Sagax: "It's simply because I too want to stop Ozyllus."
As if he had predicted her question, he answered immediately.
Sagax: "But getting back to the library's location, it was right in the middle of Ozyllus' and Vermillion's territories."
Ozyllus had liberated from Vermillion and formed a nation of his own. From what the history says, the territory that Ozyllus claimed as his own belonged to Vermillion before. As such, the psychic library would have been in Vermillion's territory. What the history doesn't say is that the library was the point from where Ozyllus negotiated with Vermillion to have the boundary line drawn.
Sagax told her that missing piece of history, and Sona gained a clue as to where her next destination would be.
Sona: "I see. That's helpful."
She was undoubtedly thankful to him for that information. And so, she had gained a faint smile along with that information.
Sagax: "Well then, if that's all, I would send you back."
Sona: "Just tell me one last thing."
She raised her arm making her palm face him as if to signal to stop him.
Sona: "What exactly is this place?"
Sagax: "It's where my soul was sent just before I died."
Because his soul was the only thing here and that was the only explanation to it that made sense, Sona had predicted that much but,
Sagax: "Even I don't fully comprehend what this place is."
The real answer to her question was that.
Sagax: "I think it's a replica of a Cage that all psychics have in their subconscious."
Sona: "I see. Well, it does look that way."
Seeing the dark place that seemed endless in all directions, Sona can only agree to that assumption. Even if she had, obviously, never seen a Cage before, this was what she had imagined it to be like from the description Barry had given her years ago.
Sona: "Still, you have been here for about 1000 years now, and you still don't know what this place is."
Sagax: "Well, without eyes, it's quite hard for me to actually investigate anything. Furthermore, Ozyllus is the one who made this place and I think he would have kept it in his mind to make something I wouldn't be able to figure out."
His reasons were valid and Sona did understand that, which is why she didn't say anything. But, she was still disappointed.
Sona: "So the reason why you are able to move around like you can see everything is because of some ability?"
She wanted to ask him how, without eyes, he was able to move so freely. That was the last question she had for him.
Sagax: "I can sense a presence and then float to it. I suppose floating for these many years had allowed me to move much more freely than I initially could and so it may look like I can move as if I have eyes."
That was an expected answer. And being satisfied by it, Sona was out of any questions for the moment.
In truth, she had many questions. She wanted to ask Sagax everything since he had been there when the war between Ozyllus and Abyss, the event everything seems to be connected to, happened. But, she had a certainty in her mind that he wouldn't answer and will just say to go to the Library.
Sagax: "Well then, if that's all,"
Sona: "Yeah, that's all I had to ask."
And so, she accepted what would come next.
Sagax: "I wish you succeed in your quest."
He said as bright rays of light came from behind her and she got pulled back to the tomb.
*******************************
The two kept carefully matching their steps as they looked up the stairs to see where the sound they heard a while ago came from. And soon, they found the reason.
Sneha: "Sona?"
The woman who had been pulled back to the tomb a while ago is sitting on the stairs holding her left arm with her right.
Sona: "Yeah."
The reason for her holding her arm is something the two of them got concerned about and it could be seen in their eyes.
Sona: "Don't worry. It's just hurting a little because I got hit on this arm when I was pulled back to the tomb."
Sneha: "I-I see."
As if all the tension has been released from her, her shoulders relax.
Sona: "But more importantly, I see we have been joined by your friend here."
Sneha: "Please do me the favor of not calling us friends."
Ethan: "Harsh!"
Ethan acted as if he was hurt only to get a frown from both women in return.
Sona: "So hey,"
Sona looks at Sneha as she asks,
Sona: "Where are the others?"
Sneha's gaze drops as she hears that question.
*******************************
Sona: "I see."
She clicks her tongue in frustration. After having been updated on everything that happened after she got sucked in the black hole, all she could do was click her tongue.
Sona: "So it has already happened."
She knew all along that the girl, no, Lilly, would die. After all, the dragon was about to die and the island was going to get destroyed.
Sneha: "Huh?"
Sona: "No, nothing."
During her conversation with Sagax, she had also come to know how she would die. But she hadn't expected her to already be dead by the time she got back. And so, she is frustrated.
Sona: "Tell me, how much time is left till this island is destroyed?"
Sneha: "I wouldn't know the exact amount but,"
She turned to Ethan expecting him to have done all the calculations with time because of his Eyes of Truth.
Ethan: "About a day and a half. From what I can pick up, this interference will last for the current day only, so it would actually be a day and an hour."
Half a day will pass in an hour but then the time will get back to normal, is what Ethan says.
Sona: "I see. We don't have much time to be here, do we?"
She gazes at the ground as she says that.
Ethan: "No, we don't."
He says as he narrows his gaze.
