The Dawn of the New World

The walls stopped after moving halfway towards them. If they moved again and covered the same distance then they would stop just outside the barrier the next time.

Dima could feel a cold breeze somehow brushing against the back of his head. It felt like something was breathing down his neck even though he knew that wasn't actually the case.

Still he maintained his composure despite the other two doing their best to not scream from sheer dread that had been birthed within their minds. All they could see around them were figures of smoke trying their best to get to them and there was nowhere left for them to go.

"I am not afraid to die," Dima responded. It was unclear whether he was talking to himself or replying to Jin Wang but he took it as such regardless.

"Why not? It's not a pleasant experience."

"Doesn't matter. As long as I have achieved something in this life then why would I be scared of a few moments of pain?"

"My oh my, what a noble way of thinking. Unrealistic and absurd to the point of being comical but still, a little noble."

Dima scoffed at his remark, not letting it bother him one bit.

"And what would the likes of you know? You are a mere servant of chaos, unable to see the truth that is right in front of your eyes."

Jin Wang wasn't expecting such an insinuation and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, you think I serve the chaos?? Why?"

"Because you are here. How else would you know of this artifact if you weren't serving one of the Chaos Lords? You don't appear to have any usual signs of the 'Caedith' but there could be any number of explanations for that."

Jin Wang swallowed the urge to smack that bald head of his since he still wanted to know more but that arrogant attitude of Dima was fast becoming a nuisance.

"What the hell is a Caedith?" Jin Wang casually inquired while picking his nose. It was a new term for him.

"Don't play games with me, YOU are a Caedith. A follower and servant of Chaos. One of the ones that have given themselves up to the influence of Chaos, allowing it to change their natural forms to the twisted manifestations of its decrepit masters."

"Oh, is that right? Then what are the 'usual signs' of the Caedith?"

Dima's brow furrowed and his expression turned ugly as he explained in far too much detail than asked for.

"It starts with physical degradation in one way or another followed by a complete lack of empathy and compassion. They are easy to anger and often go way overboard. Finally, when the corruption reaches even their souls you start to see shades of yellow and red around their eyes. Most will lose their minds at that point and go berserk. Only the Chaos Lords of old were able to still keep their sanity after that, or the ones that had a natural affinity to the forces of Chaos, the ones touched by its wretched claws."

"Hmm," Jin Wang rubbed his chin in contemplation. He had heard of these changes before but had never seen them in person or even met someone who had. His curiosity got the better of him and he couldn't help but inquire further.

"Interesting, very interesting. And this 'son of chaos' you were talking about before, how would you recognize such a being? Does he or she also show these same symptoms?"

Dima's gaze wavered for an instant but he hid it well.

'Why is he asking ME about that? Is he not a Caedith? I truly can't detect any strange aura from him. Standing this close even if he was a master-class I would be able to at least detect something but...there is nothing at all.'

He began to doubt his initial conclusions about Jin Wang.

'But then who is he if not a Caedith? Maybe there is hope of getting out of here if I can make him believe we are on the same side.'

"Are you also looking for him? The one called Son of Chaos?"

"Hmm, I guess so...?" Jin Wang replied, unconvinced if something like that could actually even exist, "I still don't believe its real."

"Oh, it's real. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't."

"But all you have to go on is the ramblings of, no offense, your own brother. Not only is your opinion biased but there is no actual proof of it. What do you have to go on exactly?"

"It wasn't JUST my brother. There were close to a dozen people across the Republic. Each one was separated by millions of lightyears but they all saw the same thing at around the same time. How could that be a coincidence? Not to mention th-" Dima caught himself just in time before he gave up confidential information which did not go unnoticed by Jin Wang.

'Hoh, so there is something else?'

Pushing him proved fruitful in the end.

"Not to mention what?"