Noah continues to walk, setting one foot in front of the other. His right moves, and sets down. His left foot moves and is also set down.

He has no thoughts, he has no plan. Aimlessly walking with no destination in mind. He simply walks, just to walk and nothing more.

The recent thoughts, the questions, the doubts, the worries. They all linger in the back of his mind, refusing to be dismissed. Noah is trying to shut them out, but they just won’t go away.

All the Lifeless passing by him in the halls go unnoticed, as Noah is lost within his own mind. Simply putting one foot in front of the other, maintaining a slow pace.

Since he has left the detention classroom, he has been met with no obstacle. No hall monitors, no Lifeless that would make him their target.

It has been an uneventful period of time, as Noah simply walks.

Then with no warning, Noah comes to a sudden stop. Raising his lowered head, he looks in front of himself at the familiar terrain.

The same barren brick wall and hallway that extends into it, with even light coming from within. This is the same bathroom where he had met the disoriented girl. The same girl who is a part of his trial.

The same girl whom Noah had forcibly drug out into the hall, while she was shouting and resisting. The very same place that had been the site of his folly that ended with him entering superior detention.

Just by aimlessly walking the halls, Noah has come back to the very place he needs to be in order to complete his 3rd trial.

Staring at the bathroom entrance for a short time, Noah walks towards the bathroom entrance with the same pace as he had before.

He rounds the corner and walks right up to the stall where he had found the girl the first time he was here, before detention.

What meets his eyes is not the same sight as before. There is no crying girl sitting in the stall, she is instead looking around herself, anxiously.

Her face filled with fear, like a young girl surrounded by a world of unknown and complex things. As that is exactly what she is.

She clutches tightly to the toy bear in her arms. The bear, now being adorned by a glittering red scarf that seemingly does not match with its aesthetic.

Many awkward seconds pass by as the girl’s eyes dart around, looking to her left, then at her feet, ending to her right. But she does not look directly in front of her, where Noah stands.

That is until now, when she turns her head to look forward, right at Noah who has been staring at her this whole time.

Noah did not expect any specific reaction from the girl, however the one she gives is the only one that could strike this deep.

“W-who are you? What are y-you doing here?” She asks very quietly and slowly. Her voice filled with the apprehension that is present on her face.

Noah hears her words, the way they were spoken. He sees her face, the visible fear and confusion. He observes her posture, clutched tight to the toy bear.

All these factors contribute to it. The pang he feels deep within. Possibly in his heart, but maybe even deeper. He feels a deep emotion, something he could never possibly explain. It is a new feeling, a pain, a connection, maybe a relation.

A feeling of being able to relate to her situation on more than one front. Not just her current confusion, but the way she is. The slowness in her mind.

The mental inhibitions that Noah never noticed in her before. She is similar to himself, or similar to how he feels, possibly similar to how he was. Noah does not know, but something deep within his heart, within his soul tells him this. He is able to feel it.

The way she is restricted, held back by some influence or another. Noah himself has felt the same, inhibited by a cloudy mind, like some force from the divine. He has felt it for quite some time.

The hair on Noah’s arms raise as goosebumps cover his exposed skin. He feels odd, out of place. These emotions, these are things he could never imagine himself possessing.

Even the words that come out of his mouth feel so.. unnatural. “Do you want to go to the art room?” Noah asks her in a tone he has never used before. One filled with calmness, with safety and concern.

He hesitates, as it is a struggle to continue with what he feels compelled to say. “I can help guide you to the art room.”

Looking at Noah and hearing his words, the girl’s eyes slowly widen. When Noah finishes speaking, she is already jumping to her feet and stepping closer to him with joy. “I will go, to the art room, with you!” She says and grabs ahold of Noah’s free arm.

Looking down to the girl holding onto him, Noah simply says, “Good,” and proceeds to turn and walk, heading for the bathroom exit.

He feels even more out of place, walking with the girl at his side, holding his arm. He begins to feel his ears burn hot out of, shame? Maybe guilt?

