Over there, in a chamber where every trace of life had vanished,where the ruins that once stood tall in the heights were swallowed by the weight of their pasts,where the waters below had evaporated, leaving only bare, lifeless earth.
There—yes, in that distant place where the cycle of hatred once found its first conclusion,another conclusion unraveled.
The birth of an unrelenting red thread took shape—forever woven from the fog.
ㅤ
"Mär!"
If he was here, that probably meant he had defeated his opponent—at the cost of my life…And even if it came to me only through brief flashes,in each of his steps toward me I caught echoesof all that I had missed after my fall.
Nothing was born…Other than the frustration of recalling those past fragments—the feeling of being some miraculous fragmentthat didn't belong anywhere.
Moreover, I didn't know whether it was a side effectof the veil of light that had just lifted from me,but the forefront was clear—a sharp reminder of reality.
"How did you—"
He stopped dead when he saw my fist tighten in frustration,understanding exactly the situation he was in.
Just catching a glimpse of his smile widening after my fall,his eyes alive with ecstasy—a deep desire, a satisfaction from the fight,from finally being able to win,or simply to offer his body to his causewith no intention of surviving.Having witnessed that, I knewI wouldn't get what I wanted.
Beyond that, he didn't try to jokeor force a misplaced grin—and I couldn't find joyin hearing him say my name again.Sure, his face no longer carried that disgusting smirk,that malicious expression,but it didn't mean I could forgive himfor that purely selfish act.
He had blamed me for thinking only of escape—but he had thrown me awayfor a reason not so different:his freedom.
And yes, he knew it.But he wouldn't admit it.It was his fault I was in this state—and he couldn't care less.
I couldn't fully grasp what had happened,but one thing was certain—it had.I had truly died for an instant,returned to the lair that had taught me of existence and its pain.I had felt it—
That loss of self.That wandering.That void.
Just as I now felt his unease,reading it clearly in his eyes.
It was certain.But at least this time,I had enough will and power to break it.I still can't explain it,but the strength I found within that returnhad saved me.
Whatever it was,I owe it my continued life.
"I—"
"You killed him, didn't you?You got what you wanted.All of this was planned from the start, wasn't it?Why didn't you tell me anything?"
"…"
He stayed silent,but not out of shame.
"It—it's your fault that poor man is dead!"
He lowered his gaze,and his eyes darkened.
"We both did what we had to,for our own sake.I could tell you I'm sorry,but I can't regret what I did to you.I had to.If you follow me—at least as far as the village—you'll understand the reasons that drove me to—"
He's mocking my pain?!He betrayed me,and that's all it does to him?!
"What you had to?!You had to?!You threw me away like trash after offering me your hand!Don't talk to me about obligations—you did it because you wanted to,not because you had to!"My voice was trembling with rage."I'm sure there were other ways to end it with them—especially if mister almighty is as strong and knowledgeable as he claims!"
"Listen."
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
What the—?!Vibrations came from the ceiling.
It rippled,as if something was about to emerge from it.
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
I turned to Bellian,thinking it might be his doing,but his eyes weren't calm or sure anymore.They wavered between fear and astonishment.
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
"You know what's happening?"
"This can't be! Not here?!"
What was he talking about?Should I be afraid… or excited?
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
A door literally emerged from the ceiling.
It radiated a sinister aura,its entrance utterly spectacular.It absorbed every surrounding sound,becoming the only thing that mattered.In its wake remained only the breathof our two exhausted bodies.
Looking closer, even from below,I could see strange shapes carved into its wood—the features of a—
"An owl?!" shouted Bellian,completely unhinged,gripped by even deeper panic.
The previous chaos hadn't shaken him,yet this did?One thing was certain—none of this was in his plans.Still, he clearly knew what was coming—and though no word could describe it—it looked dangerous.
Thankfully,we didn't have to wait long to know why.
▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ || █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁
The door rooted in the ceiling opened slowly—without the slightest creak.
A man stepped out—walking vertically into the air,as if descending through emptiness.It was majestic—art defying the laws of nature.
Impossible to look away,impossible to think of anything else.It was too grand.
He seemed beyond gravity itself,or simply above physics.Even his long golden hairand his vast coatdidn't move an inch.
He seemed aware of everythingin the span of a single blink.His mere presence was knowledge.And once close enough,he cast a glance in our direction.
I will never forget that moment.It was the closest encounterI could ever have with a [XXXXX].
When his golden pupils, swirling like inquisitive spirals, met mine—when his sheer presence subdued me—his aura swallowed me whole.He had me completely at his mercywithout a single move,without revealing the faintest fragment of his power.
He came straight from another dimension—another scale of existence.
Then I understood Bellian's reaction.
A presence like thatshould not be here.
Our frail existencewas an insult to his magnitude—and even though I couldn't perceive all of it,for lack of understanding,his supremacy was undeniable,towering beyond imagination.He was other.
And thus, he broke the silence.
"Well then…son of Dess Kattran."
The moment the man spoke,Bellian was struckby an overwhelming, paralyzing fear—
Death itself.
"You've offered this district—no, this entire chamber,nay, the whole of Winter—a show of fine quality.Almost worthy of praise."
"W-Why…Why is someone like you here?!"
He ran a hand through his long hair,displaying their beauty,then turned his gaze toward me.
"You have no idea how much of a blessing this young man is for you.He's… of great interest.No surprise there.But as for you—you haven't been entirely honest."
Sweat beaded on Bellian's pale face.He seemed to summon all his strengthto withstand the immeasurable being before us.
It was useless.
Mortal courage meant nothing against him.
It wasn't even a difference—he was an entity whose very existencemade the creation of such a tunnel possible,logical,necessary.
"…"
"Like father, like son.If he hadn't been here,you would have died like a useless scrap of excess.You'd best stay close to himif you mean to move forward."
"Sorry, sir… who are you?"
Bellian froze,thinking I'd just signed my death sentence—but the Man—or Being—smiled at me.
"Ün Rebelo Quescelo Lattias.I am what one calls a Master Architect.And you, young stranger?"
"H-MÄ-R, sir!"
The words burst out of me uncontrollably—and as I saw the spirals in his eyes begin to spin,I was crushed by his power,drawn in by his movement.
"LAHAYAYAYAYA!So that was the excitement I felt!I must thank fate for letting me find you first."
"Uh…"
"Know this, young man—this world is very happy to welcome you."
"T-thank you?"
"As for your companion…"
He let out a pitiful laugh.
"Don't hold it against him—his deceit is in his blood.It runs pure through his line.They're true foxes—driven only by their own arbitration.If there's one thing you should remember:in your journey through these lands,the end will always justify the means."
"I—"
"To move forward,you'll need strong allies—those ready to do everything to survive,not simply follow your steps.Men with charitable souls and sympathetic airsare usually nothing but lies.Everyone is a lie."
I couldn't bring myself to question him—his words carried history,meaning,direction.
I believed him.He strengthened my will to go on…
"You didn't come here just to chat, did you?"
He turned sharply toward Bellian—without even looking at him—and as time froze,I felt a fraction—a mere fragment of one percent—of what that being's power might be.
It was—
ABSOLUTE.
"Know your place, insect."
A massive wave of pressure enveloped us,crushing our bodies until the ground cracked beneath our feet.
That's when I saw Bellian begin to bleed again,his wounds tearing open anew.
Then the being turned back to me—smiling.
"It's true that I didn't come here only to make your acquaintance.Let's say… you're going to help mebuild myself a place of choicefor the splendid era that is to come."