Hundreds of people, accompanied by other creatures with the most divergent appearances possible, walked in a large hall, which just as in the previous room was illuminated by torches of reddish fire scattered along it. All those people, also hooded, wore a black tunic.
The hall formed a large hexagon, as did the previous room called the "entrance" by the Sam Brothers. The land consisted of six large walls, perhaps fifty meters high each, and with a width so extensive that it was incalculable to the naked eye.
People moved around in different directions. They had different sizes and different postures.
— Welcome to the Ruin of Maple! — Hiram exclaimed.
The huge door to which they had just passed closed slowly.
"Have all these people... also signed other contracts?"
The demon duo walked towards the center of the place. Slezzy followed them.
On the way, the boy observed the details around. The walls had more cracks than usual. The cover there was composed of the same rock material, but it was intact.
The place was humid, a little cold, and even caused small chills. Some drops of water fell from the giant cover.
As Slezzy walked with the Sam Brothers beside him on the dark, dry ground, he visualized more details: plants and mosses intertwined over the bowels of the place, colorless and lifeless.
— You should always be careful when walking around here! Most people are unfamiliar to each other! — whispered Hiram.
There were people distributed in every corner of that gloomy place. Some transited from one place to another and talked to each other. Most with one creature on the side. Others read the books that were scattered in a given region. There were also people who conjured magic and spells among themselves in a certain square area, entitled to some spectators.
Slezzy noticed that all those people's conversations were in whispers.
— Now I understand why they made me wear that creepy thing. Everyone here... wants to hide their true identity to the fullest — concluded Slezzy, whispering, fascinated by everything he witnessed. — Hey! These people are...
— Soon all your questions will be answered, I promise. But now, just enjoy the ride, young Slezzy! — alerted Hiram, interrupting the boy's speech, which already caught the attention of some around him.
After traversing the great trajectory for a long time, the trio finally reached the middle of the Ruin. There was a big pulpit about a meter and a half high. It was one of the only bright things in that place. About it, there was a thick book, opened on a central page.
Behind the structure was a large red carpet, which followed until the end of the other half of the whole place.
— This book is called Heart of Shadows.
— Han? It's some kind of sacred book!?
— In fact, it is not quite so... — Hiram did not prolong his speech when he realized that a man in clothes dressed in red was approaching.
That man's white hair caught Slezzy's attention. He had never seen such radiant hair in his life.
A great number of people and creatures who were treading upon the vicinity of the pulpit knelt down, saying the same words together, sounding like a choir:
— Greetings, my lord!
Slezzy was the only one standing on that occasion.
— Kneel down, now! — whispered Haram, with a discreet and desperate tone.
Slezzy obeyed the command, still facing the mysterious man.
The unknown man, recognizing this attitude, walked to Slezzy's position, step by step. But before he could confront him, he was stopped by Hiram, who stood up quickly:
— A thousand pardons, my lord! This is our newest mentored and... he must still be bewildered by all the news...
The man raised his left arm, pointing with his index finger to the position in which Hiram was kneeling earlier, as if ordering it. Soon after, he approached Slezzy.
After command, the black—winged creature returned to that position.
— Thank you for the greetings! — The man raised only his forearm up and with his hand open.
The people and creatures around stood up, walking again.
— You know it's too early to bring a new mentoreded to the Ruin, don't you? — confronted the Lord.
— We... were looking forward to this moment, my Lord! — said Haram.
Slezzy still stared at that man, looking at his details minimally, from the long white hairs of strands that seemed to have no end to the obscure details of his reddish clothes like a river of blood.
— I believe the Sam Brothers have seen great potential in you, boy, given how long they've waited for your decision. So tell me... what was the reason for your long delay?
Slezzy didn't hesitate to answer him:
— I just took my time to conclude that this was my only option, given what I'm about to face on my way...
— Interesting! Nice to meet you, Slezzy Kaliman, I presume. You may call me Lord... or... as many here prefer... Lord Demon Lyon!