The witch watched them in their own world feeling like an outcast. There was one single question in her mind; what were they talking about? It was as if they came up with words only they would know, like a secret code. She held her breath. She knew something was wrong with both of them. Looking around, she noticed how the place was big, sensing the presence of powerful magic that made everything smaller. Coughing little bursts of air, she returned her attention to Stephan who was trying his new weapon. He shot it in the air several times, imagining the presence of a frozen target.
"So what's next? Won't you end this whole thing?" his voice was full of remorse.
"I am not refusing to end it; I am just giving you more time to change your decision and go back on it. If I mark it as done, you won't get an important item from the guide. Gilbert was left for a reason; I just helped in designing this test. One way or another, Gilbert would have to give up on the possession of the Eye of the Beholder."
Eye of the Beholder? He heard the term somewhere but he couldn't remember. Maybe in the game or somewhere else… He spent a few moments reminiscing about it with his eyes closed. He was confident about it; it was a set of artifacts in the game with the lore behind it. The artifact in question belonged to a Lady witch who was hated for her mother's sins. It was said that her mother had close ties with demons so she was shamed for it. Her daughter took the weight of her mistakes and suffered for it. He didn't know how the artifact came into being but it had close ties with the girl from the story.
"So if I don't end this test myself, there would be no artifact for me. I feel bad about this but I don't want to finish this stupid race. Furthermore, the eye of the Beholder won't be much for me since I don't wield mana yet. I could return and take another test when I am prepared enough for it."
Aurora couldn't help but turn serious. Her eyes stared at him firmly, unwavering. He was treating Masmoenia like a game, as she used to do in the past when she was reborn too. She acted as if the world was a cake in heaven but it wasn't the case. She was slapped multiple times and her convictions changed slowly. It was like seeing a younger self in front of her. With the arrogance of knowing a lot of things about the world and taking decisions with great confidence, there would be a day he would learn that not everything might go his way. She just didn't want him to learn it the hard way as she did.
"So you think Masmoenia is a game," her eyes were hidden behind her fringe. "Do you know why I didn't make the system like Legend of the Past?" this time, her eyes were watching him carefully. "Masmoenia is reality, Stephan. If you keep at it, you will die a horrible death and unlike what you think, I cannot help you in this state. My jurisdiction is only within these dimensions."
"I can very well assume the consequences of my actions, Swindler," he threw her a half-hearted smile like a dog. The Eye of the Beholder is useless to me. Why would I need the ability to see through lies? Everyone lies. I just have to not listen to anyone."
"So you are sufficient with being a lone wolf," she smirked. "One day, you will realize that sometimes an external helping hand is better than being alone."
"And did you do that? Did you accept the external helping hands? I bet you are in this state because someone you trusted pushed you into hell. I am better off alone. People only come with troubles."
Their conversation was cut short by the sound of someone crying behind them. Aurora held her breath, recognizing the disturbance. She knew who it was; the existence of the sobbing meant that a girl was used as a sacrifice to connect the arena to the outside world. Blood was always used to maintain the shrinking spell.
That was right! They were in a small dimension and the vampires were watching from their seats. It was necessary for that spell to exist since there were many races going on at the same time. They needed a bigger space to install everything. Something fell loudly; it was the body of a girl who kept sobbing with her hands hiding her face and then someone appeared. He was a tall man.
Finding him there in that strange and terrible place twisted a deep knot within her heart. The only person she allowed herself to hate openly. Her fists clenched tightly as if she found a punching bag to release the sudden anger she felt, her hair fell on her shoulders, like the dry hot air of summer; it burnt her skin. Soprana, on the other hand, kept her silence, blending with the shadows. There was no good benefit from angering a royal vampire.
If there was one thing Stephan was good at, it was that he could remember all the bosses he played in games. There was no way he would forget the golden eyes that shifted to bright ruby-red when the boss was excited. This boss appeared many times in Legend of the Past and each time he was stronger. It was as if Aurora wanted the players to beat him continuously. He glanced back at Aurora and understood he was her foe. The best choice was to step back and show obedience. Vampires were dangerous creatures. You could never know what they could be thinking or what they wanted.
"I always knew that one day, you would come back to these lands, Aurora. I was always waiting for you. I just didn't expect… You would bring a somewhat disciple with you," his eyes were looking down on Stephan.