"So, uh, how do we get into this thing?" I ask, staring at the shimmering golden wall in front of us.

Aeris is hissing like a cat at a seemingly innocuous void spirit that is moping around a few feet from us, occasionally trying to touch the golden wall, but being repelled.

It certainly does have a melancholic impression to it.

"Give me a few minutes boy. There are a lot of years to sift through in my head. I'd like to know if anyone has done this before." Seria growls.

Understandable. Vaporising us all after all that would be rather embarrassing, right?

I look around and squint. Just a bit further beyond where we all are I notice there is a large concentration of void spirits dashing forwards and backwards repeatedly on the spot, like they are doing some insane exercise routine.

"I wonder what they are doing?" I say off-hand.

"I... honestly don't know, Elijah-sama." Rishya looks where I am; and scrunches her brows.

Aria shrugs.

Aeris loses interest in the singular void spirit and dashes over to the concentration of them. She starts pirouetting next to them, a stark contrast to their orderly line dance.

"What'cha doin'? What’s this?" She asks whilst spinning.

She stops suddenly, and so do the rest of us, as with military precision, all of the void spirits stop their back and forth and turn to stare at her.

"Eeek!" She squeaks, and dashes up to suddenly hide behind me, peeking out her head cutely.

Honestly, though, Aeris, I don't know what sort of protection you're expecting there if you're scared by this.

'5+r4ng3r' I suddenly hear from the void spirit assembly.

It echoes in my head. It’s like listening to garbled radio static. But it seems like this kind of thing is almost understandable. It said 'stranger' for sure.

'Y0u h4v3 c0m3.'

"I... yes... I have." I reply.

Not intentionally though.

'Y0ur v016 1s n0+ 0f 0ur5. Y0ur 5p1r1+ 5+r4ng3'

"Hey! Aeris not strange! Aeris cute!" She pouts and balls her fists in frustration, suddenly regaining her confidence.

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I snicker at this display. But...

"You can hear that, Aeris?"

"Un?" She blinks. "Is big void spirit. Very chilly!"

Hmm... this one doesn't seem bad. Its big? So, it’s... old?

"I see."

'Ch1lD. C0m3 cl053r.'

"Don't wanna!" She shouts.

That sounds old indeed. Or maybe creepy. But... well... trust my gut, I suppose.

I pick up Aeris at the flanks and carry her towards the cluster of void spirits. She squeals and squirms and is surprisingly heavy for her size. Must be the metal.

I stop and drop her about ten feet away. She grumbles at me.

'H0h... 4 n3w 0n3 f0r 5ur3. F45c1n4+1ng.'

"Boy... you should be more careful. This spirit is extremely old and powerful." Seria suddenly comes up to me, grimacing. "It is very good at hiding itself too. I didn't even notice it until just a moment ago."

Suddenly, there is shimmer of purple light, and where there was once a small division of void spirits, there is now a crouching giant. It still has the feel of a bipedal insect, with lots of exoskeletal pieces, claws, and spikes. Its eyes blaze with an eerie black fire.

"Is this your true form?" I ask.

'F0rm 15 m34n1ngl355. 1 4m v01d. 4ll 15 my f0rm.'

Profound. I guess this is related to how void spirits store things away?

Seria shivers, and Aria and Rishya come up to us as well, looking wary.

Perhaps I'm the only one who doesn't feel as though this thing is dangerous?

Well... maybe that’s not right. It is very dangerous. It is clearly extremely powerful, dwarfing the other spirits we have here, including Michael, who also looks nervous.

But, it has the feeling of an inquisitive old gentleman, ex-military. Seen some serious shit in its time. At least I think that as long we don't piss it off, we'll be ok.

"Um, is there something you needed of me, then... um... what should I call you?"

Its black flaming eyes squint.

"Naming is dangerous, Etranger."

Suddenly it seems to talk perfect English. Bizarre.

"But if you must have one... then... yes... that is appropriate... Thanatos."

The Messenger of Death, eh?

"This is a known deity in your own world, is it not? It is my closest parallel."

I get the feeling my own memory was just tapped casually. Scary.

"I do not need of anything from you. Curiosity simply appeared to get the better of me. You are from a very strange world. And you have spawned a very strange spirit."

Aeris doesn't appear to have a comeback this time. In fact, she is shivering and looks scared of Thanatos.

"Despite the fact that this side is always changing, everything is ultimately always the same. The void is eternally cursed to never achieve anything. It can only preserve, and end things." He continues, on a philosophical bent.

"I see. Fascinating." I nod, honestly interested.

Thanatos stops for a second. With nothing in his eyes, it is hard to tell much about what he is thinking.

"Hmm... Perhaps... is this really the time?"

"Time for what?" I ask.

Thanatos doesn't appear to answer for a moment, as if pondering. Then his head turns.

"Path down of Lathandel. He who walks in Kinah's last footprint and relishes the storm left behind. Come to me." He then suddenly says.

Seria suddenly goes wide eyed. She jerks like a doll with her strings pulled, as if beckoned forwards supernaturally.

"Me?"

She gulps. But she shuffles forwards despite her grimace. It’s weird to see her so meek.

I'm guessing Lathandel was... the first thunder sage? Is this... is this what he meant about names being dangerous?

There is so much I don't understand at times.

Thanatos pushes a single long claw forwards to Seria. She shivers as it taps her cheek.

"There is a place you should go."

"I... if you say so, Lord Thanatos." She quivers.

Suddenly, in a shocking display, the claw blurs, and Seria is stabbed directly in the eye.

She screams.