Hours have passed. Everything is dark in Shokei's mind as she is in a state of unconsciousness.

  Shokei.... Shokei....

  Shokei can hear voices. A voice speaks out to her as she is trying to find her way out of the darkness.

  Shokei...wake up! Please, wake up!

  Shokei wakes up from a deep sleep after the knockout gas. She was being awaken by The that called out to her. Shokei gets up from the floor and she can see The standing there.

  "The!" Shokei said, blinking. "You're safe!"

  "Shokei..." The said.

  "Oh, I was worried about you. In fact, my party was worried for you." Shokei said, feeling relief.

  "I know." The said with a smile. "I was worried that no one would find me."

  "I am gd that you're safe, but..."

  Shokei paused and then looks around. She can see that she is relocated in a basement that looks like a prison cell. The basement has gates surrounding the windows and where she can see from a distance is a stairway to where the door lead to the exit.

  "We're in a prison...once again." Shokei said.

  Shokei looks around to see that her party is separated in cells. The scenario feels like the st time back in Senwald. This time, however, the prison cells that they are held in are more different but small and wide. Shokei sees Sadako and The are in her cell. She checked on the others and sees Lei, Marie, and Rei in one cell. Beatrice, Obsidian, and Tamiko in another cell, and Kichiro, Ferron, and Saeko held in a third cell.

  "What is this pce?" Rei asked. "Feels like we never left Senwald at all."

  "Let's not think about that." Marie said to her. "This looks different around here."

  "Whoever put us in here is going to pay." Tamiko said, clenching her fist. Then, she sees Shokei's cell. "Hey! The little girl! She's safe!"

  "Yes, I'm ok." The nodded.

  "Speaking of being safe, what brought you here in this cell?" Shokei asked. "How did you get kidnapped?"

  "Last night, I was at a pond to get a drink of water." The tells everyone. "Suddenly, I was caught from behind and was escorted away from the area. If I recall one thing, I was being put into a deep sleep and then I found myself trapped in this cell."

  "Hmm, that expins how you got here." Sadako said.

  "Yeah." The said. "I was not hurt or anything."

  "At least you're safe with us, now that we found you." Shokei said. "The problem we have to deal with is trying to get out of here."

  "Hmm?"

  A sound of the door was opened, and Beatrice can hear footsteps entering.

  "Hey guys! Someone's coming."

  Shokei and her party can hear more footsteps entering. The party can see that there is a group of bandits making their appearance. The bandits came in and the appearance looks more of a thievery clothes and their faces are concealed with masks on. The mask includes a scar on different locations on each mask. Then, three more bandits are heading downstairs and Shokei gets a look on the trio. There, she can identify Lucreita being among the group, along with two other female bandits.

  The girl beside Lucreita has a pink long ponytail, wearing a bra-covered shirt with grey baggy pants. She has a small tattoo on her left cheek. The other girl, who appears to be more of a leader, has a stylish yellow pigtail with a slight dye of bck at the end. Her outfit appears to be light armor but not too bulky.

  "Who...who are you guys?" Shokei asked.

  "I am the leader of my bandit posse, Woundcw." The girl with yellow hair introduces herself. "The names Editha."

  The pink haired girl stands in the middle of the room to get a good look of everyone around inside their cells.

  "I am the assistant in charge of Woundcw. The name's Cyril." The girl introduced herself.

  "And I am sure that most of you know me well, Lucreita." The blue haired girl said with an evil grin.

  "So...," Cyril was about to say something and then she turns her focus on Shokei. "I know that a foolish traveler such as yourself would simply follow my notes only to be lured into our perfect trap. Hehehe."

  "Figures..." Shokei said to her and then she asked. "I bet you're the bastard that has been causing mischief in stealing people's belongings from the people of Egesul. Am I right?"

  "Of course!" Cyril replied. "That's the one thing you got right! Better yet, we are the ones that have been raiding into people's property and taking anything that looks valuable into our possession. We will make damn sure that pathetic weaklings won't retrieve their 'precious' items even if they try hard to find our secret location."

  "I'm sure you and your team of bandits are responsible for all your thievery." Shokei said. "Aside from that, you stolen a special artifact that belongs to the town's museum."

