The Author's POV

"Where am I?"

My mind was a mess. I couldn't really think properly. My body was numb, and the moment I opened my eyes, all I saw was darkness.

A pitch-black darkness.

A darkness that seemed to completely eat the world around me.

Placing my hand on the ground, or what seemed to be the ground, I propped my body up.

"...What is happening?"

I muttered out loud.

Glancing around me, and only seeing darkness, at first I was confused. However, recalling the events that had happened not too long ago, I was able to instantly realize that what was happening to me was definitely connected to the other Ren.

'This place, I have been here before.'

Once I made the connection with the other Ren, everything started to make more sense as I realized that I had been in this place before.

It wasn't that long ago as well.

Around the time when I had activated Monarch's indifference to test my theory and communicate with the other Ren.

Once my thoughts paused there, I instantly looked around the place in hopes of finding the other Ren, but regardless of how much I looked, I couldn't find him.

My brows knit.

"Where are you."

I muttered out loud. From what I recalled, the last time, when I called him, he instantly appeared before me. Perhaps it was the same now.

"..."

Unfortunately, I was only met with silence.

Just as I was about to call out for him again, I closed my mouth as I suddenly recalled something.

'Could it perhaps be the chains?'

Right before I appeared in this place, I remembered the other Ren being bonded by a series of chains. Was the reason why I couldn't find him because of this?

This was a plausible scenario.

Taking a look at my surroundings one more time, I took a step forward and walked towards the darkness. Even though I wasn't sure of where I was headed, it was better than staying in the same place.

After all, there was nothing but darkness around me.

Right now, my priority was going back.

***

"What in the world did he do?"

"That..."

Hearing Melissa's question, Kevin opened his mouth and tried to say something, but he proceeded to helplessly shake his head.

"I really don't know if I have to be honest. I was coming back from training and this is how I found him."

As he said those words, from the side of his eyes, Kevin eyed a black cat in the distance. At the moment, she was the only person that knew about what happened to Ren.

Unfortunately, for some reason, she refused to say anything or even show up.

Listening to Kevin's words, Melissa raised her brow.

"You don't know?"

"I don't."

straight into Melissa's eyes. This persisted for

if you say

around she walked out of the room, much to

where are you

steps, Melissa glanced at

else? I'm

"What about him?"

down on the bed. Staring at him, Melissa scornfully looked

me what type of situation this was? I only came here with the basic stuff. You expect me to have the right

this way.' However, he knew that this wasn't the time or place to fight against Melissa as he could only apologetically lower his

been able to save so much time, and now because of you, I'm

right, you're right,

his head and apologized. Honestly, all of Melissa's words went from one ear to the other, and the only

care less about her complaints. But he knew that there was a time and place to act

realized how dire the situation was, saying a couple more discourteous words, she directly left the

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

the sofa as he let out a long

just what in the world did you do to suddenly find

take any risks at

sigh, a charming voice suddenly entered his head,

queen and her mother, when that happens,

"Huh!?"

against a nearby table as he looked around the room. It wasn't long before his eyes paused on a black cat

talk inside

head, Angelica sat down

mother come in, if they do find out about me, which they probably will since the queen's

tell them that if anything happened to her, Ren would die. Kevin

as though the queen was

rang inside of Kevin's head, as he

to do

"..."

Silence.

question was met with silence as Angelica

"So?"

asked once again. However, yet

called you first is because Ren told me to do so. Your job is to stop them from

why would

again

body. All Angelica did was order him around without telling him exactly what was

attitude, and Angelica's attitude did not help at

later. Since she told him that he needed to protect

his head in Angelica's

did you just

[I did.]

causing Kevins' eyes to

"How is that possible?!"

about her mother's circumstances. About how she had left her when she was

mouth again,

in the world did she

[That's b—]

Clank—!

and three figures walked in. Before Kevin had the chance to see who the three figures were, one vanished from the spot before

a look of worry flashed across Amanda's eyes as she stared at Ren's

good look at him, Amanda bit

"W...what happened!?"

***

how long did I walk for? ...I really wasn't sure

day, yet at the same time, knew I didn't. The darkness around me made me lose my sense of time and direction as I

suddenly occurred to me as my feet came