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."

eyes. This persisted for a couple of seconds before

you

of the room,

are

Melissa glanced

else? I'm going

"What about him?"

on the bed. Staring at him, Melissa

told me to come here without telling me what type of situation this was? I only

say, '...But it's because you would've refused if I didn't do it this way.' However, he knew that this wasn't the time or place to fight

Ren was in danger I would've come here with more potions and preparations? Had you told me I would've been able to save so much time, and now because of you, I'm forced to go back to get the proper potions that might

you're right, I'm

word that Melissa said, Kevin lowered his head and apologized. Honestly, all of Melissa's words went from

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

did not last for long. As she too realized how dire the situation was, saying a couple more discourteous words, she directly left the room, finally leaving Kevin alone once

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

powerlessly sat back down on the sofa as he let out a long and tired sigh. Turning to look at Ren whose condition seemed to have stabilized, Kevin forced a

just what in the world did you do to suddenly find yourself

to not take any risks at all. For him to find himself in such a

was about to take another long sigh, a charming voice suddenly entered

with the elven queen and her mother, when that

"Huh!?"

shock, Kevin almost bumped his head against a nearby table as he looked around the

you just talk inside

her head, Angelica sat down on top of the

which they probably will since the queen's perception is strong, I want you to tell them that I'm

them that if anything happened to her, Ren would die. Kevin did not doubt her words as he knew that the

was going to do something to her if she found out about

rang inside of Kevin's head, as he suddenly

have something to do with Ren's

"..."

Silence.

met with silence as Angelica

"So?"

yet

know that the reason why I called you first is because Ren told me to do so. Your

would they kill

again he was met with

Kevin's body. All Angelica did was order him around without

fact, he was already irked by Melissa's attitude, and Angelica's attitude

down, calm down, I'm bound to find sooner or later. Since she told him that he needed to protect her for

Angelica's

just say

[I did.]

replied causing Kevins'

"How is that possible?!"

About how she had left her when she was young to never

again,

in the world

[That's b—]

Clank—!

door burst open and three figures walked in. Before Kevin had the chance to see who the

on the bed, a look of worry flashed across Amanda's eyes as she stared

at him, Amanda bit her lips before turning to

"W...what happened!?"

***

walk for?

I didn't. The darkness around me made me lose my sense of time

me as my feet came to a