As Asahi, Kendra, and the followers continued walking along the corridor, the girl holding her brown shield continued her summary of what happened after Asahi had fallen into this underground world.
"When we witnessed the sky get covered in darkness for several years, we all were shocked to see such light be unveiled to us suddenly. So, I ordered my team, and even myself, to investigate that relatively strange occurrence." She took a pause and noticed Asahi leaning forward toward her. Immediately, her face flushed red, feeling the attire being picked up by her lord's hands. All watched as he wrapped his garment around his body, tying laces, latching buttons, and even doing something that shouldn't be possible for attire.
After he had put his clothes back on, Asahi apologized.
"Pardon me for the interruption, follower." He said with blinking eyes. "But as you may know, I couldn't handle seeing the attire in your hands. I have a great attachment to it."
"Understandable." The followers replied as they bowed down to him respectively. Kendra scratched the back of her head with a nervous sigh, slowly backing away from them and keeping close behind Asahi. Even she felt a sense of unease emanate from the followers, being unusually respective to their lord.
(The people here are so strange.) She thought.
Asahi felt Kendra's eyes anchoring on him with impatience. He allowed her to proceed with the explanation without interruptions.
"You may continue." He said.
The follower slowly nodded and sighed deeply, keeping her gaze fixed on Asahi's gray eyes.
"Thank you, my lord." The girl replied as she kept her breath steady. "When we parted away from this city into the many hills and waterfalls of this world, we noticed a light shine down from the hole made in the sky. And then, when we had looked downward, we noticed that there were not just us here but several factions of this world gathering around. One including The Ancients."
After she sighed deeply and rubbed a deep, glowing wound stroked on her leg, she continued with a lower voice.
"Not long after, most factions waged a battle in that area. Some were even trying to kill you, Lord Asahi. Monsters, Humans, and even strange essences had all tried to either capture or slay you. Along this battle, The Ancients stole the blue-haired girl next to you, while another nameless faction stole your attire and secured it somewhere else."
Asahi's eyes widened at the sudden reveal. The mere thought of several factions of this underground world waging a battle against each other to either capture or kill him felt unnerving to hear. It made his spine shiver. But knowing that he awakened in a safe place compared to what the girl described relieved Asahi. And so, thoughts accompanied him.
(So, could it be… that out of the factions, Kirei's faction was the one who had successfully escorted me to that village I had awakened to?) Asahi thought with his eyes closed. (How… how long has it been since I had been asleep during that… descent?)
As if he had finished recollecting his memories of that time, Asahi opened his eyes and continued listening to the recollection the girl was telling.
"That aside, our group had decided to help the blue-haired girl from The Ancients while also searching for the whereabouts of your attire. Though we may have failed to save you and that blue-haired girl due to precautions considering a familiar power, we were able to track down your clothing before retreating back to the base. "
Now that Asahi had been given this information, all of what she said made his awakening even more sense to him. It was Kirei who had taken him to that humble village. Kirei took Asahi and ONLY him to safety away from some murderous cult.
Without that boy, Asahi could have been in a completely different situation. An occasion even worse than the strange encounter beforehand.
"If only I had time to thank him," Asahi whispered indirectly.
And then, throughout this moment of silence, there was another thought he had found out. For all these years of the people of The Second Incarnation being trapped in this underground abode, they were unaware of the world above them. The people and his followers misunderstood the cavern's ceiling as the sky; when in all actuality, it was just rock-- a nearly endless sea of stone. It just made the thought of them living inside this place even more miserable.
Though his thoughts may have entranced him, Asahi chose best to progress and pursue his goal; to find a way out of here, bringing everyone in here along with him. With one last tone of redirection, after Asahi had retrieved his attire, he kept a stunning glare at all of his followers and announced with a premeditated tone of prudence in his voice.
But just before he said something, the brown-shielded girl stepped forward and interrupted, bowing while keeping a warm, sweaty face.
