There was darkness all around.
Thick darkness that could almost be held.
The area was silent as a graveyard and empty as such.
Suddenly, a bright light quickly but gradually shone, a portal emerging from the brightness.
Out of it, three figures showed up, one carrying two others on his shoulder.
The one carrying the others landed on his feet and immediately began walking forward.
Just as the light was about to disappear, a fourth figure fell out of the portal and it immediately disappeared along with the bright light.
The thick darkness returned again.
The fourth figure seemed to be struggling to find his way in the dark.
The darkness was so thick, he had to get on his knees and crawl after the walking figure.
They were all moving forward, the fourth figure trying as much as he could to keep a safe distance in order not to get noticed.
From what he was able to feel, the area could be likened unto a rocky tunnel.
He kept on trying to feel the ground with his palms as he kept crawling forward after the walking figure in front, maintaining his safe distance.
It was beginning to seem like this tunnel had no end until suddenly they came to the edge.
Being behind, the fourth figure couldn't see much, but the winged figure, along with those on his shoulders seemed to have gotten to the edge of the assumed tunnel.
The winged figure suddenly jumped downwards spreading his wings.
The fourth figure waited for some time before crawling to the edge of the tunnel.
By this time he could see because the darkness of the tunnel had, at the edge, been overcome by the dim ambient lighting of the area beyond.
He approached and stood at the edge of the tunnel and got a view of the area beyond.
It was void, simply void.
There was absolutely nothing but open space all around.
The tunnel seemed to be protruding from somewhere which he couldn't see because he was currently at the tunnel's edge.
"What have I gotten myself into?". He thought.
From the dim light, it could be seen that the fourth figure was Usher Corke.
He had somehow escaped the council dungeon alive and followed the strangers into the portal they created and ended up in this place.
He looked beneath and all that could be seen was thick clouds at a far distance.
Everything was looking dim and the clouds were static.
Apparently, the winged figure had flown down into the thick clouds and gotten to some place which probably exists below the clouds.
'What could possibly be down below?"
Usher thought in his mind.
He was hesitant to jump off the edge of the tunnel into the clouds below.
He sat down and rested his back and head against one end of the rocky tunnel wall, and looked upwards dejectedly.
"I did the right thing didn't I?
If I hadn't faked my death and escaped when I had the chance, I would surely have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment by the head council.
Even if I was released, I'd be stripped of my position as part of the Sohei and never be accepted again. Life would be meaningless.
Still...
I might as well still be dead if any wierdo from here finds me out.
What do I do?"
He was lost in thought and then, just like the last time he was in this posture in the dungeon, he fell asleep...
***************
"Make yourself comfortable Rahn, the quarters behind the house will be yours to stay in"
Mr. Edga welcomed Mr. Arasaki into his home.
After the whole invasion incident, Mr. Arasaki had been in the North cantonment of the Sohei for a while, being attended to by the medics there.
Since his house had been destroyed and he had no place to stay, he was welcomed by Mr. Edga to live with them until he could find his feet.
"Thank you Edward, the pleasure is mine".
Mr. Arasaki said.
Mr Arasaki moved his things into the little building behind the house.
Emelda was in her room, her elbows resting on the base and her head resting on her palms.
She was looking out the window, deep in thought and silent as always.
Her brother, James was off to his training cell, which their father headed. The training ground wasn't too far away from their house.
Since Mr. Edga was absent, his assistant filled in for him while he took care of things at home for a while.
Mr. Arasaki had just packed into the smaller building behind the house when suddenly, a knock was heard at the front door of the main house.
'Knock, knock, knock!'
"Who's there?"
Mr. Edga asked and proceeded to open the door.
*************
His eyes opened suddenly and involuntarily.
"What! How long have I been asleep!"
Usher exclaimed, jerking to his feet.
He looked out the edge of the tunnel again and was greeted by the same atmosphere as before.
This time, he decided to damn the consequences and jump off the edge.
"Hope I don't regret this".
He said.
He took a stance in preparedness and then jumped.
The winds rushed across the length of his body as he continued gathering momentum, falling vertically, head first.
He continued falling for a while and then, as he was approaching the clouds beneath, he closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arms as he thrust through the clouds with great speed.
He felt the cold sensation of the clouds over his skin.
The clouds felt like lather formed by soap in a thick bubble-bath, only a little thicker.
He continued to shield his face with his hands as he kept piercing through the clouds, hoping to soon appear at the other end.
After falling for a while, the sensation he got from the clouds suddenly stopped.
He removed his hands from protecting his eyes and opened them, while still in free fall, only to be shocked at the sight below.