After falling through the hole, Sorn couldn't see a thing. However, it only took two seconds for him to pass through something that felt almost rubbery to go through. It was as though he was breaking through layers.

After breaking through, he noticed two main things. Firstly, the temperature had increased by a lot. Secondly, he could see once again. And directly below him was a large pool of water.

After splashing into it, he drifted along till he was at the shore, where Oden was there to offer him a hand up.

Oden: “You alright?”

Sorn: “Yeah, but you won’t believe-”

Oden: “Save it for later.”

He nodded behind him. Everyone else was surrounding a strange structure. Its shape was similar to that of a cocoon. Keilan brought a single hand towards it, almost longingly before stopping himself.

Keilan: “The feeling I’ve been getting this entire time has been from this thing.”

???: “Quite strange isn’t it?”

A man walked over from behind him, and immediately most guards were up. Sorn noticed that he wasn’t a man at all. His figure was humanoid, and his fluffy blue-gray hair went back into spikes. Most curiously was the fur-like hair that covered parts of his face. When he opened his mouth slightly, his teeth were sharper than knives.The stranger suddenly bowed to Keilan.

???: “It has been a while, my Lord.”

Even Keilan looked a bit taken aback by this.

Keilan: “Sorry, am I meant to know you.”

???: “No, but you soon will. I am Romulus of the Lycans. Once, I was a proud warrior. But since then, I have only existed to wait for you, so that I may serve you.”

Keilan was characteristically suspicious.

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Keilan: “Why would you serve me?”

Romulus: “I see you do not trust me. That is fair, I suppose that would be something I am meant to earn. I made a promise to your late mother Keilan. I promise that I will be at your side until the day I die.”

The tension in the air thickened upon the stranger mentioning Keilan’s name.

Oden: “Where exactly are we?”

Romulus: “My ancestor has named this area Aionos Agros. It is a world in which none are allowed to leave and time does not pass.”

Kaen: “What do you mean, ‘we can’t leave’?”

Romulus pointed up towards the hole the eight had come from, and they all turned to look. Chains of ice covered the entirety of the hole.

Romulus: “Your Emperor stood in that area for twenty years to create this seal you see above you. A seal that can be easily broken into, but impossible to be broken out of. You did not see these chains when you were above correct? That is why.”

A couple faces soured upon the Emperor being mentioned. Oden generated a large ax, causing everyone to step back as he launched it towards the chains overhead. The ax shattered immediately upon making contact.

Toren: “It appears as though we are truly stuck here.”

Aria: “Nice observation genius.”

Crystal: “Mr. Romulus right? Is there really no way out?”

Romulus: “There is one way.”

He gestured to them to walk around the large cocoon-like structure. Upon following, a collective noise of astonishment radiating among the group.

Before them rested a small village. What was more interesting was what was above. A large set of stone stairs was connected to the village, leading up to a large gate. Two red poles were attached to a larger pole above. The stairs went so long, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to call it a mountain. The snowy layer acted as a ceiling. Seeing it now for the first time, Sorn realized this meant they were truly underground. He wondered where the light came from. Four circles were attached to the stairs at different heights. They were independent floating landscapes. Romulus looked towards the stairs in the distance.

Romulus: “Non-Lycans are permitted to pass through the gates into those circles you see. In there are fragments of our Father’s weapon that was stolen before he was trapped here. A man in a strange mask appeared here centuries ago. I’m not sure how, but he convinced our Father to trap the fragments and he has been locked behind the Forbidden Gate since.”

This gate seemed to be the large one upon the top of the stairs. Looking at it, Sorn guessed it would take an entire day to make that journey.

Oden: “So all we need to do is go into those strange areas and find the fragment.”

Aria: “Sounds easy!”

Keilan’s demeanor remained untrusting.

Keilan: “I want to know more about my mother.”

Romulus: “I have made a pact. One that disallows me from-”

A sword was at his neck as he spoke.

Keilan: “Don’t fuck with me and answer the question.”

Romulus sighed. He was about a meter taller than Oden, who was the tallest amongst the group. If the situation wasn’t so serious, Sorn would have perhaps found the image of Keilan reaching up to put a sword on the giant of an individual to be hilarious.

Just as quickly as Keilan had put the sword up, a white flash caught them all off guard. In mere moments, Keilan stood aghast. The handle of his sword was all that remained. Romulus stood proud, holding a beast of a blade that competed even with Bjorn’s ax.

Romulus: “It seems you do not understand the implications of a Lycan’s pact. Despite my loyalty to you that I promised, the pact I make is always of higher priority.”

Keilan looked like he wanted to retort, but Crystal put a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head.

Oden: “There’s still something that I’m curious about. That man who brought the sword, where is he now?”

Romulus: “The last I saw him was when he disappeared behind the gates with our Father. I also believe we have spent too much time in this area. Let us depart.”

He began to walk away, and after a moment of hesitation, the rest followed him towards the village. Keilan gave a final look at the cocoon before he followed as well.

End.