Chapter 130 - Reprieve & Dream

Approaching the newly opened passageway, Ren hesitated for a moment as he remembered the mission that had clogged his mind.

"...Iris."

Looking back at the desecrated dungeon, another stinging pain traveled through his body, urging him to move forward.

She was much stronger than him, he knew that well--if she was on that floor, she would've already cleared it without a doubt.

--Even if she didn't...Asterius is gone now, I don't know if he'll be resurrected again, but there should be a grace period before that.

Beyond just stringing logic together, it seemed his temporary enlightened mind granted him one gift before parting--a feeling in his gut told him she wasn't here.

Encumbered by a failing body, Ren dragged his feet forward into the awaiting section of the floor, stepping past the ancient gates. As the threshold was crossed, the towering slabs of natural elements pulled themselves back into place--cutting off any hope there may have been of returning to the labyrinth.

What waited him inside the room beyond the guardian's domain was a high-reaching humanoid statue formed of rusted metal. From its outstretched hand, a fall of crimson flowed down into the pool that sat at its feet.

A simple graze of his calloused hands through the lukewarm liquid sent a shiver crawling across his skin, shedding some of the unease that loomed over him. Rising from the pool of crimson without a visible depth, a stone tablet emerged.

"Nakamura Ren, your strife was one most entertaining. As a reward for your valiant effort and the strength to see that will through, ask one question and see it answered."

He didn't know whether or not to be creeped out or honored by the praise from the tablet. Still, only one question made itself persistently known in his head.

"Iris...Where is she?"

Asking his desired question, the tablet was submerged once more into the depths of crimson. Waiting for his response, he scoped the isolated chamber. Compared to the rough, unrefined nature of the labyrinth, the room was extravagant.

The floor was formed of a finely-crafted, pale-blue stone separated into many tiles. Composed of the same material, the walls held vibrant torches that created a much missed sense of security.

A plop followed an uprising of bubbles from the crimson pool before the tablet returned to the surface of the fountain, bringing with it a small chest formed of an azure metal.

"A girl of your age and of your acquaintance traverses the quiet depths of the second floor. She moves forward in search of Nakamura Ren, praying for his safety."

Reading those inscriptions from the tablet brought upon him total elation as he let out a sigh that blew away the accumulating stress in his lungs.

"...I'm so relieved...I'm happy. I'm happy…I thought...I feared that I made a mistake, but you're out there. Looking for me, even...Iris, it's so lonely here."

Brought down to his knees from the overwhelming spectrum of emotions that manifested from this knowledge, Ren rested his forehead against the rough, prickly stone of the fountain. All at once, the weight from his shoulders glided away, even if for a moment, Ren finally allowed himself to rest both physically and mentally.

"Finally...Something good came out of this place," Ren muttered weakly, "I'll find you, Iris, I swear it...I swear it on any grave, star, anything."

Since the moment he came to this primordial realm of torment, every waking moment was spent fighting, worrying--all in the name of garnering strength, but in reality, he fought to avoid the torturous end that awaited every corner. He exiled this dormant pain from the grooves of his eyes, allowing the liquid personification of his emotions stream down his pale cheeks.

--In truth, it didn't feel like a victory to me.

--All I felt was that I succeeded in surviving. But that was enough for me. Knowing that she was out there, looking for me just as I was for her...I gained a new lease on my conviction.

After spending a batch of time huddled near the fountain, oozing from his pores his discarded pain and tears, Ren steadily brought himself up to retrieve the peculiar chest that floated in the crimson fountain. Holding it in his blood-soaked hands, the contents within it felt heavy. Tracing his fingertips over the smooth steel of the handle, decorated in the shape of many arms grasping each other, Ren gulped before revealing the innards of the enigmatic box to himself.

Peeking into the interior, lined with somber, black fabric, a piece of untainted cloth clung itself around the item stored within. Once again, anxiety worked in tandem with his curiosity as he slowly moved his hand over the cloth, preparing himself to unveil the object. Unwrapping the tightly-wrapped cloth had uncovered a dagger, possessing a handle that seemed to be formed of a light, pearly metal, carved with hieroglyphics that were not known to him.

What had bewitched him was the blade itself, formed of a translucent, obsidian material that became iridescent as he lifted it from the chest. It felt natural within his grip, the grooves of the handle comfortably welcoming his supple digits.

He found himself staring at the shifting blade for far too long, entranced by its beauty by interrupting his engrossed stare with a quick head shake. It had almost missed his sight, but a fair chunk of crimson coins rested within the cloth, quickly storing them in one of the pouches attached to his belt.

Finding a place to sheath the dagger, only now did he realize he had completely left his tunic behind in the labyrinth, only finding his crimson amulet resting against his chest.

