Asahi tried to ask the elder goblin a question, but she vanished just before he could reach her. Despite Asahi's actions, Kali forgave the goblin. Drimi and the others couldn't trust Asahi. Even though they realized it wasn't his fault, they still felt completely disrespected after being pushed to the ground.
They don't have much idea of who Asahi was in the first place.
As the wind brushed against the trees, Asahi mumbled to himself.
"What was all THAT about?"
Kali shook her head and motioned for Asahi to move into the bushes, gently pushing him forward.
As they tread through the dangerous trail, the mist seems to grow thicker. Asahi and Kali knew that they were outside of the safe zone. They wander through paths, seeing the countless remnants of creatures and skeletons that were all deceased.
While they approached a gaping opening of the forest, Kali saw sparks sprinkling over the 'night' sky. She absolutely knew that this wasn't a natural night sky; it was instead a hoax for the creatures from the Innanis Infinitum to feast on their prey.
Their minds were getting exploited by the 'demons.'
"Look... up. Do you notice something?" Kali said as the stars sprinkled over the 'night' sky.
Asahi tilted his head up, and his gray eyes widened in surprise. The sky seemed to have transformed toward a thick, fake lunar blue. As if a dome were covering the entirety of the forest. They knew something was off. Regardless, that couldn't diminish the fact that Asahi's sister went missing.
As they reached a small stream, Kali Leila took a deep breath and whispered to Asahi.
"So… do you see anything of importance to your sister? Why did you allow her to attack you like that? I thought you were siblings…."
Asahi wiped the sweat off his face and fell to the floor. Even stamina itself has been distorted in this forest. His breathing pace grew faster, his heart thumped rapidly, and all sparks of confusion spewed out from his mind.
As he slowly inhaled the toxins from the mist, Kali grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the lingering fog.
"Please answer."
Asahi released a deep sigh and shook his head. He vividly recollects all that happened during his 'fight' with Phthonus.
"Okay… f-fine. There seemed to be a forceful essence that got inside my head. It felt like it clung to my brain and tried to burn it. But then, as soon as I was attacked by Aletha, that force got released from my mind."
"E-Eh?!"
They felt the warm rays of the sun touch their faces. The beams seemed to have pierced through the treetops and the fake night dome. Then they saw it, a creature stalking them from the depths of the forest.
Its menacing magenta eyes pierced through both Asahi and Kali's souls, like a laser pointing through a glass object. Kali swiftly grew alert and pulled her mask from her pocket. One could assume that the creature was responsible for the night dome.
"RUN!"
Soon, the creature leaped out from the bushes and pierced its long, slender black claws straight through the ground. A star-like pattern is bestrewn around its tentacles and limbs, signifying that this was...
"That's a monster from The Ending! Get out of there now, ASAHI!"
She covered her face with the mask and quickly lunged toward the creature. Kali Leila slowly whispered to the monster, then pierced all ten of her luminescent green claws through the liquid essence of the creature's skin.
In just one scratch, the creature vanished to dust.
Asahi applauded, almost shocked by what Kali had done. But then he realized that he had seen this power before, back within the outskirts of Pladtioa city.
That attack, that slaughter-fest of the two guards, Asahi retained all of it. As more creatures emerged from the ground, Asahi and Kali fled the stream and approached a small ruined statue.
They turned their heads and saw an opening in the cavern, illuminated by a glowing, dark blue crystal. Asahi was skeptical, but Kali was eager to go inside.
As Asahi examined the strange structure of the statue, Kali neared Asahi and wrapped her arms around him. Her chest and body pressed on his back.
"E-EH?!" Asahi screamed in confusion.
At that moment, his face flushed red. He couldn't process how close Kali was. That scent of hers almost flattered him. His palms sweat, his heart pumped, and his mind scattered. The moment was all too surprising and flattering for Asahi.
"K-Kali, what are you doing?!"
She blushed and removed her mask. Her cyan-green eyes stared directly at Asahi's.
"You know, Asahi, I always had this feeling when I was around you…."
