Inside a hidden chamber. There was no light. Therefore, it led one to believe this chamber was hidden underground.

The reality was only slightly different. This space was indeed hidden. However, it wasn't underground. Hidden inside a manifested space.

Manifesting a bit of mana. It was possible to see the surroundings. Lines showing cracks and deep fissures. Like a broken mirror, these lines existed in a three hundred and sixty degree view.

That was to mean, no matter where one looked, they would not see a section without cracks. Neither light nor any other substance was coming out. Looking as if these cracks were not a living thing, a being or planet. There were no other moving parts to slip through those cracks.

The light being generated was from a series of lines. With a mix of a "+" and multiple different geometric and other mathematical symbols. They had no pattern, appearing seemingly random at different angles.

When seeing something unknown, the mind will use something familiar to try and define it. As one could imagine, this was the space inside the sword. Leo was currently looking around. This was a place he continued to spend an increasing amount of time in.

While locked inside that room, he hated this space. Every time his consciousness faded, he would wake up here. It was a nightmare, a place he hated with every fiber of his being.

Slowly as Jessica took him outside. Never once had she ever invoked her rights to completely seal him. He knew she could do it because of the seal. Therefore, she also knew she could do it. Even in those moments, they were still getting to know each other.

He wasn’t the easiest person to get alone with, and still she never once forcibly removed his access outside.

Now, this was no longer the same type of space as before. A space all to himself. He could see in, not even Jessica had access. This was his space, his alone.

At the moment, he was staring at one end of the dark space. There shown by the rune generating light. Was a door.

A better way to describe it would be gateway. He could understand it the second he saw it. This hadn't been there before. Only after they met was this door put in place. Unknowingly when, or even how.

He also knew that this door was only a gateway. That man had relinquished all that belonged to him. Now Jessica was the only person that owned him. She was, for a lack of a similar situation, his master.

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If not even she could see in here, he had no chances. Not knowing why, he was confident in this assumption. That man had shown he could do many things, they both could. They could create life, and seal it in. All for the so-called greater good.

If Leo had to guess. This was there to allow them to connect. He said if he wanted to regain that strength, he would need his help.

Worse, after their discussion. He realized something about himself. Emotionally, he was partially dead.

Time and isolation hadn't completely killed his emotions. On the contrary, they were even stronger. Too strong.

In society, one needed to control themselves, while isolated it was different. With nobody to judge or anyone to hold back around. Time warped the mind.

Like a restraint for the mind. Ideology was harder to manifest in society. Cracks and holes were still exploitable.

Society could only bind the majority. Dulling the edge of things too sharp and dangerous for others. Even just being in possession was something controlled.

These were things he currently started to dull himself. With his connection to Jessica, he became overly dependent on her existence.

Isolation felt horrible in the beginning. He thought the worst was over. Having been in the dark, he didn't see the burns and scars left in his mind. Scattered about, in places he either ignored or looked away from.

Subconsciously, his sights were dulled. Consciously avoiding the trauma. Making it out, the wounds were locked behind a chained door.

These things that were in the open before. Had been shoved dangerously over capacity. The locks and chains put up subconsciously, having no idea he did it himself. As if, he looked away as his body acted on its own. Having no conscious memory of doing it.

Everything he swore to himself was locked in that closed off room. Only now, like he had said, the opportunity to exact his revenge was here.

Now, all that stood in his way was fear and doubt.

In the cold, frozen. He now sat next to a fire. Outside the edges of the flames was still the ice and cold.

Was opening the door really worth what lay behind it?

Would he leaving, cause the fire to go out?

Would he moving, create a rift that could never be trekked again?

Was it so bad, to allow himself to stay by this fire, this warmth?

Only the fire was no longer being supplied with wood. It had to stretch out and start to burn the forest around it.

Currently, burning everything it came across to grow. All so that it could return to that peaceful moment that was already gone.

Right now the fire was burning recklessly. He feared it would burn itself out.

However, what if he left the flame to gather more wood for it. This wouldn't stop it from needing more fuel.

There would at least be some safety to slow down. Not needing to burn so violently. Would that help, or possibly make it worse?

Knowing deep inside, this wasn’t a decision he should make himself. And, yet, somehow it felt like something he needed to answer himself.

So now, he sat in this dark. Watching as every time he believed he had come to a decision. He gathered the mana, lighting up that rune. Showing the door, just to hesitate. For the space to once again go dark.