“Yosh, I’m bored, so I wouldn’t mind a bit of conversation. Go ahead, ask anything you want to know about this world. I’ll answer to the best of my abilities,” Yelena said, her tone casual but inviting.

For the next several days, their discussions flowed endlessly. Yelena satisfied much of Kee’s curiosity, answering questions about the world’s intricacies and even sharing tips on survival and combat. They grew comfortable with each other, much like new friends who initially interact a lot but whose intensity cools over time. While they weren’t exceptionally close, they had an easy rapport, and their conversations, though frequent, weren’t too deep.

“Well, honestly, I doubt you’ll need some of the things I’ve taught you—like how to absorb magicules from food to recharge your energy faster or how to reroute nerve signals for advanced body control. But I don't think they’re relevant for you; your constitution is different. It’s tough for me to analyze with this barrier in place…” She trailed off, silently thinking about how her power was limited within the confines of the barrier.

Kee paused, then asked, “Since you don’t know the exact date when you’ll be freed, how about coming with me?”

Yelena chuckled softly. “You can’t break the barrier, you know.”

“I know,” Kee replied, “but I think I can move it.”

Yelena’s eyebrow arched in mild surprise. “Move it? What do you mean?”

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Kee continued, “My sub-skill, Memory Palace, allows me to store physical objects in my mind space. I’ve been practicing and I think I can store this entire room inside it. I’ve been trying to expand the limit of how much I can hold at once, and I think I can manage this. Let me try.”

Yelena leaned back, intrigued. “You’ve got a lot of surprises, don’t you? Getting two or more unique skills at once is rare, and one that can isolate space... hmm. I wonder if it can isolate time too. Well, go ahead; you’ve piqued my interest.”

A translucent aura of gold and crimson emerged from Kee’s forehead, tendrils of light slowly wrapping around the room. The aura expanded, weaving around the glowing runes and shimmering walls, gradually engulfing the entire space. Fifteen minutes passed, feeling like hours to Kee, as the room’s structure shimmered and finally dissolved into his mind, leaving behind nothing but a hollow cave where the chamber once stood.

“Yelena?” Kee called out, unsure if she had made it.

“Yeah, I’m here,” her voice replied, this time from inside his mind, sounding just as angelic but now somewhat closer, almost intimate.

“So, how is it? What’s it like in there?” Kee asked, curious about her new experience.

“It’s... like watching the world through someone else’s eyes. Strange, but also refreshing. I can sit back and enjoy this new adventure of yours from a different perspective,” Yelena mused, her voice soft in his head.

“Alright, where to now?” Kee asked.

“Don’t ask me,” she replied, her tone firm but not unkind. “In fact, talk to me as little as possible. I’ve already taught you the basics. Now, go live your own adventure. Let me just sit back and watch in peace.”

Kee smiled at her straightforwardness. “Yes, ma’am.”

And with that, they continued on, one as the adventurer, the other an unseen observer, as Kee ventured further into the unknown world.