Hinata sat up a bit more when the Knight walked in. She watched the situation quietly. Matthew didn't seem to know what was going on either.
"About what?" Hinata asked. She felt weak, just sitting on this bed, but she knew better than to push and try to stand again.
Matthew nodded when Hinata asked.
”You two both work within the perimeters of the Multiverse, correct?” the Knight asked.
The Nature’s Knight nodded softly, more to himself than to the other Knight.
”What does that have to do with any—“
”Do you two have any idea what just happened? Like, at all?” the Knight with red eyes asked.
”Uh… I don’t? Why?” Matthew replied.
”Well, good sir, the connection between the Soul Labyrinth and the Central-Verse was interrupted earlier and now the ‘Cuts’ are happening again, of course, to us. So, expect some unwanted guests because we’re gonna have a few I’m sure,” the Knight explained, almost annoyed.
Kye raised an eyebrow at the figure. "I surprise you? How?" He stayed back in the shadows. He knew that whoever was there could "see" him somehow, but that didn't stop him from staying back. Something about staying in the dark felt right. And it gave him a way to escape.
Hinata's eyebrows knit together. She didn't like this. Why hadn't she figured it out on her own? She glanced at Matthew.
"Oh," she said softly.
Aisen, though prepared for a lot of things, wasn’t prepared for what Adara had just said. And though he deeply wished this wouldn’t happen for unspeakable reasons, he didn’t exactly regret it once it was subtly hinted at him. Of course, being him, he leaned in a bit closer with his right hand cupping her cheek.
”Let me fix that for you…” he said with a tone almost as quiet and sensual as a whisper.
Ada's blush deepened, creeks turning red as her flame-filled eyes. She had hinted, yes, but… she hadn't actually expected him to do anything. She found that she couldn't move, couldn't bac away, couldn't do anything but stare at him with wide eyes.
Finally, she found her voice. "How will you do that?" She asked, cursing herself for the quaver in her voice.
She was acutely aware of how near he was to her.
”Hm… not a lot of people would survive having a hole punctured through their head… but you did so good on you,” the figure replied, not even looking at Kye as he did. He’d been examining the crystals around, humming a low tune which sounded somewhat like a child’s lullaby or something within the same realm.
The other Knight glanced at Hinata when she made a sound.
”You didn’t know about it either, right?” he asked, though he already knew the answer to that. ”Yeah, you… no, we’re all in this together so be prepared,” the red-eyed Knight ended as they walked out, closing the door with a soft bang.
Matthew couldn’t do much but stare at the door. What was wrong with the Knight… he usually wasn’t like this.
Aisen almost gave out a snicker but stopped himself from doing so. The hand he had cupped her cheek with lowered down to her chin. It probably wasn’t the best response but it wasn’t like he didn’t want to take the chance to do it. He raised her chin up slightly and softly as he came down on her lips, silencing her for the time being. His free hand moved to hers, holding it softly.
"Who was that?" Hinata asked when the Knight left. She wanted to get up, to pace, to do something, but she couldn't push. Even if she could pull it off right now, her sister would kill her.
"You lost me at hole through my skull," Kye said. "What?! Who are you? And why are you creepily humming to a bunch of rocks?"
Matthew turned to Hinata when she asked.
”That was Josiah, a member of the First Generation so he can be a bit… I don’t know, dominant, I guess,” he answered.
”Although… he doesn’t usually act like that,” he added.
”Oh no no, don’t mistake me for someone bad. I’m merely just a gemologist,” the man replied. ”I found you in a fainted state at the entrance of my cave and decided to take you in as dangers are everywhere right now,” the man added. He seemed quite old when he spoke, hinted at by the raspiness of his voice.
Hinata nodded.
"Something's off." This time, she swung her legs off of the bed, still remaining sitting for the time being. Her head spun a little, but she didn't lay back down.
Matthew agreed to what Hinata said. Of course, it wasn’t a great situation. He wasn’t always one who’d follow news and such and that wasn’t a good feature of his. He would’ve wanted to stay like this for a bit more, to enjoy the calmness while he can…
Ring… Ring…
The badge he had on his rang aggressively. He eventually realized what it was signaling.
”I’ll… I’ll be heading out,” he said, standing up from the bed and summoning his spear before he even opened the door.
"Okay, but I never said you were a bad person. I asked who you were, and why you were humming to a bunch of rocks," Kye repeated. "If I thought you were really a bad person, I would have left already, and clearly, I am still here."
Hinata pushed herself up from the bed when she saw Matthew summoning his spear. She leaned against it a little, trying to hide how much she was relying on it.
"Let me come too," she said. She wanted to help.
The gemologist turned to Kye with a ‘friendly’ smile although it didn’t look exactly like one.
”My identity is better left unknown from people from outside the Labyrinth. As about the humming part, well, there isn’t anything wrong about humming during work, is there?” he asked slowly. Again, he didn’t look exactly dangerous but there was this gloominess around him that anyone with at least two brain cells would notice.
Matthew turned to her when she paced off the bed. He gently grabbed her shoulder.
”You can’t at this state, please relax,” he gave, almost as if he was wishing she would listen. But… he thought he already knew her response.
