The door was ajar.
Which door?
There was only one..
He slowly pushed the door open, and entered the room. It was white. Everything around him was all white. The walls, the window frames, the curtains, the sheets on the small table. But he wasn't interested in any of that. He walked into this room with purpose. His eyes searched the room for someone—a girl. And she was indeed, in the room. By the corner on the left side, standing in front of the bright window. Her white skin radiated along with the bright room. Her black hair was styled in a braid, and she was wearing what it seemed like a white night gown. He could only see her from behind where he stood. He wished from the bottom of his aching heart that she would turn to face him. But the girl kept gazing from the window.
The boy reached for his throat before he hesitated to speak. In his hand were a cup full of lollipops. "Hey.."
His voice echoed but the girl didn't seem to be interested.
"I brought you some candy, y'know.." he said. "Not much, though. But I thought we could share 'em on our free time.."
The boy's body were all tensed, but the girl remained motionless. He could've presumed that she may had been dead, but her chest was slightly moving with each breath.
"You hate me now, don't you?" he said. "Because I abandoned you, Mari.. Of course you will.."
On hearing her name, the girl turned her eyes toward the nervous tan boy.
"But—but didn't you ask yourself why..? Why did I do that?" he blurted out as he tried to step toward her, but the girl kept a straight calm face as she looked toward him. "Maybe, you didn't care to think—after all this time.. But I—I have been thinking— this whole time!"
"Don't worry, I'll forgive you.." the girl finally spoke. "But first, you have to accept what you've done was wrong.."
"Uhh..!" the boy's mouth hung open. "What about me..? Doesn't my pain count?"
"You have to accept it, Mado.." she replied. "There's no other way.."
"..Isn't there, really..?" the boy lowered his gaze in defeat as he mumbled. The guilt inside him started to metastasize all over his body. He took few steps toward her, ready to get down on his knees to comply. But then—
~Grab!
"Huh..!" the boy felt a soft hand grabbing his from behind. He stopped for some reason. He wondered why, but felt as though he should.
"No, Mado, wait!" it was a female voice coming from behind. "Don't go there—that's not the right thing to do!"
"Huh? But that's Mari!" he said. "She'll forgive me if I—"
"..Mado, don't chase the dreams.." the person holding him said. "..It'll drag you into an abyss you'll never wake up from.."
"..Dreams..?!" the boy's eyes widened for a second. He felt as though he was out of place. Then, he quickly turned to look at this person grabbing his hand. "Uh—HEY!"
Once his eyes rested on the female person behind him, a blinding bright white light flashed against him as everything around him vanished. And the boy re-opened his eyes a second afterwards to find himself in a whole different place.
Was that all a dream?!
A bizzare dream for sure.
Jaden Inferno woke up abruptly to find himself laying on a rocky hard floor. His cheek was pressed against the ground, and his nostrils were sniffing sandy dust. The moment he was conscious enough, he turned his body from prone to supine. And the first thing his eyes saw was the very far high ceiling which had square shaped pores for the sun light to enter. Apart from that, the place around him didn't get much light.
"Oh, you're awake!" a voice pierced through the silence, and reached for his ears. It seemed close.
Jaden tried raising up his body slowly; so he can see who was that. Once he pushed himself off the floor and adjusted his back into sitting position, Jaden saw a bunch of rocky rubble. On top of one large brick, was none other than Vincent Hindergrass.
"Uhh!" Jaden jolted for a second for seeing him, but his memory soon caught him up.
Ohh—right, he thought. We were caught together.
"It's you.." he muttered.
"Uhh, sorry to disappoint, I guess.." Vincent replied.
"Ow.." Jaden's head hurt as he tried looking around him. "..Oh, boy.."
All Jaden saw were bricks and walls covered in sand. He and Vincent were in a cornered room with an open exit. It didn't make sense to him. The last thing he remembered was being captured by Afallanian soldiers. But back then, he was also with Eugene, Mika and Feona. Had they got separate while he was unconscious? There was no other way for him to know the true nature of the situation.
"Where are we, by the way..?" he asked Vincent.