Even if nobody was around, he still felt eyes watching him, trailing his unveiled skin--such thoughts sent a cold tremble throughout his body. Using the cloth inside of the chest, he created a makeshift scabbard for the dagger, tying it to his belt before he finally moved himself past the towering fountain of crimson.

"...Checkpoint reached."

All that sat at the end of the mainly empty room was standard door, almost so normal that it roused suspicion in him as he hesitantly moved his hand to the chilled handle, swinging it open. The first thing to greet him was the aroma that seeped out of the next room, the scent of something freshly cooked, salty and rich with flavor.

He had been consumed by the nature of the trial so wholeheartedly that he didn't recognize the hunger that had been present within himself, listening as his stomach let out a war-cry, yelling out for whatever the aroma attached itself to.

The sight of the lavish room that awaited past the door made him question if this was reality or if he had fallen into a dream. It was like a completely different world had been connected to the door, holding a dining hall that was decorated with the trinkets of the opulent class. A long, narrow table inhabited the center of this peculiar room, veiled with a somber tablecloth, ending in flared strings of silver.

It took him a minute to notice the man sitting at the very end of the table, nearly making him flinch out of surprise.

"Greetings, Ren."

He had a voice as smooth and refined as a starlit sky, his welcoming rolling off of his tongue like silver. Normally such an abrupt interaction, especially in a place as volatile as this, would serve to put Ren on guard, yet he felt no such malice coming off of the man.

"Sit. You've earned that luxury, I'd say."

Being brought out of his statuesque trance, Ren stepped into the room proper, looking down as he took in the sight of the exuberant, vanilla carpet that sprawled out across the tan, wooden floorboards, not seeing such cleanliness in the trial. Seating himself in the cushioned chair, he instantly felt his body enter a relaxed state as his tensed muscles finally let up their tireless battle.

He had started to get used to the natural vomit-inducing stench that lived within the floor--so the fresh fragrance that existed in this domain of tranquility met his nose with utter delight.

Somehow he didn't notice the unknown man's features until after he had seated himself, trying to hide the surprise from his face in an attempt to prevent offense, but it was a jarring sight.

--Either he had a complete makeover...Or this guy just isn't human.

The initial aspect of the man's appearance that jumped at Ren were his eyes, namely the abyssal sclera he had, any white or color for that matter had been absent from his sightseeing organs. It didn't stop there for the abnormalities with his eyes as his irises took on a hexagonal shape, baring a shade of magenta.

Even seated, he could tell the man was freakishly tall, likely standing at a height surpassing the likes of the crimson-haired Outlander. Though his build was much more slender in comparison, fitting well into his sharp suit that matched his irises, holding no wrinkles or stains to speak of. It was completely and utterly odd to see a non-otherworlder wearing a suit of that style, as it definitely had no place in a world of this era, that much Ren was sure of.

Looking past these abnormalities, Ren couldn't help but admit, it took nothing away from his natural, almost perfect beauty. In Ren's mind, "handsome" didn't cut it, the celestial grace the man's face bore, from his flawless jawline and to his well-kempt, combed-over, jet-black locks--even someone with questionable heterosexuality as himself couldn't help but acknowledge such a being.

--And here I am, shirtless and dirty like I just crawled out of the sewer. "Like"...I'm pretty sure I actually did that at some point.

"I take it you've never seen one such as myself before, no?"

The man confronted Ren's prolonged gaze with a slight smirk, carrying his words from his lips elegantly. He quickly shifted his head away from the man's direction out of embarrassment, holding a blush that attempted to divert all of his fluster to his cheeks.

"It's quite alright, I don't mind being ogled. Jokes aside, my kind are quite rare for humans to meet, much less otherworlders like yourself."

It was enunciated sensually, taking away the embarrassment from Ren as he faced the man without any hesitation upon hearing that term.

"--You know that?"

"It was but a simple guess, but now you've confirmed it."

Pleased with the adolescent's response, the man let out a refined chuckle, tapping his clearly groomed, obsidian fingernails against the table.

Although he claimed it to be a guess, the fervent certainty in his voice when referring to him as an otherworlder struck as nothing but the known truth.

--He's messing with me.

"Ah, worry not, I don't hold the same prejudice towards your type as many in the world do. I guess you could say we're in the same boat."

"Wait, you aren't human right? What are you?"

"My, that's a rude way to ask such a thing," the man smirked as he rested his cheek against his knuckles, "I suppose I should introduce myself properly. I am Bifrons, I will henceforth be your attendant through the trial."

Once again, Ren found himself at a loss for words at the man's whim, watching as he unraveled himself from his seat to stand straight with his towering height, placing one hand over his heart as he bowed ever so slightly.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ren Nakamura."