Lucius decided to play along in other to get the day going, so he looked at the unknown guy and asked, "The mountain sounds scary. What's in the mountain?"
"You would not wish to know." The unknown companion cast a grave look upon Lucius. "I comprehend not why thou ventured into the castle, but that was the gravest folly one could attempt here on the Island of Sorrow."
"Is that right? The Island of Sorrow?" Lucius questioned him.
The unknown guy frowned at him. "Well, of course. The Island of Sorrowshade. Lord Sorrowshade?"
Lucius shook his head, and thought to himself with a smirk, 'Yeah, whatever. When I have the crystal, I'll ruin everything for Lord Sorrowshade, find him in his castle, and defeat him. I need to leave this place and become an Ascendant. I must.'
He needed to know if he could rush things, so he stood up and looked at the unknown guy who stared at him in surprise. "Tell me more about this mountain. Can I find Lord Sorrowshade there?"
The guy looked around in fear and said, "Kneel down and work, else thou shalt find thyself in trouble."
"Answer my question," Lucius persisted.
The unknown sighed and nodded. "Yes. He doth visit the mountain from time to time. I have always wondered why those sent thither ne'er return. The poor old man…" he trailed off as he took care of the fish.
Lucius nodded. "Then I need to go there." He smirked and muttered to himself, "Whether the Ethersphere likes it or not, I will defeat Lord Sorrowshade this time! I won't fail because I'm not a failure! So fuck this Ethersphere that refuses to give me an aspect, I'll do on my own!"
Then a sudden earthquake made him lose his balance and he fell on his butt with a groan. "Ow! Damn it! What was that?! Did you feel that?!"
"Feel what?" the unknown guy asked in confusion.
"Ho! Arise at once!" One of the armored enforcers approached Lucius and whipped him hard on the back causing him to yelp in pain.
Lucius was in a world of pain as he got up and the unknown guy hurriedly said with a low voice, "Look not upon him,"
Breathing hard, Lucius looked at him and answered with a smirk, "But if I look at him, he will take me to the mountain too, don't you think?" He chuckled lowly and stood up to glare at the enforcer.
"How darest thou look at me in that manner?!"
Lucius was prepared for the next whip that landed on his side, causing him to fall on his knees at the impact. "That really hurts."
"Since thou darest to show me disrespect, take him to the mountain!" the enforcer yelled out an order to his subordinates.
And they immediately came to drag Lucius out of there.
"By no means! Take not my friend! He is mine own friend!!"
The other enforcers dragging Lucius stopped moving and Lucius turned his head to look at the unknown guy with a frown.
"Don't listen to him! I don't want him anywhere close to me! Besides, he's not my friend! I don't even know his name!" Lucius argued while they held him tight.
The enforcer glared at Lucius. "Of course, thou dost not wish thy friend to be in trouble, so thou art denying him!"
Lucius shook his head immediately. "What?! No! I swear I don't even know that guy! He just came out of nowhere and started following me around! He better not come anywhere close to me!"
"Dost thou give me orders?" The enforcer questioned with a deadly narrowed gaze.
Lucius gulped, not wanting to get himself in any trouble that would derail him from going to the mountain. He shook his head and answered with a calm voice, "Of course not... Sir."
The unknown guy quickly said, "Indeed, O mighty warrior! He speaks thus to protect me, and I act likewise to protect him. Such is the bond we share as friends."
"Art thou willing to die for thy friend?!" The enforcer yelled at him.
The unknown guy shifted back as if put in a difficult situation, and answered, "I merely wish for my friend to live!"