"Prison, where else?" Vincent replied with a shrug; as if stating the obvious. "More a dungeon, but it's all the same.."
What about my stats?, Jaden asked himself. I gotta check—!
"Oh?" the IU didn't show up. "Wha..?"
"The place is under Mana dampners." Vincent said. "Though they only sealed the bottom level of the fortress.."
At that moment, a sound of screaming tortured man reached their cell. "NOOOOOO! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Jaden jolted immediately out of fear. "What's that?!"
"Relax. It's probably on the other side of fortress.." Vincent told him. "Jump at every little thing down here, and you'll wear youself out.."
"Dammit.." Jaden exhaled in desperation. "Where're the others?"
"Don't know where they took Mika. She must be with that Insurgant woman.." Vincent grumbled. "But your friend was here a while ago."
"Eugene! Where'd he go?" Jaden asked.
"He said: He'd be exploring the place for us." Vincent answered sarcastically. "I tried reminding him what curosity killed, but I'm not sure he took my advice seriously.."
On hearing the updates, Jaden stood up, and pushed his feet to the exit. "Then, we should get going." he said.
Vincent rose up, and quickly stood in Jaden's way. "Uh, this is all the water we've got. I'd conserve my strength if I were you." he showed him the water bag. "Besides, instead of bothering your friend on his noble mission, why don't we chase a bigger beast?"
"What do you have in mind?" Jaden squinted at him.
"You would want to help me on this one.." Vincent stepped outside as Jaden followed. "There are few recesses between each dampner seal where our Mana can be unlocked."
The two guys stood in a linear hallway. They felt the turbuling breeze that blowed by them.
"Do you know where one of these recesses is?" Jaden asked him.
"I pinpointed several spots, but the guards here aren't blindsighted.." Vincent replied. "They must've scattered around these areas in utmost vigilance."
"So, that's why you want my help." Jaden concluded.
"Two heads are better than one. In case of two, we can create a diversion.." Vincent cracked a sharp smile. "Besides, with our powers combined, the guards will never get hold of us. If you can't bring your weapon to where you are, I'll take us to where mine are.."
Impressive!, Jaden thought. He didn't just plan for this ahead of the time, but he also had been paying attention to my Skills!
"Glad I'm not your enemy.." he sighed. "Okay, I'm in. Let's do this."
"In that case...," Vincent walked forward with caution. "Stay sharp.."
"No problem.." Jaden followed him stealthily.
At that same time on the other side of the dungeon, Eugene was wandering around a wider area. The moment he sat foot, the other prisoners who were resting there gave Eugene and alarming look.
~Gulp!
They must see me as a peice of fresh meat, he thought.
"Hey..you!" a prisoner hollered at him while walked warrily. Eugene's movement halted all together as he didn't know what to do. "Ain't ya new around here?"
"Ehh.. True, I'm new.. " Eugene answered as he tried glimpsing behind him. If that person turned out to be huge and intimidating, he was going to run and hide anyway.
Once his head rotated, Eugene saw a thin dark-skinned man in his late forties, maybe.
"I figured. Since I haven't seen your face around before, and I am the oldest one they threw down here. You must be a new blend.." said the thin dark-skinned man as he stretched out his hands. "My name is Flunder. Hope you get used to it here!"
"Eh, thanks.." Eugene fidgeted before shaking Flunder's hand.
As they kept treversing deeper into the dungeon, Vincent and Jaden remained vigilant. Although they had not encounter any of the guards yet, the moment the two passed a right turn, Jaden got a strange feeling.
"..The walls here are..different.." he muttered.
"Annnd, look what we have here!" Vincent pointed out at the dead end ahead. "Looks like we made the wrong turn."
"Did we?" Jaden exhaled.
But something about these walls looks off, he thought.
"Weren't there supposed to be ways for the guards to commute around here..?" Vincent strocked his chin in deep thought.
"There is a way." Jaden replied. "If you focus on the walls, the bricks here look much more detatched from the others"
"So, there's a secret passage!" Vincent smirked. "Now that's interesting.."
"Yeah, but we gotta figure out how to open it." Jaden turned his head around.
~Drrrrrr!