With a clueless face, Asahi responded with a mutter.
"W-What do you mean? K-Kali, you're so close to me. This is too sudden."
Kali abruptly pushed herself away from Asahi, shaking her head in confusion. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened between them. As they neared the cavern, Kali felt the overwhelming and forceful sensation inside her intensify.
"A-Asahi… please… this isn't me…."
"W-What do you mean?"
Then, as they reached the cavern, they heard a loud thumping sound from outside the stone platform. Regardless, just as they were about to reach the cavern, they heard a loud snarl, and suddenly their vision went dark.
* * * * * * * *
It seemed to them that it had been hours since they had last been awake. The wind whistled around the stone, water dripped from the top, and the muffled sound of trees outside blew on their ears. Asahi's eyelids parted, and his vision flashed.
For a moment, the cavern seemed like a heavenly paradise, with streams, waterfalls, and a lush garden amidst the dark areas.
One stood in front of Asahi, having pale skin and long red hair. She appeared to be wearing a brown dress with a few spots scattered on it.
"Val??"
Soon, the vision vanished once more. Kali Leila swiftly stood up and turned her head upwards. There she saw stalactites hanging from the ceiling. She felt a water droplet tap her skin, then fell to the floor out of shock.
"A-Asahi, what are you doing here?!"
His eyes widened.
"I-I thought you took me here!?"
"N-No… I would never take you to this place that looks so dangerous. You're too sweet and caring to be in such a place like this."
Asahi's face reddened.
"Y-You… don't have to exploit me like that. I-I'm not… soft."
"Sure you are!" Kali said as she scratched Asahi's fluffy white hair.
"N-NO, I'M NOT!" He said as he tried to push her away.
Asahi forced Kali away from him and stomped his foot against the ground. There has been something bothering him throughout their time here. He questioned where Sadiki went off to.
"Kali, do you know who Sadiki is?"
"Sa... diki? Yes, I've heard of that charming boy, but I thought he was at Zomrack. Did you know what happened during the Royale Meeting?"
"Royal Meeting? Yes, I've heard of it. But I don't think I have been there. There... have been problems when I arrived at Pladtioa City."
Kali shook her head and turned toward the cavern's walls. It was dark; they couldn't even see their feet. Asahi slowly closed his eyes and tilted his head toward a wall.
He felt a magical power surge within him for the first time in days. However, this 'magic' felt like it was eating away at him second by second.
He fell to the floor and felt his hand illuminate in white. Sure, the glow brightened the cavern, but his insides seemed to have darkened. Kali's eyes couldn't have been more scared.
Asahi felt a deep ache in his bones.
"D-Don't worry…. I don't deserve to be treated that way. Not after what I did."
Kali couldn't believe what Asahi said. She leaned toward him, but was quickly pushed away. In a louder voice, Asahi screamed.
"I don't deserve you! I'm not a human, do you remember?"
His voice echoed over the long, dark cavern. Both of them have a clue where they were. They felt isolated from the forest, in a completely different realm, separate from one another. Asahi felt the pain roll through him.
"Asahi?!" Kali worriedly screamed.
"Get away from me! You're not real. No one would stay by my side after seeing what I did."
"Are you still worried about that? Asahi, that was just-- It wasn't you, I know it."
He tilted his head to Kali and leaned against the cavern's walls. Though Asahi writhed in pain, he still managed to speak as if there were no problems.
"Why… Why are you with me after all I did? I was so confused, I didn't know what to do."
Kali Leila approached him and sighed. Even she could see the confusion in Asahi's gray eyes.
"I don't know, but know this… Asahi. There would be someone out there to listen to you. All you have to do is not give up and stop thinking about yourself, but rather, others. If you listen to their cries, they will listen to yours. If you can do that, I'm sure there will be someone to hear you, Asahi."
As his face glowed red, Asahi whispered to himself.
(She has such powerful words. Despite not knowing her that much, she is still supportive of me. E-Even more than my sister. My only question is…)
He then took a deep breath and replied.
