We landed in an isolated area, somewhere in one of the outer walls of the Sultan's Palace.
There are still on-going construction sites nearby with scaffoldings and tall arching aqueducts.
Few openings with vertical iron bars that seem to lead to the sewer system are seen on the walls of the castle with canals granting continuous access to murky waters that flows towards the passage.
Luckily, there are no soldiers around.
I cursed under my breath.
This must be a play of fate, I thought. Of all places to look for the rot, it has to be here.
"I shouldn't be here..." I told Jin as he jumps down and headed to pet Naya on her head.
"I'm actually trying to avoid the noblebloods that live in this very place. Especially their visitor— the Osteell Empire."
"What'd ya do? Did you assassinate someone from their family or something?" Jin asks as I leaped down and walked to where he stood.
"No, it's nothing like that."
"We'll just have to avoid getting seen then. No sweat!" Jin stated and as he began to scout the area. I know there's no royal guards anywhere but I still feel restless to be here.
But then, I realized I'm being ridiculous. Jin is right! If I'm seen, I'll just run or hide.
As simple as that! What am I getting too worked up for anyway?
What's wrong with me?
I loosen my stiff shoulders and released a loud sigh.
I know why...
It's because of Levi...
Deep inside, there's a part of me that still wants to face him and another part of me saying I should avoid him.
I scouted my eyes around and noticed Naya is staring at me.
I walked closer towards her head. She doesn't seem terrifying despite her looks.
"Naya, can you really talk?" I whispered, facing her.
Naya shook her head but responded,
「It's not exactly talking.
But we can communicate like this.
Most humans don't hear the likes of us.
Not even Jin...」
She turns her head to where he is.
Huh?
"If Jin can't hear you, how do you communicate with each other?" I asked
「Jin cannot hear me but he has the instinct to understand what I mean most of the time.」
I just watch Jin as Naya did.
"But how do you know I could hear you?" I asked, veering my eyes back to Naya.
「Strong magus, especially those that wields the dark element, are the only ones that can converse with dæmons like me. It has always been like that for so many centuries. Jin however, is a light magus. He's strong but not strong enough to equate to someone like you.」
"Someone like me?"
"Yo! C'mhere! I found an entrance! Err, something that looks like an entrance at least..." Jin hollered, waving both his arms as he stood beside the door-like openings in the castle walls that leads to the sewers.
「Go now. Please look after him for me.」
I began to walk away reluctantly.
I wanted to talk with Naya some more but I guess I can just do that later on since Jin is in a hurry.
I watch Jin grab the iron bars and began to bend them aside as if it's the easiest thing to do. He then steps inside, dipping his shoes to the murky waters.
I grimaced at the sight of it.
I just bought a new pair of shoes! And I'm already walking them to a canal... crap!
"Hey, hurry up!" he calls out as his voice echoed when he began to delve in deeper to the passage.
••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••
••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••
Jin raised his hand and a fire emits on his palm. He then adjusts his mask on more properly, covering half of his face.
I just followed a little from behind.
The sewer systems of Ak'hilheim consist of underground canals and multiple passages with narrow walkways on the side. The walls are moist with grime and molds, and the walkways are slippery too!
I watch the murky water flowing like a stream. The air is stagnant and putrid. I can't help but to pinch my nose.
Jin glances at me from over his shoulder, "Nosebleeding again?" He chortles, "Just admit it! You're really enthralled looking at me! It's not as if I'll be mad, y'know!"
"Just... keep walking." I replied, ending the conversation.
I looked down and saw parts of my new shoes are wet from charging head on to the sewage waters awhile ago by the entrance. I'm at least relieved there's a walkway here instead of... ah! I just remembered I could dry myself.
I concentrated on my feet and focused on trying to repel the water off.
Slowly, I watched the blots of water began to roll away from my shoes. I feel so accomplished by just watching how I managed to do these kind of things now. I wonder what other things Faram will teach me about Null?
"Yo! Are you always silent like this? Or is that part of your training with Faram? Because I don't see anything wrong with making small talks! Unless you feel shy around me? In that case, we should get to know each other more until you warm up, yes?"
I look up and saw Jin walking backwards, he's facing me completely with hands crossed behind his head.
He's quite talkative.
"Jin, can I ask you something instead?" I murmured as he nodded vehemently, "Ask away!"