The wall to the left of Vincent was dragged open. The row of bricks were all being dragged down, ushering a further passageway. Through the new path, two large guards walked out. They were wearing a leather type of armor, and were carrying axes. "Huh?!" one guard exclaimed.
"Uh'oh..!" Vincent's shoulders dropped.
"Shit.." Jaden backed off quickly.
The two guards charged immediately against the duo. "Back to your cell, dead meat!"
~Slash! Swing!
~Miss!
Jaden and Vincent avoided the guards' heavy swings. And as Vincent stepped backward, Jaden sneaked from the side, and tackled the two giants, and dropped them down.
"And that..will be that.." Vincent delivered a focused punched that knocked both enemies out.
~WHACK!
~WHACK!
"Heeh," Jaden tried catching his breath. "That was really close.."
"True, but on the less dimmer side of things," Vincent gestured toward the new passageway. "We opened a new path!"
The new passage they had open was much darker than the previous hallway. As Vincent walked before him, Jaden went deep in thought.
Mana dampners, he thought. Relics that disable any form of magical interference. But doesn't that mean it blocks the power of the Life Stream, too. Since the Life Stream is the source of Mana, and the main source of life in Lacrima. Doesn't that mean, if you block Mana, you block life! If this theory is true, then, it wouldn't be long before we end up dead! If that's actually right, and I pray it's not, these dampners should be considered weapon of mass destruction. But what are they in the first place..?
"You're being quiet!" Vincent cut Jaden off. "You're seeing any threats I should know about?"
"No, I'm just thinking.." Jaden sighed.
"Well, got to give it to you," Vincent cracked a laugh. "Finding out about the hidden path.. That was really impressive!"
God, this guy knows how to get on my nerves, Jaden thought to himself.
"Well, I'm used to dungeons, actually." he replied coldly. "I grew up raiding them.."
"Oh, right. Forgot about the demon hunter part.." Vincent said. "So, you used to raid dungeon in troops?"
"Yeah, sometimes.." Jaden answered with spitful tone.
"Why annoyed all of the sudden..?" the brown haired guy stood in place as he looked at Jaden. "You people weren't quite friends?"
Jaden passed him as he said "I didn't know anyone I liked talking with.."
Hearing his response, Vincent smiled. "Just as I thought." he said. "You're the gloomy type who don't like to get invovled."
"Where'd this come from?!" Jaden asked as he stopped walking.
"I didn't give it much thought at first. But when I saw your other friends, I realized you were a different breed." Vincent said as he resumed walking forward. "You know what, I think you're closed off.. just like this dungeon. You keep walls between you and other people.."
"What?" Jaden continued to follow the Space Pirate. "What makes you say that?"
"Because I'm just the same.." Vincent finished.
Jaden lowered his gaze in silence as he walked along before deciding to speak. "Well, I thought that my own world was all I need.." he, uttered. "But the more I stayed there, the harder it became to breathe."
"You realized nothing is as colorful as they make it seem.." Vincent added.
"When I saw things for what they truely are, it shocked me." Jaden said. "I felt so stupid for believing all of these colorful things. It was like, as if I hypnotized myself to believe in them.."
"And once the belief crumbles, you go back to your true values.." Vincent replied. "Like breaking out from a spell."
"Maybe.." Jaden exhaled. "All I know is that I got my values. I'm not planning on forcing 'em on anyone, but I guess, that's all I need.."
"Well, that sounds about right." Vincent shrugged. "It's impossible to try and understand other people values. It's pointless to bother about trying to communicate with anybody. Nobody ever says what they truely think, anyway.."
Jaden remained quiet for a while before saying "I wonder about that.."
"Hm?"
"Julia.." he began. "One time, she lost all senses and was about to cause a disaster. But when Eugene and I saved her, she was so happy that we saved the town. And Eugene as well, his constant strive to help everyone he meets. I can't understand any of that.."
"Humph!" Vincent smiled. "You are quite the puzzle, Jaden Not Theif.. "
Now, that is truely fascinating!, he told himself.
"You're really lucky, kid." said Flunder. "I had no idea they're goin' to serve potato stew.."
