The lights danced before his eyes, Aaron could only spare a moment to them, as his attention was suddenly taken by a chorus of ringing. It was soft and constant, they directed his attention to the giant before him, and despite its lack of features it felt as if something born of curiousity was prepared to pounce upon him.

“Well.” Aaron timidly said, his head instinctively lowered away from the giant.

It was more uncomfortable being across from Abel, than it was being next to Seth. An odd phenomenon. His speech was not particularly directed, though there was only one thing he could have possibly been talking to. The sentiment caught the giant’s attention, and its head tilted slightly to the right as a response to his word. Aaron had already expected what would come next.

“Do you feel threatened?” A foreign thought wondered, "Do you feel silenced?”

Aaron’s tongue trembled in his throat, like the heat of the fire it felt like some weight was pushing upon him, urging him to leave. Though its presence couldn’t make him move, instead he continued to be complacent, his limbs felt frozen to the floor.

Abel sat similar to how Seth did, as if imitating his counterpart, though carried none of the arrogance or mannerisms within his form of speech. Aaron doubted if he even could convey such a level of emotion from how he spoke, but his presence alone was enough to force Aaron’s compliance.

Abel’s thoughts merged with Aaron’s, an uncomfortably cold feeling which tensed around his skull. It was similar to his previous communication, and it carried the complete lack of emotion which Aaron now associated with the giant.

“I am to show you more, but first we must reach an understanding.” Abel communicated. “You probably want to leave don’t you?”

“Yes, but-” Aaron sheepishly began.

His words were interrupted by a surge of weight crashing in front of him. Though his body neither stumbled nor shook from the attack. Instead he felt the heat of the fire run from him, escaping from the intense crash which invaded the area. Leaving him silent.

“But? Leave.” Abel commanded.

Aaron could not move, despite all the signs to do so. Something compelled him, an invisible push stronger then anything which could impede him in the physical realm. It endlessly nudged him forward, encouraging his path, though refused to interfere further.

“You lie? Is this life?” Abel questioned, “You live by another, but desire differently? Coward?”

A surge of courage and fury rushed up Aaron’s spine, he wanted to rebuttal. Though as fast as the surge began it ended, leaving him choking on his own fury, words which were never delivered. His body rigidly moved upward in response, a movement which caught the intrigue of the giant.

“What prevents your speech?” Abel wondered, “Do you believe some retribution will come from you answer? Do you live to appease?”

Aaron’s back buckled, his mouth held shut by an incomprehensible combination of emotion. He couldn’t decide, what was this? His mind screamed to leave, his body demanded to stay, and something else encouraged pursuit. The soft rhythm picked up, a sequence of drums following its steps.

“He is gone, he cannot hear you, and does not know you.” Abel informed, “Do you require encouragement to speak?”

“I just- I want to see- I want to see what he promised.” Aaron skittishly admitted, “I-”

Aaron could not speak further, the weight pushed against him again, one onslaught after another. The once soft rhythm began to be overshadowed, the drums beat against it, rebelling against its tune. His chest pushed against the weight, beat after beat.

“I see.” Abel acknowledged, “So you do not fear him?”

“No,” Aaron immediately answered, “If anyone, it’d be you.”

“Good. But do not fear me.” Abel replied, “Once you do that, we are at an understanding.”

Aaron had unintentionally swallowed something, whatever it was, it left a sickly feeling within his throat. But despite that, he nodded to the giant, acknowledging its desire to not harm. Then without warning, the weight which had plagued him subsided, and the drums began to calm. Though the bells kept on ringing.

“You are capable of admitting your cowardice. Admirable.” Abel communicated, “You emit an air around us, though you may not know it.”

Aaron’s brow raised in interest for a moment, and his posture straightened as a result of his intrigue. Though he remained wary, it was a struggle to even look at the giant, it was not too dissimilar to the weight Kira had emitted within the tent. Though its function was different, the weight pushed away at him, physically imposing the will to escape upon him.

“An air? So, what Kira does, what you do. I also do it?” Aaron asked.

