Lisa found it normal, albeit frustrating, to see Murai act like his usual self. She was usually the same, which made her recall unpleasant memories, ideas, and problems.

They were silent after a lengthy discussion until Lisa broke the silence, "What is a Brightlife for you?"

"Another problem to deal with. What else?"

"For me, it means a token of Origin and part of the Big Bang, as some worlds call it. It ceased the darkness of the Void, yet it is closer relative to the originating colors and elements that make up the ways of River of Manaflow, strands of it, or... other things. Everything, I mean. What came from the start? Was it color, life, or mana, and another word for energy? Void is everywhere, and when it parts, it is not it. It's more like an acceleration and mechanical part of the universe that tricks us into distinctions and rules."

"You are overthinking it."

"But how? It should be a concept that lives and envelops the workings of the Void, blackholes, and the finest stars that hold many forms, but why does it make less sense when I think about it? I heard Brightlife takes weird processes, as it could be dark with little light, yet embarks on the truths of the Origin and carries along something interesting. Some call it the One Kind of Law. It isn't like that, unfortunately."

"What is it then? In your perspective, of course."

"It is a mixture of the complete beginning, and it is unnatural. It was made. Constructed. Darklife is its opposition, making up weird, possibly divided attention. Is that right? I mean, you don't have Darklife, or so I would say, but your soul is not bright, I suppose. The way to life is not present for souls, so for something like an element to be Brightlife, how does this name exist when it came from Nowhere?"

Lisa ended her wonderous mark, causing Murai to jolt because she got a couple of things wrong. Probably on purpose.

"Hm. So you know of some matters to this degree, and even dare to guess them?"

"Again, it's ancient history that this world knows. Me? Don't even mind me. I am old. How? Ask around, and you will be surprised by how developed and vast this world is. It began in the Endless Skies, so whatever you say, don't make me mad."

This time, Murai was flabbergasted and with open beak.

With Lisa behind his neck, he wasn't really fond of looking like this in such a discussion, so he calmed down in a heartbeat. "That is quite a proclamation you've called."

"No proclamation," Lisa clicked her tongue, or her voice did so on its own. "It is a fact, so... if you think it's not right, correct me."

"I planned for that. Then not so much. Well then, Brightlife is nothing but material. A fabric to life and stone that is the mountain of Life."

"How is that so?" She moaned curiously, glad she had started this topic.

"Because the Origin is a farce. The very beginning is just a fragmentation of reality as we know it, or a simple, extensive dawn of the expansion of the universe. It starts with a bang, and from there, something, rather than nothing, always comes next. It is endearing and continuous."

"Sounds complicated.

"It is. We are talking about the universe, after all. Not some tea or baking."

"What is afterward?" Lisa said, sounding like a child curious about a story before sleeping, so boring ideas weren't ideal. The fact that she lay in his hood did not make it better.

Murai didn't hesitate with his lesson.

"Fragmentation of the priority is what sets very steep ideas. You see, the Divides set stuff apart. It's kind of their thing, but there are also many other reasons around them."

"That pair; they allow the Origin, which then crawls and bends into everything, making flows and stuff that just make sense because they have always been around. I think lives are the reason, and Hidden Realms are the restless cause that makes a cohesive structure whole, or... they are there since the start, or are the cause for the start. Both idea works."

"Where does it end, or go? A single point, I suppose. A hole into the fragment of something greater would widen until the explosiveness of the elements, Laws, and workings of Divides births materials and expansion to the Life itself."

"You define it as if it is a work of something." Lisa yawned. "Or someone. Makes me wonder if you are just messing with me and lying."

"I am not," Murai said firmly.

"What have you seen then, if you dare to quench my doubts?"

"Nothing much," Murai said equally firmly as before. "I just know it. Somewhat. I suppose having me around plays an important factor."

"Aren't you basically describing the birth of a dimension, Realms, or a matter of depths that Epochs are about? I mean, a hole is a weird word and call, and it reeks of the sides like a huge rotating and cycling mash of troubles and Laws. Can't you think of the other sides? I don't know what to judge if you speak like an old freak."