"Stew, you said..?" Eugene's face twitched as he faked a smile.
Both he and Flunder were sitting on one table in the prison's dining hall. The place was very crowded, and super loud. Sounds of chewing and surpping overrided the chatters.
"So, sir.." Eugene said. "Since you've been here for a while now, did you wander off around the dungeon..?"
"Well, you can say that..but not every day is your lucky day.." he replied. "The guards here are very warry of any deviating actions.."
Eugene blinked few times before asking, "What kind of deviation?"
"The guards here are mostly very cautious of new faces." he explained. "They wouldn't leave your sight until they break your will to live."
As the two were discussing, a group of prisoners began arguing. Their disagreement had soon developed into a fist fight. Eugene watched as the commotion had soon brought the guards down in a hurry.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!" one large muscular guard roared.
"STAND DOWN!" another muscular guard started hitting the prisoners with a large thick stick.
~Slam!
~Smack!
The guards had successfully stopped the fight, but that didn't satisfy their activeness. As soon as they dispressed the fight, the muscular guards continued brutally assaulting whoever were dragged in the fight.
"This's not going to end well. We shall go, fast!" Flunder took off his plate, and went. But just before Eugene could catch up, two big guards holding thick sticks tailed the old frail man.
"Where do you think you're going?!" they circuled around him, and smacked him viciously.
~Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
"HEY!" Eugene couldn't handle the horrific scene before him.
The assaulting guards twisted their heads with a monsterous look in their eyes.
"What'd ya say..?"
Eugene took few steps back in dread while the guards kept walking up to him with intensions to hurt him next. But once Eugene reached the enterence of the rusty dining hall--
"Eh!" Eugene glimpsed another large guard near the corner of his eye. But it was too late as he jumped over him, and struck him down in a one quick swift.
~SMACK!
Meanwhile, in the narrow corridors of the dungeon, Vincent and Jaden marched on forward.
"Hmm, I guess this has to be the place.." Vincent said.
"Here?" Jaden asked.
"I suppose.." he replied with a shrug.
Let's give it a try, Jaden tried commanding his UI to pop up before his eyes, but there were no response.
Jaden sighed, " 'Guess not.."
"Uhhh!" Vincent snapped his fingers. "Look there.."
Jaden gazed to his left, and saw a square shaped room blocked near the enterence by a two flocks of guards.
So, that's the place!, he thought. No wonder they're gathered around it like it's pligermage site.
"What are we gonna do now?" he asked.
"Well, there's nothing left to be done.." Vincent replied as he cracked his knuckles.
Jaden exhaled deeply, and then stood firm next to Vincent. "Alright.." he said. "I'll go high--"
"--I'll go low." Vincent charged.
The guards didn't see it coming as the amush strattled them at first. Jaden began with a hard punch on one guard's nose.
~Paw!
"What the--?"
"GET HIM!" the guards snatched their weapons and charged back.
Vincent took the opportunity, and dashed against the enemies. He tackled two guards, and delivered a subsquent kick.
~WHACK!
"Why you?!" a guard swang his thick stick onto Vincent, but then--
~Bam!
Jaden attacked him from the side, wobbling the large guard.
"That's more like it!" Vincent smirked as he delivered a finishing blow, and knocked the enemy down.
~KA-PAW!
"Awesome!" Jaden smiled victoriously, but one guard found an opening and charged at him from the rear.
~SMACK!
"Ugh..!" Jaden's body got tossed, and hit the wall.
"Damn--ugh!" Vincent evaded an attack at the very last second, and had to step backwards.
The guards had apparently regined their formation, and managed to overpower the two guys.
"They're not as thick skulled as they seem.." Vincent let out an exasperating laugh. "Looks like this won't be easy.."
"Now you're talkin'!" Jaden pulled himself up through the pain. "How about we bail?"
"I don't think that's an option anymore.." Vincent replied as the two were back to back.
There were about eight large guards in leather armor and thick sticks; completely surrounding both Jaden and Vincent. The circle that the two were in was shrinking by each heart beat.
"He he he!" one guard cracked up.
"They thought they could pull one on us!" another guard said.
