Proud of his achievement, the human turns to look at Flowey, and his face changes completely to one of comical surprise, as his current companion had completely disappeared.
- Ah... Flowey?
He questions, quite confused, to which Dalv soon tries to answer.
- Are you referring to that flower that accompanied you? If that's the case, it sank into the ground the moment you took a step forward...
The monster looks sad, as if this was his doing.
- I'm so sorry... Do you think I was a little hostile and that's why he ran away?
No, this is quite strange, Meils is totally sure that something else must be happening. Why has his companion decided to abandon him like that now and not before against the other monsters? The danger has always existed, it doesn't make sense that right now he shows such an evasive side.
- No, no, calm down... I'm sure something else must have happened but, I assure you it wasn't your fault.
A part of the boy knows for sure that this won't be the last time he meets the flower, so he decides not to worry so much and...
What is this feeling? Is he relieved? But this doesn't make sense, he's supposed to be a friend, he should be worried about him but, strangely enough, it gives him some comfort to know that at least for now he won't have to have him by his side, after all, the boy knows from experience that his instinct has been shaped this way for something.
- If you say so...
With that subject finished, it was time to move on, to which Dalv would remain thoughtful for a few moments, not knowing very well what to do now.
- To be honest with you, Meils, it's been a while since I last had a .. friend, so .. Is it okay if we go to my home?
- Do you have a house here, in the ruins?
- Yes! And it's very close to here, just a few rooms away, believe me. Once there we can .. Talk in a different place? This is hard for me ..
- Don't worry, we'll think of something, I'm more than happy to have a place to rest a bit.
In this way, both continue their journey through what turn out to be the "Dark Ruins", a lower region of the original ruins of the Underground, an interesting detail which suggests that Meils fell in a different place than the other humans.
- Are you saying that you managed to evade the monsters in these ruins without problems? That's a relief, I couldn't help but feel guilty if I knew that you had been hurt in a place that I was supposed to protect.
- Let's just say I'm used to hostile environments, besides, it takes more than entities with magic that directly attack my soul, which I didn't know existed until now, to kill me.
A somewhat ironic and dark humor, but it is funny for his companion. The conversation continues for a few minutes until they reach a small hallway with water on the sides, a simple detail, but one that is unique remembering what the rest of the structure was like; at the end of the path lies the monster's shelter, with a main room lit by a few candles, walls painted in a violet tone quite similar to the clothing of its owner, a floor with fairly clean wooden boards and a carpet in the center of the room in question.
As for furniture, it seems that Dalv here has only the essentials and little else, denoting his calm and orderly attitude, someone simple who sees no point in devoting so much effort to something as common as aesthetics. On the left side you can see a small refrigerator and followed by a table with a single chair. Near the center you can see a large piece of furniture with a peculiar appearance, attractive to the eye, an empty painting, a trash can and a nightstand follow it to the side. Finally, on the right side you can see a second pair of chair and table with drawing supplies scattered here and there, not to mention the hallway that extends in this last direction.
- When you said you had a "home in the ruins" I didn't expect something like that, it even makes me a little envious .. !
Although the human says this last thing in a joking tone, it is still sincere.
- Do you really like it? I've always thought it was very simple, I hope you don't mind the dirt, I haven't cleaned anything since this morning.
- Not at all, I've spent nights in really decadent places, and this is not one of them.
Dalv then takes the chair from the table in the right sector and takes it to the opposite table, in this way they can both sit down and chat for a while. How long has it been since the monster has shared a table with someone? The nervous expressions he had before have been fading minute by minute, a good sign, because it means that he feels rooted with the boy.
- Would you like something to eat? I have corn, and if you need to drink something, I have water and corn juice.
- A little water would be perfect for me and... Corn? So that means you have something to do with the plantation I saw a while ago, right?
Dalv then responds by nodding his head.
- It's my source of food since I locked myself in these ruins about a year ago.
Locked in the ruins? The way he said it, it seems like it was his own decision, once again it shows the lack of knowledge that Meils still has about this underworld.
- And thank goodness, a few hours ago I passed by that big room of yours, I hope you don't mind that I "borrowed" a couple of them, I had spent who-knows-how-many hours without eating a single bite, you know, biological needs.
This is the first time that the monster he accompanies lets out a little laugh which he even finds contagious.
- On the contrary, it's a pleasure to know that I have helped you in some way, it makes me feel less guilty about our past incident.
- I said stop worrying about that, and yes, you have no idea how much you've helped me ..
As Dalv returns with the glass of water, the human takes a few moments to appreciate the space around them, certainly, this would be something that he himself could call "home", without realizing it, he ends up letting out a sigh which reflects melancholy. Once the other returns to the table the conversation resumes but, this time, the boy finds it impossible to keep his curiosity at bay. Maybe it's because he really feels that his bond with this one is different from the one he formed with Flowey?
