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”Inviting people like you… who miss someone from the dead…?” the figure answered quite easily.
”Look, I’m sure it’s confusing for you to comprehend but—“ the figure’s eyes flashed once ”—you’ve met one of us Knight before…” the figure froze a little before speaking again:
”Aisen, does that name ring a bell?”
"I don't miss someone-wait." Her blood boiled. "What did you just say? Who?" Her heart thumped wildly, and she felt a thrill of fear go through her. "You must be joking."
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”Aisen Faltur? You know, the man with two swords, is a wholesome little dork who’s also damn hot… even as a straight male I’ve got to accept that anyways—“ the figure murmured the last part out ”—you know him, right?”
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(Well he has changed a bit, you might like him better now)
”Really?” the figure was fidgeting with the pocket watch they had.
”Can I hear it?” the figure asked before giggling softly.
They soon, while waiting for an answer, played with their watch like a yo-yo and they seemed pretty skilled at it as well.
Hinata raised an eyebrow at the giggling, wondering what this person had found amusing.
"If I addressed everyone who followed me like this, I'd never have a moment's rest." She put the cigar back in her mouth, smoke obscuring her face for a moment before it drifted elsewhere.
"N-no. Never heard of him. What do you want, anyway?" She clenched her fists, feeling the familiar wave of fire roaring up beneath her skin before it met the barrier that had been upon her the moment she had stepped through the portal. She ground her teeth in annoyance.
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The figure didn’t stop his play at the yo-yo and did not turn back to face Hinata neither. He just eyed her a bit.
”Well, how about this, we might know each other by name but not in person… name’s Cronos, Cronos Flynn, the first recorded Time Manipulator and you are—“ his eyes flashed silverly once at the female figurine ”—the Balance Keeper… great honor to be standing next to you” the man said, pressing the watch he was playing with twice, closing it up.
”Back to business… you were missing someone meaningful to you just earlier, correct?”
”Your body language says otherwise but okay… I just want to give you another chance to meet that person, whether it be the person who died or… you know, him, up to you” the cold figure stated, breathing out a cloud of white mist that was at a freezing temperature.
"I'm going to have to respectfully decline," Adara said through clenched teeth. "I just want to get back to my world. Can you do that? I don't want anything to do with the dead, or-or Aisen, whoever that is."
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Hinata tilted her head a bit with Cronos introduced himself. She recognized the name, but just barely.
"Likewise," she said, just to be polite. In reality, even with her age, she had never been one to pay attention to history which she did not need to know for her work. She found it best to forget unneeded information; once a job was done, she refused to let herself dwell on it long. It was how she stayed sane.
"Yes, I had been. But what concern of it is yours?"
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”I can’t… unfortunately I can only open portals to… uh, the Labyrinth. I was sent here, not that I wanted to be here” the cold figure shrugged as he spoke the last part out.
”It might satisfy you that you can find portals to your home realm at the Labyrinth…?”
Adara's jaw clenched. "How handy, that you can only open to the Labyrinth. You must really want me there." She sighed, her breath clouding in front of her in a puff of steam. "Fine. I'll go. Anywhere is better than this hellhole." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "As long as I don't have to see… some people."
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”Oh you know, I can bring you to them again if you’d like that” the time manipulator stated, throwing the closed pocket watch up and catching it as it comes down.
”You might also be happy to know that we can offer you quite an adventure” he added, throwing the item he had up again before it went back into his hand.
A portal had opened behind Hinata.
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”Now we’re talkin’” the chilly figure opened a portal by casting a mist smell, forming the opening on the dead end’s wall.
”After you” he gestured towards the portal with an inviting smile.
(Note: The entry ways of each character will be… a bit different, you’ll see)
(Ooh, cool!)
Sending him a suspicious look - she had never trusted overly nice people, especially ones who said a name she had never wanted to hear again - she stepped toward the portal. She hesitated at the entrance. Was she really going to listen to him? The last time she had gone through a portal, she had ended up here. With a sigh, she squared her shoulders with determination and stepped into the portal.
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As soon as Adara fully passed through the portal, the passage closed.
She was in a clean white room, representing that of a hospital room. There was really only one door that led to anywhere outside the room. Despite that, it was clear that she wasn’t alone here. The sound of footsteps can be heard walking outside with mild frustrating complaints. Through the glass implanted in the door, a black-haired bespectacled male figurine wearing a doctor’s white coat and a surgery mask can be seen just outside Adara’s room, standing still to reread the documents in his hand while making notes on it with pen in his other hand.
(You [and the others as well] might be able to recognize this character almost immediately, hopefully XD, if you can’t, it’s fine!)
(Is it… it is!)
Adara's eyes narrowed at the figure. She clutched the strap of her bag and looked around. This was the Soul Labyrinth? Not what she had been expecting, but… it was so clean! And white! And quiet! What kind of place was this? She was already regretting this, and the guy who had sent her wasn't even around. She couldn't see him anywhere.
