Kaori had arrived to a ruined area where Aernas is standing.
"What a view it is..." he said as he touched the golden rain and explored.
The ruins were damp and green. Many species of fungi lay around the corners. It was different from Aomori, very different. The stone walls were covered in little designs, the air was calming. He had a smile on his face as he continued, and he lost track of what he was doing.
He soon realized that he was drifting away from his goal. He looked around and found himself in a different ruin area, but he ignored that fact and walked back to where he came from. Again, while he was walking he was distracted by the cool air of the waterfall nearby. Seeing this, he gently took is top off and went to dip into the cool water. The water cooled off his marble body and soothed his mind. At this point, he had completely forgotten about what he was doing.
There was a small cave behind the waterfall, Kaori excitedly went inside and reached his hand out, feeling the water flow into his fingers. The whole time he kept giggling and smiling at the sight of the green nature.
Sunset was near, and so he decided to finally leave the waters and got dressed.
He looked around to see fireflies coming out of no where. He sat down to admire the lantern-like insects, slowly falling asleep.
He woke up the next day to see himself back at the entrance... no, it was somewhere else but yet again, he ignored it.
He walked towards the structure in front of him and saw the same architecture as the hallway with portraits. This one... was destroyed. There was water flowing on the walls and somehow, another tree of golden chains. The sound of a bell alerted him, it was intriguing... he went deeper into the room. He felt the wind blow, as if someone had passed by him.
He snapped out of it. He saw himself at the far end of the room, under the tree. Kaori sighed and walked towards the entrance again, finding himself at another ruined area. This time, it was a graveyard.
He walked around and attempted to read at least one name, but every tombstone was scratched. Yet again, at the end of the graveyard was the same tree. With a touch on the tree, he was somewhere else.
It was an imaginary maze, a maze which covered the whole land of Aernas. By this point, he was lost.
"A maze that runs with one's mind" He recalled.
"A maze... that feeds on consciousness... but what does it feed exactly..." Kaori asked himself.
This area he was inside now was the ruined main town. This was the Aernas he knew... but as expected, it was ruined. There was no tree around this time.
"The only way to escape the maze... is to beat the creature it feeds."
He ran and ran, but he always ended up at the same place over and over again.
"This place..." Kaori took a deep breath "This place is controlled with my mental state..." He carefully walked, carefully remembering each detail, each placement of the stones and rocks... until finally, he found the tree. Carefully, he placed his hand on its trunk and turned around.
The room was now filled with illustrations, stories. Kaori then narrates the story to himself.
"Five people... gods? Four feather-shaped seals and the last seal being the body of a bird... a-" He paused to read the words engraved near the illustration. "P- Peacock...?" He sighed and continued. "The Order had decided to keep their seals hidden in Aomori, but before they did, they placed a gemstone of their liking in the "eye" of the feather... it stops here..."
The rest of the illustrations were scratched, some were covered in moss.
Kaori sighed and turned around to see, The Numen of Aernas. He froze, and as he blinked again, the elegant and beautiful man was gone. He was left with the exit of the room.
He was wearing... pink and white... but the portrait wore green and gold... somehow he disappeared into thin air and left an open door. Kaori is definitely lost...
He doesn't know where the exit is or what the exit is. He doesn't even know what kind of creature this realm has lurking in it. All he knows is that one way or another, this might be the end of him.
Once again, the bells rang. Kaori was frozen in place, the bells sounded like it was calling him, the bells were haunting him. It was at his left- no, his right... in front of him, maybe behind? Its everywhere.
Kaori ran to the entrance and found himself back at the central town, this time everything was well kept well... as if there were people.
The bells rang again yet again. This time it had a direction, forward... towards the center on the town.
Slowly, Kaori walked but sometimes he would pause. The wind was pushing him the opposite direction. Gently, but it was warning him not to go further. He ignored and continued forward. A gust of wind hits him as he arrived at the center, as caused him to close his eyes tight. As he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a tall man, The Numen.
The Numen smiled at him before looking around, as if he was greeting other people around.
"Aernas is beautiful, peaceful... " He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Why do you think... Aernas is this beautiful?"
The Numen smiled as he asked Kaori, after minutes of silence The Numen laughed.
"Its because its made by beautiful... beautiful people!" He looked down on him
"My name is Apollon... how about you?" The Numen said as he gave him a very gentle and kind look.
"Kaori..." he answered, like a whisper.
The Numen, Apollon, had him star struck. His bright white hair, green emerald eyes, and elegant... he's elegant... Kaori couldn't help but stare at him for a while.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" Apollon continued deeper into the town, expecting Kaori to follow. They both walk on the quiet streets while Apollon hummed a song.
"What brings you here?" he asked Kaori, not looking at him.
"I was interested... I've-" "Read about us in books? I get it." Apollon cuts him off, still walking.
Later they stop by a garden, there were laugh of kids echoing had caught Kaori's attention but as he looked back, he saw Apollon. It was as if he was blocking the view.
"Please continue." He smiled and raised an eyebrow, giving Kaori another smile.
Kaori looked forward and continued to walk as Apollon was behind him. Kaori was getting uncomfortable, as if Apollon was watching his every step and every single move... judging him.
"Why don't you go first?" Kaori suggested and slowly turned to him. Apollon smiled, but before the smile he had a different expression. Neutral and somehow deep in thoughts. He went forward to lead Kaori to a pavilion.
"Its peaceful here, unlike in town... Its very noisy there." He looked at the scenery. Yellow flowers were scattered around the garden. The tree branches danced in the air, and the birds were singing... wait, what birds? There was none around, there was no kids, no one was around... nothing was around. It was just him and Apollon.
"My, my!" Apollon chuckled as he looked at the garden,
"The little girls enjoy the flowers here..." but when Kaori looked at where he was looking at, there was no little girls.
"Do you see them too?" he smiled softly, laughing as he watched the "little girls"
Kaori was scared, there was no one at all.
"Yes... They look very happy..." He tried to give him a smile, but he looked away as he knew that he was obviously scared. He took a deep breath and looked at elsewhere. What is going on?
Apollen continued to tell Kaori about the everyday life of the people of Aernas and finally at some point...
"There's no one there." Kaori looked at Apollon, and he responded with a smile.
"What do you mean? There are people around us! Families, lovers, friends... they are around us." Apollon spread his hands and laughed.
"My dear people... are here with me!" He smiled at the other pavilions and waved at them.
"Look! That cute little boy is waving at me, he looks so precious!" Kaori was terrified now... What the hell is this guy? Is he crazy?!
"There's... an empty... pavilion." his breath was shaking,
"What the hell are you seeing..." Apollon finally turned around and faced him. His warm and soft demeanor was gone.
"My people... are here... with me." He walked towards Kaori, pushing him further towards the pillar. Kaori was shaking, even his breath was.
"I don't know... what you're saying, dear Kaori."