"As your devoted followers, many of us will allow you to stay in our humble city for as long as you wish." She said with an honorable gesture. "I be Flavia. Follower of The God of Hope. The people you see before us remain nameless, as it is unfortunate that most names were forgotten when the skies darkened."
"I see…." Asahi said, scratching his chin.
At this pinnacle of boring-filled moments, Kendra couldn't take any more of watching these strange people act and speak in strange, cryptic ways. Not long before Asahi replied, she had decided to cast her gaze at the window overlooking the massive underground expanse.
Though there may be several glowing inscriptions carved deep into this place's walls, one particular luminance stood out to her-- As if the cyan radiance itself was enough to lure and draw all her attention to gazing at it. It was a distant glow encircled by long, thin strands of vapor and floating debris like trees and rocks. The more she stared at it, the more thoughtless she was… as if she had transformed into a zombie for staring at it that long.
Asahi hadn't realized Kendra was entranced by it or the glow itself. Instead, he focused on the discussion with Flavia and his other followers. After all, no one, not even he, will know when he will ever have the chance to speak to them again.
"So… how long were you able to survive like this?" Asahi asked Flavia, thinking that Kendra was behind him. ""How did you and the rest of the people residing here counter famine, or even… insanity?"
As he had discussed with them, the followers led him over to the door of the palace, revealing an entire block to them. Of those buildings in the union was a farm with several species of edible plants and watermills specifically deriving from The Second Incarnation. Although he had only stood at the entrance, Asahi's eyes could catch sight of the farms, seeing many plentiful and colorful flora displayed to him.
"We countered famine by using the nearest farms in the continent of… Callista." Flavia responded as she heard the loud pitter-patter of the people wandering the stone streets. "But that need not concern you. I'm sure you have faith in all of us. After all, that's how we got here."
After an approaching silence came after the man's words, he asked a question Asahi would never have expected.
"Lord Asahi, do you perchance have the whereabouts of your sister?"
"By which one do you speak of?" He replied with a raised eyebrow.
"The one with silver hair and glorious magenta eyes." The very moment that description of the girl was uttered from the tip of Flavia's lips, Asahi's mind sparked with blurry and flashy recollections of that particular girl.
("Ooo, look at how pretty those flowers are.")
A beautiful, glowing lavender flower was pinned atop her head.
("Wooow. So all of this belongs to us, big brother?")
("Of course, little sis. Both horizons ahead of us belong to me, you, and the rest of our family. Beautiful, isn't it?")
("Yeah. Very beautiful! I can see so many birdies there!")
Suddenly, the remembrance of two glimmering, round, innocent magenta eyes flashed before Asahi's eyes. A color that was unique among the members of the family. Ones that stood out among the seven gray pearls of her siblings and parents. Though not many visions had accompanied him in this sudden flash of memories, the voices were enough to reveal the setting and atmosphere of these moments.
("I'm sorry for disturbing you, big brother.")
("It's okay, Aiyana. I am not really busy at the moment. Sometimes, my brain gets stuck in my thoughts, so… I find ways to help and remove that… like staring into space. Say, little sis, you look bored.)
("Yeah… VERY BORED.")
He could hear his past self chuckle at her enthusiastic and hyperbolic response. He always remembered Aiyana for her youthfulness. How excited, loving, and sweet she was.
("Ha ha, it's alright. I'm free to play a game with you if you would like. Hmm…. what game do you think we should play?")
("Umm… uhh…. I don't know. It's soooo hard to choose.")
("Ha, I knew you would say that. It's okay. You're young. You still have a lot to learn.")
Blurry memories; Memories Asahi could barely recall now burst into his mind like an approaching storm, like the sight of a strange-looking bedroom with white window curtains, beautiful floor patterns, and lovely paintings. Asahi couldn't remember seeing the sun vibrantly shine so vibrantly before. But what he could bear in mind was the unique thin black sleeve covered in white polka-dots Aiyana had always worn, no matter the conditions.
