclusion of her den, so naturally given the opportunity to escape it, she took it. Though she only made it a few steps in as her eyes adjusted before the girl stopped in her tracks, jaw falling as she took in the dimly lit room. It was almost as if it was glowing as the water reflected along the cavern walls with a beauty she had never seen before. Thin beams of light filtered in from cracks of the cavern lining making it look like something from a dream.

It wasn't Takeshi's true intentions, but he had succeeded in temporarily distracting her from the grief of her mother. Wow— Hotaru's words were barely a whisper as she slowly approached the water for a better look.