"About dæmons... I'm curious if the humans that turned into dæmons because of the rot is the same with dæmons you mentioned that exist as a race outside this continent?"
Jin rubs his chin, "I think so—? The dæmon race is vast and big like ours. There are ones that can think and rationalize like humans and there are those that are down right primitive; like they are only driven by primal instinct. Some look like monsters; some, animals; and you'd be surprised there are those that look very human too!"
Dæmons that resemble humans?
I suddenly remembered the dæmon I fought back in Greenrun... I remembered how it's teeth looked disturbingly similar to a human. Only they were bigger.
I remembered seeing Mr. Roderick deep inside that dæmon's eyes, how he was crying and pleading me to kill him...
He must have seen how his wife and children were chewed and ground by those human-looking teeth... the exact ones that belonged to the monster of which he became.
"Do you think those people that turned into dæmons can still feel and see what is happening around them despite becoming a monster?"
Jin didn't reply.
But I can see his lips parted open.
"Jin?" I called out
He snapped out and looked at me, "I never really thought about that!"
"What if... deep inside they're still there... just watching in horror what's happening around them? What if they can still think as humans but they're not just able to control the monster that they have become?"
Jin straightened his back. "Umm..." He began to walk tad slower.
I clenched my fists tighter from my sides, "Do you think it's still possible to revert them back into humans?"
Now that would make a big difference if it did.
Because...
That would mean I just killed someone without really considering saving him first...
There was silence between us.
Suddenly, Jin stomped his foot down and stopped dead in his tracks. He shouted briefly and ruffled his hair vigorously, "AAAH!!! My head will explode if you keep asking serious stuff like that!"
I just sighed in dismay.
Wrong person to ask, I guess.
"Do you usually think this deep?" he grumbles, pouting.
"Just answer this then," I said, "Do all dæmons came from the rot?"
He shook his head almost immediately, "Of course not! I think it would help if you ask Faram those questions instead... he's the one with the dæmon blood after all."
My eyes widened.
Both my brows rose up as my jaw went down.
"You mean you don't know?" He murmured, surprised at my reaction. "Faram belonged to an infamous dæmon clan. I thought the innate color of his eyes gave it away!"
At lost for words, I just shook my head.
"You're weird. He's your master!" he laughs, beginning to walk forward once again.
"I... I know nothing about him actually." I admitted, following after him. "We don't really talk about his background or past. I doubt I would ever have the guts to ask, to be honest."
Jin chortled. "I understand, Faram is a little intimidating"
A little? He's the very definition, I thought.
"But y'know... going back to your questions about dæmons, it would be a revelation if people that turned to dæmons can revert back as humans..." Jin's tone suddenly seemed so serious. "I don't think I've ever seen such thing before. We always resort in just eliminating the infected and the transformed as they usually are the berserk ones. No question asked. So..."
Jin paused. "I think it would really make me feel bad for those that we killed if that is possible."
I pursed my lips tight, "Sorry for asking..."
He flinched, "HUH?! What! Nooo! It's okay! Don't suddenly apologize for something like that! Hahaha!"
I studied him in silence. Jin is kind.
"No offense though but I'm so amazed how you're so clueless about the dæmon race! I've heard a lot of things about this continent but I never knew it was this serious."
"No offense taken" I replied. Jin suddenly laughed.
"You're so polite! Hahaha!"
"Digressing, aren't we in a hurry awhile ago?"
Jin looked around. "Well, we are here now— so there's no need to fuss anymore. I'm just waiting for it to manifest or at least materialize. Let's walk around some more. I'm sure it's around here somewhere!"
So... we're just going to walk aimlessly.
"What are we looking for exactly?"
"Don't you have the mask yet?" Jin looked at me as I studied his mask that covered only half of his face,
I shook my head.
"Oh. Exactly when did Faram took you in the group?"
"Just few days ago" I answered.
"Oh-ho! So a fresh new recruit, huh! Anyway—! Try my mask on! It will save me a hella explaining." He took his mask off and handed it over to me.
I put it on and opened my eyes.
Surprisingly, it felt like I was only wearing glasses. I can see everything around me so clearly but...
Huh?
There's... something else...
"Do you see it?" he murmurs, turning his head to the sides. "C'mon, tell me what do you see!"
