186 Lecture Hall

Silence reigned in the small room Surgit and Karla came back to. She hadn't uttered a word since they left for the hunter's dream. In other words, since Surgit killed her. She was mad at first, but after Surgit explained everything related to the dream, Karla fell quiet.

He hadn't been able to get a word from her since. She even refused to approach the good doll in order to channel her echoes. She only wanted one thing: get the hell out of the dream. On the bright side, Surgit confirmed his suspicions. That giant insect-like beast had sent them to a lecture hall. Surgit suspected it must have been part of Byrgenwerth once.

When they came back, he was keen on exploring the area more. Karla, however, didn't share his enthusiasm. Her eyes blankly stared at a jar filled with marinated eyeballs. Surgit would have loved to leave the woman with her thoughts, but she had things to explain.

"What's on your mind, airhead?" Surgit asked.

"Wh – what?" Karla asked. "Oh, sorry, I must have drifted off."

"You said that hunter sent you back in time," Surgit said. "What happened to you then?"

"The hunters found me unconscious in a forest," Karla said. "They made me one of them, then trained me to hunt beasts. I've met the old man, back when he could still walk."

"You mean Gehrman?" Surgit asked.

Karla nodded. "That doll in the dream. It's strange, but she looks a lot like a woman I met back then."

"Enough reminiscing," Surgit said then gave the woman an encouraging tap on the back. "How about we focus on the matters at hand?"

"Like the fact that we're trapped here forever?" Karla asked with a semblance of a smile.

"There is a way out," Surgit said. "It's just a bit difficult. Well, actually, it's very difficult but –"

"Surgit stop!" Karla cut in. "You're right. There's no point in crying over spilt milk. Let's explore this place."

Karla headed for the only door in the room and pushed it open. Surgit remained behind for a while, jaw dropped to the floor. 'What's up with her?!' he shrugged then followed after Karla.

The room gave way to a hall. The walls were all covered in wood, giving the entire place a rusty feeling. Surgit found Karla staring at the door right opposite them. Surgit stood beside her and followed her gaze. From a small metallic frame at the door, two shiny eyes were observing them.

Surgit slowly walked toward the frame, eyes squinting as he approached. When he got close enough, he recognized a man's face, albeit slightly deformed. As soon as Surgit got close enough, the man chuckled. Surgit recognized the laughter immediately.

"You!" he hissed. "You're the one who gave me this cursed stone."

The man didn't reply before a while. He kept sniggering as his invisible body shook. "What a joy it is to behold the divine," he finally said. "It must be such a pleasure. You're in my debt you know."

"You call those horrific things divine?" Surgit asked, disgusted. "And what debt are you talking about? You tricked me!"

The strange man began laughing again. "You're nigh on a beast, but here you are," he said, "treading a measure with the gods."

"You're definitely the weirdest guy I've ever met," Surgit said. His upper lip twitched and his hand twitched to reach for his sword. "Open that door. Let me teach you a thing or two about the gods."

The strange man sniggered once more. "Are your feet as fat as your wits?" he asked in a mocking tone. "Oh, cease this dithering! Take the plunge! Throw yourself to the wolves! Hehahahaha...."

"What's up with this one?" Karla joined in.

"He's as mad as all of'em!" Surgit exclaimed.

The man, upon hearing Surgit's exasperated rant, began laughing hysterically. "Don't dally, you lucky scamps!" the man said, still mocking, still judgemental. "The gift of the godhead cometh! Yes... Hehahahaha...."

"He's out of his mind," Karla said. "Let's leave him be.���

Surgit nodded then headed deeper into the rustic hall. The smell of old, dusty books filled their nostrils as they walked the empty corridor. Only their footsteps could be heard. Surgit and Karla kept their eyes open, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger.

"Look at this place," Karla whispered. "I didn't see anything like this back then."

"How did you come back?" Surgit asked.

"Gehrman helped me do it," Karla answered. "I wonder what made him this docile..."

Surgit was about to ask something but a sound in the distance made him stop. "Do you hear that?" he asked.

Karla nodded. "Something really big's walking around here," she said.

"That door," Surgit pointed at his right. "It sounds like it's coming from there."