Murai was surprised by Lisa and this conversation.

"Judge? Is that so? You silly ghost, I don't care if your mind can't comprehend it. What is a mere dimension but a different yet close reality? What are Realms? Chaos Space? Sure, A Void is a place with nothing of that sort, leaving out the remedy between the sides of that rotation. Somewhere, Nowhere, or Everywhere, these words create wisdom older than anyone."

"Uh..." Lisa was unsure where the conversation had shifted to a course of the Creators, so she coughed and changed the subject.

"Where is the Brightlife in this... concept? "

"Everywhere, I think. It could be about a point where nothing turned into something, similar to those three old ideals. Light has never been the start, but it's not wrong to think of it as a start filled with some ends. Like a spectrum of countless births, it widens across the Void, where there are stars and an equal number of ends. What stretches from there is about space and immense complexity. You ask what Brightlife is about. Isn't that obvious? It's like a nail in the coffin and part of the process. What process, you might ask?"

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Forget it. That is too uneasy and uncanny a topic for me. Right now, isn't this kind of harsh?

"Uhm, that reminds me, why are we talking about this? Are we getting somewhere, or am I just speaking for the sake of quacking?"

"Because I tested you, and you went along," Lisa said, stretching her body in his hood and smiling in satisfaction. It was surprisingly comforting to lay down like this, willful and playful, and hear him in such a safety net. It reminded her of his soul space, which felt big and safe, even if she was way too close to him in both ways.

"Oh, then finishing it is a better idea, isn't it? You see, Brightlife is material, as I've said. Shard from the place where everything was starting."

"Do we need a talk about the start of all things?"

"Of course not. You need a shake-up. That's all. Brightlife is what you've started, so let's finish this." Murai argued, thinking like a teacher, that Lisa deserved more than his hood.

"Its point lies in giving Laws equilibrium between all states of matter. Brightness stems from Light, which bends between Heat and all sorts of Flames. I suppose Holiness is the same, as Radiation is kind of like jittering speed, Friction, and so on. Blackholes hold this Brightlife as well, you see, but the best ones are always found in that Big Bang of yours or places that bring out their self-preserving sense of umpire. The Realms, I mean."

"Hidden ones, you mean?" Lisa curiously said.

"Hidden or not, they are there. If we look further, the explosiveness of life is very precious. Brightness, Light, or all sorts of other aspects of Order and Chaos exploded next in line with incredible stretching space, starting the thing that has many names. Strands of that hole—or focus—take more from Everything than anyone could think, creating the Aspects of Origin that people seek like candy."

"So, a bright life, you say, is just another way of energy?" Lisa questioned it because this sounded a bit ridiculous and detailed even for her.

It didn't contradict what she knew too much, but some stuff was borderline horrifying to see or imagine. "Does it mean a life that is unquenchable, or a life that brings forth miracles of creation? I mean, from the looks of it, it sounds like a variant of Elemental Affinity that mana claims."

"No idea. Never had it."

"Well..."

"Yeah. I have it now, which is weird as it feels like nothing but something at the same time. Maybe I have yet to use it, or do I feel it adequately?" Murai acknowledged, realizing that he had been speaking about it as if he knew everything.

But again, that was weird in itself, so he wasn't too awkward. "It seems I found something fascinating in that Realm created who knows when. It extended far until I went to a new place. Or it was there all the time, waiting until everywhere was before me, or stretching into ordeals of light, expansion, and void. You see, it's not that complicated if you—"

"—Please stop!" Lisa begged, pushing her palms to his neck. "No more of this."

Murai chuckled. "So it works on you as well? I was worried."

"I know how many ideals start from something in the Void—similar to my patience—which then comes to the Chaos Space and planets. Frankly, the universe is full of it if one looks right, rather than into those big holes, but when one doesn't, who can blame their ignorance? Knowledge about this sort of thing is described in philosophy and magician encyclopedias, ranging from children's books to very complex mantras."