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(Let’s see if you’re right)
Soon, the figure walked away from the door and headed somewhere else in the same hallway. Now the coast was clear to head outside it seems. There were painful screams coming from one of the other rooms faraway. It was correct to assume that the doctor earlier went to check on that specific room.
How had he not noticed her? Curiosity led her to the door. She peered out, saw no one, and stepped into the hall. Should she go see about the screams?It sounded like someone was being tortured, and like maybe she should go, to save someone, out of the goodness of her heart. Letting out a quiet, amused snort, Adara stepped away from the noises. She didn't need to. It wouldn't affect anything… probably. She didn't need to help anyone.
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The hallways around was almost exactly like a hospital; textured floors, doors with clear glass on them, papers about the patients, numbered rooms, and quiet atmosphere. From what it seems, there wasn’t a clear way out of the hallway. At least there wasn’t any dangers around… right?
(Go back to check on the doctor and the screaming patient)
(Explore)
(Will do!)
A particularly loud scream echoed through the hall. Adara sighed. She should probably go check on it, even if she didn't want to. It seemed like going toward the screams was the only way out. She dug into her bag, pulling out a small folding knife, opening it, and crept toward the noise. She would like to see the doctor again, too, if possible. He had looked familiar.
Adara stopped by the papers, glancing at them, then shook her head. They were probably nothing important.
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Skipping some of the doors, Adara would come across the room where the screams were coming from. One where the doctor was inside. He was saying somethings to the patient who was screaming before reaching to wear his rubber gloves and grab the syringe next to them.
(Watch silently?)
(Enter the room?)
Adara froze for a minute, before realizing that she hadn't been spotted. Clutching the knife in her hand, wishing she had a sword, or, better yet, her fire, she slipped the door open and stepped inside. She wasn't sure if she should say something or not. Maybe a witty remark before she killed the doctor - what was he doing, anyway?
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As Adara stepped closer, the words of the doctor would slip into her ears.
”It’s going to be okay… it’s only a nightmare, calm down…” he said calmly before gently injecting some chemicals into the patient’s vessel causing them to ‘calm down’ almost immediately. Placing the empty syringe back on the tray beside where he sat, the doctor took note of the patient’s symptoms while repeating what he was writing out loud…
”Hallucinations, nightmares, levels of depression and self-doubt…” with a sigh, the doctor looked back at the patient who now had their eyes closed ”…what a poor soul, what sin did you commit to have yourself this cursed…” his voice and mannerism suggested that he meant no harm towards the patient.
That said, he had not noticed Adara at all it seems.
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The flaming spirit started to fade into reality, presenting a humanoid form.
”Phantom… actually” the figure corrected as they dusted themself a bit.
”I’ve answered your question, now answer mine, you were missing someone who’s dead, were you not?”
Jade huffed then realized that this was an oppurtunity "Yes I am…My si-sister A-ya"
(I was right!)
She furrowed her brow. So these were souls? And they weren't being tortured? Sighing, she folded the blade and slipped it up her sleeve. She had so wanted a fight. Eyeing the doctor, Adara pinched her lips together. Should she ask about the portal to her world? Probably. He was the only one she'd seen so far. With a sigh, she cleared her throat. "E-excuse me? Do you know where the portals are?"
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”Well, would it surprise you if I said that you can, and I’m not lying, meet her again?” the fiery phantom asked with a raised eyebrow. He soon took out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and lit it with his fingertips.
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Jade could feel the tears welling up in her eyes "That would be a-amazing" the tears started falling from her eyes
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(My good doctor boi is back and not dead this time XD)
The doctor jumped a bit when Adara spoke up, letting out an ‘eeep’ sound before standing up from the stool he was on to fully face Adara. He had cyan colored irises, wavy natural black hair, a sick mask on to cover up the bottom parts of his face, and as mentioned, a doctor’s gown.
”Eh uh… h-how did you get in here…” the doctor seemed a bit shocked at first but soon regained his posture ”—I’ll answer your question first, I do… but I unfortunately cannot tell you about it, well… not yet at least…” the doctor was still a bit shaken by Adara’s presence.
Adara blinked at his reaction. "Uh… are you okay?" She pointed back in the direction she had come from. "I came from that one room. You didn't notice me then. I - nevermind." She tilted her head. "Why can't you tell me where the portals are? And who are you, anyway?"
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Well that was easy… the fiery figure thought to himself before turning back to Jade.
”I would guess that you’re willing to go find her, even to a place unknown of consequence?” the figure wanted to be clear first before doing anything beyond that point. He puffed out a cloud of smoke.
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The doctor sighed, removing the surgical mask he had on him to reveal his warm and reassuring smile.
”I’ll start with the simpler question first. I’m Cassius Faltur, former Knight of the Labyrinth and currently the head doctor in this here hospital, referred to as the Auroral Hospital” the figure introduced themself before sighing and…
”For the reason as to why I can’t tell you about it, it’s simply that I’m not allowed to tell anyone except the other Knights about it until they’ve gained the trust of us, Knights and former Knights. Not all, of course, but some of them” the figure answered.
”It’s a way to keep things organized down here unfortunately” the doctor added with a shrug.
(I’ve gotta go~)
