The nearby crow leads you to believe that, whether he realized it or not, the elderly stallion must have been on his way to Final Rest. You figure that you should help him make it the rest of the way there, and ask Tsu-Ko to keep an eye on him while you fetch your companions.

Tsu-Ko: "Very well."

After announcing that you will return shortly, you spread your wings and take to the northwestern skies...

Moonflower: "Hi Blazer!"

Honourshine: "Did you find the entrance?"

You land next to your friends atop the grassy hill, then shake your head, but let them know about what you did find: you tell them of Ryokasei's white crow, and of the seemingly senile elder it is guiding.

Honourshine: "... Hm. If that's the case, then helping him reach the town safely — even if it is a ghost town —, well, it feels like the right thing to do."

Moonflower: "Yuh uh! Let's do that!"

You nod in agreement, and once everyone is ready, you glide back down into the shaded valleys together...

Once you rejoin Tsu-Ko and the elder, an hour has passed, yet you find the two exactly where you left them, along with the wooden cart.

Tsu-Ko: "There you are."

You bow your head in thanks to Tsu-Ko for keeping watch. As before, the old stallion's bamboo hat lifts at your approach, but this time, he looks toward Moonflower.

Elder: "Ah, Petals, welcome home. How was school today?"

Moonflower: "Uh... school?"

Elder: "Why, is it the year's end break already? I must've lost track of time. Hn... well, no matter. Will your friends be staying over for dinner?"

Moonflower shoots you a questioning glance, but the best you can offer her is a helpless shrug.

Honourshine: "Actually, we... were hoping you would accompany us on a trip to Final Rest."

Elder: "Of course, of course, anything for my dear Petals. Ohh, will the girl still have need of her old stallion once she becomes a warrior herself? Keh heh...!"

The elder wheezes a coughed laugh, then he mumbles something quietly to himself, drifting off into silence. For a moment, you wonder if he's fallen asleep.

Moonflower: "Can we go now?"

Elder: "Ah! Petals, I didn't see you there. Where would you like to go?"

Moonflower: "We gotta follow the white crow to Final Rest!"

Elder: "The white crow? Has it come calling? No, no, not yet. You are much too young for that, Petals. Much too young..."

Raspy voice: "UNTIL WHEN...?"

Your head slowly turns toward the source of the strangely unnatural voice. There is the crow, perched atop the canopy, its shining eye peering down at you from above.

Honourshine: "Did... did the crow just speak?"

Moonflower: "Y-yuh uh...!"

Tsu-Ko: "Before you ask, no, I don't translate animal speech. It spoke in Demonic."

You nod, then glance back to the elder, and find that he seems to have nodded off again. By your estimation, you only have an hour or two of daylight left.