"Oh, do you like such philosophies? I didn't take you for a scholar."

"Hey, that's ridiculous. It's called being practical. One should know about shit if they want to get far. They all started from somewhere, you see, and I kind of like it. It isn't like a guess, or could it be that, given how old it is? Who says who knows it all besides some freaks?"

"Agreed." Murai nodded.

"More than not, it is a soaring idea than I can think of. Even Extremes have their limits, so what else can I say? How Gods are the same because the rules of the universe demand it? That sort of thing doesn't need words right now, where you are still a silly little duck."

"That's wrong."

"How so?"

"Because it is," Murai said simply.

"That doesn't mean anything. I mean, I did have the prowess of a mere weak Extreme before, which left a deep hole inside me," she said in disappointment. "So yes, it is a bit important even between us. We are here, after all, accompanied by a nice battle-worn Grifhart, and a weapon expert who tries really hard to be clever at pretending to read and understand my plans but fails. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

"When you mention it like this, it's such a bullcrap, I can't even argue about it," Murai said, turning his neck back to glimpse at her with his left eye.

It was a bit awkward, but he managed to take a peek at her comfortable little body. "Power is power. Weaker power is just a weaker powerhouse, yet it is still power. You are just a small nucleus waiting for a blooming, for it is a logic made from heaven."

Lisa whistled, impressed and curious. "Such philosophy is coming from a creature with a blooming life of brightness within it?"

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"Yes, I guess it does. Sorry, but that is worth some respect if you look at it like this. If not, and you cite it like a loser, it's very glaring where things go wrong. You are cursed by your own head, so if it makes sense to be proud, you should accept what it creates."

Lisa quenched her palms and flinched her head aside.

"I am trying, thanks for trying and speaking. Perhaps you should consider where we are or what is happening. This world isn't commonplace where sense is justice and where excuses work. When there is a power, the Battleworld is full of madness, and it is fine to stop looking for answers. Weaklings are weak for a reason, while the strong are the winners," she stated, almost mocking her own words. "I thought you found out about it already, how this world is a mess. It has always been like this. For much longer than I can be."

"What of the people then?" Murai asked, accepting this justice.

"Many fools live for power and supremacy. Fewer for the better tomorrows like good sleep, having family, shelter, or enough food for the next winter. Few seek out the biggest future, trying to oppose what is here, or what can get out of here. It's the case of people who knows shit or fear shit, or they adapt to it or know just enough to get by. Many overstep boundaries, and that is fair even if it makes power and politics immense in madness."

"Sounds simple."

"What else is it? It's next to nothing, or it is better left untold or left out for the sake of leaving advantages. So yes; even a weak power could suddenly grant a massive chance to shake this world if it falls into the right bracket and souls. I suppose that is your Perk. I read through many such cases because this world qualifies for big power brackets if enough beings let it grow. It's about Blessed and Gods, I guess. Without knowing about it, stuff happens, and beings live and die for it."

Murai nodded, silently listening to her calls about this world.

"Then, we have the regular people who have no idea about the large scale of the power or know just a few bits to appease the Gods or themselves. They remain blissfully ignorant, so most don't expect the strangeness of what many know or fear. Ignorance is bliss. Is that what you said once, or thrice? I remember that."

Murai shook his head at her peculiar words, finding it strangely appealing, for once.

"I can sense discovery. The world is that? Power... What are you trying to say to me? Are you doing this silent discussion because of Bagus and Itrosh, who must be annoyed?"

"Ah, you remember their names? How shocking. But no. I talk to you alone because that is enough for me. You can quack if you want, but you don't do it much because of the fear of this place and the Gods. I can swear to you that the Mindarch isn't an issue, but the Gods? Well..."

"Meh. Don't even start it! Why are you even talking? Do you think it will change something?"

"Who knows? Perhaps we talk to pass the time because you are too weary and weird and don't want to acknowledge it? I suppose I am in the same boat, so let's not pretend we are slumberers."

