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 a couple of seconds

you say

of the room, much to Kevin's

are you

her steps, Melissa

else? I'm going

"What about him?"

at Ren's sickly figure that was laying down on the bed. Staring at him, Melissa scornfully looked at

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

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 against

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

you're

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

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

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

Kevin 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

did you do to suddenly find yourself in this kind of

He was an extremely cautious person that would try to not take any risks at all. For him to find himself in such a situation, Kevin just

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

and her mother, when

"Huh!?"

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

you just talk

Nodding her head, Angelica sat down on top

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

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

words, it felt as though the queen was going to do something to

of Kevin's head, as

something to

"..."

Silence.

was met with silence as

"So?"

asked once again. However, yet again, he was met

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

why would they kill

However, yet again he was met

lack of answers caused frustrations to rise from deep within Kevin's body. All Angelica did was order him around without telling him exactly what was going on. Had it not been for his friend's situation, he would've

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

later. Since she told him that he

Angelica's direction, Kevin suddenly

you just

[I did.]

Kevins'

"How is that possible?!"

left her when she was young to never appear again. For her to suddenly appear in Issanor, Kevin was

mouth again,

the world did she

[That's b—]

Clank—!

door burst open and three figures walked in. Before Kevin had the chance to see who the three figures were, one vanished from the spot before reappearing in front of

worry flashed across Amanda's eyes as she stared

good look at him, Amanda bit her lips

"W...what happened!?"

***

for? ...I really wasn't

felt as though I had been walking for over a day, yet at the same time, knew I didn't. The darkness around me made me lose my sense of time and direction as

occurred to me as my feet