  "Ohhhhh ho ho!" Cyril ughed a bit and asked, "You mean that ancient book containing some special history and such?"

  "I am sure you know what I am talking about." Shokei said directly at her.

  "Now now!" Cyril said, making a talk to the hand gesture. "I know what you're thinking. Yes, we Woundcw are in possession of that book we stole from the town. If you think of giving the book back to you would be simple, I am not about that. That won't fly well with me at all."

  "Look. We won't leave your territory unless you give us back that book." Shokei said to her. "On top of that, the people's belongings..."

  "Hmmmph!! FINE!!" Cyril interrupted Shokei, getting annoyed. "You want me to give you back the book? You want me to surrender the precious items we stolen from the people of Egesul? I would do that, but..."

  Shokei and her party listened to what the leader of Woundcw was saying.

  "If you and your group of friends want us to give back the items that we stole, then I have a very special task that I want you to do for me." Cyril finished.

  "What?" Shokei blinked and asked. "Wait, what task?"

  Before Cyril can continue, she holds a key to the cell and walks over to where Shokei, along with Sadako and The, are being held captive.

  "I'm only letting you out so that we can discuss this." Cyril said, opening the cell while her bandits have their crossbows equipped with them. "Remember, just you and ONLY you. Any of your friends pull a stunt in escaping, all of them will be dealt with...and I promise you, you two will be dealt with in a nasty way...

  The cold hearted words made Shokei take a breath. She looks back at her party members.

  "It's fine Shokei." Rei said to her. "Do what you have to do and follow orders."

  Shokei hears what Rei said and then she looks back at the leader of Woundcw.

  "Now, follow me." Cyril ordered.

  Shokei obeyed and exited out of her cell. Once she stepped out, the cell was immediately closed and locked by the other bandit. There, Shokei followed Cyril and the other two leads of Woundcw out of the basement. The remaining bandits have their crossbows all set and are ready in case Shokei's party members did anything to escape.

  Leaving the basement, Shokei is outside. Once she stepped out, the basement that she walked out appeared to be a shed. From there, Shokei can see a cabin on the right. Shokei is escorted to the cabin with Cyril, Editha, and Lucreita leading the way and the other bandits are behind Shokei. Walking inside the cabin, Shokei finds her way into a room. The room appears to be more of an office. The only thing that is in the room was a desk.

  "Stand here victim." Cyril tells Shokei.

  Shokei did so and Cyril walks over to her desk. The Woundcw leader takes a seat at her desk whereas Editha and Lucreita stand on both sides.

  "I made it far." Shokei said and asked. "What task must I do for you?"

  "Ok..." Cyril begin. "You really want those items back, right? Here's the deal. I did research from that book we stole from the museum, and it appears that there is a hidden treasure that is found within this forest. The treasure is found in a monastery, to which I haven't got a clue to know where it is. If you can find that treasure and bring it back here, I will make a promise to set your friends free from here and also give back the stolen items that were taken. Sounds fair enough?"

  "Sounds good to me." Shokei said but asked with curiosity. "What's the catch?"

  "Haha! I knew you were going to ask me on that." Cyril said with a evil smile. "For this task, you can only bring at least one person to accompany you."

  "Are you kidding me?" Shokei asked. "I...I can't do this without my party."

  "Oh really?" Cyril said. "You rather do this by yourself? Or you want us to imprison you and see what we will do to your friends..."

  "Ok ok!" Shokei interrupted. "You made a point, I'll do it! I don't know what kind of twisted mind your cn does, but I'll do it for them! What's this treasure that you seek?"

  "Ahhh that's better!" Cyril said with a pleased look. "Now, about that treasure. I am looking for a particur relic called the Diamond Light Idol. It's a rare treasure that has been sealed in a special treasure box for ages. Because this treasure is rare, it has been said to be found in a monastery. I should point out that the monastery is old and abandoned. Not sure if it's safe or whatever is dwelling in there, but I am sure that this task should be no problem for you."

  "Easy for you to say...," Shokei said, feeling uncertain. "Besides, you could have gone there yourself and your horde of bandits."