"How? H-How can you be so determined, after all, I did?! Gods tend not to show feelings… and though I would be the nicest I can possibly be to others, there will always be people denying me because of how envious they are, or how they judge people on how others look. It's like… even in other worlds, the same rules apply…."
"I don't know what you have acted in other worlds, but if those rules apply, I'm… sorry. I don't know what to do."
His eyes widened.
"H-How can you possibly be with me? It… just doesn't make sense. You should feel like you're in danger, or… You should have fled away. I… don't understand--
Kali shook her head and had the confidence to touch his face.
She replied with a smile.
"Because I admire you, Asahi. I love your personality. It's strange to say this, but I have been stalking you ever since we met."
Asahi's eyes widened.
"H-Huh?!"
Kali's face blushed even harder.
"T-That's not what I meant. I… just love the way you used to treat others. You're usually mature, fluent, and caring. Deep inside, I knew your heart was conflicted when you fought that man. Something might have gone inside your head ever since you arrived in this forest."
Asahi slowly forms a tear, unable to comprehend Kali's words.
"Y-You really think so; You KNOW what I feel? T-That's-- not even Aletha ever said that to me."
Kali Leila shut her eyes and neared closer to Asahi. As the cool breeze rushed through the cavern and blew on their hair, she slowly rested on Asahi's shoulder and smiled.
Asahi felt dizzy when she felt warmth touch him. The pain didn't feel as bad, but he could still feel a chill up in his back. He never remembered how they arrived here.
"I… feel… tired. No, I can't---
Asahi felt his mind tremble. The last thing he saw before he fell into slumber was the markings on the wall. There were four stick figures, one of them was levitating, and the others were below. One looked old while the other two looked young.
There were skulls located below their feet, indicating that many souls resided within those figures. But that was the only thing Asahi could recognize before his eyes closed.
* * * * * * * *
"It's not him; it's Dreamtoe…." That voice resounded over Asahi's mind before being transferred behind a glass barrier.
The sight of the same red-haired girl appeared behind the glass wall, with a view of the cavern behind her. Asahi tried to interfere, but it seemed the girl couldn't see him.
Then, he saw her enter the cavern alone. The cavern didn't look like what it was presently; rather, it was more refined and had structures inside it. There were buildings and walls, all having the same symbols that Asahi had seen prior. As he followed the girl, he heard her whisper to herself.
"I wonder where all our friends have gone off to?"
Then, she heard young Asahi and Aletha approach her. They looked exactly how they were thousands of years later.
Long white hair, beautiful gray eyes, and appealing dark attire. The structures had a curly shape, each matching the form of an 'S.'
As the red-haired girl wandered the massive cavern, Aletha hollered to her.
"Don't get too close! I don't want you to go missing like the others…."
"I won't!" The red-haired girl replied.
Asahi stared through the glass and saw them approach further into the cave. The cavern was shaped like an upside-down bowl, with few stalagmites and stalactites scattered on the ceiling and the ground. The cavern was shrouded in a pearly purple glow, which created an uneasy and mysterious atmosphere for everyone.
As their footsteps echoed over the walls, they heard a loud scream from the other side.
"Don't go here!"
Young Asahi and Aletha couldn't recognize the voice, so they thought it was just a hallucination. Asahi, in the present, finally knew this girl's name, Val.
She was the feisty girl who would always get into fights and stir up problems. Val had a separate personality compared to the others, making her feel isolated from the rest of the group. Her only hope was her parents, slaughtered in this exact forest by an unknown entity.
Now, she felt alone. However, Asahi and Aletha changed that and made her feel comfortable around strangers.
It wasn't until then that all of them were discovered…
All their hearts jumped, their bodies weighed down in dread, and their eyes trembled. Val's voice was thick with fear.
"N-No…"
Past Asahi and Aletha were muted with terror. What stood before them was a massive cocoon with all their friends trapped inside. They were asleep, pressed against each other like beads overflowing from a jar. When they tried to approach the 'cocoon,' it spurted out bright, shocking pink particles into the air.