The girl acts as if she has never met Noah before. Which makes him feel ashamed, as he had so roughly pulled her along in their prior meeting, caring only about completing his own trial, not thinking of her wellbeing at all.

He had already paid for the mistake, by going to detention. Yet still, Noah can feel something burning within, another unknown emotion he cannot place. A possible guilt at having wronged this, simple and innocent, girl.

He feels so uncomfortable and displaced that he lets the girl holding his arm lead him down the halls. While he just follows her. Instead of guiding her to the art room, she seems to be guiding him.

The recent experience in detention is the most likely cause for Noah’s emotional vulnerability. Despite being in a fully grown body, possessing the physique of a man. Noah internally is that of a naive child.

Having no experiences, no wisdom and not much knowledge to draw upon. He is a fresh and clean slate, having no sense of self, yet.

Throughout all his trials, he has been pushed and pulled along, acting only out of the purest instincts within himself, as again, he has no experiences with which to make decisions and judgements.

A distant thumping noise can barely be heard. Like an alarm clock touching upon a certain mental nerve, this sound is able to pull Noah out of his daze.

Immediately jolting into action, Noah turns his head around, looking for some place to take cover. Yet he sees no doors, no rooms in sight.

Relying on the next best method of hiding, Noah directs his attention to the sides of the halls, to the lockers.

Grabbing onto the girl’s arm, Noah gently pulls her closer to the wall of lockers while saying. “We need to hide, there is a danger approaching.” Noah acts with the girl’s safety as his foremost thought.

Compared to his instinct driven behavior from prior trials, these current actions appear to be out of character, contradictory to his prior selfish motives.

This would be the correct assumption, as Noah is not a selfless and caring individual by nature.

But if there were to be some, influence or force, that is able to cloud Noah’s mind and quell his instincts, then Noah’s current behavior can be explained more simply.

As it is not his own active thoughts or intentions that drive his current behavior, but perhaps the influence of another, or many competing others?

Seeing that Noah is currently a clean slate without much definition for his own self. This level of influence upon him is not of great difficulty and those that are doing so, should feel some level of shame for targeting an Undeserving of this, simplicity.

Being toyed with and manipulated by far stronger beings is a fate many Lifeless are subject to within the Afterdeath trials. Something Noah is not exempt from.

Feelings of pity or indignance for these Lifeless come frequently, but are not often openly expressed.

With the actions and influence of one being, many others too feel compelled to act. It is a chain reaction that often results in Lifeless being met with little obstacles or ones too great to overcome.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It is important that all beings in the Afterdeath become aware of their position. For Lifeless like Noah himself, the Undeserving, it is common for them to become new toys for the brazen and pawns of the crafty.

That is why some level of influence and manipulation of the trials is acceptable. But when it becomes too much for the trials to proceed efficiently, then consequences are felt not just in the trials, but across the whole of the Afterdeath.

Consequences not even those that believe themselves to be omniscient, like a certain old crone, would be able to handle. The need for consequence however, has yet to come.

Continuing on with his intense situation, Noah sets down the mop that he has been carrying and uses his now free hand to open the latches of the locker doors.

The first latch he pulls at does not budge, filling Noah with a sudden sense of dread and possibly fear. This is because his safety is not the only thing on the line, but the girl’s as well.

The dread is immediately washed away when the next locker Noah pulls at swings open with ease. Pulling the girl up to the locker, Noah pushes her inside saying, “Stay quiet until it passes.”

The girl simply nods her head as Noah closes the door, shutting her inside. He continues onto the adjacent locker, finding it too, to be unlocked.

Grabbing his mop, Noah crams himself into the small space of the locker, pulling closed the door behind. Doing this with some level of proficiency, as he has done this many times before.

Noah waits in silence for the approaching hall monitor to pass. As unlike in a few other false alarm cases, the thumping noise is getting louder, indicating there is a hall monitor still approaching.

