(Chapter 62 Faruzan)
"Locked in here? What in seven hells do you mean by that?"
Tempest demanded, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and frustration. He kept his eyes on the woman, Faruzan, who remained lying on the floor, her gaze still fixed on the scripts above.
"There is no deeper meaning. You, like me, are trapped in this predicament. We shall share this confinement for the time being..."
Faruzan finally rose from the sundial, allowing Tempest to get a better look at her. She had peculiar, triangle-shaped heterochromatic eyes, her right eye was a pale shade of aquamarine, while her left eye was a deep indigo. The contrast was striking, and as Tempest studied her, he couldn't help but be reminded of a certain Archon, whose eyes carried a similar mystique
"It's only proper etiquette, isn't it, that you reveal your name after I've had the courtesy to reveal mine... So, may I ask what it is you go by?"
Faruzan asked as she crossed her arms.
"Tempest, Tempest Proudmoore."
He introduced himself, his tone guarded but steady. As he spoke, he slowly sheathed his sword, his instincts telling him that this woman might be in the same predicament as he was, both of them unfortunate enough to have crossed paths with that strange Primal Construct.
"A Proudmoore, you say? So... Are you the grandchild of Valian Proudmoore, perchance?"
Faruzan inquired, her words hanging in the air like a sudden gust of wind.
Tempest's eyes widened slightly at the mention of his ancestor's name, a name he hadn't heard spoken aloud in many years.
"Valian? That's my great-grandfather... How long have you been here?"
Tempest said, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Faruzan averted her gaze, her expression a mix of resignation and weariness. After a moment of silence, she finally replied.
"I've lost count... Time has lost all meaning within this confined space... Your body won't age, you won't feel the pangs of hunger or fatigue, but... I... I find myself strangely yearning for the taste of food... As if I've suddenly been stripped of something..."
Faruzan said with a hint of sadness in her voice, she looked up to Tempest.
"I don't suppose you... happened to bring any food with you before you were ensnared by that Primal Construct? Even a small morsel would suffice... I just... I just need something..."
Faruzan said, her voice tinged with a flicker of desperation. She shifted slightly, her eyes reflecting a deep longing and a hint of desperation as she looked at Tempest.
"Sorry, I only have this..."
"Tempest said, noticing the desperation in her eyes. He reached into his uniform and pulled out a pack of beef jerky, handing it over to Faruzan. As he extended the packet toward her, he could see the eagerness in her gaze, the brief glimmer of hope it brought.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Faruzan exclaimed, her voice tinged with immense relief. She eagerly tore into the beef jerky, savoring every bite despite the difficulty of chewing. It had been so long since she had tasted anything, and the simple pleasure of food was overwhelming.
"Mmpf!"
Faruzan murmured, tapping her chest as she continued to devour the beef jerky with unrestrained enthusiasm. Despite her attempts to savor each bite, her longing for food drove her to eat quickly, not willing to let any precious morsel go to waste.
"Slow down, take it easy."
Tempest said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. He reached into his uniform and retrieved a canteen of water, offering it to her.
"Here, have some water to help wash it down. You don't want to choke on it."
"Water, too?! Celestia must have heard my silent plea! You really are a gift from the gods!"
Faruzan gratefully accepted the canteen, taking slow, measured sips between bites.
Suddenly, Faruzan paused mid-bite, her eyes welling up with tears. She put down the beef jerky and clutched the canteen tightly, her emotions overwhelming her.
"I miss my Mother's cooking so much... She used to constantly chide me whenever I would arrive home late, as I was always preoccupied with my academic duties at the Akademiya... But, now that I think of it, she is probably long gone by now... I wish I could see her one last time..."
As she spoke, her chewing slowed, each bite savored as if it were a cherished memory. Her eyes glistened with a mix of longing and sadness, reflecting the deep emotional impact of her prolonged isolation.
"I... I'm sorry to hear that."
Tempest said, his voice softening as he took in Faruzan's words. His eyes narrowed with sympathy, feeling a pang of sorrow for her.
"No, it's fine..."
Faruzan said, her voice trembling slightly as she wiped away her tears with the back of her wrist. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
"I shall endeavor to maintain my sanity now that I have company."
Faruzan said, her voice filled with newfound determination.
"I swear to you, I will solve this puzzle, come what may! We will find a way out of here together!"
She straightened up, her resolve clear in her eyes, as she prepared to tackle the challenges ahead.
"Well, I like the sound of that."
Tempest said with a nod.
"Hm?"
Tempest murmured, a frown crossing his face. He reached up to his ear, only to realize that his Akasha Terminal was missing.
'Tsk, that thing must have taken it... I was hoping to get some help from her...'
Tempest thought to himself, his irritation mounting. He suspected that the strange Primal Construct, with its sundial face, was responsible for the disappearance of his Akasha Terminal.
"Is something the matter? You look troubled..."
Faruzan asked, noticing Tempest's furrowed brow as she finished the last bite of the beef jerky and took a final sip of water.
"It's nothing..."
Tempest replied.
"Oh, sorry... I finished it all..."
Faruzan said apologetically, gesturing to the now-empty pack of beef jerky and the drained canteen. She glanced at Tempest, her expression a mix of embarrassment and relief, as she realized she had consumed everything so quickly.
"It's fine, you needed it more than I do. If what you say is true, and this chamber halts time itself, then hunger is the least of our concerns. Our priority should be maintaining our sanity and finding a way out of here. Let's focus on that."
Tempest said reassuringly, and Faruzan nodded in response.
"Now then, what is this place anyway?"
Tempest asked Faruzan, his gaze drawn to a statue in the corner. The statue depicted the head of an owl and held a staff topped with a sundial.