  "Excuse me?" Cyril said. "I'm sure that someone is trying to back out of the task which will spell disaster for you and your friends...hmm, maybe I should consider murdering all of you instead..."

  "Fine then, I'll do it." Shokei said, accepting the task without thought and sighed.

  "Great! Then it's settled!" Cyril said with a smile.

  "Before I do anything, might I ask what's so important about that treasure?" Shokei asked.

  "None of your business!!" Cyril shouted at her. "You do as you're told! I don't want to hear anything else from you until you come back with that Idol, you hear me?!"

  Cyril then turns to Editha.

  "You," Cyril gets her attention. "Escort this 'character of a leader' back to her cell. Make sure she picks one person that would join her in her quest. And I mean ONE! Ok?!"

  "Yes ma'am." Editha nodded.

  Shokei leaves the cabin as she is escorted away with Editha and two bandits behind her.

  "Now go, and don't come back until you found that treasure!!" Cyril calls out to her.

  Later that day, Shokei goes off into the Maple Forest to find the monastery. Due to what Cyril instructed her, she is accompanied by Rei that she brought with her to do the journey. Together, the pair walked back to where the obelisk was standing there. From there, Shokei and Rei head left of the forest and continued to their destination.

  "This really sucks." Rei compined. "I can't understand why some dim-witted bandit had you chose one of us and not allow all of us to do this task?"

  "I feel the same way too." Shokei said. "It's not fair, but I don't want to lose any of you guys. Even if it is my life on the line."

  "True, true, but still...it's not right." Rei said with an attitude. "I wish I could take on those bastards. Every one of them including ripping the head of that bitch leader herself."

  "Ok...maybe you're taking things too far." Shokei said, trying to calm her down. "I'm sure that this task won't be long in my prediction. I just hope we find what we need to look for and then we can get out of there while we can."

  "Have you ever been in a monastery in your life Shokei?" Rei asked.

  "No." Shokei replied. "I never been in one."

  "Me too." Rei said and asked. "But how the hell are we going to find one?"

  "Not only that, but we also still have yet to find The's sister." Shokei said in reminder.

  "Without The, we are on our own in finding her." Rei said.

  "Seems like it." Shokei said. "Then again, we need to be cautious if you suspect anything that might show up."

  "Hmm, what's this?"

  "Huh?"

  Just then, Shokei and Rei paused in their tracks and up ahead, there is a cute, innocent looking cat that is all by itself on the path. The cat appears to be Siamese, and it licks its fur.

  "A cat..." Shokei said, walking up to the feline and kneels to look at it. "It looks...adorable."

  "Cuter with its red ribbon around its neck." Rei said, checking the cat out.

  "I see." Shokei said, noticing the red ribbon. "But this cat appears to be lost. I wonder who this cat belongs to?"

  "Ghiso! There you are!"

  A voice was heard which caught Shokei and Rei's attention. There, they see someone running up to where her cat, named Ghiso, is standing and held the cat in her hands. Both girls can see that the person appears to be half-cat, half-human like figure, wearing a green bra top and a green skirt. Her hair is red-orange and has two short horns, visible to the eyes. She even has nine rings that are over her body with one on the neck, two rings on her right arm, one on her left arm, two round rings on her waist, one ring on her right knee and two rings on her left. The person's appearance looks friendly when she came over to where Shokei and Rei are.

  "Ghiso! I was so worried that you would get lost." The person said to her cat, holding it in her hands. "Don't ever do that to me again."

  "I take that you're the owner of the cat." Shokei said.

  "Yes I am." The person nodded.

  "I see." Shokei said.

  "Hmm? I never seen you people around here before." The feline figure said. "That's amusing! In fact, I like meeting new people!"

  "I am Shokei." Shokei introduced herself. "This here is my friend, Rei."

  "Hiya!" Rei waved.

  "Interesting!" The anthropomorphic feline said. "I am Naoko. I live within this forest."

  "Oh! Nice to meet you." Shokei said with a slight bow."You're welcome." Naoko nodded. Then asked, "Where are you two heading off to?"