("Then… let's play an easy game. How about… hide and seek? It's a game most mortals play when they are young. I played a little round with my followers a week ago, and needless to say, I enjoyed it. So let's make a round of our own? How does that sound?")
Joyful and glowing memories.
One's that burn and shine bright among the maelstrom of dark traumas.
It is said that moments of happiness are remembered and loved more than dark ones.
And so, it was no surprise that this memory was the one that had cleared up the most for Asahi's brain. Now, instead of seeing total darkness, Asahi saw a clear picture of his little sister's face. She had a clear and juvenile look with big round eyes of innocence and curiosity, followed by the sight of the silken texture of her long, flowing, luxuriant silver hair. In contrast to the darker colors the other four family members had worn, she was the only member of the group to dress in a lighter hue.
Much like her siblings and parents, Aiyana had also borne that accursed birthmark carved with the shape of an S deep at the top of her right hand, followed by the glorious black rings which had accompanied her fingers. Her appearance, along with her personality, stood out the most among the Adtraic.
Not long after, Aiyana nodded in response and heard her brother explain the game's rules.
("Okay, so the rules are simple. One is the hider, while the other is the seeker.")
Asahi couldn't help but feel his heart painfully ache to see the excitement flare up in young Aiyana's eyes.
("Uh huh…")
To grab Aiyana's attention, Asahi made cute, tiny hand gestures with both his fingers to represent the image of people, as he explained.
("The seeker will count up to whatever number they desire. And the hider must use that time to hide somewhere. Once the seeker is finished counting, they will…")
Suddenly, without warning, Asahi scared Aiyana by picking her up and lifting her up to the ceiling, making strange noises as one would do when one was to tease a child. Instead of crying and sobbing, Aiyana embraced the moment by giggling and laughing, swinging her arms in the air as she screamed.
("WEE! Look at me! I'm flying!")
Past Asahi couldn't help but chuckle. Slowly and safely, he placed her back down on the bed, continuing along with his explanation.
("... the seeker comes out and tries to get you! The hider wins if the seeker gives up, and the seeker wins if they find them. Sound fun?")
There was something eerily fitting about the simple game of hide-and-seek that matched well with the situation Asahi AND Aletha had been pursuing since they returned to their world.
At first, it was about trying to find their little sister. But like seekers, the two gave up finding her and were distracted by other problems unrelated to their family. Although their actions may appear as considerate, in reality, all they were trying to seek was their family… and, perhaps, remnants of their old world.
With the passing memories going blurrier by the second, to the point that not even the voices remain incomprehensible, Asahi's awareness had returned and flashed back out of the past.
The gray-haired man had already finished his reveal to Asahi. But because of that sudden intrusion of memories, Asahi hadn't caught on.
Respectively, Asahi requested the man to repeat himself, to which all reacted strangely but decided to follow their lord's demands quickly.
"It is with honor and my respect that I repeat myself, Lord Asahi." He said as he bowed down. As all gathered around, waiting for the man to repeat himself, he decided to expand his response with a more respectful outlook. "The current whereabouts of your sister, the one with silver hair and glorious magenta eyes, we have no clue. But what I CAN recall about her was about… a decade or century ago."
The man looked up and sighed, scratching his head as Asahi paid and observed.
"She wore a white dress. A shimmering dress that had illuminated the place. She arrived here alone, in this same city. Of course, this city was pristine, but as you may see now, it is nothing like that anymore." He paused. "The look in her eyes did not match my past visions. They were cold, sharp, and bridled with... unexplained fury. I don't know why they were that way. But I assume it has to deal with the disappearance of you, your other sister, and your parents."
While Asahi kept on thinking and imagining how such an innocent girl could have a look so haunting and threatening, the man continued with an increased pace in his voice.