"I say we throw them in the ring.."
"Shit--They got us.." Jaden clenched his fists.
"Or rather, we got them.." Vincent smirked.
"Huh?" Jaden noticed something unexpected.
...BATTLE MODE ACTIVATE...
We've reached the dampner free zone!, Jaden realized.
"Time for the grand finale!" Vincent raised his hand as strange white feathers appeared falling gradually from the ceiling.
"...Sharp Dove..." he whispered. And a massive bright focused light cut through the enemies in moments.
~BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!
~SHINN! BLOW!
"Ugh.." Jaden covered his eyes as the blinding blasts incenerated all the guards around them.
~Vanish!
"Uhh," the two boys found themselves standing alone in the middle of the square shaped room.
"Oh.." Vincent sighed. "Looks like we killed them.."
Jaden gazed around him as the room was full of boxes. Amongst them, he spoted the Blue-Rose Sword, and his coat as well. "Those our stuff!" he exclaimed.
"The prison's chamber for confescated relics and used pieces.." Vincent added.
"Or, the place where they kept our stuff.." Jaden looked at him with a bored face.
"That's what I said." Vincent cracked a slight smile.
The two walked up, and collected their belongings; along with Eugene's things.
"I guess that's that." Vincent said. "Hopefully, our Mana would bring back our strength."
Jaden turned back to look at him, "Okay, time to look for Eugene--!"
"Huh, what's the matter?" Vincent wondered what had gotten into Jaden as his jaw dropped. "You've seen a ghost?"
"No way...!" Jaden whispered. His UI was displaying a shocking result.
...SCANNING COMPLETE...
Jaden's [Oracle Scanner] reveal to him that Vincent wasn't an AI. The guy before him had a username; a one that Jaden recognized.
"Are you listening to me, Jaden Not Theif..?" Vincent was creeped out from Jaden sudden expression.
"Okay--listen.." Jaden exhaled. "My real name is Mado, Mado Luqman.."
"A dual identity, eh?" Vincent narrowed his eyes.
"There's something I'm gonna do. So, keep that name till then, alright?"
"Heh.." a laugh escaped Vincent. "Better hold a interesting show.."
Jaden nodded, and used [Oracle Drive] which forged a red crimson magic circle below their feet.
"Wha..?" Vincent exclaimed as his body got engulfed in the brightness of the emitting light.
~Shinn!
"What the..?!" once the flash subsided, Vincent found himself on a grassy green hill. The wind around started to blow. "Jaden..?!"
Vincent couldn't hear his own voice clearly. The fact that he didn't find Jaden anywhere near him had made him worry. But he figured that this might not be a suitable time to be concerned about Jaden. Vincent was a secretive young man, and his greatest fear was putting his secrets out in the open.
The wind around him tampered down. And Vincent was capable of looking before him. Near the edge of the hill, he saw a guy sitting on a rock. The moment his eyes landed on his face, a creepling strange feeling clouded Vincent's judgement. It was as though he wasn't comfortable seeing the guy, but at same time, it felt reassuring. Vincent began walking closer toward the guy. The guy as well, began to walk toward Vincent in return.
Sharp brown eyes, black hair slid to one side, a trimmed facial hair, and a dark scarlet coat. The closer he got to Vincent, the more familiar he seemed. Once the two stood face to face, they both put their palms out as if there was an invisible barrier between them. The moment they touched it, a white blinding light glowed so bright.
"Ugh...!"
"Guha..!" Eugene opened his eyes to find himself in a new place. "Ahh!"
"Get up, Lander dump!" a large guard dropped him on a sandy ground.
"WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAA!" a sound of cheering crowd filled the place.
The still drowsy Eugene forced himself up despite his throbbing headache, and rotated his head to look around. He was on his knees, still wobbling, in the middle of what it seemed like a round wrestling ring. The walls around him stood high, and on top, there were quite an audience.
"What's happening..?" Eugene wondered.
"EUGENE!" somneone shouted his name among the crowd. When the boy traced the sound, he saw Flunder waving for him. "Run through the tunnel!"