  "We are seeking an abandoned monastery that lies in this forest." Shokei responded, giving her detail. "We're on an important task and a specific treasure is said to be found in there."

  "You mean the Gal Quis Hallowed Monastery?" Naoko asked, mentioning the name of the pce. "Is that where you two are heading off to?"

  "Sounds like you are familiar with the pce." Shokei said. "To be fair, we are new to this area, so I am not sure if that is the pce, we are heading to..."

  "There is only one monastery in this forest." Naoko tells her. "If you two are thinking about going there, I would not recommend it."

  "Ummm," Shokei blinked and asked. "Why not?"

  "That pce is haunted." Naoko replied. "I know where it is but the looks of it from the outside seems scary."

  "That's ridiculous!" Rei said to Naoko. "Who cares if the pce is haunted? Besides, you think any sign of life forms are in an abandoned monastery?"

  "No, you're wrong!" Naoko directly tells Rei. "At the moment, there's been odd noises going on inside the monastery. I really have no idea what lies inside that pce."

  "Have you ever stepped into that monastery?" Rei asked her.

  "I...passed it a few times." Naoko replied. "I never went in there."

  "Well now! You really mentioned a pce that looks scary, and you have never walked inside." Rei tells her off and turns her head in disappointment. "Wimp!"

  "Rei, please." Shokei said, preventing Rei from making an insult. She looks back at Naoko. "Sorry about that, but if there is a question, have you seen a little girl that was missing from Egesul and wind up being lost in this forest?"

  "Hmm, not that I know of." Naoko replied. "Then again, I remember one day, that I saw someone wandering off in the forest, looking around, and appears to be dressed in bck."

  "Aha!" Shokei said, listening to what Naoko told her.

  "What? What is it?" Naoko asked.

  "You mentioned that someone is "dressed in bck." Which means that I am on the right track." Shokei replied.

  "Er, what's that?" Naoko asked, still confused.

  "We're on a lookout for a missing person." Shokei said. "In fact, let me show you."

  Shokei shows Naoko the flier. Naoko looks at the flier and reads it.

  "The situation is that someone's twin sister went off missing in this forest." Shokei said. "That is why we are searching for her."

  "I see." Naoko said. "Maybe that person whose outfit is all in bck matches the description."

  "Yep." Rei said.

  "Makes sense." Naoko said, handing the flier back to Shokei. "Are you the only two people looking for this missing girl?"

  "We are, but..." Shokei wanted to mention her situation, but she keeps it normal. "That's another story."

  "Honestly, for you two to appear around here, it's not likely for travelers to walk deep in this forest." Naoko said. "It's not really safe."

  "We... encountered something along the way here." Rei said.

  "It's a long story." Shokei said quickly.

  "No worries. You can tell me all about this." Naoko said. "Follow me to my pce so we can discuss the matter of things."

  Shokei and Rei followed Naoko as Naoko led her new friends to the way to her pce. Arriving at the anthropomorphic cat's home, the pair can see that Naoko's home is a small cabin. All three of them went inside. Shokei looks around and see that the cabin appears to be neat and spacious. The inside feels warm and comfortable.

  "This is a nice pce." Shokei said to herself.

  "Have a seat you two." Naoko said to her guests. "While you're at it, care for some tea?"

  "What kind?" Shokei asked.

  "It's honey." Naoko replied. "It's the only tea that I have."

  "Sure!" Rei said. "I wouldn't mind."

  "Me too." Shokei nodded.

  Naoko prepares the tea by having three cups in front and uses a dle to receive water from the pot. Pouring water in three cups and using honey to mix the cups in together. Once the tea was made, Naoko brings the teas to the table.

  "Alrighty!" Naoko takes her sip of tea and asked. "What's the purpose of going into the monastery again?"

  "There are two reasons." Shokei expined. "One, we need to retrieve a treasure that's hidden in there. Two, from what you mentioned a while ago, we are in search for that missing girl."

  "Really?" Naoko said and asked. "What kind of treasure is it? What are you really looking for?"

  "From what I have been told, the treasure is a rare jewelry type thing that is found there." Shokei replied. "If I remember, this treasure is called the Diamond Light Idol."

