I found myself in a state of weightlessness, drifting through a hazy realm that seemed to exist beyond time and space. The surroundings were indistinct, like a watercolour painting fading into the ether. Blurry images flickered before my closed eyes, elusive and ephemeral. Faces, places, and voices merged into a chaotic mosaic, a puzzle I couldn't decipher.

Amidst the confusion, a figure materialized in the misty landscape of my mind. It was a woman, her features indistinct, yet a sense of urgency emanated from her. She leaned over me, her long black hair flowing over me and her mouth moving as if shouting, but the words eluded my comprehension.

"Wa? Uhh?" I strained to comprehend, attempting to decipher the fragmented sounds. Was she telling me to wake up? Was this a dream within a dream?

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I reached out to touch her, to make some sense of the enigma before me. But my hand passed through her as if she were made of mist. She retreated slightly, her form wavering, and her voice growing fainter, as if being carried away by a gust of wind until the dream collapsed.

The strange scene in my mind broke like the same glassy shattering of the chill from the basement moments ago and my eyes jolted awake. The scene around me had shifted, and I found myself lying on a thin mattress in an unfamiliar room again. The air felt stale like the same basement I was in earlier and a flickering light from a solitary bulb cast eerie shadows on the worn walls. Where was I? How had I ended up here?

I sat up slowly, my head still throbbing with residual pain from the strike Pandora had given me. As my eyes adjusted to the room, my only thoughts could go to the strange dream I had just experienced.

Was it merely a dream, or was there something more to it? The recurrence of that mysterious woman and the feeling of familiarity left me unsettled. I had a similar dream many nights ago but this time it was much more vivid. I couldn't shake the sense that it held some significance, somehow a connection to the events unfolding around me.

I knew there was an importance to it but with my pounding head I couldn’t think about it for too long or I’ll get another headache, I needed to assess my surroundings and find a way out of this place.

As I got up from the mattress, the pain in my stomach reminded me of the encounter with Pandora and how helpless I was at that moment. It felt as though I hadn't been unconscious for long, not only were the memories of her overpowering presence and her distorted voice still clear in my mind but the pain in my head and stomach was still fresh too.

Looking around the room, I took in the worn walls and faded decor. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the basement. The silence was palpable, broken only by the soft hum of the lightbulb above and murmurs of voices from elsewhere. It seemed that I had been moved to a different location, away from the battleground. Had we gotten some kind of rescue as I had hoped?

With a renewed sense of hope, I approached the door and turned the worn handle. It creaked open, revealing a narrow cobble brick corridor lined with multiple closed doors. The flickering light from the bulb casting eerie shadows along the passageway, heightening the sense of mystery that surrounded this place.

Instinctively, I patted myself down, checking for any belongings I might have lost during the chaos. To my relief, I still wore my Huntsman uniform, albeit dishevelled and stained with dirt and blood. It provided me with a small semblance of familiarity and a reminder of this strange new world.

Ignoring the soreness in my body, I pressed forward, my steps echoing in the empty corridor. The murmurs of distant voices grew louder as I approached a staircase at the end of the hallway. The sound was faint, but distinct enough to catch my attention.

Curiosity got the better of me, and without hesitation, I ascended the stairs, each step a resolute decision to uncover the source of those voices. The closer I got, the clearer the conversation became. It was a voice I recognized, but it didn't belong to Pandora.

Reaching the top of the staircase, I paused just before the threshold, my hand hovering near the doorknob. I strained my ears, trying to discern the words being exchanged beyond the door. The voices grew louder, and amidst the jumble of sound, I distinguished Fleur's voice. She seemed to be engaged in conversation with someone else. Thank goodness she was alright, for the briefest moment before falling unconscious I had felt as though we both might have not made it out alive.

“Yes Father, I know that all too well.”

Father? Was she talking to that guy, Father August from the church?

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“Fleur, he knows too much already. Either we terminate him or you take the brunt of it and let him in early. You do know what, he would say about this don’t you?”

My heart skipped a beat as I listened to their conversation. What were they discussing? And who was this "he" they were referring to? I couldn't make assumptions or let them know I had been eavesdropping. I stood frozen, torn between the desire to burst through the door and demand answers and the caution that held me back.

