Janus gritted his teeth while his hands clenched into fists at his sides, trembling with realization and frustration. "The attacks are getting more dangerous."

Amiya stood beside him, her violet eyes wide with concern. "Now the roots are attacking... This is bad, Janus."

Janus nodded sharply, his orange eyes blazing with determination. "Go get the Luminous Knights. We're leaving now."

Amiya blinked in surprise. "What about-"

"I will get Dad to fess up." Janus interrupted. "This time I won't take no for an answer."

Amiya furrowed her brows, studying his expression. Then she nodded and rushed off, her Seeker coat flaring behind her as she ran toward the library.

Janus turned before he spotted Nigen standing near the inn's entrance, his father's face furrowed with troubled thoughts. As Janus watched, his father turned and headed inside the building.

Janus followed as anger burned through his chest while frustration bubbled at his father's unwillingness to help.

Janus caught up to Nigen. "It's time to reveal what you know. Any more hesitation and more things like this will happen."

Nigen frowned, his shoulders tensing. "I already gave you my answer-"

"Screw your answer, Dad!" Janus's voice rose, years of suppressed frustration pouring out. "How are you okay with the current situation right now!?" His hand gestured wildly toward the door, toward the destruction outside. "If it wasn't for Brunhilde, a lot of people would have been taken away! If it wasn't for Amiya and the others yesterday, a lot of people would have been killed! It's obvious the forest has decided it doesn't want us to exist and is now actively moving to get rid of us!"

Nigen flinched like he'd been struck before looking down as he gritted his teeth. His hands hung at his sides, helpless and defeated.

A man walked over, and he gently patted Nigen's back. "Just tell him what he wants to know, Nigen."

Nigen blinked, looking up in surprise. "Helo?"

Helo chuckled, though the sound held sadness. "Can't you see Janus has grown up? Can't you see he wants to help?" He squeezed Nigen's shoulder. "If you keep this up, he really might go off on his own, and you may never see him again."

Nigen flinched again, more violently this time, before he muttered, "But if I..."

Helo sighed. "You think his life might end? Did you not see that terrifying woman?" He gestured toward the outside, where Brunhilde was. "Apparently, Amiya said she's a First Class Beast Master. Just like the leader of the Seekers, Ancestor Vlad. Come on now, Nigen. With her, nothing will happen to him. So, how about you stop living in the past and look to the future to see your stunning son?"

Nigen froze before he bit his lips, and then slowly, so slowly, he looked up. His eyes met Janus's face before he began to really see him, perhaps for the first time in years. Not the child who'd needed protection, but the young man who stood ready to fight.

"Please, Dad… Trust me, trust Amiya, and trust us. I won't die or leave you." Janus says softly.

Nigen trembled before sighing as he gave Janue a tired yet accepting look. "I see... Okay, Janus. I will tell you."

Helo laughed, patting Nigen's shoulder once more before walking away. His footsteps faded, leaving father and son facing each other.

Janus blinked, then his eyes lit up as he smiled at his father, and now he listened as Nigen began speaking.

"The previous Mayor and a group of guards ventured out to the south of the settlement," Nigen said quietly. "They went to find the ruins of the ancient city of Melo." His voice grew distant, reciting old memories. "The Mayor believed that the city held a weapon or technology that the Forerunners were making to deal with the surplus of vegetation and roots. It was something created before the Darkness and Night Terrors came."

Nigen paused, gathering his thoughts as his hands clasped together. "But they never returned, which is why I had to step up to be the mayor. But I did see some notes about the mayor talking about it being a shining golden orb… Which was oddly similar to the story my grandpa told me."

Janus blinks before saying. "Great Grandpa? Were there things he talked about to you that you never shared?"

Nigen nodded with a sigh. "My grandpa was in the city of Melo at the time. He saw it himself when the roots were rushing into the city, trying to destroy it, and golden light burst out from the center. The light made the roots pause." His voice held awe mixed with old pain. "Then he said they all wilted and died."

Janus's eyes widened. His body trembled with excitement and fear. "And then what happened?"

Nigen sighed. "My grandpa said that was all he saw before being dragged out of the city with his mother. The light seemed to send rippling waves that parted the incoming roots before the entire day, allowing for evacuation and fleeing. My grandpa had hoped that things would return to normal since they had a weapon to fight against the Dark Silence..." He trailed off. "But then it was a month later, after he found out the city of Melo had fallen, that any hope in his heart had died."

Janus frowned, looking down at the floor as he became lost in thought. The words of his grandpa do match up with Reinhard, and others mentioned the Star Jewel. In addition, its ability to affect the roots matched up with the vision the Saint apparently saw.

This confirms we can really find a clue, or maybe it's still there in Melo City.

Then Janued nodded and turned to leave.

"I… I don't want you to go, Janus." Nigen's voice cracked as the words tumbled out desperately.

Janus trembled before pausing, then he turned slowly around to face the mayor as a bright smile spread across his face.

"How can I not go if it means protecting you and this place safe?" His voice carried warmth and determination. "You once said things will get better if we look to the future... Well, it's time we had someone stepping into the future. Don't you think so, Dad?"

Nigen fell silent before he began trembling, and his shoulders began shaking. Janus gently tapped his father's shoulder before he turned and left.

Once he stepped outside, he blinked when he saw Reinhard and the others waiting. Even the Luminous Knights were there waiting with Amiya next to them. Veryn's white robe with patterns caught the morning light. Casseo's black helm with spikes pointed upward created a stark silhouette. Both stood with the bearing of warriors ready for deployment.

"Amiya already told us everything," Veryn said, her voice carrying urgency. "We're willing to go."

Casseo nodded even as his expression was hidden behind the helm.

"Did you get him to tell you?" Amiya asked, turning to Janus with hopeful eyes.

Janus nodded before he quickly told everyone what Nigen had said. The previous Mayor's expedition, Nigen grandfather's witness of golden light destroying roots, the evacuation, and the aftermath that killed hope.

Everyone's expressions shifted before understanding bloomed, and all of them began smiling.

Reinhard spoke quietly. "The City of Melo must have summoned the Star Jewel, too many details are similar to be a coincidence."

Joseph nodded. "I wonder who was sacrificed."

"Each Star Jewel summoning is different," Brunhilde said. "It's possible they didn't sacrifice anything and just accidentally met the requirement."

Reinhard's lips twitched, but he nodded as Brunhilde accidentally summoned her own Star Jewel before.

Veryn's eyes shone with excitement. "So the Star Jewel can affect the roots! With this, we can really begin the Saint's plan of ending the Dark Silence."

Amiya nodded with a grin spreading across her face. "Is there anything else you need to do before we go?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"We're all good, Amiya," Janus said. "Lead the way. You're the best navigator when it comes to the forest."

Amiya nodded with a smile, pulling out the map they'd studied. She unfolded it before fixing herself with the sun's position.

Her finger traced a route southward.

"Let's go," she said.

They rushed through the town together, passing the townspeople still recovering from the attack. They passed buildings being repaired, and passed children being held close by frightened parents.

The southern gate stood ahead before they passed by it and headed south.

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