Garden Of The Abyss

"So, you need to report back to this Osmanthus group?"

Iris asked the large man, having already brought Ren back down to sit next to her.

Falling back onto his fear beside the azure-haired girl, Ren winced playfully as he marched Iris' gaze—watching the man who nodded in reply to the girl's question.

"That's correct; it's important that I get this report to them as quickly as possible. I'm sorry, but that's the nature of the situation."

"No, it's alright. You helped us more than we could ask for, Augustus."

Ren gave his words with a smile to the tubby man who fell silently agasp. Tears built up at the corner of his quivering eyes before he let out an outburst of cries.

"Ah, such kindness! I truly do wish I could stay--I do!"

After crying enough to fill a river, the man was coaxed into settling down by the others before it was finally time for them to part ways.

"This is goodbye for now, but not forever. Once you all make it out of this place, we will surely meet again."

"Yeah, you bet."

Ren gave a smile in response to Augustus' farewell as the large man was waved off by the others before he activated his unique ability--clapping his hands together as a brief flash of verdancy sucked him in--leaving no trace of Augustus behind.

"Just like that, huh?"

Macheo ruffled his own golden locks as he stared at the vacant spot in the white field, letting out a quiet sight.

"Just like that. It's not the end of the world or anything, though. It seems like the path to the third floor is cleared for us; now all we have to do is step through those gates."

Saying this, Ren turned his gaze to the large, pearly castle sitting in the distance as the others looked at it as well.

"I'm not the only one with a bad feeling about this, am I?"

Macheo muttered, caressing his wooden arm as he looked down at it, clenching his artificial fingers. By the hesitant looks inhabiting the eyes of Aiko, Iris, and Fedrin, it seemed this feeling was shared by some within the group.

"It doesn't matter, does it?"

Exhaling, Ren spoke calmly as he kept his eyes on the ominous, grand castle that sat in their reach.

"What?"

Macheo asked with his crimson eyes looking at the white-haired young man for an answer; though a wordless answer was found just in that honed gaze of his.

"It doesn't matter if it sounds too good to be true; the only path left is the one in front of us. All we can do is move forward. That's all we've been doing; fighting through hell, over and over, despite what they've thrown at us. What's different now? We're so close, I can almost taste it--the outside air, the sea of clouds, the ceiling of stars--we're almost there."

Clenching his fist shut, Ren's words weren't just meant for the Weltwanders, but himself as well. Though he adamantly tried to shake such worries from the group, he felt it himself; an ominous aura hanging from that pearlescent castle in the distance.

It's the source of it all, and the end of it. Once we're through there...we're in the endgame of it all. Past that castle is the third and final floor of Purgatory. I've dreamed of it every time I've slept; seeing everyone again, reuniting with them, sharing laughs, just being able to relax again...we'll make it, Ren thought.

"Once Jae-Seong wakes up, we'll move out."

Ren gave this goal to the group, who all seemed to fall in agreement as they nodded their heads. Looking around, his gaze finally settled on the high elf, "Fedrin."

"What is it?"

"You're with us now, right? I'm just making sure; I need to know you have our backs."

Ren's question led to Fedrin's wise, purple irises watching him for a moment before the veteran of Purgatory closed his eyes for a moment before once more parting his eyelids.

"I can't guarantee I'll be of much use, but make use of this withered, old man however you'd like."

Fedrin smiled somberly as he placed one hand over his heart, bowing his head as Ren tried to stop such a humbling notion.

"You're hardly withered, Fedrin. You'll be an invaluable ally."

Placing his hand on the elven man's shoulder, Ren gave him a thumbs up.

"You have my gratitude, Ren."

Fedrin nodded his head with a small smile before the somber glaze returned to his eyes.

I guess he's mourning his loss as well, Ren thought.

"Hey, we've got a problem."

Macheo spoke up, gathering the attention of the group as he stood up.

"What is it?"

Looking at him, Ren prodded him for an answer as their eyes met. By the way sweat dripped off of the side of the Lucrauvian's face, whatever dilemma he realized was indeed serious.

"Our revival point—it's all the way back in the first quadrant. If we died now…there's no telling what it'd take to regroup."

This realization pouring from Macheo's lips hit like a cold boulder to the group.

Crap, he's right! That arena transported us far—if we died now, we'd be separated way too far apart, Ren thought.

"Now that you mention it…that's a problem."

Valerie put her hand to her chin as she scrunched her nose at this pressing issue.

"Even worse, most of us have the same revival point…but Fedrin and Jae-Seong don't."

Iris looked at the slumbering man who was snoring without a care in the world as she spoke with a worried expression.

"Ah, that's right! We'd be completely lost!"

Ren ruffled his snowy locks as the problem just seemed to grow by the moment.

"…Macheo," Aiko said quietly.

Tugging on the young man's sable coat, Aiko looked up at Macheo as he turned his gaze down at the girl seated in the white grass.

"Yeah?"

"You've been here before, right?"

Aiko asked while looking up at the similar in age companion of hers with her amethyst irises.

"Yeah, I have."

"Did you happen to see any fountains then?"

Asked this by the girl, Macheo let out a sharp sigh before shaking his head.

"If I did, I would've used it. I was killed pretty much as fast as I stepped into the quadrant. Once I felt the difference in power between me and this place…I didn't bother coming back," Macheo grumbled.

"So, these dead knights scattered across the quadrant are the ones that overwhelmed you? And Belmon did them in? Talk about scary…" Ren added in, looking at one of the lifeless, giant knights laid out in the field.

"Yeah, that's why I'm worrying over our lack of a revival point...I doubt this place is completely cleared out, and just a small group of those knights could do a number on us if we aren't careful. If one of us got separated…" Macheo lingered his words.

"I don't want to think about that…" Iris looked down.

As silence sat between the group for a few minutes, besides the ear-grating sounds of Hongse's snacking and Jae-Seong's snoring, Macheo spoke up.

"If we're just going to sit around and do nothing, I'll go out and look for a fountain," Macheo spoke as if forcing this resolve from his lips.

"I'll go with you."

Fedrin offered, standing up as he brushed the dirt from his colorful, but plain robes.

"…You sure?"

Macheo asked, looking at the elf with a concerned furrow of his eyebrows. It was clear a gloomy cloud still loomed over the elven man's head, even if he smiled small.

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. Besides, I'd like to prove my worth to the group."

"If you're just doing it for that, you don't have to worry—besides, I think you need to rest just as much as the rest of us, Fedrin."

Ren's words reached the high elf, but had little sway on his resolved mind as he softly shook his head.

"I insist. I'd like to get to know Macheo a bit better as well—if he doesn't mind."

"Do whatever you want; I don't care."

Macheo clicked his tongue, beginning to move out as Fedrin softly chuckled, following behind the young prince.

"I'll come along too…!"

Getting up quickly, Aiko intended to follow the two in their search of a fountain within the boundless stretch of ivory nature—only to be swiftly intercepted.

Landing a quick headbutt against the girl as he turned around, Macheo shouted, "Not a damn chance!"

Aiko gasped as she held her reddened forehead, falling back down to the grass.

"What was that for…? What's the big idea? I just want to help!"

"You aren't in any condition for that! You need to rest!"

Macheo shouted, though his harsh tone was lost on his caring words.

"But…"

—Aiko had no opportunity to make her case as she fell silent on her own.

"Alright, alright, tone it down, would you? You'll wake up Jae-Seong."

Moving Macheo away, Ren sighed as he put the young man on his path.. As Ren watched the two begin to walk away, he got an idea like a flash of lightning through his mind.