The ground opened and swallowed us whole. I fell for what felt like an eternity. Darkness was what surrounded me. I couldn't see anything but the darkness. Socrates was also not visible but I had to trust Socrates.
I don't know how long had passed since we started falling. I had just woken up from being unconscious and I am still falling. I felt my sanity break. little by little its small pieces broke off my mind leaving me anything but sane.
I don't know how long it has been now. I've seen nothing but darkness and I haven't seen anyone else. Nothing to see, not even my own hands or feet. Only my thoughts are what I've been left with.
I still don't know how long it has been since I started. I feel as if I have repeated everything I have said before. I have forgotten most things by now, only my name is what remains.
Levantes Artrium Volomir.
Thud! I felt my face hit solid ground. The impact was enough to bring me back to my senses and remember what I forgot; it was as if the effects of falling endlessly were gone without a trace.
"Get up." A stern voice spoke.
I got up from the "welcoming" ground and brushed off the dust from my clothes. I looked around to see a tunnel system. The tenebrous tunnels stretched from across the underground system that was only lit up by what seemed like light from a candle.
"What the hell is this place?" I inquired. I expected an answer but I wasn't given one.
"Acensio Nekroi." Socrates said.
"Wha—"
Socrates had said something I thought I had created. That same phrase was what I used to say to summon my army
As Socrates had spoken that phrase, the tenebrous tunnels had changed. The roof gave way and all the bricks flew into place forming a bridge that led to what looked like a shrine.
Socrates walked on the bridge, tapping a black cane onto the bricks. I followed Socrates and walked beside him. I felt like a child as I knew of the powerful being I walked beside. A being who could easily erase my world and isn't weak in this world either.
After a minute of walking, we reached the shrine. The shrine then broke down and its bricks of it created a platform. The platform then formed into what looked like a portal. Socrates walked through and I followed. As I walked through, I felt a sudden burn on my nape. The burn was enough to be noticed but not enough to inflict any damage.
The other side of the portal looked like heaven. There were crystal clear streams with fish swimming in harmony, bright green trees with their leaves fluttering in the wind, and the warm spring breeze touching my face.
There was a bridge that went over the lake and it was only then that I realised that the lake was no mere brook; it was much wider than a normal brook, and at this point, it should be called a river.
We walked over the bridge and what I witnessed was that the other side was much more extravagant and luxurious. Amongst the trees and rivers, it could be seen that a castle was hiding. It didn't seem as if it was supposed to be hidden but it was.
As we grew closer to it the castle became clearer. Upon a floating platform, a large castle stood, towering over everything I'm sight. The castle was made of white marble and gold which glimmered in the sunlight.
We walked towards the castle until we were stopped by a gate. The gate was pure gold but didn't seem as if it was normal gold; perhaps there might be magic on the gate to give it magical properties.
"Anoiparex." Socrates muttered and the gates opened.
There were multiple guards in gold and white armour standing at the gate and near it. The sheer power of the guards was enough to feel. I could easily tell that these guards were not mere guards and are at least over Class 9 beings.
"Lord Socrates, what brings you here?" A man said. The man was slender and tall and had one arm in front of him and one behind as he bowed. The man wore a white robe that dragged him down to his feet.
The man then stood up. His white hair was long and reached below his shoulders. He had dark purple eyes and wore a powerful yet reassuring smile.
"I've brought this boy with me to train, Azreal." Socrates monotonously replied.
The man's name did not suit his appearance but then again you shouldn't judge by appearances alone as there are other factors that you must acknowledge when judging someone.
"A boy?" The man looked at me almost as if he was judging me then after a few seconds he spoke again. "Well if Lord Socrates sees potential in this child then I will not doubt your eye."
That meant I don't look like I'm powerful.
The man then escorted us to a palace. The doors of the palace were enough to say how powerful and wealthy the royals must be. The colossal doors were then opened, revealing a long hallway that lead to a man sitting on a throne with the side of their chin resting on their hand which was formed into a fist. The throne was on a platform that hovered off the ground however the platform seemed to be fixed in its place. The room also had other people who seemed to be nobles and elites.
We walked towards the throne before we were forcefully stopped in our tracks by an unknown force.
"Is this the boy?" A low voice grumbled as if I was an eyesore.
"My liege, this is the boy I have been talking about." Socrates responded in a tremulous voice.
The man then sat upright and stared at us for a few moments before getting down from his throne and walking towards us. The man was a bit shorter than Socrates. The man stared at me, judging me before speaking. After he was satisfied with his deduction he spoke.
"This is the child who will lead us to victory?" The man spoke in an orotund voice. His voice alone scared even Socrates.
"If you doubt me then why do you not fight then?" I snapped.
"Because I do not need to." The man hissed. "As you can see I am the king! I do not need to fight!"
"A king who cannot or does not want to fight is no king at all."
The man remained quiet. I was sure no one had spoken up to him like this so he must've been surprised by my actions. I had spoken the truth as I was some sort of a king myself in the past.
"Is that so?" The man growled. "Then how about you and I have a duel, whoever wins gets the throne." The elites were surprised and soon the room was filled with whispers. The man raised his hands and the room fell silent. "Do you accept the duel?" The man said as he held his hand out waiting for me to handshake him.
"You clearly seem to think I have no potential and I would lose to you in a fight however there is something I surpass you in." I looked at Socrates and he understood what I meant.
"And what is that which you surpass me in?" The man said.
"Give me a chance to train with Socrates and then I will fight you."
The man took a moment to think about my suggestion and then walked back to his throne. He sat down on his throne and rested his head on his hand like a stand.
"You have a single year, Levantes." The man said. "By the way, you can address me as Archryos."
Socrates then dragged me outside the palace and Azreal followed.
"Why the hell did she tell me to bring you?" Socrates muttered under his breath.
"That "she" is someone I know isn't it?" Socrates was impressed but he knew that working out who he was talking about wasn't beyond my abilities.
"How did you know?" Socrates asked although it didn't seem as if he was interested in the answer.
"I have an eight-digit IQ; something like that wouldn't be hard to figure out." I replied.
It seems that Socrates had underestimated my abilities however he was much more knowledgeable than me but it didn't mean that he was more intelligent.
"I'm sure you could guess who it is then."
I did know who it was however I didn't want to believe it. The person who I thought it was was supposed to be dead however it seems it wasn't true.
"So she's alive..."
The only hope I have now was this. Now I have to work towards my current goal to see that person.
I have to become the best.
"Oh, you have a scary expression on your face now Levantes." Azreal spoke for he had been watching me as if he was trying to read my thoughts by analysing every detail of me.
I relaxed my face and calmed myself down to not get my hopes high as it would affect my plans.
"Let's go then." Socrates commanded and both Azreal and I followed.