'She's been talking about the search for hours... Maybe I should try changing the to-' Krell started to think as Bess's bright energy suddenly shifted gears.
"Master Krell, I just remembered! Your lessons start tomorrow! That means that the fifth and sixth floors will open to you!" She said with excitement.
'Ah, right... That's how I designed that...' He thought to himself. 'You know, maybe these things are coming back to bite me...' He added. "That's good news." Krell said.
"Yup! And once they're opened, you'll get to meet Frion and Kenneth!" She said.
'Frion and Kenneth...' He thought to himself. 'I originally made them for the sake of creating lore in this wilderness, much like the rest of the guardians, even the servants were made for the sake of lore.' He continued. 'But Frion and Kenneth were specific because they were the first teachers I made. I'm rather fond of them, or rather, the idea of them, but I do have a bit of anxiety about finally meeting them...' Krell thought.
"Hm? Is something the matter, Master Krell?" Bess asked. Krell shook his head.
"I'm just a little nervous, is all." He said.
"Ah, in that case, I'll have you start your day with your etiquette and manners lessons with Salia and Rue! They should be able to help you prepare for your meeting with Frion and Kenneth!" Bess said. Krell nodded.
"Thank you, Bess." He said. She smiled.
"Of course! It's my responsibility to look after you, after all!" She said. Krell's expression fell.
'Right... I'd nearly forgotten...' He said. 'Even in this world, they're gone...' He added.
"Master Krell, is something the matter?" She asked.
"Bess..." Krell said.
"Yes...?" She asked as she stepped closer to Krell.
"How did they die?" He asked.
"Ah..." She said. "That... You know already, don't you?" She asked awkwardly as her mood spoiled.
"Bess..." Krell said. She hesitated for a moment.
"It was a fire..." She said. "An awful fire..." She added.
'Same as I wrote, and... Same as reality...' Krell thought as his face darkened with emotion. Bess walked over to Krell and picked him up and sat on his bed as she hugged him.
"Do you... Still want to hear?" She asked.
"Yeah..." He said.
"It started suddenly..." She said. "The fire took many lives, and unfortunately, the number of survivors was far fewer than the number that died. Your parents, they prepared this tomb for their family..." She continued as Krell began to tear up. "It was originally only meant for that... But we changed it to fit our needs, after all, we still had to take care of everybody, and you survived. That being said..." She paused.
"What...?" Krell asked as he sniffed and tears escaped from his eyes.
"Never go to floors seven through ten." She said. "They're just places of torment and will only exist as such for you. Please, promise me." She said with a darkened tone.
'I understand why she said that... After all, I designed them...' Krell thought as he began to cry. 'Those floors are the embodiment of mourning..." He continued. 'And denial...' He added. 'I created them when I was most depressed.' He thought. Eventually, Krell passed out in Bess's arms.
When he woke up, he was alone and under his blankets. Krell thought back to what had happened just before he fell asleep. 'That reminds me... I gave each of the floors a grouping, and the floors unlock according to their group.' He thought.
'First is floors one through four, these are titled virtue or innocence. I decided to name it that because looking back, I made them when I was most hopeful and had a somewhat positive outlook on things. After that, we have floors five and six, titled learning. Fairly straightforward.' He recalled.
'Then we have floors seven through ten.' He thought darkly. 'After being told that there was no likely way I could go back home, I became depressed. Bad memories surged and I couldn't get rid of them, so I channeled them into my creation. I've avoided those floors ever since their creation, but it's likely I'll have to go there. Anyway, I think I titled that section the graveyard. An apt name.' He continued.
'After that, we have floors eleven through fourteen. Nicknamed mastery, there, I created four masters of various skills, the idea was that when my character was old enough, he would learn from them and become a master himself.' Krell thought.
'Anyway, then there are floors fifteen through eighteen, the court, because the structure reminded me of a king's court. Now, lastly, floors nineteen and twenty, the treasury. There is one floor dedicated to money and normal items and another floor dedicated to arti... facts...' He thought as a realization hit him.
'I left my creations gloves in the artifacts hall! Fuck! Damnit! Shit!' Krell thought as he clenched his hands into fists. "Ugh, whatever... I'll figure it out. Besides, I'll gain access eventually." He mumbled. 'Also, if I show exceptional talent, I may gain entry to lower floors more quickly.' He thought to himself.
'Alright, then I guess my first goal is reaching the lowest floor and retrieving my creation gloves. I doubt Hronlith and Grokithil would let me just waltz in and take them when I haven't even been permitted entry, so I'll probably have to wait...' He thought to himself.