"Bah," Murai said. "I feel the warmth of strength coming from my core! I am fine to smack fools or Gods alike!" he cheered in reality, getting up and surprising Bagus until he stumbled and shot Murai to a distance.

Back on track—and on Bagus—Lisa rested in her nest and reconsidered her final message.

"I don't know you enough. You don't know what will happen. We are all strangers in this universe. That sort of thing can happen between anyone, yet I do things because I can, and do them of my free will."

"That, coming from my slave, is so funny." Murai laughed, teasing her without any shame.

"S-shut up. I am trying.... "

"What? Trying for what?"

"To force it all from you."

"You mean the Brightlife? That's why you started this all, or is this exposure of yourself a mere fraud?"

"Partly, yes," she answered weakly. Talking about the Origin was what followed, and it intrigued her. She wanted to continue, but she didn't find the right timing.

Yet the Brightlife was there, inside this little beast that was absolutely fitting for a proper shakedown if this world allowed it. It was kind of a big deal, and Lisa doubted it could mean something good if it happened against unknown but very real expectations.

Perhaps some shackles were unavoidable; Lisa considered that until she gave up, realizing that this beast was no laughing matter. It was more about one thing pushed to the maximum that very few could admit.

Or they could clutch him better, strongly, and sooner because this world shouldn't allow this performance and authority to rest in something like him.

Most laws were already enough to act as the fundamentals of the universe, and their key features followed the paths and elements and countless matters of mana and life. For the Realms to chip in, it was a rare event.

After all, what was Brightlife? It wasn't necessarily right to call it a Law. It was distant yet close to countless concepts of elements, so perhaps Lisa misunderstood the current circumstances. It was possible to be smoother since the timing was nice, or obviously in their favor.

That thing already felt chained, and it wasn't anyone's fault. Will of the Battleworld might not do anything because of the fairness of the Realms.

Hence, Lisa hoped this event was still fresh and new, or perhaps even obscured by the lack of Battlewill or this Gate. Mindarch might've created a divergence. Something like the... unknown portal in the richest part of the Hellscape, perhaps?

It was an interesting calculating opportunity that Lisa, unfortunately, did not obtain. It sort of happened without her conscious hope, while her mind stirred many times after entering this heated Province.

In the end, she trusted this process and hoped this land would be easier, or.... Mindarch was.

What she felt from Murai were pieces of the Laws that worked in many ways, bringing out the power of Brightness like a seed that involved Flame and even brilliance that was the Sharpness.

It was a seed of hope, so what had he gained if not a flavor that could grow alongside him? His Beast Core was beaming in strength, resting that little thing inside of it without a change. It wasn't dissolving or doing much.

It was highly likely this was unique to him alone, or the entire reason involved Anatidaes from the start, since... it was undeoubly fitted into their glorious Universal Affinity that was set as one of few most broken affinities in the universe.

For Extremes, learning the Laws to a specific height was one of the most sought-after insights one had to master. However, finding a chance for that was hard because there were countless ways to obtain anything.

Many of them dwell within specific Paths, and better and harder inquiries created separations, distinctions, and linked capabilities. Thus, mastering all there was to the Path always created limits, while broadness and compatibility aided the overall journey.

It was no surprise that Lisa wanted to know more about Brightlife, which was something better than normal, yet without a Paths in question, or any of that sort, the consequences of this Resonance aimed at a couple of possibilities.

Murai was already walking some sort of Path, or the Anatidae in question was that.

Also, Murai was somewhat aware of what Brightlife indicated. It was a very feeble thing that was guided to him by his flesh and acceptance, acting as a Brightness that would accommodate him rather than dry him out or clean him out of the madness.

How or why, perhaps his body will answer it eventually, while his soul had already forced it this way, or adapted because it had no other choice.

"What more would you like to know about it?" Murai asked.

"The Resonance that you accomplished. Brightlife seized your body, and your Will accepted it. Isn't that weird? I realize it was crazy after seeing you in that sea of the sun. Allegedly, of course. The moment you returned, things got feisty."

