"Huh… such warmth."
Flavius opened his blue eyes, his long curly hair floating over his head while in his training suit, within the warmth he noticed a compelling force pushing against him down to the unknown all he could see was shades of red, tinted with darkness lurking around every corner along with moving bubbles surrounding him.
Instantly he knew what was happening as anxiety crept up his face.
He was sinking.
Then he kicked desperately at the unknown reddish space, on moving his arms he felt soft fingertips resting on his grasp.
Flavius looked as he kept sinking further and further down.
It was Herminia in her training suit also sinking, holding fast onto his left hand while unconscious.
So he thought; Fortunately his lungs had no desire to breathe in and out air. He tried to speak to Herminia to wake her up but all what came out from his mouth were series of bubbles then he tried swinging Herminia's hand for awhile, still, she was in no way responsive to the gentle shakes then Flavius stopped as he dug into the past years of training under the hope of wielding the Red-blooded armor back to Matthan's words over what a wielder and a Cohort would naturally experience after wearing the armor for the first time.
All he needed to do was to—
"Swim to the surface!" He said to himself as he looked up.
When asked on how to swim to the surface.
Matthan answered.
"Just one thing you need to do to make it to the top. Every moments you spend in there is just an instant to the real world. So figure it all out by yourself."
Flavius sighed as few bubbles slipped out from his mouth. He began flinging his right arm and legs around hoping to move upward; he kicked viciously through the red unknown; he clawed; he slightly curled his body; he couldn't tell which if he was going up or down for both sides looked the same, darkened red at the center, pitch black at the hindermost part, surrounding them.
He starts to wonder if he only would swim to the surface and figure out how to save his unconscious Cohort in his hand.
Should I let go? Definitely, I will come back for her.
About removing a finger from hers.
He heard his own voice in his head.
"I'm sorry."
Then Herminia's voice,
"We haven't probably introduce ourselves yet, Hi. I'm Herminia."
His Great-grandmother's voiced next,
"Flavius and Herminia can't be best friends forever either side will give in before the other."
His Father's deepened voice.
"Enough talking, go look for the girl, try everything you can to support her."
His own voice recounted after.
Who was it that stood by your side? Who was it that encouraged you when you felt like giving up?... She is your Cohort.
He looked around, the voices on his head were loud and clear as though they were all here physically speaking to him.
This state inside the Red-blooded armor is called 'Flotation' a process that separates their differences then mixed their experiences together as one which could be felt by both in cycles.
He glanced to Herminia at his side.
"... I'm her Cohort."
He struggled using his left arm and legs through the red space as bubbles surrounded him. His non-giving in act made some impact, slowly he moved an inch up. His eyes widened then another inch after another.
The corners of his mouth turned up, it became easier than expected, he was moving upward gradually then a sudden wave crashed in whipping Flavius and unconscious Herminia, their legs and arms helplessly swung around then he senses kicked in, tasting a briny substance and now chocking inside the unknown space as air being forcefully suck out from his body.
Herminia grunted yet her eyes were still closed.
Strained grunting Flavius noticed her.
What could he do, inside what it looked like a swirling vortex as they were being dragged further down into the endless space.
Swimming down through this might be a bad idea but I'm I actually at the center of it or… Anyways I will push through! He exclaimed.
He struggled through the force moving himself strongly upward while holding Herminia.
Probably potencies doesn't work in this space if they do he would have used it sooner than later.
As he strongly pushed himself upward, images of figures in form of bubbles surrounded Flavius and unconscious Herminia.
"What are you doing, Lazy brat?! Go bring us something to eat!" One of the image yelled enough to make Flavius ear drums tinkled.
"Go out there! make a living! You good for nothing, girl! Carrying you in my belly for nine good month was such a pain and yet you refuse to feed us, such an ungrateful child!" another bubbled image cried, hitting the small bubbled image.
"S… sometimes I wondered… if your words are true… if you're the ones that… actually brought me to this wrecked world… I'm only four years of age for goodness sake!!"
"Huh! S-She talked back… she actually talks-- Is your fault," said the first bubbled image to the second one.
"Me?!... You mean… it was my fault. Look at her eyes with the way she acts who do you think she takes after—"
"She takes after you of course!"
"Gosh! See what you have cause! You deserve a beating yet again."
The small bubbled image ran away as the second bubbled image was about grabbing it.
"You! Come back here!"
The small bubbled image ran through Flavius thrashing him and Herminia around, He grunted but still not letting go of his Cohort.
What just happened?! I'm I seeing the past?! of who?!... He groaned.
Then another small bubbled image appeared slightly taller than the former.
"Stop that thief!" another bubbled image appeared out of no where pointing to small bubbled image as it ran from the pointing bubbled image.
Then two huge bubbled image appeared suddenly grabbing into the small bubbled image's arms.
"Ha. We got you now." One of the two huge bubbled image spoke.
"After so many days of sneakily stealing from us without paying, you are done for."
Then many bubbled images appeared, crowded about them while mummuring.
"Can't believe she is but a little child."
"Who are her parents?"
"She looked skiny and in dirty clothing... "
"Such pity. Well, that does not concern me one bit." The pointing bubbled image said walking towards the small bubbled image pinned to the ground, "today is the day you die, say your prayers to whosoever being you believe in." as it spoke it's hand turned into a long single hook.
The bubbled figures around mummured.
"That's good for her."
"Who are your parents?"
"She deserve it. This will teach a lesson to every Humanes just like her out there."
"L-leave me! I'm just doing what I was told… I—" the small bubbled image looked at the bubbled crowds while it struggled in the arms of the huge bubbled images. "M-mother… Mother!" she screamed at the crowd, "Father! Do something! Anything! Save me!"
"Who is she calling, her mother?" the pointing bubbled image looked at the crowd tracing the small bubbled image eyes to it. "Hey, woman are you her mother?"
The crowded bubbled figures gasped as they turned to the bubbled image claimed to be the thief's mother
"Me? N-never in my life have I seen such a child before." The accused bubbled image lied while staring at the pointing bubbled image then it turned it's face to the bubbled image near her. "Tell her brother, have you seen such a child?"
"Not at all."
"What! They are both lying! That's my mother and my father! They are both—"
"Shut up you thief, you lair!" The pointing bubbled image yelled. "There's a saying that goes this way. Anyone who lies tends to steal no matter what."
"Yes! S-she is a lair and a thief." The accused bubbled image said, breathing nervously, "Kill her before she accused more Humanes here."
"Huh... Mother... "
These acts made the small bubbled image laughed sorrowfully. A Mother and a Father denying their child in front of everyone to save their wrenched lives was just a mere joke to the small bubbled image(?)
"Well, good enough." The pointed bubbled image said as it raised it's hooked arm about striking the small bubbled image.
"Enough!" Another image appeared before every bubbled figures there.
"Seriously, ganging up against a small girl is so stupid, what is the Humane world coming to." The bubbled figure spoke while it held down it's hat to its head.
"Isn't t-that… Matthan the Cohort!"