“Yes.” Abel answered, “Your inability to control it proves you are unrefined and incompetent.”

It was scathing for Aaron, to hear those words so blatantly told. Though from each of their eyes, all of those he met, they all told the same story. They all knew of his lack of knowledge, despite what they say he’s capable of, it only angered him further. Was he barred from knowledge intentionally, by them all?

“Or, perhaps misinformed?” Abel pondered, “We all do it, every single one of us. Though most know to control it perfectly innately.”

“Others have mastered it to the point of permanently influencing another. Leaving their mark.” Able informed, “These people are few and far between. But many will pass you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Aaron quietly asked, “Is Seth one of these people?”

“Your curiosity is your own. But more persists.” Abel replied, “I tell you this because I want to. I pity your current existence.”

“That can’t be all.” Aaron angrily surmised, “What do you want from me?”

The fire's red lights began to flare, the ending to their endless dance. Though from his question Aaron could feel the air leave his throat, the world felt sluggish and dull for a few moments. It was then his mind caught up with his senses, and his eye widened to the sight.

A writhing mess of roots, disgustingly enclosed upon themselves, had appeared behind Abel, and soon formulated a spherical structure. It was half impossible to see before the dark, a completely black and purple concoction, though the brown flames made it barely visible. From its centre a maw of spiked roots simulating teeth stared upon him.

“I hate the boy.” Abel answered.

“I despise his methods. His ruthlessness. His endless crusade to create a corpse of no consequence.” Abel admitted, “Despite this, I follow him. He is to grant me my greatest wish. He is admirable. He is decisive. He desires companionship as much as he does retribution.”

The structure seemed to infinitely gorge upon itself for an uncomfortable amount of time, endlessly accelerating on its self-cannibalism. It only took a few moments to gain such speed to seem frozen before Aaron’s eye.

“To allow you the power to shape yourself. I impede him without risking myself. I delayed his crusade. Time to convince. Time to reshape.” Abel elaborated, “You can resent all you want. You can destroy all you want. Save who you want. Once I have granted you the knowledge you deserve.”

“What knowledge?” Aaron croaked.

The sudden onslaught of thoughts and emotion which came with the crashing of his words had resulted in Aaron almost being forced to his back. The sight of the construct before him felt as if the world itself was fleeing from it, the wind forced against his skin and all the moisture leaving his tongue.

“To teach you to kill. To show you this world. To grant you the freedom of choice.” Abel explained, “You haven’t been given the luxury of any. So allow me to show you. Do you agree to this? To be detached from the string?”

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“Y-yes?” Aaron answered confused, “Wait, doesn’t Seth want this?”

“Indeed he does. To the extent I will bring you to? No.” Abel answered, “Then we shall begin. Construct your anchor.”

Aaron would stare at Abel for an extended period of time, so long in fact that the wind which had picked up from the sudden construct which had appeared subsided. The flames have resumed their constant wave of heat upon Aaron’s face, and lit up the complete cluelessness on display.

“Construct your anchor.” Abel repeated.

Further silence followed. Until Aaron raised his arm in an attempt to gain permission to ask a question, a gesture which completely flew over the giant's head. Despite this the unproductive situation continued for an extended period of time.

“You want to ask a question don’t you?” Abel wondered.

“I’m guessing you’re not talking about a ship anchor.” Aaron anxiously assumed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve seen an anchor, two at this point.” Abel replied, “You have proven capable of the highest form of manipulation. Construct your anchor.”

“I have?” Aaron haphazardly questioned.

“Yes.” Abel answered, “Perhaps it would be more productive to start with physical representation.”

“I don’t know what that is either.” Aaron sorrowfully replied, “I… Am just extremely confused.”

“A physical representation is a construct created from your desire, while an anchor is the desire itself.” Abel explained. "For example, my body.”

Aaron watched as Abel proceeded to grab his left arm and tear it from the rest of his body, a display which forced Aaron to look away from the giant. He turned back to see Abel’s arm now being held separate from the rest of his body.

