The morning came fast, and the two brothers were standing in front of their mother's room.
"Why were we here, again?" Felmer asked, who was still sleepy.
"For the meaning of the poem," Melfer answered, who was quite awake.
Felmer knocked on the door, and permission to enter was given. Felmer opened the door and came inside.
"It's only you two? Well, come here, sit." Emilia said and gestured for them to sit on the bed.
The brothers listened, moved forward, and sat. Emilia crossed her legs and held the paper in her hand.
"Now listen carefully," Emilia drew their attention. "Where stone learned breath before men spoke. This means a time or area that existed before humans. An ancient area or era. Then, beneath the shadow that never moves. A structure that has the same shadow all day. No matter where the sun is." Emilia stopped and let the information sink in.
The brothers were attentive. Then she continued. "Seek not the peak, nor the root below. The scar between remembers the oath. This probably points to a cave or a hollow place."
"So…It really is the badge's location…" Melfer asked, trying to confirm.
"Yes, it seems so…"
"Damn, Melfer, you are a genius," Felmer commented.
Melfer smirked back. Then Felmer got up and extended his hand to get the paper. Emilia handed it.
"We will eat breakfast and then inform Elna and the captain. Then we will see what to do…" Felmer said.
"I can tell you of one thing. That there is no such location in Cerfis." Emilia said and began coughing.
"Okay…Need some water?" Felmer asked.
Emilia nodded and then coughed. The coughing didn't stop and only worsened.
"Mother? You all right?" Melfer got up from the bed.
Felmer placed the paper on the table and poured water into the nearby glass. And gave her the glass. Emilia drank and coughed again, this time with some blood. The brothers got scared.
"Go, call the doctor, NOW!" Felmer ordered Melfer, and Melfer rushed outside.
Emilia kept coughing. Felmer's hands were on her back, and on her demand, gave her more water. She drank the water, and the coughing somewhat stopped. She looked up. Her eyes felt weak, her face was pale, and her lips had some blood. Felmer took out his handkerchief and wiped the blood.
"Are you fine?" Felmer asked, probably worried.
Emilia nodded. She couldn't speak; her throat had dried out. Soon, their private doctor, Mrs Kilia, came and asked Felmer to leave. Felmer looked at her mother, picked up the paper, and left. Marnis was there as well. The doctor closed the door.
"Go do your work. I will look after her…" Marnis ordered Felmer.
He nodded, and the brothers left. They went straight to the headquarters. There, they met Elna. Upon arriving, they told her everything. From the decipher to Emilia's health.
"Okay…We will leave her with the doctor and head to the capital. The general had received the report and asked about the book as well. C'mon, let's go." Elna said and moved outside the building, followed by Felmer and Melfer.
Outside, the captain joined them, and they rode towards the capital. Along the way, Felmer told the captain about the decipher. They reached the capital and then met with General Ednita. They explained him.
"Hmmm…I can't doubt her judgment. Her family is from the north-western mountain ranges, and they have always been fluent in various languages. So…We can presume that the poem is guiding us to the badge. It is worth looking for." The general replied as Elna completed explaining.
"But my mother said there is no such area in Cerfis," Felmer said.
"True," The general replied. "I can send the four of you on an expedition around the world. But as you are of the military, not simple adventurers, we will need a permit from Raftin."
"Which I highly doubt…" Melfer replied.
"It's worth a shot…" The general had some hope. "Let's go…" And then he got up.
The squad followed him through the main building's corridors and reached the throne room. Raftin was there. They entered and stood in front of him.
The general got close and told him everything.
"Hmm…The badge of ascension. I have heard this term. I thought it was just a myth. But it seems it's true…" Raftin said as the general stopped talking. "Fine…I will permit you four to follow the poem and find this badge. Safe travels."
"What!?!?" The words came out of Felmer's mouth. He was extremely shocked. 'This is totally not like him! What happened? He hit his head somewhere?' Felmer thought.
Not just Felmer, but the rest of the squad and the general were shocked as well. He said nothing, showed no resistance, and simply allowed.
"What? Something's wrong?" Raftin asked in a tone they had never heard.
'He really did hit his head,' Felmer was assured.
"No…We are thankful for this permission, Lord Raftin." Elna said and bowed her head. The rest of the squad followed her, and then they left.
"That was totally unexpected," The general said as they left the room.
"I can't believe it. He is my father, but I still can't believe it," Elna commented.
The general sighed. "Be happy that you got the permission. Use it and find this badge." The general stopped. "I don't know of a specific location or region. But I can assure you it's towards the east. Buy your resources from the eastern district and then move to Kingdom Qaeristisk. The kingdoms up north and towards the east are old. So, you may find something. Moreover, those nations are lenient towards travellers. So, good luck finding the badge."
"And yeah…Take Flexin as well. He has successfully passed the test. Take him with you on the journey."
"Oh, he did?" Felmer was happy. "Fine, I will."
The four went back to Nolos. At Nolos, they packed their things and got ready for this new journey.
"We will be in the eastern district by evening. We will rest there, and tomorrow, before sunrise, we will set off on our journey. We will buy food and weaponry from the eastern district." Elna gave her orders to the squad.
Then the squad, except for Irnik, went to their mansion. There, they met with Emilia one by one. Felmer met her in the end.
When he entered, he heard the words of a poem that Emilia used to sing a lot. A poem from her homeland, in the north-western Alcoz mountain range.
"Na Kráľovej holi stojí strom zelený," Emilia sung, while looking at the vast plains, outside the window "pod ním ovečky pasú sa." She sang the sad verses.
Felmer didn't know the exact meaning, but he knew that it was a sad poem.
"Ah…You are here…"
"Yes, how are you now?" Felmer asked and sat on the bed.
"Fine…Just a bit ill," Emilia said in a weak voice. Her face was pale. "Elna told me about your journey. Travel safely, and take care of yourselves. Take care of Flexin as well."
"I will…"
Emilia ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead. Then, he got up and headed to the door.
"When I come back, you must be singing a happy poem," Felmer said with a smiling face.
Emilia smiled back.
Marnis was told about their plan. Felmer came outside the mansion and joined everyone. Flexin was standing there, ready and straight.
"Good…Resting in the district is fine. Be careful," Marnis pressed Melfer's shoulder and hugged his three sons. "Take care of each other, and return safely." He winked his eyes at Felmer.
"Don't worry," Felmer replied.
He rode his horse, Anna waving at them happily, and then the party of five set off on the quest.