Asahi blocked Aletha but then realized that Val was too far to reach.
"Val, get out of there!"
The cocoon's overall shape and structure were so alien that they thought it had never originated from this world. With each step, Asahi and Aletha tried everything to reach her. But somehow, they were blocked by a transparent barrier.
Val's body went cold with dread.
"N-No…"
Asahi and Aletha raised their voices and screamed with all their might. The 'cocoon' pulsated and moved like a human heart. It spurted out more of its alien pink particles and entered Val's nostrils. She felt she was about to vomit as it moved closer to her.
"Get out of there!" Asahi screamed.
However, just as they managed to break the barrier with their magic, a young dark-haired girl stood near Val with a sinister smile on her face. Her skin was unnaturally pale; the bottom of her hair was tied in braids, her face bore a dripping heart mark, and her attire was fierce, featuring charcoal black and magenta.
"Lamia…" Aletha mumbled as she stared at her.
Asahi turned his head to his sister and asked.
"Why is she here?"
Asahi's eyes widened. He tried to slam his fist on the glass, but he couldn't, since this was only a memory.
Lamia licked her lips and wrapped her arms over Val. She squinted her eyes at past Asahi and Aletha, then whispered with a smile.
"Longevity... closer to our goal."
Asahi and Aletha shook their heads, feeling a surge of disgust.
"You two... are Rulers, right?"
Her voice was deep and raspy.
Lamia initially tried to go with her plan, but she was too distracted. Her actions and overall looks unsettled Asahi and Aletha. However, these two white-haired siblings never surrendered to temptation; they were resolute.
She swiftly snapped her fingers and slithered toward the two. Val was paralyzed in front of the cocoon; she couldn't do anything because she was scared.
Just as she was about to capture them, the memory distorted and flickered toward another vision. Past Asahi and Aletha fought Lamia, using swords, magic, and stones.
As they were fighting, Lamia yelled.
"My, my... did I make you two feel uncomfortable?"
She shook her head and formed dark, black, misty clouds. Lamia then propelled the clouds and struck Asahi and Aletha with silver-edged daggers.
They inhaled the ghastly fumes and fell to the floor. Lamia giggled, then struck the crystals just with her fists. Just before Asahi and Aletha could fight, the memory flickered again, this time with a more aggressive tone. Present Asahi was so confused that he looked at himself and questioned.
"I don't remember her..."
Past Asahi and Aletha were tossed near the cocoon with bruises on their skin. Lamia shook her head and stopped herself from doing anything else. She then sprinted to Val and kicked her toward the cocoon.
"NO!" Asahi and Aletha screamed as sweat slid down their skin.
. . .
As Val's body slammed through the cocoon, all the children's bodies were transformed into magic purple dust. Lamia smiled, then fled away from the area.
"Bye-bye, sweeties. I won't be able to take you, but we will meet again. Someday..."
Asahi and Aletha couldn't move anything. They were paralyzed by the fumes of the purple mist.
"Aletha, hold my hand..."
She shook her head and grasped it tightly. Fresh terror reared up toward them. Then, as Asahi and Aletha thought they were safe, the purple mist swiftly entered both their bodies and swirled within them.
For a moment, there was silence. Nothing seemed to happen to them except a few sparkles that floated around the area. They turned their heads and fell on their knees. All of their friends' souls were inside them.
Asahi, in the present, covered his mouth and shut his eyes.
"No, all of our friends... were turned into dust."
Then, the vision behind the glass flashed toward thousands of other memories. All of the images featured Asahi and Aletha wandering in worlds, embarking on countless adventures, and engaging in many other activities.
Asahi realized that these memories spanned thousands of years. The visions repeatedly flickered, showing his past self and Aletha getting concerned about why their bodies hadn't aged.
Asahi slammed his fists on the ground and closed his eyes.
"So, that was the reason why we haven't aged or grown..."
His youthful appearance, identity, and body... were now stuck in this age, along with Aletha.