"I see mists of... or are they fog?" I narrowed my eyes and tried to speculate but it was something I have never seen before, "I'm not sure what these are but they're dark grayish-violet puffs of cloud around." I explained, "It's everywhere!" I raised my hand. Odd enough, they don't bring any specific sensation even against my heightened senses.
Jin nodded, throwing both his hands to each side of his waist, "It's not a good sign actually. So we need to look for it's source."
I took the mask off and handed it back to him, "What are these things anyway?"
"Miasma!" He replied, wearing the mask back on. "It's still weak so normal eyes can't see it yet. It doesn't have any energies so we can't sense it either. But if these grew stronger it can cause anything to wilt and decay."
Hence, the rot, I thought.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my surroundings.
"What are you planning to do?"
"I'll just try to see if I can sense a 'feel' from any of these stuff." I replied.
"It's no use. That's why we had Emis make the mask because we can't sense them..."
Jin's voice began to sound thick against my ears as I shut my thoughts off.
I concentrated deeper until I could almost feel like I'm the only one standing in this place.
There was utter calm around us.
No sense of dread nor dense atmosphere.
I can hear the sound of waters, the hollow silence of the passages and the minute draft coming from all directions.
If Faram is here... what would he tell me?
'Focus, Ri.' I bet!
He'd tell me to stop depending on my sight and start using my senses.
To 'see beyond what normal eyes could,' and he'd expect me to see everything around me even if my eyes are close.
Ignoring the sounds now, I focused on noises that I usually overlook.
...like the minute sound of drops of water from the ceilings
...the howling of the drafts from the dark passages...
More.
I need to feel more...
Sense everything.
I feel something beckoning from ahead.
What's that?
I focused towards that direction.
It's pulsating like a heartbeat.
So hot and... cold at the same time.
No, wait— It's just cold.
But too cold that it began to feel like my insides are freezing.
It feels weird.
The sensation is...
—it's like I need to go ...to feel more.
What is this?
I've been punched, kicked, and even thrown to the wall with a door smashing straight to my face but never have I felt pain... I can't feel anything close to pain lately...
—So this is quite interesting!
I flipped my eyes open and it felt like my consciousness was forcefully catapulted backwards, from the deepest parts of the tunnels and back into my body.
I gasped aloud, as if I hadn't been breathing for so long.
"I think... I found something..." I said to Jin and realized he was staring at me with brows crunched tight.
I looked down,
His mask is on his hand.
Oh, he took it off. Why?
"What?" I uttered, "why are you looking at me like that?"
"What do you mean 'what?' You suddenly became silent, and went completely still and unresponsive for about a minute or so, and now your eyes are flaring red!" he says almost in a mutter.
I reached for my eyes unknowingly.
"I was trying to see what I can sense."
"Oh cool! Look, it's turning back to blue— *ahem. Anyway, whatcha' learned?"
"I'm not sure but there's something ahead of us that seem so cold and... a-and it felt like it's trying to draw me in..."
"Whatcha' mean?"
"I don't understand it either." I shrugged. "But it was beckoning."
"Hmm..." Jin closes his eyes tight and kept twisting his face as if in deep thoughts. "I'm not a dark magus so I'm no expert with those sort of stuff that you guys sense but!"
He opened his eyes and looked at me, "—if there's one thing I learned from Claude, it's that in situations where you're at a loss, you should just follow the only trail you have and see where it leads you!"
That sounds more like Eriol's mindset though, I thought.
"Maybe you can sense the source of rot, who knows! So let's go and see!"
"Okay! I'm also curious anyway," I replied, "Normally, this continent don't have any fiends nor dæmons so it would be interesting to find out what it is that's trying to lure me."
Jin nodded, "I like how ya think! Let's go!"
••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••
We reached a large chamber where few glowing alchemy-powered orbs are seen pinned on the walls like a sconce, giving soft lighting to the entire place. On the middle of the room was just waters, gushing in all directions, as several tunnels exist where running waters are tediously flowing from.
"The miasma is thicker here!" Jin says looking around, his voice echoed a bit. He spoke louder than normal because of the loud noise of the waters.
We kept walking until the narrow walkway reached a dead end and the only available grounds to walk on next are seen on the other side. "Let's cross!" Jin says, sliding his mask up to his head and leaving it there. Suddenly, he jumps the fifteen meters gap even before I could have said anything, and landed to the other side as though it was the easiest thing to do. The ceilings aren't that high so it would be hard not to hit the ceilings in the attempt to reach the other side, I thought. How did he jumped like that? I wonder.