"I suppose that is your understatement. No Law is that, but none is one thing. Something that grew from who knows where sets this body and me apart, or.... well, straight? No idea. As you said, it's probably more than meets the eye, so I will see what it is with my very own life by working it out. Maybe by force, eh?"

"No choice, right?" Lisa gave up like him.

"Yep. Have you heard of fools managing such things before? Histories or legends should be in your head along with newly found willingness, correct?"

Lisa gave up again. "Yes, but nothing of that sort has been recorded or available to my eyes. I don't think this planet would get it. Perhaps other places would. I mean, this world is huge, and all five continents are kind of their own thing. I barely visited two."

"Oh, then what's the point of these questions? My Cores are fine, so let's not get ahead of my Affinities." Murai nodded. "It is weird that this little creature and flesh began resonating with it, or is it backward? Perhaps this body of mine is far from my understanding than I've assumed. Mindarch helped, so.... could you do the same?"

"Finally getting it? It is far from the end, I fear."

"Hey, stop acting as if I could get something more insane than Brightlife. What else do I want or do? I fear this is an unknown territory for both of us. Guesses are the same."

"Not what you like. I know." Lisa added and thought of the worst stuff in her head.

Then, I have that voice of his Mother he doesn't know about. Should I mention it? He doesn't seem to be aware of her importance, or he doesn't care about it at all. What is worse? Is it a bad curse, a blessing, or a procession that allowed this to happen? I mean, the Mothers go far, and this one has been quite messed up. How far could this go? Against me... perhaps?*

"How do you feel about this overall Resonance?" Lisa asked next.

"I don't care about it too much. If something happens against my willingness, I will butcher it all without a shred of hesitation. That is all." Murai flickered his beak, dismissing whatever issue she asked.

Lisa sighed, figuring that chatting with Murai about some topics was hard, but she was no better. At one point, she realized that the course of karma was coming back at her, and she wasn't sure how to feel about it.

It was no wonder she was hesitant, touching topics that were hardly contained, yet she took a very important step today. The one that she found worth it and was final. There was no going back.

With the ongoing journey to the underground, they continued their talks and opened their minds a little, while Itrosh and Bagus continued their service.

Both of them were curious about the small pair behind them, but since the end of the Resonance, Lisa hadn't talked to them more than necessary.

Now, it was nigh to change because Lisa had to rely on them. The group talked and walked for hours, led by Itrosh, whom Lisa at least trusted with this job.

Soon, she had to sit on her shoulder, tossing her arm around in orders and leaving Murai be. His mana had changed, and soon, everything about him should move in a new direction.

***

A furious figure dug a silly tunnel in a long stretch of paths, tunnels, and depths of the earth, still far away from Murai. Restless and listening to two annoying voices, there was no time to waste.

Razmund had been unhinged for a long time and recognized that this digging was his escape plan and goal. He didn't even know which tunnel was which; he had already dug out a bunch of them, connecting them to caves or mining shafts.

It was impossible to dig in one direction without stumbling into openings. At the same time, the Ultra Materium was another problem he had to deal with, even though it wasn't the worst.

Nothing was his preference, though there were options to reduce his digging. It was a flawed idea either way. The Dice hanging onto his left hand played with him, and he let it do it because he thought he deserved it.

His direction changed numerous times, and he wasn't sure if it was because his target shifted a couple of times or if it was because of him or those shafts and caves.

The straight path ahead was a joke. It wasn't working, as if the Dice had trouble adjusting to Fate. For hours, this digging journey kept going.

Razmund went deeper and deeper, but he wasn't cursing his luck. He gritted his teeth, found clowns who inadvertently found him, and killed them like stone or rocks.

He was unyielding in his beliefs and shook the caves and paths. No one stopped him. Not like many wanted to because many remembered that angry voice from hours ago. Razmund was no exception.

By now, his skin, hair, and clothes were dirty, and he looked far from the normal Captain, Blessed, and Falconer, or even the so-called royalty of the Centralis Kingdom.