- Thanks for the water and .. Can I ask you a question, Dalv? It's a bit personal, so I won't be upset if you refuse to answer.
- Go ahead, I guess that's something that friends do.
- Well, tell me then .. Why are you here, locked in the ruins? You had said before, "Since I locked myself in the ruins," so you imply that it was something you decided yourself.
A difficult question to answer, but one that is quite expected in the end. Although Dalv appears somewhat distressed at first, clenching his fists under the table and closing his eyes for a few seconds, he does not seem to have any intention of leaving his guest without an answer.
- I said yes, and I plan to keep my word... Do you remember my initial reaction when I saw you? I was hostile, this hostility is born of fear rather than malice, and it has its reason.
And it's true, when they saw each other for the first time, each word seemed to come from some kind of tragic event from the past which Meils is unaware of for now, he only responds with a subtle movement of his head.
- Well, I suppose you also remember that I named a place called Snowdin, this is the second region of the underground, and therefore, the place you will reach once you leave here.
In this part of the story, the face of the one with fangs changes to a more serious one, a bitter memory, something which hurts us to see when we close our eyes at night, the human knows that feeling perfectly.
- A year ago, I was walking through the snowy streets doing some shopping, I can remember the cool wind on my face, the sound of the leaves on the trees whipped over and over again by the breeze, it's quite nostalgic but...
Before he can continue, there's a short silence, which although it only lasts a few seconds, for both of us it feels like an eternity with a thousand thoughts in between.
- I had arrived at the central town a little over twenty minutes ago, everything was going well, or so I thought...
"Run, there he comes..!!" I heard while I was inside the Honeydew Resort. At that moment, although I didn't understand exactly what he was referring to, I didn't stop to think, it was the kind of scream full of genuine fear that you can't ignore.
"The human, the human is here..!!" A human? I asked myself as I left the establishment somewhat disoriented, I could see a group of monsters running to the upper sector of Snowdin and, from one moment to the next, chaos strongly submerged the hearts of the monsters, it turned out to be true, a girl who looked a little younger than you arrived in the town and...
- Don't tell me that...
Meils already imagined the worst, dropping his hands on the table, visibly disturbed.
- Just as you imagine, a monster would not panic just because of the presence of a human, as I found out, that girl had already attacked some of our people before arriving in the town, it was horrible, but that did not turn out to be the worst.
"Dad? Where are you...?" It was the first thing I could hear, the request of a girl looking for her father, at the mercy of that human, with the rest running to save their own lives, unprotected, easy prey for a ruthless killer.
- I knew that if I didn't do something right then, that poor innocent soul would be next, so I grabbed her by the arm and tried to escape with the rest of us without much success. Because like a predator on the prowl, the human caught up with us and didn't hesitate to attack. We were able to evade the attack, but do you really think it would just end there? Dressed in pink heels and a light blue ballet dress, she moved with a bloodthirsty grace, as if it were a sadistic dance.
- I had no choice, Meils. For the first and only time in my life, I was afraid, because we had a real danger in front of us, humanity once again trying to break what was left of our will, but I didn't plan on backing down, I didn't let that fear control me, I had to protect that girl at all costs.
- It was then that it began, quick movements that were lost in the snow, I used my electric magic as much as I could, but she dodged gracefully, as if it were nothing more than a game for her, with a smile on her face she proceeded to attack me using her bare hands and her heels, sharp as blades, I was able to evade most of them without much difficulty, but some of these attacks connected with me, a pain which I will not forget.
"Leave him alone, I beg you .. !!" She screams, the one I sought to protect, she never sought to leave me alone, even when being there meant a danger to her own life, she was worried about me as much as I was about her, two strangers who just wanted to live their lives in peace.
- I don't know exactly how long it lasted, but from one moment to the next, a mechanical noise was heard nearby, which alerted the human, who decided to abandon the fight at high speed towards the lands of Waterfall.
It takes Meils some time to assimilate this. Could this girl be the one Flowey told him about earlier? The person whose soul reflected the trait of integrity, ironic.
- What happened next?
- I fell to the ground on my knees, I was exhausted, I had never used so much of my magic in such a short time, but I don't regret it, I was able to prevent that girl from taking another life. I sat there for a few minutes, breathing heavily, the little monster girl approached me, looking out for my health instead of looking for her father, who appeared moments later running up to us, with a face that reflected both terror and relief, his daughter was safe thanks to me being there at the right time..
"I don't have enough words to thank you, my friend.." He told me through tears while hugging his little girl, at that moment I knew that my sacrifice was not in vain, I was happy, very happy. I never knew exactly what made the human retreat, I suppose it had something to do with that metallic noise I could hear between the trees..
