This was it. As the drawbridge started to creak and descend, an unknown feeling welled in Isshiki. He briefly wondered whether this was a feeling of freedom- as if he were a prisoner being released from a cell.
"We should probably get going..." "Yeah. Come on, let's go!"
Daichi started to hurry on ahead. Isshiki was about to follow suit before he noticed Irie grimacing beside him.
"Irie? Something wrong?"
Noticing his discomfort, Irie seemed to pause, as if hesitating...before she sighed.
"Guess there's no use hiding it...I feel like I've seen this. I mean, this."
She waved her hand to motion to the sight of the drawbridge and the forest beyond.
"I can't tell where. It's definitely not in any book, or anything we've had back home. But...I feel like I've seen it. In a dream, maybe."
"Your point--?"
Irie sighed, shook her head, then flashed a weak smile.
"Nothing much. Let's just proceed with caution."
Wondering what Irie could have seen, Isshiki started to cross as well.