The trigger that would lead to the destruction of the island, Lilly, is already gone. But that only means that her core has dispersed. She believed to the end that the island will be destroyed. So it will be destroyed. That has not changed. In fact, now it has become a certain future as there is no way for her to start believing otherwise.
Only Ethan among those three knows that and he sees no reason to reveal that information. The destruction of the island was something Ethan is the true reason for. At least, that's what most would think if they hear about the why it would be destroyed.
They wouldn't know that he had to do it because he had to make Ozyllus believe that he was dancing to his tune and so they would immediately antagonize him. In the current situation at least, Ethan decides to not take the chance and keep it a secret.
Sona: "If that's the case then,"
Suppressing all her sadness and frustration for the girl's death, Sona decided to think of what they would do next.
Sona: "So where is Kais?"
Sneha: "Don't know. I didn't go up the stairs ever since I came here and neither have I gone anywhere lower, so he could he on one of those floors."
That was, obviously, assuming that Sagax would have let him go as well.
Sona: "I see."
But she had an instinctive feeling that he would let Kais go, and she chose to put her trust in it for the time being.
Ethan: "Well, let's hope we find him as soon as possible. You know, since the island doesn't have many more hours left."
Ethan says with folded arms, leaning against the wall.
Sneha: "I agree."
She nods, and Sona simultaneously stands up from the stairs she was sitting on.
Sona: "I would like that too but I don't think we will find him anywhere until he is let out of that place."
Ethan: "That place, eh?"
He says with a curious expression.
Ethan: "We have told you what happened here while you were gone. Now I think it's your turn to update us about the other side."
Hearing so, Sona nods.
Sona: "Yeah, that's fair. I'll tell you what happened there but let's start searching too."
After moving her gaze from one to other, she puts out that proposal. And so, they decided to start searching for Kais while she tells them what had happened inside the black hole.
*******************************
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Sagax: "You look like you know why I am here, do you?"
It was some time after I got sucked in the black hole that I saw light coming in and the girl being pulled out. The same thing, after a while, happened to Sona. I was the only one left.
Kais: "I do."
The only presence except that of the two of them I had felt in this place was something similar to Barry's. In other words, it was a ghost's presence. So when he appeared in front of me, it was pretty obvious he is that ghost. And it was also pretty obvious he is responsible for whatever happened to the two of them. And so I had realized that it was my turn next.
Sagax: "Then, do you also know who I am?"
That, before he appeared in front of me, I didn't know. But after seeing his face, after seeing that hollow darkness where eyes should be, I realized.
Kais: "I do."
He is Sagax, the person whose eyes could never be deceived.
Sagax: "I see. That makes things easy for me."
Kais: "…"
I couldn't read his expressions. In all the time I had before Sagax showed himself to me, I had thought about why Abyss would have told me to let myself get sucked into this place. But I didn't arrive on any answers that made sense. When he did show up, I thought maybe meeting him was the reason. But, what exactly did Abyss had in mind when he said that, I don't really know. He hadn't tried to say anything since then.
Sagax: "Now then, I have some questions for you before I let you leave this place."
He specified that there were multiple questions, which could mean that he only had one question for those two. I should probably keep that in mind.
Kais: "Ask them then."
Sagax: "Do you know what exactly this place is?"
I gave an honest answer.
Kais: "It feels like The Cage but at the same time, it seems like something is missing for it to be The Cage."
He nodded.
Sagax: "Yes, this is a replica of a Cage belonging to Ozyllus and he is the one who made it."
That made sense. If he had made this place, then of course he couldn't have made it to be as infinite as a natural Cage is. That should probably be what seems missing to me. It looks endless from here but I am sure it has an end.
Sagax: "Do you know why he made it?"
I could place a rough bet, so I did.
Kais: "To trap you here."
If Sagax soul was trapped in a place like this, he would be a ghost for a very, very long time whether he wanted to or not. Ozyllus and Abyss tried to prolong their existences over these past 10 centuries but there was no guarantee Sagax would do the same. So if Ozyllus wanted to make him live till today without him even wanting to, the only option he had to do that is to trap him in a place where time would be very slow. Of course, if he could replicate a real Cage, then time wouldn't even be a bother. Anything inside will have infinity to live. But even this flawed replica can do the job for a thousand or so years. That was my theory.
Sagax: "If that really were the case, what would his reasoning be?"
Kais: "No idea."
Sagax: "Huh?"
Kais: "I don't know what his plan is, what his goal is or what his motives are. Without knowing any of those things, how could I know his reasoning?"
That is why I have to suspect him for any and everything, just to be safe.
Sagax: "I see."
His tone of voice was indifferent, as if to hide his emotions.
Sagax: "You people really don't know much, do you?"
Kais: "I am guessing you got the same kind of answers from Sona then."
