Amidst a hazy atmosphere of mystery and sadness, Kai's unexpected suggestion rippled through the entire group, sparking a flurry of hushed conversations. The very thought of leaving behind two cherished friends in such desolate circumstances seemed preposterous to them. Why should they heed the words of a stranger who had only recently entered their lives? Yet, deep down they sensed the truth in his warning.
As the murmurs persisted, Ken, the one who initially responded to Kai, summoned the courage to address the group. "Alright," he said solemnly, "let's follow Kai-san's advice for our own safety."
A man around Ken's age cast a somber glance in his direction. "But Ken-san, how can we simply abandon our friends in this barren wasteland?"
With a heavy heart, Ken replied, "We're not abandoning them; we'll leave markers and notes for Ava and Keiji so they know we've left and are heading back to the village."
"Besides," he added reluctantly, "both Ava and Keiji are well-acquainted with this region – they won't get lost on their way back."
A mounting sense of unease pressed on another man's shoulders as he raised his voice. "But darkness is descending fast. What if Ava and Keiji fall prey to demons in such a forsaken place?"
Ken's eyes clouded with shadowy possibilities he dared not entertain. Steeling himself against fear, he reassured those gathered around him: "Nothing like that will happen. Powerful demons don't venture into these desolate parts because there's nothing here to entice them. And we all know that Ava and Keiji are more than capable of fending off lesser demons."
Despite their concerns for Ava and Keiji's safety, the group took solace in their long-standing faith in their friends' abilities. Common knowledge among villagers dictated that powerful demons wouldn't materialize without sufficient incentive. With no further objections, they reluctantly accepted Ken's perspective.
Swallowing their hesitation, the group consented to depart the lab without Ava and Keiji, leaving a note behind to inform them of the group's return journey. As they gathered their belongings and procured the food they had discovered – the primary purpose of their excursion – Kai carefully scribbled a message for their absent friends, placing it in an easily visible location.
Aria worked diligently to load provisions onto the Sunrunners: large, horse-like creatures well-adapted to the sweltering arid landscape, celebrated for their agility and endurance. Each member of the group mounted their Sunrunners with anticipation and they ventured onwards, cloaked by intrigue as shadows cast by the imminent dusk urged them forward into the unknown. As they prepared to leave behind their friends and embark on their return journey, an air of somber intrigue weighed heavily upon each member of the group.
