I Can See Evolution Paths

They kept walking, the conversation naturally shifting toward Luna’s childhood.

Arthur asked, "What was your village like?"

Luna described it as small and surrounded by the forest.

Arthur listened. "Did you have friends?"

"A few."

"Did you explore with them?"

"Sometimes."

Eden immediately flew closer. "What did you explore?"

Luna smiled. "Mostly places near the village."

Eden’s eyes shone. "Did you find anything interesting?"

"Sometimes."

Athy smiled. "Sounds like you were an explorer too."

Luna shook her head. "Not really."

Arthur looked at her. "You lived in the Everglades and explored it." He smiled. "I’d say that counts."

Luna laughed softly.

Then Eden asked, "What did you eat?"

Luna thought. "There was a fruit that grew near our village."

Eden’s eyes immediately brightened. "Was it sweet?"

"Very."

Eden turned toward Arthur. "We need to find it," she said.

Arthur laughed. "We’ll see."

Vedas shook his head. "We’re supposed to be finding the Mirror."

Arthur shrugged. "We can look for both."

Vedas sighed. "Of course we can."

Melo’s tail rose. "If we find it, I’m voting to stop for the fruit," she said.

Arthur looked at her. "You’re supposed to support the mission."

Melo smiled. "I am. The fruit is part of the mission now."

Athy laughed.

Eden suddenly thought of another question. "Did you have a Beast Partner?"

Luna’s expression changed slightly. She shook her head. "No."

Eden tilted her head. "Why?"

"I never awakened one."

Eden’s expression became sympathetic. "Oh." She floated closer. "That’s okay."

Luna looked at her.

Eden smiled. "You can still explore with us."

Luna’s eyes softened. "Thank you," she said.

Athy nodded. "She’s right."

Vedas gave a small smile. "You’ve already helped us more than most people could."

Melo’s tail gently waved. "And you’re the only one who knows where we’re going."

Luna looked at the group.

Arthur smiled. "Exactly." He gestured toward the compass. "You’re our guide now."

Luna looked down at it. She smiled. "Right."

"I’m surprised there aren’t any beasts around." He glanced around.

Luna shakes her head. "Because Beasts usually don’t go around the cavern."

Arthur’s expression became curious.

"None of them?"

Luna shook her head. "Not normally."

She looked around the surrounding forest before continuing. "There are usually Beasts everywhere around this part of the Everglades. Small ones in the trees, larger ones near the waterways, and flying Beasts above the canopy."

Arthur glanced upward.

The sky was already strangely empty.

"But they don’t go near the cavern?"

"They avoid it."

Athena looked thoughtful. "Why?"

"I don’t know." Luna shrugged. "My grandfather said it was always like that."

Arthur crouched beside a patch of disturbed soil.

There were tracks here.

But none of them led toward the direction of the cavern.

They all went the other way.

Arthur slowly stood. "So even the Beasts know there’s something wrong with it."

Luna nodded. "I’m not sure... It might be the mirror deterring them."

"Possibly." Arthur’s eyes brightened.

Vedas immediately noticed.

"Don’t."

Arthur looked at him. "I haven’t said anything."

"You don’t have to."

Sun laughed. "He has a point."

Arthur looked between them. "What?"

Vedas sighed. "You’re thinking that if the Beasts avoid the cavern, then it will be a fun adventure inside."

Arthur smiled. "Exactly."

For the first time, Luna looked completely comfortable walking beside them.

They continued deeper into the Everglades.

The path gradually became narrower, forcing the group to move between enormous roots and thick patches of vegetation.

Every so often Arthur noticed signs that Beasts had once traveled through the area. Scratches covered some of the tree trunks.

Tracks crossed the mud. One particularly large set of footprints disappeared beneath a curtain of vegetation.

But none of them continued toward the cavern.

Arthur found that strange. "Luna."

She looked back. "Hm?"

Arthur pointed toward the tracks. "What Beast made those?"

Luna studied them. "Ironback Crocodile."

Sun looked at the enormous footprints. "That’s a crocodile?"

Luna nodded. "A very large one."

Sun stared at the tracks. "How large?"

Luna held out her arms.

Sun’s expression slowly changed. "That’s not a crocodile."

Mithra laughed. "What is it?"

"A natural disaster with teeth."

Melo’s ears twitched. "That sounds accurate."

Arthur crouched beside the tracks. "When was it here?"

Luna looked at the mud. "Recently."

Arthur followed the tracks with his eyes and they came from the direction of the cavern. But they stopped several dozen meters away.

The Beast had turned around.

Arthur looked toward the cavern. "Even it changed its mind."

Vedas folded his arms. "That should probably tell you something."

Arthur stood. "It does."

Vedas sighed. "I don’t like that answer."

Arthur smiled. "It means we’re getting closer."