With the thumping noise growing louder and louder, Noah’s thoughts are not of himself, but are directed towards the girl who is hiding in the locker adjacent to his.

He is thinking about her, if she has the ability to remain quiet enough, for a long enough period of time for the hall monitor to pass by.

Noah listens with his breath held. Every bit of concentration focused on the small noises he can hear through the thin metal sheeting that separates the interior of the lockers.

He can hear the girl’s breathing, possibly even the beat of her heart. Every small movement, every small ruffling of fabric. Noah hears it all, as it consumes his focus.

This concentration which finds its origin in the same being that is influencing him. As Noah himself, at his base instinctual level, holds no concern for the girl.

With the thumping sound now receding, Noah’s worries turn out to be unfounded, as the girl was able to hide in silence without issue.

Waiting just a bit longer for the noise to completely fade, Noah exits his locker with his mop and turns to let the girl out of hers.

Opening the locker door, what meets his eyes is a girl smiling at him, an innocent smile that strikes deep into his vulnerable mind.

Offering his arm towards the girl, Noah gives his own best effort at a kind smile to reciprocate hers. “Let’s go, to the art room.”

Letting out a joyous “Ok!” The girl grabs ahold of Noah’s hand and begins to almost skip down the hall alongside him. Her innocent and simple nature again making Noah’s ears burn in inexplicable emotion.

Walking while holding the hand of the girl, the first unimpeded question rears its head in Noah’s mind. Why is he doing this?

Noah looks down at his arm, towards his hand. Within the hand is gripped a much smaller and slender one, the hand of the girl.

She walks, swaying this way and that. Tugging and pulling on Noah’s own arm. A sight reminiscent of a father walking while holding the hand of his young daughter.

Noah questions: why does he do this? Why is he actively holding the hand of the girl? It feels strange to do this, something he is not comfortable doing. But he has long ago left the realm of comfort.

Another thought comes into his mind: This is not how he normally acts. But a question comes along with that thought: What is his normal behavior then? What is he..?

Noah immediately stops himself, he blocks those thoughts along with all other activity in his mind. Any thought or question could lead to another which could touch upon things he wants to avoid.

This refusal to think, making him all the more susceptible to the influences that hover around him.

Noah directs his simple focus onto walking, one foot and then two. Right foot into the left, his steps being true.

Thoughts are dangerous, questions even more so. Any semblance of introspection, any inkling of deeper things and Noah recoils from it all.

Like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, Noah would rather turn away from it all, avoiding everything. A mistake to be sure, but one that he may not see the consequence of for some time.

There is still a positive side to Noah’s current behavior. While aimlessly walking the halls, he has touched upon the nature of the school that many others struggle with. The fact that nothing has a set location.

Some try to keep track of where they have been, forming mental or physical maps of the halls. However in a maze like this where nothing is ever consistent, doing these things will only hinder them.

While Noah’s aimless walking is a far superior method. As Noah is unaware, the Dreams of Darkness will actually bring your destination closer if you are not actively searching for it.

Noah’s frequent happens upon the location that he needed to be, is no coincidence, but an outcome brought about by the Dreams of Darkness that control the school.

Which is why simply walking the halls with no set goal can be one of the most efficient methods to reach one’s desired destination.

Noah feels a sudden tug from his hand as the girl says excitedly beside him. “Look!” She points with her hand holding the toy bear, “It's the art room!”

Halting his steps, Noah looks in the direction the girl points. What he sees is a plain looking doorway without even any lights shining from within. It is a dark classroom like the many others he has seen.

“Are you certain, it's the art room?” Noah looks at the girl while asking.

Returning Noah’s look while tilting her head, the girl replies with a tinge of uncertainty, “Yes?”

Deciding her answer was good enough, Noah starts walking forward once again, towards the doorway the girl had pointed out.

Noah might as well look inside the classroom even if it's not the art room they are looking for, there can be no harm in checking.

Turning the door handle and pushing the door open, Noah looks inside the dark room. He is able to tell this is not a standard classroom as there are no desks, but rather large tables with various mismatched chairs.

