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 before Melissa eventually gave

you say

she walked out of the room, much to

are you

Melissa glanced

I'm going

"What about him?"

laying down on

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

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

with more potions and preparations? Had you told me I would've been able to

you're

Melissa's words went from one ear to the other, and the only

about her complaints. But he knew that there

situation was, saying a couple more discourteous words, she directly left the room, finally leaving

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

down on the sofa as he let out a long and tired

you do to suddenly find yourself in this

extremely cautious person that would try to not take any risks at all. For him to find himself in such a situation, Kevin just couldn't understand what

take another long sigh,

queen and her mother, when that happens, I

"Huh!?"

table as he looked around the room. It wasn't long before his eyes paused

talk inside of my

down on

and Amanda's mother come in, if they do find out about me, which they probably will since the queen's perception is strong, I want you to tell

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

though the queen was going to do

rang inside of Kevin's head, as he

you have something to do with

"..."

Silence.

question was met with silence as Angelica

"So?"

yet again,

is because Ren told me to

would they kill

yet again

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

already irked by Melissa's attitude, and

she told him that he needed to

Angelica's direction, Kevin suddenly

did you just

[I did.]

causing Kevins' eyes to open

"How is that possible?!"

knew about her mother's circumstances. About how she had left her when she was young to never appear again. For her

his mouth again, he

the world did she appear

[That's b—]

Clank—!

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

Amanda's eyes as she

a good look at him, Amanda bit

"W...what happened!?"

***

how long did I walk for?

felt as though I had been walking for over a day, yet at the same time, knew I didn't.

thought suddenly occurred to me as my