They continued deeper.

The Everglades slowly began to change around them. At first, the difference was barely noticeable but then the air became warmer. And then Arthur noticed small streams of steam escaping from cracks between the roots.

A few minutes later, the ground itself began giving off faint heat.

Eden lowered herself closer to Arthur. "It’s getting hot."

Arthur nodded. "I noticed."

Athy flew a little higher, her white feathers fluttering in the warmer air. "The wind feels different."

Vedas glanced around. "And the plants are changing."

He was right.

The thick vegetation they’d passed earlier was gradually disappearing.

In its place were strange plants with dark green leaves and reddish stems, some growing directly beside cracks in the ground.

Tiny droplets of water formed along their surfaces before evaporating into steam.

Arthur crouched beside one. "I’ve never seen this kind before."

Luna nodded. "They only grow near the cavern."

Arthur looked up. "Can you eat them?"

Luna blinked. "I don’t think so."

Eden immediately looked disappointed.

Melo raised one tail. "That was an important question."

Arthur looked at her. "You’re making this worse."

"I’m helping."

Athy giggled.

The group continued.

The farther they went, the fewer Beasts they saw.

At first there were still insects and then those disappeared too. No birds flew overhead. No Beast moved through the vegetation.

Even the occasional tracks eventually vanished.

Arthur slowed down. "It’s getting quieter."

Luna nodded. "We’re close."

Arthur looked toward her. "How close?"

Luna pointed ahead. "Not far."

The compass in Arthur’s hand continued pointing forward.

Arthur smiled. "Good."

Vedas looked at him. "You sound way too happy."

Arthur grinned. "We’re finally getting somewhere."

The farther they walked, the quieter Luna became, and it didn’t take long for the change to catch Arthur’s attention.

Arthur noticed. "Luna."

She looked back. "Hm?"

"Something wrong?"

Luna looked toward the forest ahead. "My grandfather never wanted me to come this far," she said.

The group became quieter.

Vedas asked, "Why?"

Luna hesitated. "He warned me about the Steaming Cavern."

Arthur looked at her. "Was he afraid of it?"

Luna thought for a moment. "Not exactly."

Arthur tilted his head. "Then what?"

"He was careful when he talked about it."

Athena looked at her. "What do you mean?"

Luna lowered her voice. "He never said the cavern was dangerous."

She looked toward the distant steam. "He said it was a place that should be respected."

Arthur became thoughtful. "That’s different."

Luna nodded. "Whenever I asked him what was inside, he would change the subject."

Vedas glanced toward Arthur. "That doesn’t make you want to know more?"

Arthur looked at him. "Obviously it does."

Vedas closed his eyes. "I shouldn’t have asked."

Athy looked toward the steam. "Did he tell you what was inside?"

Luna shook her head. "No."

Melo’s tails curled closer to Mithra. "That’s reassuring," she said.

Luna lowered her gaze. "He only told me," she paused, "some places are better left unexplored."

Arthur became quiet.

Vedas immediately looked at him. "Don’t."

Arthur blinked. "Don’t what?"

"Whatever you’re thinking."

Arthur smiled. "I’m just curious."

Vedas sighed. "That’s exactly what I’m worried about."

Athy covered a smile.

Eden raised both hands. "I’m still going."

Vedas looked at her. "I know."

Arthur laughed.

The trees began thinning and steam drifted through the forest.

The temperature rose sharply.

Luna suddenly stopped and everyone looked ahead. A massive rocky formation rose beyond the trees, huge cracks running across its surface, steam pouring from them. Arthur looked toward Luna as she slowly looked down at the compass. The needle pointed directly toward the formation.

Luna whispered, "The Steaming Cavern."

Arthur’s eyes shone. "So that’s where we’re going."

Vedas stared at the cavern. "Your grandfather had a reason for warning you."

Arthur gripped his spear. "We’ll find out what it was."

Athy looked toward the entrance. "I wonder what’s inside."

Eden’s eyes sparkled. "Maybe the Mirror!"

Melo looked at the cavern. "Hopefully it’s not another giant monster."

Kong gave a low growl.

Arthur looked at him. "You think there is?"

"Of course, our luck is always that bad." Kong said with a snort.

Arthur’s grin widened. "Even better."

Vedas sighed. "I knew you were going to say that."

Luna remained silent, her expression uneasy.

Then, boom!

Something deep inside the cavern moved.

The entire rocky formation trembled. Steam burst from the cracks. A terrifying roar echoed through the forest.

Everyone froze.

Eden’s eyes widened.

Athy immediately moved closer to Athena while Vedas gripped his spear. Kong clenched his fist and Melo’s eyes narrowed.

Luna took a step back.

Arthur, for a moment, simply stared. Then a smile slowly spread across his face. "Now that’s interesting," he said.

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