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."

into Melissa's eyes. This persisted for a couple

if you

turning around she walked out of the room,

are you

Melissa

else? I'm

"What about him?"

Ren's sickly figure that was laying down on the bed.

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

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 against Melissa as he

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 help him get

you're

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

about her complaints. But he knew that

realized how dire the situation was,

Clank—!

"Haaa..."

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

the world did you do to suddenly find yourself in

person that would try to not take any risks at

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

queen and her mother,

"Huh!?"

shock, Kevin almost bumped his head against a nearby table as he looked around the room. It wasn't long before his eyes paused on a black cat

talk

Nodding her head, Angelica sat down on top of

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

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

though the queen was

rang inside of Kevin's head, as he suddenly

you have something to do with

"..."

Silence.

met with silence as Angelica simply

"So?"

However, yet

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

why would they kill

asked. However, yet again he was met with

frustrations to rise from deep within Kevin's body. All Angelica did was order him around without telling him exactly

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

told him that he needed to protect

his head in Angelica's direction, Kevin suddenly

you just

[I did.]

causing Kevins' eyes

"How is that possible?!"

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

his mouth again, he

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 vanished from the spot before reappearing in front

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

him, Amanda bit her lips before turning to look

"W...what happened!?"

***

for? ...I really wasn't sure at this

I had been walking for over a day, yet at the same time, knew I didn't. The darkness around me made me lose

me as my feet came to a