Frankly, he was neither. He was nobody. He never thought a prince could ever exist in this broken world that he found obnoxious and wrong. But he was still part of it since the Centralis Kingdom was his hopeful home.

It was normal to expect something bad from it because every kingdom was the same.

Nobody was fair. Everything was about benefits. Ruled by the Blessed for the other Blessed, this powerful concept fundamentally handled what kind of citizens and people the kingdom served and used. There was no running away. Not now, or before.

It was an unavoidable consideration because history and different opinions mixed with Blessed, creating a strict place.

Other places might not like that in the slightest, but that was alright. Power was what came next as a rule and part of politics. Expansion, armies, and strength were regarded as truth.

Razmund had known about it forever. If it wasn't for that, many believed the hegemonic powers would be different.

Still, the Somalis Empire was renowned for its historical and religious prospects, and meandering quarters between lower-tier nations didn't concern anything. The land would remain. The world would live on...

Tossing his beliefs or home away, Razmund hadn't thought of any clever or powerful desires. He hadn't thought of them in a long time until he grasped that bizarre, wounded duck.

He had a task on hand before anything else, and he wasn't willing to be gentle or lost in despair for lonesome vision or promises. The ground would be a home for anyone anyway. That was his truth.

Causing many caves and mines to collapse in his path, nothing stood in his way.

Unsurprisingly, because of his digging or simple strategy, meeting Hunters who went down came with political benefits. He discovered a loophole and got ahead, and the momentum changed.

His prey was closer and closer, while his fact of going down changed the Hunters as well. That wasn't his problem because it was their choice, and he fought for himself.

That was about the only good thing Lint could tell as he followed him along. A simple plan of killing and ignorance was a wonderful strategy, even if it wasn't clever.

For Lint and his task, the current Razmund was walking on an edge, which would have been less than sensible if he had dared to think about this further. Of course, he didn't dare to tread it lightly.

Countless Blessed changed this world with a drop of a bucket, and Lint believed that stupid Dice was impacting everything, while his desires and head had already long become loose.

Even when Lint told him about using Hunters for his cause, pointing to Bagus's or Itrosh's location, he kept digging, believing that his Dice was his lifeline.

From time to time, he untied his Dice, watching the direction that kept going strong. Lint knew that it was no longer plausible to play games with him.

Slightly angled left, the path was becoming active, and murmurs of the Dice inflicted maddening meanings that he wasn't that far. Razmund followed his conviction, striking the gravel, mud, rocks, or Ultra Materium with his claymore, kicks, or fists until reaching yet another end of his digging. It was one more freaking mining shaft.

This one was larger than average, filled with little lines of Ultra Materium and a lot of dust.

It was half destroyed, and the further he walked, the worse it got. The cave at the end was full of crazy cracks, and he had never seen matter of this consistency. Then, the Dice shifted again, making loud noises, and jolted his arm forward.

He didn't understand it all the time, but it seemed horny to go onwards, but there was nothing. No path. No remedy. Razmund knew nothing was living ahead.

He would know, though the residues of that Resonance and intense and mysterious Singularity did leave an aura behind. Since the time he had grasped the Sword Intent, there was something monumental about walking through ancient places.

Looking around, Razmund frowned, thinking that his tunnel wasn't as bad as he thought. If he had used more mana and more time, it would not have been one bit smaller, yet this cave went through a storm different from anything he could unleash.

"What happened here?" He wondered out loud, kicking dust and rocks and watching the cracked cave.

Lint followed him from behind, aware where he was and suddenly mindful of what was wrong ahead. They shouldn't have come here, yet here they were, watching boundless capital turn to dust.

"Oh fuckery trickery!" Lint cursed, swirling his Soul Flames in his sockets. "That shitty Will did so much damage?"

The Dice wasn't calm in the slightest, and Razmund swore something terrible was in his head. It distracted his purpose and pushed Razmund away from Murai. However, he didn't know it.

Until now.