Before Aaron could properly compose himself, he managed to witness the arm being reattached to the rest of Abel’s body. His stump had protruded strange roots of black thick liquid, and had reconnected the arm to the rest of his body.

“Have you spoken to the boy in black?” Abel questioned.

He stared toward Abel for an extended period of time, attempting to digest the self-mutilation which had taken place. He could not. He rightfully decided to focus on the giant’s question instead, which had also managed to disturb him to a certain extent. Though it didn’t overshadow his original disgust.

“Well, yes. I’ve spoken to a boy and man in black.” Aaron sporadically replied. “I used to see the boy a lot. I never really knew why, but I just assumed I was going insane.”

“I see.” Abel communicated, “Do you know what your previous desire was?”

Aaron could see it in his mind's eye. The man endlessly stared into him, his eyes of inverted black and white. It was surprisingly unsettling to remember, and not only that it only renewed his insatiable curiosity for answers about this strange man.

“Yes, according to the man in black I was ‘A Dream’.” Aaron slowly explained, “He told me while we were in a boat, surrounded by a stormy ocean. Though I could walk through the water and it would calm.”

“There is your external representation, the environment of your dream.” Abel revealed, “All are capable of it, and all can see it.”

“Wait… How did you know I had a previous desire?” Aaron quickly questioned, “How did you even know my current desire?”

“For your first question; you’re not special.” Abel answered, “For your second question; Seth told me.”

“Well that doesn’t tell me alo-” Aaron abruptly began.

“Focus.” Abel interrupted.

From his words came a sudden weight which crashed into Aaron, and instantly earned his silence. He had kept his eye on the strange construct behind Abel, but it had been dormant until his attempted hijacking of this terrible lesson.

“When 028-2 was attacking you, did anything happen? Perhaps a sound or a smell, even a feeling.” Abel asked.

“Every time he launched his chains, I noticed my ears began ringing.” Aaron woefully replied, “I don’t know why, but I think I may have tinnitus.”

“An audible que indicates that you are capable of external representation.” Abel clarified, “You have confirmed your capability, so employ it.”

“How?” Aaron annoyingly questioned, he couldn’t help but reach his arms outward in a showing of frustration and confusion.

“Perhaps you are one to learn in difficult situations.” Abel predicted, “You have done incredible things, under terrible circumstances, so possibly the most efficient method?.”

Aaron at Abel’s answer felt almost reassured that the giant was at least somewhat capable of giving him what could be roughly considered a compliment. In his surprise he found himself peering at the surroundings, with the jagged rocks badly hidden between scarce tree’s now having their edges highlighted in the moonlight.

“I disagree.” Aaron replied bluntly, his head swung backward in some combination of exhaustion and irritation. “I’ve learnt more from sleeping than I have when I’m awake.”

“I'll take your word for it. After all, you wouldn’t lie?” Abel communicated, “Know that all I've shown you is more than permitted. You will not speak of any of it.”

Aaron merely nodded his head toward the giant, and they once again sat in silence. It was a recurring theme, the constant gaps of nothingness, it compounded his exhaustion. His mind was begging him to sleep, but he couldn’t, not with the giant and its construct behind him.

“Are you just going to keep that behind you?” Aaron tiredly questioned, his exhaustion seemed to build with each passing moment. He figured it’d be best to fill the time with information.

“I apologise.” Abel replied.

From his apology the construct would devour itself in its entirety. If the tree of chains was too a construct, it was curious to Aaron that these ‘anchors’ had some effect over the area it seemed. After the construct had disappeared, the environment surrounding them felt infinitely more inviting.

“So… What are you actually made of?” Aaron asked, “I don’t think anyone else is able to rip their own arm off.”

“Residue,” Abel replied.

It was another answer followed by the same quiet following, at this point it was like waves crashing against rocks to Aaron. Despite this he waited for a frustrating amount of time for elaboration which never came, something had made him hold on for an embarrassing amount of time.

“You're not going to explain further are you?” Aaron quietly commented, “So, what’s the point of going after this ‘Eve’?”