"Huh..?" Eugene looked at Flunder as he pointed toward a small opening on the wall, but before he could walk up to it--
~Drop!
~Drop!
Three muscular guards with big thick sticks fell from above onto the ring.
"YEAH!" the crowd roared in excitement. "Kill the pretty lady!"
Kill?!, Eugene strattled in shock. Do they expect me to go up against these bahemothes?!
"Guaaaaah!" one of the guards charged first. He swang his weapon at Eugene, and the latter leaped away at the last minute.
~Smash! Miss!
Eugene was able to dodge the assault, but his luck wouldn't remain this way. His head was still yet drowsy, and he couldn't stay focused.
"I got you!" another guard thrusted his stick from behind, but Eugene saw it coming.
No, you won't!, he jumped away.
"Hehe!" the third enemy sneaked near him, and dashed his weapon against the brown haired boy.
~Smack!
"Ahhh!" Eugene fell down on the ground.
"DIE!" the guard was about to smash his face against the ground, but Eugene rolled over, and dodged it.
~Bouph! Miss!
"Ugh.." Eugene pulled himself up quickly.
I gotta, find my way out of here, he thought while panting.
Eugene ran toward the rounded opening on the wall. He thought about luring the guards, away from the walls, first.
"Is that all you got?!" he tried provoking them, but the guards were already chasing him.
Eugene strided with all his might, and managed to get them into the center of the arena. "Die, you skunk!" one guard attacked.
Eugene dodge-rolled the thrustin stick, and threw sand onto the enemies eyes. "Take that!"
"Guwaaah!" the guards scratched their faces, and the golden brown haired boy sprinted through the sandy floor, heading for the opening.
The instant he reached the opening, Eugene got strattled. A fourth guard emerged through the opening, and ambushed the boy with the strike.
~SMACK!
Eugene dropped on the floor, "Ahhh.."
"Guwhehehe.." the guard stood on top of the boy, and delivered a handful of hits.
~Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
~Kick!
"Oghhh!" Eugene groaned in pain as the guard kicked him away.
"There's no escape. You will die here." the four guards walked up to the fallen boy.
God dammit, Eugene breathed heavily. I'm not gonna make it..
One of the guards raised his thick stick to hit Eugene one more time. "DIE--!"
~Rock-smack!
"This is a disgusting show to behold!" a voice said through the ground as a rock hit one of the guards.
"Grrr.." the guard gazed toward the direction of the throw. He saw two guys standing confidently among the crowd.
"You know what," said the brown haired guy. "I changed my mind. This is not even a show--it's a, stye."
The tan guy with black side-undercut hair and one red eye cracked his fists. "He meant: you stink, handshanks!"
With these words had been said, the two guys jumped down into the sandy arena. They dropped their feet onto the large guards faces before landing.
~Kick! Hit!
"Oghhh!" the guards lost balance.
"Ughh.." Eugene forced his eyelids to open. "Jaden...Vincent.. "
"I'll go left--" said Vincent as he charged.
"I'll go right." Jaden stated as he kept pace with him.
The two fought the four guards. Jaden used his, elbow to deliver a wobbling hit to one guard, and dropped the second with a tackle.
~Paw!
~Drop!
He then retreated as Vincent dashed forward and hit the remaining two with one single attack.
~KA-PAW!
Vincent's blow knocked one guard down, and the tossed the other toward the wall.
"Majd!" Jaden rushed toward his injured friend. "You' okay?"
"Ugh, yeah..I'll be okay.." he managed to say as he tried standing on one knee.
"It's fine, we'll leave the rest to him.." Jaden told him.
In the front, Vincent put his, foot on top of the dropped-down guard's head. "You're okay there, Majd?" he said over his shoulder.
"Ehh, yeah..!" Eugene stuttered, and exchanged looks with Jaden. How could an inhabitant of Lacrima know about his Real Life name. Jaden smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it." he said, looking toward Vincent Hindergrass, the Space Pirate. "That's our classmate, Kamal Al-Tal."
Majd's eyes widened as he smiled in utter surprise, "Whoaa..!"
Vincent put on a smug as he gestured for the guards. "Who will be next?"