He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked back at them.
They stepped onto the glowing platform one by one.
The faint hum beneath their feet grew louder with each person who joined.
Zaina stood beside Akamir, arms crossed, while Viros kept glancing around as if expecting something to jump out at the last second.
Luca stayed quiet, and just when Lyselle jumped up onto the platform, it hummed softly.
Slowly it began to move up, taking them to the upper floor.
The platform rose steadily, the glow beneath their feet pulsing as they crossed each floor.
"Are we going to fight those guys from the 10th floor again?" Viros asked, glancing at Akamir.
Akamir shook his head. "No, this will take us to the 8th floor so I don’t think we will have to fight them."
"That’s a relief," he mumbled, letting his body fall on the platform. "Man, I want some rest."
Akamir didn’t say anything as he glanced at Lyselle who had also sat down.
The girl still had that death look on her face like she had lost everything.
Akamir wondered but immediately thought against it.
’It would be better if she asked for my help instead.’
He was sure that Lyselle knew about his capability by now.
’I should talk with Inara about her when I meet her,’ he thought deeply. ’Maybe she can help Inara in some way.’
A sudden pull on his sleeve made him glance to his side.
Zaina stood there, her eyes drifting to his face.
"What happened?" Akamir asked, looking at her. "You need anything?"
Zaina hesitated for a moment, her fingers still lightly tugging at his sleeve before letting go.
"No," she said softly. "Not... anything urgent. I just..."
"Just say it," Akamir said, turning fully towards her.
"I... I plan to tell the church about my role as an Avatar," Zaina said, her voice uncertain. "I should have done this before..."
Akamir stayed quiet for a moment, watching her.
Zaina looked down, avoiding his gaze. "They need to know. I can’t keep pretending I’m just a normal person."
"You’re not wrong," Akamir said eventually, leaning slightly against the edge of the platform.
"But once you say it, you can’t take it back. You know that, right?"
She nodded slowly. "I do."
"They’ll treat you differently."
"They might use you."
Zaina’s fingers curled tighter around her staff. "I know that too."
He let out a quiet breath, then looked ahead again as another dark stone wall slid past them.
"I guess I’m tired of hiding," she said, voice low. "And I need the church if I want to grow my powers, the previous records of Avatar will be helpful."
Akamir gave her a faint nod without arguing.
’Well, this was going to happen anyway.’
Since the start, the church was already aware of her identity as the Avatar.
It’s just they weren’t forcing her to join them, not yet at least.
’I bet once the Pope is ready, he would definitely force her to join them.’
Still, Akamir was aware how things work in the church through Elore.
He had his insider, and Akamir could keep an eye on Pope’s movements without any problem.
He let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples. "Fine... Just be careful."
Zaina nodded slowly as she hesitated to speak once again.
"Something else you want to say?" Akamir asked, noticing her behavior.
"What will happen..." she said, her voice meek. "Will I still be your fiancée?"
Akamir blinked. "Yeah, it won’t change no matter what you do."
Zaina’s shoulders relaxed a little at his words.
Her fingers loosened around her staff, and she gave a small nod.
"Alright," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just making sure."
Akamir didn’t say anything else. He turned to look at Nayomi who floated beside him.
"What?" Akamir muttered as her eyes remained on Zaina.
"This girl likes you," she said, without looking away. "Or maybe it’s more than just like."
Akamir sighed quietly, glancing at Zaina from the corner of his eye.
She had already stepped away, pretending to check something in her bag, but her ears were faintly red.
"I know," he replied to Nayomi in a low voice. "It’s not exactly a secret."
"Try kissing her," Nayomi suggested with a smile. "I want to see how she will react."
"You do know it’s sexual harassment, right?" Akamir scoffed, frowning his brows. "And why should I do that?"
Nayomi squinted her eyes as she looked at him.
"Come to think of it," she said. "Are you a virgin?"
Akamir gave a look before he sighed. "I am not."
She blinked in surprise. "Oh, who was your first?"
Akamir looked uncomfortable as he averted his gaze. "None of your business."
Being a king in his previous life, he hadn’t had a great first time.
He still remembered the maid who took care of him since he was a child.
The same one who took his first time when he was fifteen.
...The same maid who died in his arms when he was eighteen.
Poisoned by someone who noticed her closeness with him.
’Neither of us loved each other but well...’
Akamir still doesn’t like how every time he remembers her, it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
Nayomi raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on his mood shift. "Touched a nerve, did I?"
Akamir didn’t answer.
He just leaned back slightly and looked toward the top of the shaft.
Only a few more moments before they reached the next floor.
Zaina had joined the others, her voice quiet as she spoke to Lyselle about something.
Viros was dozing off while standing, and Luca looked like he wanted to slap him for snoring with his eyes open.
Nayomi floated a little closer but didn’t say anything this time.
"Let it go," Akamir muttered under his breath.
"I didn’t say anything."
Nayomi grinned faintly. "Maybe."
A soft click echoed through the chamber as the platform reached the end of its track.
The stone walls gave way to a carved archway, marking the entrance to the eighth floor.
"Alright," Akamir said, pushing off the edge of the platform. "Let’s move."
The group stepped off without a word, most of them too tired or cautious to joke around now.
The cave walls ahead were dim but not threatening.
Faint light spilled from crystals embedded along the walls.
Unlike the lower floors, there was no scent of blood, no oppressive weight in the air.
It was almost peaceful in here.
Akamir relaxed a little as he glanced at Nayomi.
"You are in the right place," she said, her voice soft. "But... I think there is a problem."
Akamir blinked and immediately snapped his head forward.
The sound of footsteps echoed within the place.
"What is that?" Viros whispered softly.
A silhouette of a man began to form on the cave-like walls.
Slowly, a young man began to arrive in front of them.
His vibrant orange hair now turned into that of slight crimson and his eyes dull green.
He didn’t look like his previous self, he looked stronger now.
Zaina trembled as she whispered uncertainly. "Arthur?"
The boy grinned as he raised his sword towards Akamir.
"I challenge you for a duel!"
He barked, glaring at him.