The door looked as if it didn't belong to this world.
Completely white, with a red handle, it seemed to hold itself in place by sheer force, defying gravity.
A pale mist leaked from its edges, curling into the air like smoke. It radiated a chilling aura, as though it could freeze anyone who dared to touch it.
Ice stood motionless, mesmerized. He could feel it: the moment he touched that handle, everything would change. Whether for better or worse... that remained unclear.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he decided to open it, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. He didn't even need to turn the handle. As soon as he touched it, everything around him changed. It was as if he had just shifted realities. No, it would be more accurate to say he had just entered his own reality.
One moment he was touching the handle, the next he was behind it in a completely empty white space. There was nothing around him but absolute emptiness and a second door, which he could barely make out in the distance. He didn't know why or when, but he started running toward the second door, as if spellbound by it.
He ran with all his might to reach it, as if nothing else mattered. But as soon as he got close enough to see it clearly, everything became dull again. The door vanished, as if it had never existed, and a closed space began to form in his mind.
What was that?
Ice held his head, struggling to understand what had happened during that brief moment. It was as if his body no longer obeyed him, as if his will no longer mattered.
As he tried to process what had just happened, he noticed that the walls were completely white, except at their centers, where there seemed to be a pattern that oddly resembled the one on his glove. A few steps away, there was also a strange ice statue shaped like a woman.
He tried to get closer to the statue, but as soon as he took his first step, everything changed again. Suddenly, he was back where he had come from. When he opened his eyes, everyone was gathered around him, their expressions full of curiosity. He looked around and saw some scattered ice debris.
"Looks like I made too much noise."
"So, is it okay now?" asked Celestia, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"He'll have to wait until he's outside to develop what he just felt. Here, you won't be able to access your mind. You won't even be able to use your blessing. But that's enough," replied Elpis.
Ice smiled too, sensing it. Perhaps he couldn't use it properly yet, since only its raw form could be accessed in the prison. A form that required too much understanding to be useful. It was impossible for him to master it in such a short time.
But he had expected that after all the explanations. What mattered was that his physical abilities had all been taken to the next level. He could almost feel himself moving mountains in his euphoria, though in truth, he was still light-years away from that.
And perhaps more importantly, he finally had access to his Trait. Traits may not have offensive power in themselves, but they were still important, especially in places where blessings were blocked.
He concentrated, and then a certain form of energy, invisible to the naked eye, took shape in his hand. His presence began to grow weaker and weaker.
"Stealth?" Candice raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't really expecting that. Doesn't really suit you."
"Yes, but it might be optimal if they want to get out of here," Elpis remarked.
"What could be better than two stealth guys slipping between the monsters?" added Ray with a grin.
Ice blinked a few times.
He really knows how to annoy me.
Elpis clapped his hands.
"Go get some rest one last time. In two or three hours, you'll be ready to leave."
"Then let's go, my little Celestia," said Candice with a smile.
Celestia, following her with a weary expression, looked like she was getting fed up.
They all headed to their rooms, except for Natasha, who hadn't come out. Everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation.
Ray lay down on his bed, clearly struggling to fall asleep.
Ice, still standing, looked at him.
"Thank you. You can have your sword back now."
He had only used it because Ray had been in no condition to fight. But now that he'd recovered, it was time to return it. Ice could see how attached Ray was to that sword.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"What are you going to do?"
Ice turned toward the door.
"I'm going to see Elpis. He should have a few options."
He opened the door and headed downstairs. Looking around, he spotted Elpis sitting on the steps at the entrance. He walked over and sat beside him.
"So, what do you want to know, little Ice?" Elpis asked.
Ice smiled faintly.
"Honestly, I'm not even going to ask why you're helping us so much or how you know all of this. But why do you seem so uninterested in getting out of here? You've got to admit, that's more than a little strange."
"What did he say to you when he gave you the ring?" Elpis replied, deflecting.
Ice's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the question.
"He said it was some kind of a mission more important than his life."
Elpis looked up at the darkening sky.
"I wouldn't put it above my life, but I have something like that too."
Ice nodded, satisfied with the answer. He hadn't expected to get all the truth, just enough to quiet his doubts.
"And during my awakening," he added, "I saw a door. I started following it unconsciously, but it vanished. Do you have any idea what it was?"
Elpis smiled broadly.
"It's the door. It exists somewhere in this world, though no one knows exactly where. Some say that by reaching it, one becomes perfect. Others claim that only by achieving perfection can you even see it. Either way, it holds the deepest secrets of this place."
He didn't know why, but something in Elpis's explanation lit a flame deep inside him. Something he hadn't even known was there.
"So I might even recover my memories by finding it?"
"It's possible," Elpis said.
"Then how do I get there?"
"No one's reached it yet. Maybe that's why no one's perfect."
He smiled playfully.
Then he stood, his expression turning serious again.
"It's time to gather your friends. I've already told Candice to give Celestia the details about what to do once you're outside and how to get out of here. Start by heading to the Ascension Path when you emerge. That'll be a good start."
The atmosphere had shifted. The world around them was growing darker, just like when the Apostle had arrived. But this time, it wasn't localized, it was everywhere. This darkness felt ancient and primal, as if it was seeping into every corner of the prison.
The air grew heavier and thicker, almost tangible. Now that he had awakened, Ice could feel it more acutely. Hell was about to descend upon them.
Something was approaching once again, but this time it didn't seem like something that could be fought.