After more than a year of wandering, I had finally found it.
The tree.
It was still quite far, but after a week or two of traveling, I reached it. And for the first time in so long, I heard something other than growling or my own voice—the sound of bickering.
Voices.
"Wait..."
"Is that… is that living blood I smell? Gods! What terrible sins have you committed, boy, to be cast into this hell alive? This is too harsh a punishment, even for someone of unknown origin."
Talking skeletons.
"I didn't commit any sins," I said bluntly. "Just paved a way for my people, and now I'm paying the price."
"Ohhh, what an honorable leader."
"What a strange scent you have… who are you tied to?" asked the other skeleton.
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Fool, don't you feel it? He is neither of gods nor of daemons."
"Oh, I see now."
I ignored their cryptic remarks and introduced myself. "Anyway, I'm Chris. Who are you two?"
"I am Azarax the Mighty, the Plague of Steel, King of Kings, conqueror of a hundred thrones!"
"Is that so?" I asked, uninterested.
"And you?" I turned to the other skeleton.
"A name? I used to have one of those… before. What was it? Oh! Eurys. Eurys of the Nine…"
"Ohhh, the Nine. I've heard of your companions before," I said, feigning surprise.
"You have?" he asked, intrigued.
"Yeah. Want me to tell you about them?"
"Yes, yes! Tell me!"
I smirked. "What should I do? You know, I'm a follower of equivalent exchange. What can you give me?"
"What do you need?"
I didn't hesitate.
"You know, I really need a guide. I've been trapped in this place for over a year. I want to get out. Do you know the way to the waking world?"
Azarax spoke first.
"I will guide you to the shores of the Underworld and through its dark expanse, back to the world of the living! You will need a powerful guide if you wish to escape!"
"But I'm strong enough already," I replied, unimpressed.
"So, can you do it?" I turned back to Eurys.
"Of course I can. Just get me off this damned tree."
"Then we have a deal. But it's already late, so let me rest for a bit. Can I trust you to keep watch?"
"Rest assured, there are few people more qualified than me to keep watch."
"How reliable," I muttered, lying down to sleep.
When morning came, I took Eurys down, and he began guiding me toward the mountains.
During our journey—one that took several months—I told him about Auro of the Nine and what I knew of him. I also mentioned that Aletheia was in a place called the Tomb of Ariel, though I had no idea where that was.
Eventually, we reached the foot of the mountains. That was when Eurys pulled out an onyx boat and urged me to get on.
"We must go by using this," he said.
Time lost its meaning.
I felt like months had passed as Eurys stirred the gondola through the dark waters. The constant rocking, the endless, featureless void, the absolute silence—except for him.
Humming.
The same eerie song, over and over.
"One day the gods will fall
And reveal their lie…
The one who sleeps will awaken
To devour his children…
Oh, and us all…
That which was forgotten
Will be remembered…
And consume the world…
Oh, all of us will dream…
The nightmare…
Of the Forgotten God…"
I was on the verge of losing my mind.
And then, finally, I asked.
"So… when were you planning to tell me that you don't actually know the way out?"
Eurys let out a dry chuckle. "Oh? Have you figured me out?"
"I knew from the start," I admitted. "But I also knew you could guide me here. You see, this is where I can escape."
"Then I didn't lie."
"You didn't know about it, so you lied."
"But it turned out just fine, didn't it?"
I sighed. "Answer me truthfully, then."
"If I can," Eurys replied.
"Did you really cut the throat of a god?"
"Hahaha! That's what you wanted to know? In a way, yes."
"So it wasn't the real god," I concluded.
"No… it was an avatar."
In the distance, I finally saw it.
The Nightmare Seed.
I pointed toward it. "Now that we've arrived, what will you do?"
"Hmmm, I don't know… Maybe I'll visit this Tomb of Ariel or just accompany Azarax. I haven't decided yet."
"Then best of luck, Eurys of the Nine."
With that, I stepped forward and entered the Nightmare Seed.
[Sleeper! Prepare for your second trial…]
[Brave one… Welcome to the nightmare.]