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."

staring straight into Melissa's eyes. This persisted

if you

she walked out of the room, much to Kevin's

where are

her steps, Melissa

I'm

"What about him?"

on the bed. Staring at him, Melissa scornfully looked

type of situation this was? I only came here with the basic stuff. You

do it this way.' However, he knew that this wasn't the time or place to fight against

me that 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

you're right, I'm

and apologized. Honestly, all of Melissa's words went from one ear to the other, and the only reason he was apologizing was

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

too realized how dire the situation was, saying a couple more discourteous words, she directly left the room, finally leaving Kevin

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

powerlessly sat back down on the sofa as he let out a long and tired sigh. Turning to look at

you do to suddenly find yourself in this

take any risks at all. For him to find

as he was about to take another long sigh,

with the elven queen and her mother, when that

"Huh!?"

he looked around the room. It wasn't long before his eyes paused on a black cat in

just talk inside of

head, Angelica sat down on top of

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

implications in Angelica's words. She was trying to tell them that if anything happened to her, Ren would die. Kevin did not doubt her words as he knew that the two of them were under the

the queen was going

of

have something to do with

"..."

Silence.

was met with silence as Angelica simply stared

"So?"

yet again, he

called you first is because Ren told me to do so. Your

why would they

asked. However, yet again he was

without telling him exactly what was going on. Had it not been for his friend's situation, he

Melissa's attitude, and

sooner or later. Since she told him that he needed to protect her for

head in Angelica's

did you just say Amanda's

[I did.]

causing Kevins' eyes to open

"How is that possible?!"

how she had left her when she was young to

his mouth again, he incredulously

world did she appear

[That's b—]

Clank—!

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

a look of worry flashed across Amanda's eyes as

a couple of seconds to take a good look at him, Amanda bit her lips

"W...what happened!?"

***

I walk for? ...I really wasn't

didn't. The darkness around me made me lose my sense of time and direction as I aimlessly

suddenly occurred to me as my