“Eve is the one who had us trapped, and experimented upon. She deserves death, no matter what happens afterward.” Abel explained. “After she is gone, whatever Seth plans next persists.”

Aaron peered upon Abel for a solid few seconds, it was a shred of information that seemed so elementary to the giant, as if it was known to everyone. Aaron had no clue that Eve even existed a few hours earlier, or any of this ‘power’ he possesses.

“Seth doesn’t strike me as someone to plan ahead.” Aaron cautiously interjected, “If he is, he’s got me fooled. I can’t fight anyone in my condition, or do much in general. Is there even a point for me being here?”

“I assume Seth needs you for some detail in his plan.” Abel surmised. “Knowing who Eve is, she has most certainly more people with her, though it wouldn’t be many.”

“Why wouldn’t she have many?” Aaron obviously questioned, “Or are you keeping that information from me as well?”

“She lost much in the initial escape, after all she is the guardian who failed to keep us.” Abel answered, “What she has left is to be seen, and it will not be impressive. Only one horse remains, and it is her.”

It was information Aaron was reluctant to trust, as though he spoke no lies, it was intentionally vague and felt incomplete to him. If what Abel says is true, it means that this individual shouldn’t be much of a threat anyway. Perhaps there is some other mechanism at play, he simply doesn’t have permission to see it.

“I don’t have much confidence in that.” Aaron honestly revealed, “Though I’ve never even laid eyes on these people, whoever they are.”

“You are not confident in much.” Abel replied, “Your reluctance is expected.”

Aaron had no idea how to even process what he had told him in this case, but it had the makings of an insult. Perhaps there were deeper caverns to delve in, but the cave was long and arduous, its darkness was everlasting, and his lantern was not.

“Eve is particularly cautious and stagnant. She’s not one to make friends with new people.” Abel reassured, “She has lost all she has built, and refuses to build anything new. It is interesting.”

“What exactly is your goal here then?.” Aaron curiously replied, “What’s exactly the plan when it comes to Seth for you? Do you want to… kill him? Not that I’d think you can’t… But it seems fairly unrealistic, if he’s caused so much harm, as I've heard.”

“I do not have a goal, unless you believe preventing others from achieving theirs is a goal.” Abel answered, “My methods remain to be seen, and you will not witness them until the time is right.”

The flames spat again, as if laughing at Abel’s answer and Aaron was left in the persistent state he’d came to this place in. The jagged surroundings had made themselves known and constantly shot the light of the stars off of themselves, daggers which glimmered in the dark.

“Though there is something I must show you.” Abel continued, “Come, I have learned much from you, prove yourself.”

Aaron was surprised, as Abel had managed to grant him a disgustingly minimal amount of information, to hear he had learned much of Aaron was unsettling. It was almost a guarantee in Aaron’s mind, that these two were content with telling him nothing or close to it.

The giant stood once more, his figure obscuring the blades which shimmered around them and walked across to the left side of the flames. He would then take a short branch from one of the scarce trees and lit it aflame against the existing fire. With a flick of his foot the giant slung a large amount of dirt into the flames extinguishing it.

Aaron remained still despite this, as at this point he’d gotten used to the giants presence to an extent. The giant then outstretched the newly birthed torch toward Aaron, the flame dimmed against Aaron’s face, as if encouraging him to take it. So, he would take the torch from the giant and rise from his place.

“What am I meant to do with this?” Aaron immediately questioned.

“Follow me, I do not need light to see.” Abel replied, just as quickly as Aaron had questioned.

“Can you tell me why?” Aaron confidently challenged, it almost surprised Abel that’d he managed to muster it.

“A more comfortable place to rest, a more concealed place to learn.” Abel answered, “Though this place has changed somewhat, its layout remains similar.”

The giant without warning turned to about south-east, and immediately began his departure toward his determined destination. Aaron jumped at the giants quick leave and was stunned for a few moments at his movement, but would begin to follow regardless after properly digesting the possibilities at play.