"She did nothing more than help us upon her arrival. That girl had done more to benefit us than those monsters around. She blessed us with limitless crops as far as the eye can see. She had the power to reverse and stop the erosion of the rocks and sky above and around us so that it may not collapse on our kingdoms. She… s-she even granted some of us eternal youth and perfect health so we can continue life around here. This may come as a surprise for some people here, but I believe that girl, Aiyana… I remember her calling herself, had blessed us more than that dragon had EVER done!"
The intensity and volume had increased so much to where it attracted and stunned most people wandering around; numerous individuals agreed with the man's claims as if they had also witnessed Aiyana's arrival at this place.
"I say it with certainty, without her arrival, most of us would have rotted on the ground, never to see the light of the stars again! She is our saint. Despite those eyes of hers, her actions redeemed it. I can most certainly guarantee you, Lord Asahi, that the people gathered around us can agree that she has saved us all from our inevitable demise! ISN'T THAT RIGHT, MY PEOPLE?!"
After his scream resounded all over the city, all responded with cheers and yells, some even jumping up and down to express their gratitude and love for Aiyana. Asahi backed up in shock, noticing most of the people's eyes glimmering with hope the moment that one mentioned her name.
"Her love has healed us all!" One lady screamed with a smile.
"We continue to live on despite losing lots!" Said another.
There was something even more enticing Asahi felt when he heard Aiyana's name be uttered from one person to the other.
(S- She's alive!) Asahi's voice in his head screamed as all the people cheered. "After ALL those years of my sister and I think we have lost her; what all of this means… is that… our innocent, loving, little Aiyana is still out there!) A tear of relief started to well up in his eye as he stared up into the glittering crystals in the cavern's ceiling. (She's wandering the new world! Breathing. Helping. Blessing. And… hoping. If that's the case…)
His thoughts transformed into uttered sentences as his excitement bested him.
"I MUST return to the surface and tell Aletha about this! This is beyond discovery. This is… t-this is… hope. A TRIGGER OF HOPE!"
"Is there something wrong, Lord Asahi?" Flavia asked with a concerned look on her face.
"No… Not at all." Asahi replied. "I was considering bringing you all to the surface with me as well."
At that moment, all eyes were anchored around him with attentiveness.
"Are you serious, Lord Asahi?"
"Can that actually be possible?"
"Wait, there's something above the skies?!"
After his sudden reveal, a wave of questions splashed Asahi all at once; some even questioned whether or not their entire lives were all a lie. But before things get too out of hand, Asahi explained.
"I'm afraid many of you have been mistaken. All of you have misinterpreted the cavern's ceiling as the sky and the world above it as heaven. And I'm here to say that's not the case." He paused and pointed to the crystals hanging from the rock's surface several hundred kilometers above their heads. All followed his gesture as he continued and recited things he had said.
"Above us is a world. A changed world free from my family's reign and dominion. A world with freedom and different laws. A world with different people, beliefs, and dangers. I know our world may be hard to lose our grasp of, but sometimes, you have to let go… adapt and move on."
Some people reeled back, and others moved closer. Some joined them, while others hadn't. There was a mix, and divide Asahi had made after he announced that.
"Lose grasp on this… perfect world? H… How. D… Do you know how many years of progression we made throughout those millennia of building from the ground up?"
"I can't believe Lord Asahi said such a thing. I never would have thought that the sky above me was… just… stone."
"So… all of this time, we could have seen sunshine. But we chose to live here? U… Unbelievable. That explains so… so many things."
The mixed reactions were all over the place, making Asahi even more anxious.
"Umm… Lord Asahi? What do you mean by 'letting go'? I… I know that you own this world, but if you are leaving, then I can't stay behind. I won't. We need your guidance. And most certainly, do I." Flavia said, turning towards Asahi with a determined look on her face.
A smile came across Asahi's lips as he heard her response. Although he hadn't known much about her, it was easy to read her past back in the ancient city.
"By letting go, it means that one is willing to push aside their concerns of the past and look optimistically into one's future," Asahi said. "It is your choice that you stay here. I am, by no means, forcing anyone out of their will to come to the surface."