"I want to help you," Hinata said. She lightly shrugged his hand off. "I'm more than capable of coming with you. I'm fine, really." She forced herself to stop relying on the bed, stepping a bit closer to Matthew to show him she could stand on her own.
Matthew gave a very worried look. On one hand, he didn’t want to risk the chances of having Hinata harmed and whatnot but on the other, he knew that it would benefit him more if she would’ve come along. After a moment of thorough thought, he decided…
”Fine, you can come along as long as you promise that you won’t get hurt,” he stated clearly.
Kye felt a chill down his spine when the person looked at him. There was something way off about this person, but he couldn't quite place what it was. "I guess not," he said, subtly moving so that he could make a run for it if needed. "What are you doing down here anyways?"
Why are you engaging in conversation with this figure?
Because he is my best bet to figuring out what the hell is going on here. Plus he might be able to help me find her.
… You're gonna look for her?
Yes I am. And he might be able to help me out.
Do you have a death wish?
No, that is why I am going to find her.
You would be better off looking for Tolkalee than you would her.
Tolkalee is gone and you know it.
"I promise," Hinata said. "I'll keep safe." Hinata stepped forward. It was amazing what she could force herself to do when she put her mind to it. She straightened her jacket a little.
"Lead the way."
The gemologist only kept their smile through out the conversation. He seemed to be working while also talking to Kye.
”I’m only maintaining the underground structure of… the Labyrinth and… perhaps taking care of some unwanted guests myself,” he answered. He looked at Kye again, eyeing him up and down.
”I see that you… brought… a ‘friend’ with you. A demon I see…” the person mentioned before returning to his work. He picked up a cracked piece of rock, about the size of a human’s head.
”Do not be startled, I do not mean any harm until I can sense corruption in your mind,” he continued as he disintegrated the outer layer of the rock to reveal the jewel hidden beneath it which was a ruby.
”Precious…” he commented on the jewel, gently placing it beside his feet as he searched for more.
Matthew couldn’t really reject her at this point. He nodded, mentally agreeing to the idea of bringing her along. Although… it did come with a bit of stress. He wasn’t going show that.
”Follow me,” he stated softly as he made his way down the halls of the hospital. It wasn’t long before they were outside the building.
”We’re heading south for a bit. I was told that there will be some uninvited guests along the way, please keep an eye out and inform me once you see one,” he mentioned, pacing down the path.
Underground structure huh? Kye looked around the spot they were in. "So, if someone were to come down here they could potentially take down the whole Labyrinth. That is why you are down here. To protect it."
Okay it's time to go.
Why?
Because he knows about me.
And his job is like mine. He unlike everyone else will understand what it is like to try and keep an entire area from collapsing in on itself. I am not going anywhere, I can actually talk with him. He also might be able to give me some advice for back home.
Why are you always looking for good in people?
Hinata made her way after Matthew. It took her a moment to handle walking, but she got over it quickly enough.
"Alright then," Hinata said. She looked around as they headed out, weary. There was going to be a fight, she just knew it.
The gemologist picked out a small rock from the wall in front of him.
”Well… yes. I also constantly conduct research on jewelry and such, mostly because income and such,” the man mentioned, inspecting the rock he had just picked out.
”I’ve worked this job for… I don’t know, five centuries now?” he gave a small laugh when he finished speaking.
Along the path, thankfully, not a lot of people were present meaning that it was quite unlikely for dangers to appear out of nowhere. Eventually, Matthew stopped. He’d stare into the vast darkness ahead, eyes narrowing.
”Give me a moment…” he whispered, raising his hand towards the shadows in front and lifting them up. What appeared was a large figure, about twelve feet tall, with smiling human faces embedded into its skin along its body. It turned when its shadows were removed, letting out a wild and loud screech.
"That is certainly a long time," Kye commented. He gave a half smile, but it didn't seem very genuine. "Would you believe me if I told you I have pretty much the same job? Minus the gem collecting. I and one other person back home are the only two people that are protecting the underground."
Hey… kid, is Tolkalee actually gone?
Yes, he is. We were there, we saw it happen.
No I mean is it really impossible to find him?
What do you mean?
I mean think of where we are. Could he be here?
I did not think of that… I guess it is possible that he is here. But why you care? You hated him.
I don't care. But other people do.
”Well, I can’t say that I don’t believe it but then again, we aren’t the most popular people from where we are respectively, correct? Usually it’s the Knights or in your case the ones on top who gets all the credit for the ‘sustainability’ of our lands,” the man went on, his mind seemed to wander restlessly as he spoke.
”Although, I must say that I am… genuinely curious about you and your little friend,” the person turned to Kye and started to pace slowly towards him and that wasn’t an act. The man, once out of the crystalized lights, was shown to be relatively old with his white hair and facial hair. Still, he had quite a good structure for a man his age.
”It’s not often that I mean someone with the same… job, per say. And not often do I feel the urge to explore one’s mind…” the man stated. He pointed past Kye’s head, nodding in that direction.
”In case you’re curious, the exit is that way. Proceed with caution… the outside world can be a bit much” the man stated, turning to the wall beside him and inspecting the rocks.
"Actually I was going to ask you for some help in locating someone," Kye blurted out before the figure could leave. "Is there anywhere that the souls can fight, I guess? Like an arena or something like that? I am looking for someone and it is probable that she would be anywhere that she could fight."