Chapter 19: The Mid Realm: Celesta II

The room was warm, and Leon felt so comfortable that he forgot about his letter when the ladies went back outside, leaving him with other strangers and his old schoolmate.

"Young man..." The faint voice behind him startled him so much that he jerked upright, looking back only to realize it was Elias—the baby.

"Holy shit, are you alright?"

"I don't think so. I can't feel my...foot," Baby replied.

"Well, that's crazy. You can ride behind me for now, and then you can fix your leg with your dear... Macaw," Leon retorted, feeling a surge of anger toward that eyeless healer.

All of a sudden, everyone in the room stood up and started leaving through the glittery golden curtain. Leon followed them cluelessly. They had lined up in front of the room as if waiting for something.

Leon shook his head, "Nope, we're leaving."

He broke the line and tried to exit, but the black woman blocked him, saying, "You can't leave yet; you need to register your presence."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, please stay put," she nodded again, with the same passive-aggressive glare.

Leon glared back, whispering, "Pss, Psyche, will I face consequences if I leave?"

*ding*

[Yes, you won't get a chance with that lovely woman. Although there's no guarantee that you'll get one if you choose to stay.]

"Ha, very funny. I'm out," Leon turned swiftly, ignoring the calls of the ladies, and merged himself within the crowd. Now, he was the odd one out among the cheerful and brightly dressed people.

His ripped-up and blood-stained tuxedo made him look like a madman, but he was oblivious as he smiled idiotically at people who eyed him.

"What is this place?" Baby asked after remaining silent for a long time.

Leon came to a halt where he had been walking without a specific destination.

"Oh, right. My psyche said something about this being a Mid Realm?"

"A mid Realm? That's weird. Weren't we in the haunted house?" the baby questioned back.

"What do you mean? Isn't this part of the haunted house?" Leon hushed impatiently, his frustration evident.

"Not at all, young man. Mid Realms aren't even part of the purgatory, and there are many Mid Realms but that's all I know about them," the baby informed weakly.

Leon pondered for a moment, then decided to inquire, "Pss, Psy-"

*ding*

[Current Location: Mid Realm - Celesta]

[Dropped by: A portal]

"So, we're in Celesta and got here through a portal... When did I use a portal?"

"Celesta? Never heard of it, but then again, I don't have much information about the Mid Realms," the baby responded.

"Hey, don't talk too much. You sound like you'd become a furball yourself, and that would be my problem... I think the portal was the Clown's doing," Leon deduced.

Just as Leon was about to move forward, contemplating where to seek help, he stumbled upon a cozy-looking man. The man was adorned in heavy jeweled purple robes, and a large green parrot perched on his shoulder fixed its gaze on Leon.

"You! I know you!"

Leon looked at the parrot, and although he swore he heard the bird speak, he initially dismissed the idea. The bird tilted its head at him, and then the voice echoed in Leon's ears again.

"Son of Lou!" the man exclaimed, causing realization to dawn on Leon.

"The heck? Step away, dude," Leon grunted.

"And you as well," the parrot chimed in with the same voice.

Instinctively, Leon took a couple of steps backward. "What in the fuck's fuck!?"

The parrot extended its leg toward Leon and took off, flying toward him and promptly starting to pluck at his tuxedo.

"HEY, GET THIS THING OFF ME, DUDE!"

The man swiftly intervened, grabbing the bird and giving Leon a curious look, "That's strange... Sons of Lou?"

"Aye, mate. We're in the middle of something, and besides, neither of us knows the names of our fathers," the baby retorted to him.

"Damn, like that" Leon nodded in agreement and the man paved the way.

'Son of Lou,' my ass. Now I'm curious,' Leon thought to himself, his mind racing with questions. He adjusted the tuxedo that the bird had undone.

"Wait a minute... How did I forget this?!" Leon exclaimed, pulling out his pocket compass. It swirled for a moment and then pointed in a specific direction. A renewed sense of hope and determination washed over him as he now had something to guide him through this unfamiliar place.

"We shall triumph and get that Ember Crystal!" The baby cheered in agreement.

"You little fu-" Leon cut himself off, swallowing the rest of his words. The baby patted him on the head knowingly. If only Leon had just accepted the title of 'crooked neck banshee', he wouldn't have come all the way toward trouble.