Despite having learned that every person contains their own story, Asahi couldn't help but not ignore the thought that Aiyana was still out there.
In fact, before he had stumbled upon these nameless caverns, he bore no motivation, no true goal or factor that encouraged him to strive for it. But now, after this reveal, his sorrow and despair had been relentlessly numbed. Now, he had a goal. He had a reason to continue his journey. Not to just find the one who destroyed or, instead… ruined his old world. But to find and reunite with one of the only ones left in his family. Aiyana.
Before he had said anything further, Asahi mumbled in his head.
(After all, how would anyone live if they can't find something to achieve? Isn't that how babies grow? Because they want to achieve something? Isn't that how all of life is, including monsters? Because they have goals, big or small. If one did not have any goal, one might find no purpose in living. They will feel down… and empty.) He said as once again his thoughts transformed into audible mutters. "That's why we make goals. That's why Kendra has a goal. That's why these people have a goal. That's why even my greatest enemies have a goal, including The God of The Forgotten. It's because... that's how everyone evolves."
A sudden rush in his heart coursed through his veins. One so heavy, it made every hair on his back stand up in determination.
(And that's why… I will not sit here and wait. I will not sit idle until I find Aiyana. I will continue my journey. Even though it's a long and lonely trek. I've come this far! I will not stop. I refuse to. Because I have a goal. My goal is... to reunite with my family again!
Asahi clenched his fists and spoke.
"And that is EXACTLY what I will do."
Asahi turned back to the people, making eye contact with each person he passed, and gave a final message as he turned back to the giant stone door behind him.
"If you want to find a goal, to pursue and find purpose in your lives, then follow me."
Before he had finished his sentence, approximately fifty-five people gathered behind him, looking forward with hopeful eyes. This reaction made Asahi chuckle. Lifting his voice, he stepped forward and pointed directly to the streams of light shining down from some of the holes in the ceiling, keeping his heart steady.
"... for I will guide you, like the God I was, and grant you happiness to all."
After he finished his sentence, twice, if not triple, the number of people gathered behind him, followed by Asahi's announcement. This sight, this view of people gathering around him, reminded Asahi's mind of a distant past. One of which where no matter where he had gone in the mortal world, outside of Cleira, there were always followers accompanying him. And now, when he had thought that all of that was gone, he finally felt that same feeling again. The sense of honor and faith.
However, someone was missing. The one that made Asahi do this in the first place. Kendra. Finally, Asahi realized she wasn't standing behind him. When he returned to the hallway he was in, her existence was nowhere to be seen. Then, when his followers tracked their lord's footsteps, Asahi noticed that same cyan luminance glaring ominously in the distance atop a triangular-shaped cliff behind a long and hilly meadow with clear rivers, waterfalls, and pillars of natural stone. At first, Asahi thought Kendra was still at the door.
But what gave off Kendra's whereabouts was the fleeting sight of footsteps carved in dust and dirt, leading straight to the natural opening in the walls he had set foot on before.
Immediately, Asahi and the hundreds, nearly thousands of his followers behind him followed the footsteps out of the clearing into the cliffs and hills leading outward away from the city. From there came a large bridge composed of cobblestones and crystals. A moving figure was seen far in the distance at the ends of that giant bridge. Though they were hardly visible, Asahi knew straight from seeing just a tiny blue strand from kilometers away that it was Kendra.
And so, given the circumstance, Asahi began his pursuit for Kendra with his thousands of followers, dashing across the bridge through the expansive fields of long-aged grass, shattered huts, stone, water, and mist. Though his gaze may have been fixed on Kendra, his focus was also directed elsewhere.
That expanding cyan glow encircled by belts of vapor and floating debris; He knew, most certainly… that color could only belong to one of the worst and most mysterious enemies he had encountered.
The one that bore the appearance of long, silky dark hair. Cyan eyes. Cosmic attire. And bright cyan markings that Asahi remembered bested his and Aletha's presumably unimaginable power in the past.
"The Establisher."