Arrive at the oddity.

It doesn't take long for Rose, leader of Shadow Garden, to escort your party through the winding tunnels beneath Tolis. If you had to guess, it must be raining on the surface. Water runs down from grates into the streams of more swiftly running currents, which thankfully helps in the masking of your footfalls. Every noise made echoes off the labyrinth of walls, which means the runoff is made even louder. But as she stops, she says nothing at all, and allows the party to look towards yet another tunnel. It's different than the rest. The walls are not stone, nor is the floor or ceiling. It's been expertly dug, with wood buttress to keep it from collapsing, but even the walls are smooth despite being carved straight through dirt and rocks. No light comes from within, yet you get the sensation of it extending onwards for a long time.

Surely only a machine could burrow so well. Right?

Not far to the right are two animals, which would have startled you if they didn't stand so calmly. Rose's unaffected reaction put you at ease as well. They aren't something you've seen before, though they seem to be massive lizards. They're nearly the size of horses, with long, spindly green arms that end in claws which dig into the tunnel floor. As they stand idle, they flick out lengthy tongues, and they're both equipped with hempen reins.

Rose continues over and places her hand upon the face of one lizard. It has an old, deep wound over its right eye. "This is Scar," she says. "The other is Flick. They'll be helping us investigate exactly where this goes. I dared not venture in myself, nor did I want to risk my people. With a Demon King at my side, I feel far better. You did agree, didn't you? Surely you'll come with me."

You read a smirk on her face as one to be manipulative, though only in a playful manner. It was a coy way of demanding your assistance with something dangerous. Though, you simply smirk back. "Only if I get something in return."

"You can choose which lizard you'd like to ride. Now, all of you get changed. You don't want to enter such a dangerous place dressed as schoolgirls and boys, do you?"

Mina clutches her shirt. "It feels a little weird to undress here, Ms. Rose."

She chuckles. "Nobody's watching. None except Scar and Flick anyway. Now hurry up."

It isn't like it'd be the first time. You all changed together not long ago, and you've been far more intimate with most people here than simply taking off your clothing around them. Vivi slips down her uniform skirt, and Lynx follows next. It's Mina who does so last. Meanwhile, as you undress, Mela floats beside you with ghostly hands covered over her eyes. When you look to Rose, however, she gives you no such modesty. She looks straight at you and raises a brow at your gaze.

In nothing but your underpants, you pull your equipment from the back, yet leave your eyes on Rose. "Is this show another thing you owe me for?"

"That'd only be if the show was more exciting."

"Get a room, you two!" Lynx shouts--voice bouncing off the walls.

"Can we just finish up, please?" Mina asks shyly.

At long last, you feel comfortable back in your adventuring garb. The others are dressed as well--Vivi in her cute witch's attire, Lynx as a thief, and Mina in her orange dress. Of course, Mela can't do much in the way of changing, while Rose has been patiently tending to the lizards, as she had nothing to change.

Vivi adjusts her skirt. "I do wonder what lies down the tunn--Aah!"

Her scream catches your attention immediately, though when you turn, you catch Flick's tongue lashing out. It gives a playful flick up between her legs, beneath her skirt, over her butt, before retrieving right back into its mouth.

"You blasted lizard!" Vivi shrieks as she turns to face the beast.

Rose laughs. She then hoists herself up upon the back of Scar with ease, and then offers her hand down to Mina, who she pulls up to get comfortable in front of her. At least, as comfy as one can get without a saddle. "Choose your mounts then. We've only got two, so we'll have to share."