It is difficult to hear this kind of story and not feel sorry for the person who is telling it, to think that humanity locks them away underground, and not content it seems that they come looking to continue "moving the knife", looking to cause more damage than they already caused.
- Holy heavens..
The boy exclaims with a big sigh. What can he say about all this? Once again, those who live on the surface show how cruel man can be, even though this boy has more than enough experiences with them, another misfortune that he must write down, and one that is also much more painful, so much so that it even makes him feel guilty.
- I'm so sorry...
- Why are you apologizing? It has nothing to do with you. Why should you feel bad about something you didn't do?
And he's right, but Meils can't help it. He's a boy who's been through a lot and still tries to always look out for a better tomorrow. He understands that most of the monsters have nothing to do with the war of the past, that they've been suffering for nothing, for sins they never committed, and that's something that makes his blood boil.
In a small outburst of anger, the human hits the table with both hands, he looks frustrated, this time being the first time he feels that way since he arrived underground, a reaction that not even the news of the fallen humans provoked.
- Can't you see it, Dalv? Humanity does nothing but hurt you again and again, you have suffered more than enough, and there are some who come to finish the job for no reason at all. Why? What's the point? Are they doing it because of a war from a thousand years ago? Or out of pure malice? It's not fair...
A human who can feel the pain of monsters, feelings know no barriers, he knows, or at least believes, that it can be better than this...
- Hey...
The one with fangs stands up and places his hands on his friend's shoulders.
- Calm down, please. I asked myself the same questions at the time, but chaos and evil have no explanation, there are people who just want to do harm for no apparent reason, and this applies to both monsters and humans, you don't have to take on the sins that others have committed.
And the boy knows that he is absolutely right, but he can't help it, there are feelings that sometimes overwhelm him...
- I'm sorry, for a moment I got carried away too much...
- Don't worry, can I tell you something, Meils? All our lives, we have been taught that all humans are dangerous, and I'm not going to lie to you, it's something I took for granted... at least it was like that until a few hours ago. It may sound a little exaggerated to you, but with the little time we've been talking, I realize that the world is much bigger than it seems and that there are people out there who go beyond a description that was passed down through generations.
Not getting any response, the monster continues his dialogue.
- The point is, you are different, and it gives me some hope to know that there are humans like you, that perhaps, we can still dream of a bright future for all of us.
How ironic, the one who has gotten the worst of it turns out to be the one who calms him down, at least this way Meils manages to return to his serene state, and with a warm smile on his face.
- If I'm honest with you, Dalv, it's a future which I really wish I could see come true now. I don't care what happens once I leave the dark ruins, I assure you that my vision of monsters has already become clear, if there are beings like you out there, I don't care if some attack me out of fear or need, I know perfectly well that they have been through a lot and, like me, they only want to see a better tomorrow...
Both parties understand each other, happy to be able to find some peace in a world with such a tragic history. After this, human and monster spend a few hours in that home, chatting, looking at some art drawings and even enjoying a little musical practice by Dalv like a pair of friends who have known each other for a few years now.
Finally, the strong breeze coming from the upper corridor reaches Meils, who feels with renewed strength to continue on his way, and no matter how much fun they had, his companion is more than clear that he cannot hold him back any longer.
- Meils, follow me...
The boy knows exactly what comes next, there is no point in avoiding it any longer. Both walk along the aforementioned corridor until they reach a door blocked by some wooden boards, there are some very small holes through which a rather cool wind filters, one that he does not remember having ever felt on the surface.
- Behind this door lies the land of Snowdin, your next objective if what you truly seek is to escape from the underground.
- Do you really think that is possible? I have already been told that every human who came to the underground has-
- Died at the hands of the king, I know... but you can't stay in one place, that would only make you easy prey sooner or later.
A crude comment, but quite accurate. Dalv turns around looking his friend in the eyes, it is no longer a calm look, there is security in those dark orbs, he is determined, he truly believes in his own words.
- If anyone can get through Asgore, it has to be you. I know there are monsters who crave the surface, and this can cloud their judgment of humans, seeing them as an immediate threat, but you are different, you are my friend, and I could not live knowing that my friend has ended up being used by the king, in a cold box like the rest so.. I ask you please, whatever you do, do not give up, and never let this world corrupt that soul of yours. Have you heard me? I cannot leave this place but, at least I want to make sure that you are ready to face the rest of the road, please..
"Promise me, that you will be safe, and that you will see the sun again, for all of us.."
How can anyone back out after hearing genuine words of support? It is now clear, Meils is forbidden to die down here.
"Knowing that you now have a friend supporting you, knowing that you now have a new mission to fulfill, fills you with determination and justice."
The end of the Dark Ruins and the beginning of Snowdin are just around the corner, and once again, this story... will continue.