I stepped aback first, estimated distance and then leaped off, almost as if I threw myself forward rather than jumping.
Surprising enough, I reached the other side almost perfectly. My feet touched the floor, just beside where Jin stood,
but I went on skittering across the floor.
Instinctively, I shut my eyes in a yelp and braced myself for impact as I lost my balance.
But when I opened my eyes, I realized I was sitting upright on something soft.
"Jin—!" I gasped, realizing he was lying on his stomach flat against the floor. I quickly stood up and tried to assisted him up. "How did you even got there?"
He scratched his head while wearing a grin, "Haha, I just wanted to catch you but I didn't want you getting upset at me."
I tilted my head curiously to the side, "Why would I get upset?"
"I don't know," he shrugged nonchalantly, "Girls just tend to yell at me or slap me whenever I try to grab and save them out from slipping or falling."
Well those girls aren't worth saving, I thought in a frown.
"I won't get upset over something like that! Now you got your clothes dirty" I sighed, seeing the grimes stained his clothes from the chest down to his knees. The floor had puddles too so he even got soaked from that too.
"No big deal!" He says, dusting himself impassively. "Let's get going!"
He began to scout his eyes around, "Let's try to go over there!" he pointed out to something, "Oh wait! I almost forgot you're the one who should be leading the way! Sorry! I just jumped and crossed without actually asking!" He smiled apologetically.
He really seem genuinely unconcerned that he's soaked and the front part of his clothes are covered in mixture off dark slimy moss and muck.
I sighed.
He even got some splattered of it on his face.
I haven't thanked him yet.
I walked closer and stood right in front of him. "Hold on," I stated, reaching for my pocket and groped at it to pull my handkerchief out.
I glanced at it for a moment. My initial A.L. is embroidered on one corner.
I realized its the only item I have left that reminds me of the life I had back in Greenrun. I already threw my old clothes away after Aide dressed me up in this disguise; the shoes that my mother had especially ordered for me already broke so I just bought a new pair instead. This handkerchief is... the last one.
I looked at Jin as he just curiously watched me. I shook the thoughts off and just handed it over. "Ummm, thank you for catching me back there."
"What's this for?"
"Wipe your face with it." I replied, pointing the areas on his cheeks where the splatters are seen. "Wipe here, here and... here!"
He patted his face obediently with it.
"All gone?"
I studied all the corners of his face, searching for more.
"Is this yours?"
I looked at the handkerchief he was waving around almost before my eyes.
"Yeah. Stop moving, I'm trying to look for anymore mud!" I gently slapped his hand away and carried on with my search.
"This is a little too girly for your image!" He blurted out in a laugh.
"I am a girl. I'm only wearing this type of fashion to disguise myself, I already told you that!"
"Well if you'd be carrying something like this around, you should have matched it with your current fashion! That way it doesn't look silly!" He turned his head studying it while unfolding it completely and waving it around like a flag.
I grabbed the handkerchief away from his grasp, "I didn't bought it out of whim. I already have that with me from..." I paused, "...even before I joined Faram. Now, stay still while I wipe these off!" I began to earnestly dry the chest area of his shirt and wipe off the slimes. "There, much better! Next time, don't blindly dive to the ground just to save a girl from hitting the floor. You can just slide behind her to prevent her from falling!" I swept my eyes up and realized he was seriously staring at me.
I can see myself reflecting from his eyes.
Those obsidian orbs that resembles a black mirror...
If he stays silent and serious like this, he actually look more appealing than plain 'cute'. But I already met him with his lively aura so it's kinda feels odd to look at him in another light.
"W-why are you looking at me like that?" I murmured in a grimace.
He blinked and looked away.
"It's nothing! It's just that it's the first time a girl did this sort of thing for me!" he says bashfully.
"S-SORRY!!!" I quickly stepped away, realizing I was acting 'too familiar' with him.
He laughed, "Hahahaha! You're so weird! Why apologize over something like that!" He veered his eyes on my hand. "That handkerchief—! Can I have it?"
I nodded and gave it to him.
He carefully folded it into a square and tucked it inside his pocket.
Wow, that just now is out of character for him.
"So, where do we head to next?"
I looked around and tried to sense the beckoning cold sensation. "We seem to be heading the right direction. Let's follow this tunnel." I answered, walking off.
Jin just nodded once and followed.