  "Diamond Light Idol...never heard of such thing." Naoko said.

  "Say, speaking of that, did you said that you passed by the monastery a few times?" Rei asked. "Where can we find this pce?"

  "The monastery is located deep in the forest, which is not far from where I am." Naoko replied. "You need to follow the path that you were walking on in order to get there. If you travel further, the forest will get deeper and soon you two will be lost in finding the pce from there."

  "Understandable, but how big is this pce?" Shokei asked.

  "Not that big from the outside." Naoko replied. "It's a small pce that used to be owned by spiritual worshippers."

  "I see." Shokei said and then looked at Rei. "We got what we needed. We must keep moving."

  "Right." Rei said with a nod.

  "Anyways, we got to get going..." Shokei said, getting up from her chair.

  "Hold on now!" Naoko said, getting her attention.

  Shokei and Rei paused, just as they were about to leave the cabin.

  "Are you really going out there to find that monastery?" Naoko asked.

  "Of course." Shokei replied. "You said we need to walk on that path we were on before, right?"

  "I did." Naoko said, getting up from her chair. "If you and your friend are heading to this pce, then I'm tagging along with you."

  "Really?" Shokei asked.

  "Venturing deep in this forest is not safe. I would not recommend it if both of you were to go there together." Naoko said.

  "...she does have a point there Shokei." Rei said. "Besides, what if we got lost and can never find a way out?"

  Shokei thinks about this for a minute. Then, she looks at Naoko.

  "All right." Shokei said. "You can come with us."

  "Yaaaay! Now we're a trio!" Naoko said happily. "Together, we shall stick together and make sure that none of us gets separated."

  "Ehhh?" Rei bnked.

  "Ok, ok." Shokei said, ughing a little. "Let's get going."

  All three girls left the cabin. Before Naoko closed the door, she turned back to check on one thing.

  "Now Ghiso! You must remain here and not wander off! Got it?!" Naoko tells her cat.

  Ghiso meowed and then Naoko closed the door.

  Heading northwest, Shokei, along with Rei and Naoko are all traveling together deep in the forest. Naoko leads the way to the monastery as Shokei and Rei are behind her. So far, Shokei can see that Naoko knows what she is doing and walking on the paths that she knows that is safe.

  "You're pretty good in navigating around this area." Shokei said to Naoko.

  "My night vision skills help me get through dark areas." Naoko said. "It helps me out to detect where I need to be cautious."

  "Including traps?" Rei asked.

  "Yes." Naoko replied. "The only way I can sense traps is through my eyesight."

  "Seriously?" Rei asked. "How can, you be sure?"

  "Haha! That is a secret I cannot tell!" Naoko replied.

  "Dammit." Rei hissed.

  "At least she's showing confidence." Shokei said to her. "At least we're not encountering anything suspicious so far."

  The girl's journey continues as Naoko's directional skills are leading the way to the monastery. Rei can see that the forest is deeper now. The trees within Maple Forest are tall at length and its leaves nearly blocking out the sunlight. Again, the party remains cautious if something were to head in their way or cause interference in their journey. The long walk took the group a while to get through.

  "Are we there yet?" Rei asked.

  "We're almost there." Naoko replied. "I can sense the pce nearby."

  "I hope so." Rei said. "This is too far of a walk."

  "I'm sure Naoko knows the way." Shokei said.

  "Aha! Here we are!!" Naoko said.

  Finally, after all the walking, the party have made it to the Gal Quis Hallowed Monastery. Shokei, Rei, and Naoko stops to see the building in front of them. The look of the monastery from outside is small and ancient with leaves around the pce. The structure is very old and does appear to be haunted. There are no windows since the pce appeared to be private. The party stands in front of the entrance of the monastery.

  "This is the monastery..." Shokei said, examining the pce. "It looks...rundown..."

  "As I said before, I have never been in there." Naoko said. "But yes, this is ancient and still holds up."

  "Must've been years and years ago this pce was built." Rei said.

  "Anyways, we came here to find an important item. Let's go in." Shokei said.

  The party then walk to the entrance of the monastery and went inside.