8. Royal Rally

The following day, at the break of dawn, Isabella reunited the four of them in Mazanlold's yard. She felt specially pressured to rally them after the fight of the previous day. Caoilainn stood in the middle of the two men who stood on a line and Isabella was facing them. She had her hands behind her back and the most serious look on her face as she started:
- "Mazanlold, Caoilainn and Richard" - she said, looking at each of them - "today we start our journey, the journey to our dreams, to attain Anima Mundi." - she looked down and swiftly looked to them again - "it is gonna be a perilous journey. We have no idea of what awaits us and it might be the biggest challenge of our lives. It might be too much" - she briefly looked up - "However we have decided to go on. Going on this journey together means we've accepted to face the unknown, to stand for each other, and to do all we can to chase our dreams, despite our differences and difficulties." - she breathed and looked at each of them again - "Richard, Caoilainn, Mazanlold, do you three accept to face this challenge together, to work together, to live together and to stay together until we attain our dreams or until the bitter end? This is the last chance to back out, accepting is a promise, a promise that each one of us will be held accountable for." - she took her sword, stick it to the ground and cried: - "I ask of you, what is your answer?!" - as she stood there, Caoilainn took a step and said:
- "Of course, I accept. I will stop at nothing to chase my dreams with all of you." - Richard looked at Isabella, Caoilainn and Mazanlold, quickly looking to the ground thereafter. He felt ashamed and afraid. Much to his dismay, Mazanlold took a step and stated:
- "I have already made my worries clear to all. And Lady Isabella spoke like a true monarch. I will never back down of my decision!" - Richard noticed Isabella was staring right at his heart through his eyes. He was hesitating, because he never accepted such a responsibility, he never stuck his neck out so far. - "Let's see if everyone will have the guts." - Mazanlold said. Richard joined his hands and looked down. He knew that the risk of the journey was unmanageable. At the same time he knew he had no place in this world and no way back. So, he took the only road he could see, he took a step forward and said:
- "I will go with you. I have nothing else to look for" - he looked down - "and I recognize I must do better. I promise to do my part and stand for you all. I doubt I will ever be the one to protect you, but I make my promise." - Isabella smiled and Caoilainn jumped:
- "Hooray! We are ready Isa, let's go!" - Isabella took the word:
- "So, it is decided. The four of us have promised and now we are a team. As of today, we will seek Anima Mundi together! For to live is unnecessary, to journey is essential" - she pointed her sword ahead, rallying them. As they started walking, Mazanlold grabbed Richard by his tunic and said in a low voice:
- "I still believe you will break. Just remember what I told you about treason and you stand a chance" - Richard gulped as he was released. He felt a chill and continued walking.

They actually walked inside Mazanlold's house to finish preparations and organize supplies. They organized around his dining table where Isabella started talking:
- "So, let's start with our plan. As you know we seen to have all we need according to Jacques's message. And here, we have a starting point, a map and a simple hint, also by Jacques" - as she said that, Caoilainn unrolled the map on the table and said:
- "So we have this map" - she turned it around - "and here is our tip:"

The X you will see

Hidden by the map
In a Boneenob gap
Water is the key

Caoilainn continued: - "Let's start to analyze" - she smiled - "The Boneenob part is simple, it is a canyon close to this city" - she pointed at the map - "the map also clearly shows a section of the canyon, which we can find when we go there." - she touched her chin - "I'm only not sure how water and the X will come into play, but we can find that out when we reach Boneenob." - Richard and Mazanlold stood silently. Isabella said:
- "So our plan is clear, we are setting out to the canyon, it is close enough to return here on the same day. Now, Caoilainn will give your bags" - Caoilainn took four small leather balls and put them into the table. The balls shone and expanded becoming very large bags. Richard's eyes widened and Caoilainn said laughing:
- "That's the power of a mage, I've prepared you big bags with supplies and all, but they shrink to fit into pockets!"
- "That's is truly amazing!" - said Richard. They took a look into their bags, touched them to shrink them again and took them. Really satisfied, Isabella said:
- "So, that's it, any questions?" - no one answered - "now we begin our journey, to the Boneenob Canyon!" - and they left the house.

Caoilainn was suddenly dressed in beige pants and a shirt, along with a white hat with a piece of cloth behind it and a blue pony tail. She wore comfortable boots and had a walking cane with a jewel on top of it. Richard was impressed, to what Caoilainn said:
- "Still surprised with me? I'm always prepared and dressed to impress!"
- "You sure are" - he replied and Isabella intervened:
- "Please, do not pamper her more than that" - Caoilainn laughed and they started their journey.

The four adventurers walked for one hour or so, surrounded by grass, trees, some small hills and a creek. However, as they progressed Richard could already see the signs of the canyon, contorted trees, sparse grass and a flagrant lack of humidity. The strange thing is that he could see characteristics of both landscapes at the same time. As they progressed, the contrast got more and more jarring until Richard could literally see a line on the ground, on his side the grass was green and lush and on the other side it was sparse on the orange dirt.

As they crossed the line, Richard felt the temperature quickly rising and the dryness of the air. He was too bewildered too keep quiet:
- "Guys, what's happening?" - Isabella replied:
- "We are now in the area of the canyon. What is the matter?"
- "Well, we crossed a line and the weather, the plants, the ground, everything has changed!" - Caoilainn got interested:
- "What is so strange, isn't that normal in your world?"
- "No! It is absurd!" - Caoilainn got really curious.
 - "How is it there?"
- "These transitions are always very smooth. We seldom feel sudden changes, between fields and canyons must be long stretches to transition between the two. The environment gets slowly drier and the vegetation more sparse"
- "That's fascinating! But here, in Omega Magus, we have lots of sudden transitions, we are used to that."
- "Omega Magus" - he touched his chin - "I've heard that before. So that's how you call your world. I will take note of that."
- "Please do, and keep telling me things about your world!" - Caoilainn started whistling. She and Richard were connected by curiosity. Isabella was pleased to see them getting along and Mazanlold could not care less about that conversation and didn't even turn to look at them.

After some more walking they reached the canyon.