I don't think he would include the girl in 'you people', so that must mean that Sona told him something similar.
Sagax: "Yeah, she did."
He seemed indifferent even though his words seem to be implying that many emotions are hidden underneath that façade.
Sagax: "Well, anyway,"
He sighed as he said so.
Sagax: "do you know why the link to this place from the outside world is in the tomb?"
That probably plays into Ozyllus' plans, or that's what I would want to believe. But if coming here helps him, then why did Abyss want me to come here as well. I have drawn a blank slate on this one because of these two contradicting things.
Sagax: "I will take that silence as a no."
He continued,
Sagax: "The main reason was probably because he wanted you to find out what truly transpired 1000 years ago."
Kais: "…?"
Sagax: "From what Sona told me, the Psychic Library is a place whose location is unknown at present day."
Kais: "Yeah, we have all heard of it. No one seems to know where it is though."
The Library that is rumored to have the entire past from way before Ozyllus' birth to after the war was over present in it in writing, The Psychic Library, is one of the biggest mysteries supernaturals have today. No one has been able to find it. Needless to say, a lot many have tried. Well, personally, I didn't even knew of it until the dragon mentioned it and I then used a different opportunity to peak into Sona's mind to understand what it is.
Sagax: "Well, if that's the case then I think going to someone who knew where it was is the quickest way to find it."
Kais: "That makes sense. And if you are that person, then I suppose he got what he wanted, for now at least."
He nodded.
Sagax: "Those who were there at the time of that war are probably the most likely ones to know of it all."
Kais: "And since the dragon has been here for so long, he is unlikely to know of the geographical changes that have happened over the years. Abyss and Ozyllus probably can't expose themselves so easily."
The reason for that being that they are both at each other's throats and wouldn't want to give the other any chance to attack because of some carelessness of their own.
Sagax: "And that only leaves me."
Kais: "Yes, it makes sense."
If I just assume that Ozyllus' goal was as Sagax said, then things made sense. Also, I don't think Abyss would be opposed to the idea of letting us (or me at least) know of the past either, which makes him wanting me to come here reasonable.
Sagax: "So, now that you know all of that, what do you intend to do?"
Kais: "Find the library."
My goal is clear – stopping Ozyllus. And the first step towards that goal seems to be finding the Psychic Library.
Sagax: "I haven't even told you anything about its location 1000 years ago."
Kais: "But you will, right?"
I narrowed my eyes while staring at his face. Seeing that, Sagax sighed in exasperation.
Sagax: "Yeah, I will."
He said in the same indifferent tone he had during the whole conversation.
*******************************
I am on the highest floor of the tomb. I am sitting right in front of Ozyllus' coffin. And I am hearing footsteps. It's not hard to guess whose footsteps they are.
Kais: "They are coming rather slowly."
Maybe they are being cautious. Yeah, I'd be too.
Kais: "Though it seems like-"
The three people heading here don't seem to be the ones who were with me earlier. Or rather, two of them are the same, one of them is different.
Kais: "Seems like the girl isn't with them."
It's rather surprising that she is not but the person who has replaced her seems to be a man about my age.
Kais: "It's probably Ethan then."
I muttered to myself as I listen to their footsteps through my clairaudience. From their heartbeats, they seem to be a fair bit nervous. I guess that's to be expected.
Kais: "Ethan, huh?"
I can see his heartbeat showing signs of nervousness too. I have never tried to read his emotions before, mainly because I had thought he is the type of person who doesn't hide them at all. But, is that really true? Can someone be surrounded by people at least 10 times more powerful than him and really not feel afraid?
Kais: "Can that person even be called a human?"
I tried to look at Ethan in whatever way made it the most convenient for me. I didn't had to think about how much courage he has, how resolved he is or anything of the like if I just assumed he is naturally like that.
Kais: "I was trying to run away again."
I had made it a habit of running away as soon as things got bad. And this habit of mine has grown to an extreme by this point. Even subconsciously now, I would start running away from things like this.
Others probably weren't like that. They probably realized that Ethan Kales is a human like any other and thus feels all the emotions anyone else does. They probably realized he is afraid and nervous but still has what it takes to stand up against them. Seeing that is probably the reason the dragon and Barry decided to stop attesting to their duties and try to go against Ozyllus. I, on other hand, kept looking away from it all.
Kais: "By this point, I won't be surprised if they are both dead."
I didn't get a very good look but I could tell the two who Barry, the dragon and Ro had decided to stall for us to get here were very powerful. The man in black clothes in particular, was a monster as far as I could tell from his aura. He could even be as powerful as Ozyllus was, though I wouldn't really know that for sure since I never saw Ozyllus when he was at his prime.
The only ones who may know how he matches up to Ozyllus are Ozyllus himself, Abyss, the dragon and Sagax.
*******************************
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