When the girl also steps into the room to look around alongside Noah, he receives a prompt from the announcing voice in his mind, confirming that this is indeed the art room.

“Trial 3 complete. Now beginning trial 4. Lifeless, your task is to transform the art room into a safe haven, clearing it of all danger.”

Noah completely hears every word of the new trial. Whether he can understand what it is asking him to do is another question.

The answer to it is obvious from Noah's next question. “What does that mean?”

The girl turns to face Noah while giving him a confused “Hmm?” While tilting her head with an innocent smile.

Knowing what is about to happen within the dark classroom, Noah speaks aloud again. “The room is dark, ghosts will appear making the room dangerous.”

Letting out a startled “Oh!” The girl's eyes open wide in sudden fear. Only a moment later another thought pops into her mind as she lets out another “Ah! I know something!”

Noah, who was preparing to leave the room before the ghosts appear, stops in place and watches the girl walk farther into the dark classroom.

She approaches a large desk that sits across the room from the door and starts rummaging around on its surface.

She even opens a drawer to feel around inside, unable to see much because of the darkness. She is looking for something specific, an object that even she doesn't really know what it is.

But yet, something compels her to search for it. A certain object that will be of immense use for a certain Lifeless’ trial. An object which wouldn’t naturally be found in such an early setting.

Finally, after looking through a second drawer, she shouts out in eureka. “Aha! I got it!” She says while holding a small object up above her head.

Skipping over to Noah, the girl holds out the object to him, offering it over. Noah reaches out his hand and grabs ahold of the, candle? It is just a simple candle of a dark navy blue with swirling white patterns in the wax.

Observing the candle which is only the length of his hand, from wrist to fingertip, and the thickness of his thumb, Noah is unimpressed with it, unaware of the danger sealed within.

The only odd thing about the candle is its strong scents, smelling of a sort of spice or incense that he cannot place.

Noah looks away from the candle back towards the smiling girl who gave it to him. “What does it do?”

The girl freezes for a split second, nearly betraying the greater intelligence that is influencing her by giving a condescending look.

Immediately returning to her innocent self, the girl says through a bright smile. “It smells!” Then putting one of her fingers against her chin, she states. “The art teacher likes to smoke. So he always has smelly candles, saying they are a better scent to smell.”

The girl smiles proudly with her immense display of knowledge, which has been manipulated to suit a certain purpose.

The girl looks towards Noah, expectation in her eyes. She wants to be praised, acknowledged for finding such a valuable artifact for him.

But Noah is oblivious to these sort of cues and just asks her another question. “What do I do with it?”

Tilting her head again, the girl says with the slightest disappointment. “You light it.”

“With what?” Noah asks back immediately.

“Uhmm, the art teacher always had a lighter. Maybe find one of those?” She says while bringing her toy bear closer to her chest. Implying the need for Noah to do something himself and not just be guided through all his trials.

Noah hesitates for a moment before acting. Following the girl’s previous example, he approaches the desk farther into the dark room and tries looking for a lighter in the still open drawer, the same one which held the candle.

If there was proper lighting, Noah surely would have found the lighter far sooner, as it was merely resting on top of the desk in an easily seen location.

But due to the lack of lighting, the only light source being from the open door, he did not discover it right away.

Dragging his hands along the surface of the desk, feeling at anything that is potentially a lighter, Noah touches upon numerous objects on the desktop.

While he is searching, the girl too comes over and starts digging through drawers alongside Noah, seeming to enjoy the idea of helping.

With a subtle movement, the girl pushes the obvious lighter across the desk, Noah remaining entirely oblivious to this.

Finally grabbing onto something that he believes to be a lighter, Noah holds it up to get a better look.

The girl’s exclamation, “The lighter!” From beside him, confirm it to be the object they were looking for.

Holding the lighter up in his right hand, Noah takes a few moments to inspect it using the light from the doorway. He is trying to figure out the mechanism that would allow it to light the candle.