My comrades stared at the garden with deep frown on their faces.
"Why are there only two trees?"
Shanny asked out loud.
"There are supposed to be three, right? Serafina's and her twin brothers'."
Jonah said.
"Maybe Serafina's mother only planted one tree for the birth of her twins?"
Trudy speculated.
"But these two trees seemed to be planted around the same time, though."
Darius pointed out.
They all immediately quieted down when a hunched old lady with a cane walked toward us.
Judging by her clothing and lack of baggage, she must had been a local. Not one that I recognized.
"Beautiful trees, aren't they? The late Lady Marla, Matriarch of the Zeref Household, planted them for the birth of her sons, Leongard and Aizengard. It was her tradition to plant a tree to announce the birth of her child, you see."
The old woman went on when she saw us paying attention to her.
"Young master Leongard takes after his father. But it is Aizengard who inherits his mother's look. Aside from the paintings, it is only in young master Aizengard the likeness of Lady Marla can be found."
The old woman suddenly gasped at the sight of me.
With the aid of her cane, she slowly stepped to where I was standing and brushed my face with her wrinkled hand.
"Dear Goddesses! Had I gone senile, I would have shouted that Lady Marla has returned from the grave."
She smiled at me and grasped my hand.
The reminiscing woman continued.
"Why, yes! Had Lady Marla had a daughter, I'm sure the girl would grow up to be just like you."
The old woman then strolled away as if we were no longer there.
Of course, my comrades were still struck by confusion because of what she said.
"What was she saying? 'Had Lady Marla had a daughter?'"
Trudy repeated with a frown.
To everyone's surprise, I nodded with a smile and a sigh.
"Apparently, I was never born in this version of Damai. I do not exist in this 'world.'"
My comrades were thrown into greater confusion.
"What do you mean you don't exist? You're standing right here with us!"
Shanny said while poking my shoulder, taking my words literally.
"Just like how we changed history in Loro, it is possible for the Exploration Dungeon to have altered history in here as well."
I said. I pointed to the clouded sun symbol embroidered on my dress and continued.
"The insignia on my dress is different from the one on the guard earlier. From all the guards. Both symbols were still the clouded sun, but theirs were skewed in a way that made me certain they would not believe mine represented the Zeref Household."
I turned to the cherry trees in the garden.
"The fact that my tree is not here only proved my assumption. We're currently standing in a different version of Seraphold. A different version of Damai. A different version of our world, Dunia."
My comrades turned agape upon my revelation.
They quickly turned to examine their surroundings warily. As if we were inside a Quintal Trial.
After hearing we were in a different world to our home, the city must had seemed alien to them, even though they had never been here.
"How different is this world to ours, Serafina?"
Jonah asked as he glared the passersby as if they were dangerous unknown monsters. The others were no less tense than he was.
I smiled at their behavior and clapped my hands.
"We can only know the answer by investigating. Remember, we're here to explore. Let us begin exploring."
My comrades flinched at my words. Suddenly remembering that we had a mission to accomplish.
They relaxed and gathered around once more.
"So, how are we going to do this? This city is quite large. Are we going to scour the whole of it?"
Shanny asked.
"The mission window did not tell our goal specifically nor did it specify the condition for failure. Only the time until our return to the lobby. I think we can do whatever we want like in the Weekday Dungeons."
Trudy stated.
"Should we stick together or spread out? We could cover more grounds if we split up."
Darius asked.
Jonah nodded to the middle-aged mercenary.
"If we're going to split up, I suggest we set up a meeting point where we can reunite with each other. We'll probably be returned to the lobby when the time runs out, but I still think we should be together before then."
After hearing their suggestions, I finally made up our plan for this excursion.
"We'll stick together until we reach the Merchant Street in the next quarter. I will want Darius to head over to the mercenary guild branch over there and find information about what's currently happening in the empire. Shanny and Trudy will explore the shops in the quarter and buy anything useful to be brought back to the lobby, try to hear anything important too. Jonah and I will do the same."
I turned to a large inn overlooking the garden in the square.
"At evening, we will reunite at Lightland Hut where we will share our discoveries. We will spend the night there and continue with our exploration tomorrow morning and reunite at the inn again before the timer runs out. Any question?"
Trudy raised her hand.
"Why are we only exploring the Merchant Street?"
"The Merchant Street is the biggest marketing hub in Seraphold. Anything we need to hear and find can be found there. With only two days to explore, it would be unwise to try investigating more places."
"Then shouldn't we find an inn at the Merchant Street instead of here in the Traveler District?"
Jonah asked.
"Aside from how expensive the lodgings in the Merchant Street are, many travelers who are only passing by the city don't end up to that quarter. Some of these travelers might carry news we need to hear. And most of that kind of travelers would stay here in the Lightland Hut. The nearest inn to the Slatan Gate."
After hearing my explanation, my comrades agreed with my plan and we ventured through the Traveler District's labyrinth street toward the Merchant Street deeper into the city.
Along the way I specified what each of us were supposed to be looking for in the Merchant Street.
My comrades listened carefully to my instructions until we entered a huge plaza full with stalls and shops.
The entire plaza was almost the size of the first floor of the lobby. The people populating the area was more than thrice of the lobby's heroes.
At each side of the plaza were smaller streets which connected the plaza to another one at the other end.
In its entirety, the Merchant Street was comprised of six plazas brimming with cunning shopkeepers, eager hawkers, and both innocent and suspicious customers.
"I could see why you said we can spend two days exploring this place."
Trudy said with an apologetic smile.
I nodded to her.
I produced the pouch filled with golden coins that the fairy gave us.
There were twenty-five medallions inside, so I allocated five for each member of Party 1.
I had told them how precious the coins were so they would be careful to spend them. Suggesting they should exchange some to a jeweler for acquiring coins from this age.
"Well then, remember your assignments. Darius to the guild, Shanny and Trudy will explore the 1st to the 3rd Plaza, while Jonah and I will explore the 4th to the 6th."
We all then separated ways as I instructed.
I had told them the direction they needed to go as we were making our way to this quarter.
Since this was my hometown, it did not take long for Jonah and I to reach the 5th Plaza, which was right next to the first plaza we arrived at.
The shepherd was confused when he saw me walking past the stalls and shops we were supposed to look through.
"Serafina, shouldn't we see what these shops has to offer first? We can work our way from the outside. We might actually not find anything and waste time if we search at random."
"There are things that the lobby really needs and I know where we can find them."
"What things?"
He asked.
"Maps."
I answered.
"Maps? Maps of what? Why would the lobby need maps?"
"We were lucky Norn had been to Loro, Jonah. If she had not, we would never know the second Quintal Trial would take place there. Her knowledge of the city was crucial in the tenth floor's completion."
I explained.
"I see. If we have maps of Dunia at our disposal, we could scout the future trials ahead of time."
Jonah said.
"We would have to make some effort to know where the trial takes place first. Once we know, then we'll find some use to the maps."
"My geography book master gave me had maps on it. Maybe we can use them too?"
The shepherd asked.
"We'd need bigger ones than your book pages, Jonah. And I'm not just trying to find regional maps. I'm looking for city schematics, stronghold, fort and castle design prints. Everything that can be mapped and might be the location where our trials would take place."
"You think you can find all of them?"
"Not all. But I plan to obtain as much as I can."
"And you're sure this place we're going will provide them for you?"
"She will try as long as we can pay. And most importantly, interest her enough."
We finally arrived at a three-storied building painted with pale yellow.
Jonah formed a frown upon the sign at the door.
Caramille's Boutique.