Azul and Tanzanite rush down the stairs to catch up with Riddle.

Azul calls out, "Riddle! For the umpteenth time, would you PLEASE stop running ahead?"

Riddle stops and turns to them, "Why? I'm the leader of our team. It makes sense that I should march at the fore."

"I'm not talking about who's in front. We need to exercise a little more caution," Azul says. There's only one path in Tartarus. And it's possible some Phantoms have already thawed and are lurking about, waiting to ambush us."

"Well, Azul is right about that," Tanzanite says.

Riddle questions Azul, "Do you think I'd be thrown by such petty attacks?"

"Your confidence is admirable, but we haven't been trained to fight Phantoms," Azul says. "We should be careful when dealing with unknown enemies."

"What you say is perfectly sensible, but we've already gone down the proverbial rabbit hole," Riddle says, "There's no turning back. Hence, it makes no difference if we tiptoe or march boldly forth."

"Even so, there's a fine line between bravery and recklessness, Riddle," Azul says,

"There's also a fine line between caution and cowardice, Azul," Riddle points out, "And there's no rule in our manual that says we must fear enemies in an emergency. I follow the manual, plain and simple."

"So you'd do anything so long as it was written in a manual?" Azul questions. "What if it said to let an enemy hit you so you could gauge its strength?"

"I'd do so if it were a rule," Riddle says.

Azul mutters to himself, "I've heard of going by the book, but this is ridiculous. He's not just inflexible. His head must be made of literal rock." He takes a breather and mutters, "If I'd known he'd be like this, I would've gone with Leona and just called my sanded contracts water under the bridge."

Tanzanite turns to Riddle and asks, "Riddle, how much farther are we to the next area?"

Riddle looks at the map, "It shouldn't be too much longer."

But suddenly notices something at the front, and creates a serious expression on his face, "Tanzanite! Azul! We've got company, dead ahead!"

The three look ahead to see a Phantom ahead of them, and it lets out a screeching sound.

"It's a Phantom!" Tanzanite call out.

Riddle says, "I'll dispose of it. You two, stay back!" and brings out his magepen.

"Excuse me? Are you implying..." Azul questions, upset. But decides to brush it off, "Tch. We'll talk after this."