As they sat in companionable silence by the lake, James found himself feeling something he hadn't felt in what seemed like ages: peace. The terror that had accompanied them since their arrival was slowly dissipating, replaced by a growing confidence in their abilities. so much so that they now felt comfortable enough to sit out in the open. Even without the cover of darkness or a hiding place, they felt safe. James knew this was partially due to Nyx, who was probably better at surviving than both boys combined, but it also spoke volumes about how far they had come since entering the Rift.

James let out a deep sigh, letting the tension leave his body. His mind felt clearer now, calmer for the first time since his world had been flipped upside down. He glanced over at Joey, who was lying back, eyes closed, basking in their shared victory over the dangers of the cave. Nyx purred contentedly on James' lap, her rhythmic purring a soothing balm to his nerves. James decided to break the silence, curious to hear Joey's thoughts.

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you get out of here?" James asked, looking at Joey with a gentle smile.

Joey, who seemed to be in a similar state of contentment, slowly opened his eyes, squinting at James for a moment before giving him a lopsided grin. "Oh, that's easy. First thing I'm doing is heading straight to the capital bakery—the one you were talking about—and getting myself some of those famous donuts," he declared, his eyes lighting up at the thought.

James laughed at the response, the sound carrying over the quiet lake. "Of course, it's donuts," he said, shaking his head. Joey's tone might have been joking, but James knew him well enough to realize that there was a kernel of truth in what he said. After everything they had endured, the simple pleasures in life—like fresh, warm donuts—sounded like the perfect reward.

As Nyx stretched luxuriously in James' lap, her purring growing even louder, James scratched behind her ears, his gaze turning thoughtful. "Me? I think I'd give my parents a hug, and then I'd sleep for a year," he said wistfully. The thought of home filled him with a mix of longing and anxiety. He wondered how much of himself had changed since they'd last seen him—how much of the old James was still there, and how much had been molded by the new experiences, the dangers, and the strange knowledge he carried. The truth about Frank—those memories, that other life—felt like a heavy stone lodged in his chest. How could he possibly explain it to them? He wasn't even sure he understood it himself. Would they see him differently? Would they look at him like a stranger, someone too changed, too broken to fit into their lives anymore? The fear of being misunderstood, of being rejected by the very people who were supposed to love him unconditionally, gnawed at him. It wasn't just about telling them; it was about whether he could still be the son they knew, or whether the ghost of Frank would always loom over him, creating a divide he could never truly bridge.

James let out another sigh, this one heavier, and Joey must have sensed the shift in his mood because he spoke up again, his voice lighter this time.

"James?" Joey's voice pulled James back to the present. He blinked, focusing on Joey, who was staring at him curiously.

"What? Did I grow a second head or something?" James asked, half-smiling, trying to mask the swirl of emotions in his head.

"Nah," Joey said, giving him a confused look. "You were just staring off into space for a minute. I asked what our next steps were."

James looked over at Nyx, who was still purring contentedly. He gave her a gentle nudge. "Well, Nyx wanted to sit down here for a while. Nyx, you ready to go?" he asked the kitten.

Nyx paused her purring for a moment, giving a soft, questioning "mew." Then she stood up, stretching out in that particular feline way—arching her back, yawning wide—before she gave a lazy twirl, batting James and Joey both with her tail before laying back down again.

Joey burst out laughing. "Well, I guess that answers that," he said, shaking his head. He leaned back on his hands, staring up at the dimly glowing cavern ceiling. "So, what about those optional quests? Are we going to try and do them? You know, the ones we got prompted for when we entered the Rift?"

James considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "Honestly, Joey, I just want to get out of here. I don't really care about the optional stuff right now. If we happen across it, then sure, but I don't think we should make it a priority. Just like how I got the optional part done of finding the 'lost wanderer'" He gave Nyx a gentle scratch, "I wanna get out and be more prepared before I even think about going in another rift."

He was surprised by his own answer. In his previous life as Frank, he had been a massive completionist—always wanting to do everything, find every secret, and complete every quest. The very idea of leaving an optional objective unfinished would have driven him crazy. But right now, he just felt tired. Tired, hungry, and in need of sunlight and human company that wasn't trying to kill him. Life was a little different when it was life or death struggles and not pixels on a screen.

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Joey looked thoughtful, then nodded. "Yeah, I agree. We can always come back and do it again if we want, right? Maybe even bring a bigger group next time," he suggested.

"Exactly," James said, gesturing at Joey's attire with a grin. "And next time, we’ll have the proper gear. Not—" he pointed to Joey's wedding dress and pink shoes, "—this."