Karla headed there first. She put her hand on the handle and slowly turned it. "It wouldn't budge," Karla said.

Something dropped behind them, right where they were a few moments ago. A milky white liquid splashed heavily against the wooden floor then began evaporating with a loud hiss.

"Looks like we dodged a bullet there," Karla said with a nervous smile.

They were standing right below the corridor of the second floor. Surgit slowly walked toward the center of lower hall, and peeked above. Two slimy things looked back at him, growling like the messengers of the dream.

They extended their hands toward him. Then Surgit saw them aiming a weapon at him, very similar to the flame thrower he had. Instead of fire, however, a milky white liquid came pouring out of the device, and Surgit jumped back just in time to avoid it.

"They look like ghosts with clothes," Surgit said. "All we gotta do is evade that thing."

More liquid splashed before them. The smoke it exuded stung their eyes and made them choke.

"I guess it's best if we got out of here," Karla suggested. Surgit nodded then snuck a peak at the floor above them.

"On my signal," he said. He took another glance upstairs then jumped back just in time to avoid the toxic rain. "Now!" he screamed.

Both hunters jumped over the smoking liquid then found themselves out in the open. "Now what?" Karla asked. The ghastly creatures above them growled then extended their hands toward them. They arms elongated, as though made of rubber.

"Here comes the rain!" Karla warned.

Surgit pulled her then they both headed under for a door on the opposite side. He kicked it open and they both got inside before the milky liquid got to them. The ghastly creatures moaned and groaned while Karla shut the door behind them.

"Gift of the godhead!" Surgit scoffed.

"Those things will surely find a way down to us," Karla said. "Let's keep moving."

They were in a small anteroom. A desk filled with books and gross marinated things was the only piece of furniture around.

"There," Surgit pointed at another door to the side. "Let's try this one."

Karla was the first to reach the door. She opened it then got inside. A spacious lecture room welcomed her. Wooden chairs were aligned around a teacher's desk in a half circle.

"Look out!" Surgit screamed the pulled Karla from her collar.

A slimy white creature fell right where Karla stood a second ago. Like a big, murky water drop, the thing fell down and flattened. It quickly transformed into a humanoid shape, two arms, a ghastly face, but no legs. It wore a brown blouse and a top hat, which made it look even ghastlier.

Surgit struck the thing with his sword and the thing wobbled back and began evaporating. Surgit snorted. "And to think these things gave a scare back then," he said.

"Imagine if it fell on my head." Karla shuddered. "Let's keep our eyes peeled."

Surgit nodded then went inside. They found a key at the teacher's desk and few more ghastly creatures around. Surgit even found a new set of attire thanks to his insight. As soon as he inspected it, he screamed "Aha!"

Karla, frightened, jumped back. "What the hell was that?" she asked.

"I knew we were in Byrgenwerth!" he said.

"What? Why did you have to scream though?" Karla asked, confused.

He turned to Karla, looking as confused as her. "This place is driving me nuts!" he said. "I was at Byrgenwerth, and this place was nowhere in sight. I've even scoured the entire Forbidden Forests. There was nothing!"

"Many things don't make sense about this city," Karla said. "You know what, how about we go outside and see for ourselves? I saw a door at the end of the corridor. Let's try it."

Surgit nodded. "What other choice do we have anyway?" he said with half a smile.

When they re-emerged in the hall, the creatures above them were still trying to find a way down. Surgit and Karla walked toward the double door at the end of the corridor. After learning of ghastly men's weakness, they no longer seemed threatening to them. They only dodged every time they tried to spray them. When they reached the door, thin black smoke was protruding from its gaps.

"What the hell is that?" Karla asked.

"I think there's no point is asking that question anymore," Surgit said. "Let's just go outside and see."

He pushed the door open only to be met with complete darkness. All light got sucked into the center of the darkness, making it look like a cosmic vortex. It looked as though it was inviting them to come in. That was the feeling Surgit got anyway.

He turned to look at Karla to see her staring back at him with a raised eyebrow. "Will you say it or shall I?" she asked, smirking.

"What do we do now?" he asked, confused.

"Take the plunge I guess," Karla said. "The gift of the godhead cometh... or whatever that mad man said."

Surgit shrugged. "Ah, what's the worst that could happen?"