There was a pause that felt agonizingly long, the weight of the silence hanging in the air. I couldn't stand it any longer. My hand trembled as I turned the knob and pushed the door open, revealing the scene within.

Fleur sat across from Father August, her expression a mix of weariness and determination. She glanced up, her eyes meeting mine, and I saw relief wash over her features.

"Eli," she said, her voice laced with concern. "You're awake."

Father August, the older-aged man in white robes with greying hair and kind eyes, turned his attention to me. His gaze held a mix of curiosity and caution. "Ah, Elias. You've had quite an eventful encounter, haven't you?"

Confusion swirled in my mind as I took in the sight of them both. "Where are we? What happened to Pandora?"

Father August gestured for me to take a seat, and I obliged, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over me. Fleur's presence beside me brought a measure of comfort.

"We're in the back of the church, none of the public are allowed back here," Father August began, his voice calm and soothing. "You've been unconscious for just over an hour. While you were out, someone intervened and dealt with Pandora."

My brows furrowed. "Who? Who saved me?"

Father August's gaze held a hint of uncertainty. "I can't say for certain. But rest assured, both you and Fleur are safe now. The pendant that fueled Pandora's power has been taken care of."

Relief washed over me, mixed with a lingering sense of unease. The unknown saviour had rescued us, eliminating the immediate threat. But questions still swirled in my mind, demanding answers. Once again, things felt too easy, like a coincidental conspiracy all being wrapped around my sudden appearance in this world.

Fleur reached out, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Elias, we need to leave," she said, her voice urgent. "We'll explain everything once we're back at the Den. There are things we need to discuss with Darius."

Fleur looked back to August sternly and he nodded in acceptance."Very well, though Fleur, I'll need to talk to you for a moment before you two go."

Knowing I would have to wait outside again, I stood up. A mix of curiosity and concern coursing through me. There was clearly much more to this situation than I could comprehend, and I had a feeling that the outcome waiting for me would only deepen the mystery I found myself entangled in. But for now, I would have to trust Fleur's judgment.

Fleur rose from her seat, her movements cautious yet determined. "Of course, Father. But please, make it quick. I don't have much time to waste."

Father August stood as well, his gaze shifting between us. "I understand," he replied, his voice stern. "I'll just be brief."

Fleur motioned for me to go wait outside as both she and Father August waited. I left the room without hesitation and made my way out into the church’s main hall. It was the same as before, dimly lit, well furnished and with a smell of incense that was rather a bit too strong for my liking. Only a couple of people dressed in robes sat in the pews as I made my way down the aisle.

As I sat waiting in one of the pew chairs, my mind raced with questions and possibilities. Who was this "he" they had mentioned earlier? Could it just be someone like Darius? What was the significance of the pendant and its connection to Pandora's power? And most importantly, how I fit into all of this?

The number of unanswered questions—not only just from today—was starting to pile up on me and I was starting to feel the weight of it all pushing me down, giving me a slight dull headache.

After a few minutes, Fleur rejoined me, her features now etched with a mixture of determination and concern. She took my wrist in her gloved hand and squeezed it as she pulled me up and out of the seat. "Elias, we need to go," she said, her voice steady. "We have a carriage waiting for us outside. It will take us back to the centre of Leode."

The fatigue still lingered, but the urgency in Fleur's voice spurred me into action as I was being dragged along by Fleur. Although this is a nice place, I would rather not stay any longer, not when I now knew danger lurked around every corner.

Together, we walked towards the door, bidding farewell to Father August. He offered a final nod of acknowledgement, his gaze filled with a mixture of sympathy and apprehension. With that, we stepped out of the room and made our way through the quiet corridors of the church.

As we reached the entrance, the heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing the outside world. A carriage stood by the entrance, its driver patiently waiting. Fleur helped me climb into the carriage, and we settled into the worn seats. The driver cracked the whip, and the carriage lurched forward, carrying us away from the church and towards Leode.

Sitting in the carriage, the rhythmic motion lulling me slightly, I glanced at Fleur beside me. Her eyes held a flicker of weariness, but her determination remained unwavering. I couldn't help but wonder what was now going on and why I had been dragged into it all. Not only that but I knew more strange phenomena awaited us back in Leode, and what truths would be revealed. The answers I sought continued to lay ahead, and I vowed to uncover them, no matter the cost.