As we descended into the 9th realm, the elevator emitted a haunting grumble, its unsettling noise echoing through the confined space. We had taken ample time to rest and heal our wounds after braving the harrowing sea, preparing ourselves for the unknown challenges that lay ahead.
This time, however, there was a single elevator instead of a hundred, indicating that our path had already been determined when we chose it in the respite zone.
[You have arrived in the 9th realm, Route 64: The Inner Sanctum].
"The Inner Sanctum... what an intriguing name," Elsie observed, intrigued.
As we continued our descent, the elevator gradually immersed us in a dense fog, obscuring our surroundings and reducing visibility to mere inches. The air felt heavy with anticipation, adding an eerie ambiance to our journey.
I was about to voice my thoughts about the uncertainties that awaited us in this enigmatic realm when suddenly, my vision faltered. A peculiar phenomenon unfolded before my eyes—a blurring of reality, as if a veil had been drawn over the world. Colours merged and shapes distorted, causing a disorienting sensation.
"What is happening?" Kei’s voice wavered with confusion, mirroring the bewilderment we all felt.
Then, out of the indistinguishable haze, a radiant white light emerged. It started as a faint glow, gradually intensifying until it enveloped my entire field of view. The brilliance of the light was overwhelming, seeping into every corner of my mind.
As the luminosity reached its zenith, my consciousness faltered. The world around me faded into a surreal void, and the borders of reality blurred into obscurity. Time seemed to lose meaning, and my thoughts dissipated like mist in the wind.
In that fleeting moment, I surrendered to the embrace of unconsciousness, relinquishing myself to the mysteries of the realm.
**
I found myself slowly regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar place, uttering the words, Where... am I?" The throbbing ache in my head and the dizziness overwhelmed me as I attempted to stand up.
Taking in my surroundings with deep breaths, I discovered that I was situated within a spacious corridor. The absence of an apparent exit puzzled me, while the plain-white walls adorned with various paintings added a touch of artistic flair. Along the length of the corridor, numerous doors beckoned, likely leading to different rooms.
"Kei, Elsie! Are you there?" I called out, my voice echoing through the corridor, hoping for a response from my companions.
To my disappointment, silence was my only answer. It seemed as though I had been separated from them in this mysterious place.
"There is no one here except you and me... Or should I say you and you?" A voice resonated through the corridor, its tone embodying the innocence of a child.
Startled, I raised my voice, demanding the speaker reveal themselves. The tension mounted as I awaited a response.
"Relax… You don’t need to be so aggressive, the voice reassured, attempting to calm my apprehension.
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Suddenly, a remarkable sight unfolded before my eyes. Transparent fragments of glass floated effortlessly in the air, assembling gradually to form a discernible shape.
In a matter of moments, the fragments coalesced into a person standing before me—a perfect replica of my younger self. I was astonished by this uncanny manifestation.
"You are... me?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief and curiosity.
The child-like figure, bearing an uncanny resemblance to my own past self, nodded affirmatively, acknowledging the bewildering connection between us.
"Yes. I am you. I understand that you must have numerous questions, but let me offer an explanation first," the child-like version of myself responded, exuding a wisdom beyond their years.
I listened intently as the child-like version of myself began his explanation.
"Welcome to the Inner Sanctum. This realm is not a physical place that exists in the real world," he began, setting the stage for my understanding.
Just as I was about to interject with a question, he raised a finger to his lips, urging me to hold my query.
"We are inside your mind. This place is a manifestation of all the experiences you’ve had, all the people you’ve encountered, and all the emotions you’ve felt," he elucidated, unveiling the profound nature of this mental realm.
"That’s why I can exist alongside you. I am merely a fragment of this place, here to guide you as you navigate through it," he concluded, shedding light on his purpose.
"How do I escape from here?" I inquired, desperate to find a way out.
"Reaching the end of this corridor is your pathway to freedom. It’s as simple as that," he replied, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
A sense of scepticism crept within me, compelling me to voice my concerns. However, before I could articulate my doubts, the child-like figure began to disintegrate, resembling a mirror struck by a hammer.
As the fragmentation progressed, a voice echoed through the air, its tone both ominous and final. "Well then… That’s all I am allowed to divulge. Best of luck in finding your way out. A reward awaits you if you succeed, but failure will result in eternal entrapment," the voice declared, leaving no room for negotiation.
With the conclusion of his speech, the figure dissipated entirely, dissipating into minuscule particles resembling dust that swiftly vanished.
Without wasting a single moment, I focused my attention inward, attempting to draw upon the sol in the atmosphere. However, to my dismay, I soon realised that there was no solution to be found. It eluded my grasp, slipping through my fingertips like elusive wisps of smoke.
The absence of sol was a disadvantage I couldn’t ignore, for it meant I would have to navigate through this ethereal realm without the serene strength and clarity it bestowed.
As I embarked on my journey through the corridor, I couldn’t shake the peculiar realisation that hunger, thirst, and fatigue were foreign concepts within this mystical domain.
My body did not yearn for sustenance, my throat remained quenched, and weariness did not weigh upon my limbs. It was as if I existed in a suspended state, untouched by the mundane needs of the physical world.
Despite my interest and burning desire to learn what was beyond the locked doors, my attempts to unlock them were unsuccessful. Each door held firm, its surface devoid of keyholes or knobs, leaving me with little alternative but to continue my trip.
The corridor spread out in front of me with each stride, its length becoming an intriguing abyss. The trail appeared to curve and wind, taking me deeper into my own mind’s maze. I walked, spurred by hungry curiosity and uncompromising determination, even as the minutes became hours and the hours became an indistinct continuity.
The rhythmic ticking of seconds ceased to exist, replaced by an ethereal stillness that enveloped this inner sanctum. The concept of time lost its relevance as I became immersed in the ethereal realm of my own thoughts and experiences.
Suddenly, a jolt coursed through my being, as if I had been abruptly awakened from a deep slumber. The realisation dawned upon me in a moment of startling clarity that shattered the haze of my thoughts. I paused, frozen in the midst of the endless corridor, overwhelmed by a profound question: What was I doing?
The weight of the situation settled upon me as I pondered my next move. "How am I supposed to escape?" I uttered them, my words hanging in the air, my gaze fixated on the multitude of doors lining the seemingly endless corridor.