He looked back at Faruzan, hoping she could shed some light on the eerie surroundings.
"From what I've managed to decipher, this chamber was once used as a study by Sahem, one of the Scarlet King's trusted advisors. He was known as 'He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things,' and his knowledge extended to the manipulation of time itself."
Faruzan explained, moving to a nearby wall and gently touching the ancient scripts.
"Sahem was also among the first to fall prey to forbidden knowledge. Manipulating time itself is a power that mortals should never trifle with... Such a thing only invites the wrath of the divine..."
Tempest, listening intently, took out his pocket watch and noticed with growing concern that its hands had stopped moving.
"How long do you think you could solve this puzzle?"
Tempest asked, his eyes scanning the myriad symbols and ancient scripts adorning the walls and ceiling. The complexity of the chamber's design was evident, with intricate patterns and esoteric writings seemingly stretching into infinity.
"As I told you, I have lost count of how much time has passed since I've been trapped here... Perhaps it has been decades. There were times... when I entertained the thought of giving up. I left some of my deductions and trial-and-error records behind in the hopes that the next hapless soul that finds themselves trapped here would have a chance to escape... Before I considered taking my... Well, well, you can figure out what that means on your own, can you not?..."
Faruzan's words were clear, and Tempest grasped the gravity of her situation. It was evident that a normal person would have long surrendered to despair and madness. Yet, here she was, still standing. She had even left behind clues and deductions for the next unfortunate soul who might find themselves trapped in this place before she ever considered taking her own life.
"But since you are here now, I will strive to make our escape happen as swiftly as possible. I cannot bear the thought of another innocent soul suffering the same fate I have endured for so long. With your help, we can make this ordeal end sooner rather than later."
Faruzan said with a firm resolution in her voice.
Without wasting a moment, she sprang into action, rushing back to the stacks of papers scattered around the sundial in the center of the room. She began meticulously reviewing each document, her movements purposeful and determined.
Meanwhile, Tempest made his way toward what appeared to be the exit, a door set against the far wall. As he approached it, he examined the door closely, noting its ancient design and the intricate patterns etched into its surface.
"I can't stay here... That thing is still outside, I need to warn them, this place holds forbidden knowledge... I have to protect Penance... I have a home to return to... An Archon to serve... This place will not be my prison..."
Tempest gritted his teeth in frustration and slammed his fist hard against the wall, the impact resonating through his knuckles.
"Tempest, you cannot simply force your way out of this predicament. Trust me, I have tried myself. The intricate mechanisms of this place are far too complex for such a direct approach to work..."
Faruzan said, her voice tinged with a note of concern as she watched Tempest's frustration.
But Tempest didn't listen. His Pyro Delusion activated, and blazing gauntlets of Pyro materialized on both of his hands. Fueled by his frustration and urgency, he continued to pound relentlessly on the door, his fiery strikes illuminating the dark chamber with bursts of intense heat.
The door remained stubbornly unmoved, intensifying Tempest's frustration. Driven by desperation, he conjured four additional Pyro hands, which hovered above him, each one assisting in the relentless assault on the door.
"I am not staying here!"
Tempest roared, his voice echoing through the chamber as he continued his relentless assault on the door.
"Tempest... Huh?"
Faruzan's eyes widened in alarm as a golden hue began to rise from Tempest's feet, slowly creeping up his body. Despite his relentless pounding on the door, the eerie light seemed to grow stronger with each strike, casting an unsettling glow throughout the chamber.
"Lend me your strength..."
Tempest muttered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of his continued assault. The golden hue enveloped his entire body, its radiant light intensifying as it completely consumed him.
"Tempest?!"
Faruzan exclaimed, her voice tinged with alarm as she rushed toward him. However, she halted abruptly, shielding her eyes with her arms as a blinding light erupted from Tempest. The radiance illuminated the entire chamber, filling it with an intense, golden brilliance. When the light finally began to subside, Faruzan slowly lowered her arms and gazed in astonishment. Standing before the door was a towering figure encased in resplendent golden armor.
"T-Tempest?"
Faruzan's voice trembled with a mix of awe and fear as she stared at the towering figure before her.
"Stand back."
Tempest commanded in a deep, resonant voice as he stood in his formidable Paladin form.
"O-Okay..."
Faruzan replied, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and apprehension. She quickly stepped back, her eyes still wide with disbelief.
Tempest's armored fist struck the door with a resounding impact, causing it to crack under the force. Without hesitation, he used both hands to relentlessly pound the door. Each strike reverberated through the chamber, causing the walls to tremble and sand to begin pouring in from above. The intensity of the assault made the entire room quake, and the once-sturdy door started to buckle under the relentless pressure.
"Praise the sun."
Tempest declared with a roar of triumph. With one final, forceful strike, his fist shattered through the door, creating a gaping hole. The remnants of the door splintered and fell away.
"Impossible..."
Faruzan whispered in awe, her voice trembling. She sank to her knees, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. For eighty-eight long years, she had been trapped in this chamber, isolated from the world. Now, at last, the path to freedom was laid bare before her. The realization brought tears of relief and disbelief to her eyes as she gazed at the shattered door.
"Let's go."
Tempest, still in his Paladin form, gestured for Faruzan to follow him. She wiped away her tears, her face a mixture of relief and determination. After a moment, she spoke softly but with resolve.
"Mm!"
Faruzan rose from the floor, her eyes lingering on the chamber that had been her prison for so long. She took one last, wistful glance at the room filled with ancient texts and remnants of her long struggle.
"This puzzle continues to elude me, but someday, when I am at my strongest, I will return to you. I shall solve you one day, in a more capable form. Mark my words!"