Joey laughed, looking down at himself. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Next time, I’ll have armor instead of lace. Maybe even something that makes me look as cool as Nyx."

Nyx, as if understanding, looked over at Joey and blinked slowly in approval before turning her head toward the lake. She let out a soft "meow," and both boys followed her gaze. The water rippled as the familiar fish they'd seen before swam lazily toward them. One of them, a fish that seemed to shimmer with a golden light, began to grow larger as it approached the shore.

The light intensified as the fish grew, its body lengthening until it was a massive, almost monstrous form. It slid up to the edge of the lake, its mouth opening wide. Without missing a beat, Nyx hopped up onto its lip, her rear end giving a sassy little wiggle as if to say, "I told you we only had to wait."

James exchanged a look with Joey, an unspoken argument passing between them before they both sighed. James won, and the two boys reluctantly stood up and walked toward the fish.

"What a story this’ll be," Joey grumbled as they climbed into the fish’s mouth. "Wearing a wedding dress and pink slippers, following a cat into a giant fish. No one will ever believe me."

James settled down next to him, Nyx curling up on his lap. He couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. "It’s definitely one for the books," he replied.

The mouth of the fish closed around them, and they were plunged into a dim, warm darkness. The flesh of the fish slowly became translucent, allowing them to see out into the water. James watched in fascination as other fish swam alongside them, their bodies glowing softly in the dark lake. He decided to use {Essence Sight}, focusing on the way the mana flowed through the fish, trying to understand its mechanics.

There was something different about the essence—something like a "flavor," though James wasn't sure if that was the right word. The way the essence moved, the way it interacted with his own energy, felt unique, almost familiar, as though it was communicating with him. He wished he had someone to ask—someone who could explain the nature of mana and essence in this strange world.

Joey, meanwhile, seemed less interested in the mystical aspects of the journey. He was staring out, mouth slightly open, taking in the underwater world they were now passing through. "I wonder if this fish knows how ridiculous this all is," he mused aloud. "If it has any idea how weird this is for us."

James smiled, not taking his eyes off the fish. "Probably not. I think to it, this is just a Tuesday."

Joey snorted, shaking his head. "Right. Just another day ferrying around weirdos in lace dresses and pink shoes."

The fish moved slowly, lazily making its way toward the center of the lake and the island that had been in the back of James' mind ever since they first entered the Rift. The journey felt almost dreamlike, the water around them shimmering and glowing as the fish glided effortlessly forward. James almost found his eyes drooping slightly, lulled by the gentle motion.

Joey nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, don't fall asleep on me. We still have an island to conquer."

James blinked, shaking off the drowsiness. "I'm not sleeping. Just... resting my eyes."

"Sure you are," Joey said with a grin. He turned his gaze back out into the water, his face growing more serious. "Do you think there's going to be another fight? Once we get to the island, I mean."

James nodded slowly. "Probably. These things always seem to end in a fight, don’t they?"

Joey sighed. "Yeah. Well, whatever it is, we'll face it together, right?"

James looked at his friend, a smile tugging at his lips. "Together," he agreed.

As they neared the island, the fish slid onto the shore, its body growing larger once again, creating a platform for the boys to step onto. James could feel the pressure in the air, a growing intensity that reminded him of the moment the fish had grown the first time. There was something about this energy—a kinship with the essence that resonated with him, though he couldn’t quite explain it.

Stepping off onto the small, twenty-foot diameter island, James was greeted by a sudden prompt.

{Welcome Travelers to The Island of Echoing Hollows}

Enter the arena? Y/N

Compete in a solo gladiator-style battle to receive the praise and reward of the unseen crowd—an audience made up of past champions, spirits, and the ancient guardians of the island. The arena is not merely a test of strength; it’s a proving ground where one’s courage, endurance, and skill are challenged at every step. Each wave of opponents is stronger than the last, and there are no shortcuts or easy escapes.

Reward:

- Dependent on how far one goes in the gauntlet. Rewards may include weapons, skills, armor, and other relics tied to the history of those who fought and died here.

Note:

- All opponents are flesh and blood. There is no surrender, and death is final. Only those who have resolved to face their own mortality may proceed.

James stared at the prompt, then glanced over at Joey. The fish were still lazily circling the island, and Nyx had hopped onto a rock to watch them. The tension in the air was palpable, and James could see the conflict in Joey's eyes.

"So... what do you think?" Joey asked, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

James looked back at the prompt, then at Joey. He could feel the exhaustion in his bones, the weariness of everything they had been through weighing heavily on him.