And then, there was nothing but pain. His muscles ripped and tore itself apart as his fist collided with mountainously solid body, sending reverberating pain throughout his body like a harbinger of death. For a split second, he swore he saw hi life flash before his very eyes.
"…Then you must love me when I'm gutsy."
And then, reality broke.
With the ear-piercing sound of glass shattering, Lieren fell down, his misty vision completely useless. The world was a menagerie of myriad colors, making the world all the more confusing.
Even though he'd tried so hard to understand it, it was truly a shame that he couldn't even get an inkling. What was the world, truly? Was it even real, or just something invented by the masses to please a higher being? But then again, that made no sense, either.
All he could do was stay ignorant.
By the time he realized it, he was already laying on his chest, with his broken fist outstretched and his right cheek touching the pristine marble. Distant — or at least it felt like they were — footsteps resounded behind him for an eternity.
Until they stopped, that is. When they were, a pool of crimson liquid poured down to the floor like a shower of blood.
A ragged voice said through bated breath:
"You… you pass. Congra—congratulations. You passed the second test, Lieren. Truly… well… well done." The voice gradually faded away, until all he could hear was the solid thump of a similarly exhausted, but lithe body of his master.
He had won… or so it would seem.
Closing his eyes finally, he let the cold darkness envelop him, sinking deep into the unconscious and drowsiness.
◇◆◇◆◇
Lieren groaned painfully: "Ugh, even though I tried so hard to not to come here."
The boundless expanse of the abyss greeted him in an all-encompassing embrace. It was cold and comfortable, unlike the first and second time he had come here.
King sat in his throne-chair as usual, reading impassively, his purple eyes gracing through the pages. No matter how hard Lieren looked, he couldn't seem to make out the cover, writing, or the binder of the book, as if it didn't exist in the first place.
…Then again, nor did he want to.
Sighing exaggeratedly, Lieren sat down, looked up at the impenetrable darkness, and said wistfully:
"Why is fate so cruel?" It was a somewhat mundane question, just the kind you would get at some unfortunate lowlife with nothing else to do with their life.
And yet, King reacted so vehemently to his listless words. Comparatively.
"Umm… what's up?" Lieren nervously muttered, looking at the regal figure of the mysterious man. He was looking right at him, with his purple eyes seemingly boring into his soul. There was a… strange expression on his face, inexorable and unreadable.
Something about what he said bothered him, somehow. Was it about fate? Or, rather, the cruelty of it he complained about?
Before he could say anything about it, he could already feel the familiar pull of consciousness beckoning him to wake up.
Lieren accepted it gratefully, allowing himself to be awoken. In the first place, he never intended to stay here. This was the blessing he was waiting for all this time.
Closing his eyes, he waited for the familiar feeling of consciousness overcome him.
And when he was gone, King was left all alone once more. He lingered for a bit, then returned to his book. His gaze was as calm and unchanging as ever. And yet, a sigh escaped his lips and he muttered:
"Fool. You have no idea what you're talking about."
◇◆◇◆◇
"Hey, I know that ceiling." Opening his eyes lazily, Lieren regarded the familiar ceiling. He was back in his room, and away from the numerous treasures and artifacts, tomes and trinkets, as well as weapons and gear. And the books… all those books…
An indifferent voice beside him said dismissively:
"Oh, you're awake." And then, she returned to her tome. Selen was as impassive as ever, as though the brazen and confident act she displayed some time ago was no more than a dream. Her navy-blue robe flowed down to her feet like it always did, hiding her figure.
But, then, she said something that made him shudder: "Good job. I heard you completed your second test."
It was such a casual thing, being complimented to. But for some reason, when it came from her, he couldn't help but be disturbed and shudder. It just seemed… unnatural.
She continued:
"…Well, technically, that was supposed to be your second to last test." She observed him from the corner of her eye. "Well, given that she was immensely holding back, for both you and her, she was bound to suffer an injury or two. But to be left in that horrid state? Now that… that's something."
Then, she turned back to her book turned back to her book, took a sip of what looked and smelled like tea, and continued reading.
His room was dark, illuminated only by somber moonlight. Despite that, though, he quite liked it. And oddly enough, Selen did so, satisfactorily reading her book with the light of her staff.
Turning the other way, Lieren took a deep breath and sighed. When he did, uncountable pangs of pain assailed his body like a million needles was lodged in his muscles. Sterilized bandages wrapped around his arms and legs, as well as his torso and fists. There were no bloodstains on them, which was a blessing. And despite being horribly injured, his body felt… fine.
'…Well, relatively, I guess.' In truth, he was in a world of pain, with his entire body on the verge of visibly breaking down. Which was very astonishing, considering the amount of damage she had done — or rather he had done to himself — during the vicious battle.
And that was when she was holding back. If she had gone all-out…
'Ugh, I don't even want to think about it.'
Lieren shuddered at the thought. If that had happened, then he probably wouldn't even have the chance to think of what could happen. It just will. Without his knowing.
He was so tired. Just as when the fatigue overcame him, and his consciousness sunk once again, a loud bang resounded in the dark room.
"HEY, KID! I HEARD YOU BEAT THAT STINGY LADY…!!" Vesba's deep, baritone voice echoed throughout the dark room. He had to crouch just to pass enter.
"W—what?!" Selen almost fell out of her chair beside his bed, shook unexpectedly by the tall giant. When she settled and regained her balance, she glared at him and hissed, but didn't say anything, considering the ancient tome in her hands a more monumental task, and continued reading.
Lieren respected her for that. Nothing beats a good book.
Ignoring her with a shrug, Vesba stomped over to Lieren, a wide smile on his face. He was practically brimming with giddiness.
Stopping on the floor on his other side, the tall giant sat cross-legged and leaned over to him, so close that Lieren could smell what the man had for dinner.
"So, so… how did you do it?"