Descend into the lair.

"Demon King Muian." Eva's whispering voice echoes eerily off the cavern walls like a distant breeze. "They say his greatest strength was innovation. The magical experiments that went on in these depths frightened all. His magnum opus, however, were the insectrin. They also say he was once a human, though by how the stories go, he became a horrifying man with over a dozen eyes and mandibles protruding from his mouth. While Elok Daven doesn't seem to carry the same theme, I doubt Muian's experiments were only ever related to insects. He was a mad scientist. There's no telling what sort of things he was looking into."

Just as Niki reaches back to grab her pack, Amara places a gentle hand on her arm. She runs her fingers down to wrap them around the edge of the warrior's shield. She then speaks a single magic word. "Illuminate," her voice echoes as mana flows from her body with a shiver. A wave of golden light expands out from the metal, lighting the way even more effectively than with a torch.

"Handy," Niki responds while she moves the shield around through the air with interest.

The descending tunnel appears as if it once was wider but has slowly begun to erode from pillagers coming and going, or perhaps it started with the Tivera's war against Demon King Muian years ago. It isn't a far way down before it flattens out. The hall it leads into could be mistaken for the inside of a house with how solid the walls and ceilings have been crafted. Perhaps this was the work of Muian's insectrin army, most notably the ants. Or this may have been built for an entirely different purpose long before the coming of the Demon King. Either way, apart from small piles of rubble and scorch marks along the walls, the interior still appears livable, albeit dark and seemingly untouched. Cobwebs have formed along the ceiling corners, and a rat scurries by as Niki's light flashes along the debris.

Luna slides her hand slowly along the stone wall. "It's the strangest feeling, standing in here. Memories come and go. I can almost hear how it once sounded. While it wasn't that long ago, I thought I had mostly forgotten all that happened. But now, it's like it was yesterday."

"Are you okay?" you ask. "If it's too much--"

"I appreciate the concern, Kyle, but don't worry. I'll be fine."

"Muian was weak," says Taiga. "As was Sa'dis."

"He was more than weak!" Summer exclaims. Her louder tone reverberates off the walls. "Both of them were cruel, unlike Kyle here."

The party continues to march down the hall.

"Indeed. I know what I said. They were weak. There's a reason why Demon King Kyle has yet to fall. He understands more than both Muian and Sa'dis what it means to lead, and his aspirations are stronger. Both who came before were selfish and cold, which ultimately always leads to weak morale, and therefore, their demise."

"Aw. So what your saying is true power comes from friendship." With a giggle, Summer wraps her arms around the other bee, much to her distress.

Taiga attempts to pull herself away as her tiny wings buzz loudly. "No. L-Let go of me."

The hall isn't long, so it doesn't take much time to read the doorway at the end. It's cracked open slightly. Though as you push it open, cobwebs between it at the frame break away, and Niki's light shines over your shoulder into a dark and dusty chamber.

"What about you?" Eva glances up to Delphi fluttering above. "Does any of this seem familiar?"

"Not at all," she replies while making her way into the new room from over your head.

In the center of the room is a shattered and broken table of stone. From the looks of things, this room was likely once filled with all manner of different furnishings, as the ground in several places is warped as if objects had been resting upon it for a long time, yet not there's nothing but piles of rocks from parts of the ceiling or wall having collapsed. Perhaps it was something like your War Room, or it was simply a study, or it could have even been a dining room. Either way, it hasn't been used in a long time, and it's been picked clean of all things valuable.

To the left, a doorway completely buried in stone. To the right, exactly the same thing. Even if you took the hours or perhaps even days required to clear a path, both may lead to rooms which have also caved into themselves by now. So the only way to go is an opened door directly on the opposite side of the room. From here, it looks to lead into yet another hallway.

"There's gotta be something somebody missed," you say. "People explore ancient ruins and find treasure, and this wasn't abandoned that long ago."

Summer walks ahead of the group. The moment she steps through the doorway, she puts her hand on her head and halts. "... This hall. I remember it."

Delphi flies over and kneels down on her shoulder. "Oh yeah? Where does it lead?"

"I think... one of Muian's study rooms? Like, an office. I don't know. He had a lot of rooms dedicated to his experiments. He was a reclusive man."

"He did make us," Taiga says while nudging the other bee out of her way with the side of her spear. "But that doesn't mean we were stationed here. My memories are vague as well. It wasn't this lair in particular where either of us stayed for long. What about you, Luna?"

The nods her head. "I hardly remember this area, which makes sense. I was making equipment for his army, and I wasn't meant to traverse more than a few different places. Seeing it all now. It's like a ghost of a memory. I'm sure I stood here once, but all I can remember is wishing to leave. I thought I was going to die the day the Demon King fell."

You sense Luna's discomfort. Gently, you take hold of her hand. Your thumb can feel the exceptionally soft fur near her wrist. "You're brave for coming back here. Stay close. Muian is gone, and this Demon King doesn't plan on falling."

Her cheeks flush. With a warm smile, she comes closer. Even a touch to her hand feels more intimate than it may for some, due to the sensitivity of her body. Though after a moment, you feel a warm touch around your opposite hand. You turn your eyes to see Eva walking along beside you without any word.

"Are you all right?" you ask.

"Hm?" Eva looks over and gives your hand a little squeeze. "Y-Yeah. I just don't want us to get separated is all."

Niki laughs. "Adventurers can't get scared so easily!"

"I'm not scared!" Eva yanks on your arm, but she doesn't let go. "It's just dark, and my eyes aren't as good as Amara's!"

Amara giggles. "Perhaps there is a spell to give Kyle more hands."

Meanwhile, Delphi flutters down to lay flat on your head. She takes hold of your hair, and holds it in both hands like handlebars. "That's why you gotta get creative. Grab whatever's sticking off of him."

With a giggle, Summer scurries down onto her hands and knees and wraps her arms around your leg, perhaps a little higher up than you expected. "I see! Well, I got this leg! Taiga, you should grab the other one."

Taiga stares blankly down at her. "... Why?"

Amara stares at the ground with faint pink in her cheeks. "If both arms and legs are taken, then what am I meant to grab?"

"I've got an idea," Delphi says with a grin.

"Guys. I literally can't move," you say.

Niki shines her light down the hall and peers closely. "So it looks like this leads to a suspiciously flat wall at the end." She turns her ruby gaze back towards you, though continues to march slowly in that direction. "C'mon. If I know dungeons, that shit is definitely not a dead end."

You try to move forwards, but there are many weights keeping you down. The only thing free is your right leg. "Right... Yeah. That sounds about right. Just be careful where you're--"

"Oops." Niki looks down at the stone tile that just sunk beneath her weight.