“It’s…a long story, one that would make your ears fall straight off your body.” He says, his flames flowing and animated with each word. Our eyes don’t lock, they don’t need to.

  I can’t tell if he’s lying, but I wouldn't stay around even if he were to. Not that I expected him or anything. I was looking for the source of the tremors. This man…this being can’t be the source of it.

  “Fair enough. Well, if you–”

  I catch myself. The next few words I was about to utter. I was about to say something I might regret.

  Luckily enough, Kashmir doesn’t bother following up on my words. Or he simply chose not to.

  If he were to come to the surface. What would even happen? He might change up the entire hierarchy of what’s already established.

  Possibly shake up the entire slavery system. Is he the third ranchmaster? No, can’t be. Flugel would’ve told me outright.

  And the way he talks, dress, even so much as act. Nothing screams Ranchmaster.

  And furthermore, what would I do if he managed to break down everything I’ve slowly been building towards? Can’t risk it.

  But there’s something off about him. Against him coming back to the surface. It’s…it’s hard to nail on the head right now precisely.

  “So, tell me the tale of the Rainrunner. Surely you’ve done something to gain their eyes?” He asks me, once again walking around.

  I roll my eyes, letting myself become casual with him for a second too long. “Just like you, it’s a long story.”

  “Dodging conversation, eh?”

  “The opposite, actually. I wanted to know if you are entirely aware of your…surroundings.”

  My eyes look upon the dazzling and gleaming open area of the cave. The gemstones, the crystals, all of it. It would be a perfect ball room, and that Kassamir unfortunately would be the only one attending.

  He scoffs, “Aware? Aware? Look around. There’s not an inch of this area I haven’t touched.”

  I take a few steps, feeling the tension die down even more.

  “And you’ve never thought of…just leaving?”

  I point at the entrance, or the exit. Whatever way I came from. He looks surprised, and only shakes his head.

  “Alas. Only something like that doesn’t intrigue me. Not if I’m still weighted down by this.”

  He raises his arms, and looks away.

  But I see nothing.

  There was nothing on his arms.

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  But there was nothing. No shackle, no restraint, not even a mark on his wrists. Just skin, smooth and fire-kissed, as if he’d never been bound a day in his life.

  So what the hell was he talking about?

  His hands slowly clenched at the mention, getting tighter and tighter. His own nails could’ve pierced his skin and started bleeding, it felt like.

  I didn’t bother correcting him. If I was here for a really…really long time, I think I would start imagining things too.

  I wave my hand in agreement, “Yeah, something like that.”

  It’s nothing more of a confusion, a confusion that I won’t clearly focus on or bring to attention. Whatever he wants to think, I’ll let it happen.

  But…none of this really answers the question.

  How did he get here?

  Did Flugel leave him here and forget about him?

  Might’ve…but I wouldn’t put it past him.

  What about the third ranchmaster? They could’ve done it too.

  He looks at me, his flame does too. As if it’s conscious and staring at me as well. I don’t what led or happened to me, but my mouth opened anyways.

  “Wh…what happened here. Why are you here?”

  He laughs, “Well…it’s a long story. Involving a past friend of mine.”

  I’m forced to listen.

  “Liux was his name. A…an enigma, actually.” Kashmir’s face changes, upon remembering. But even he looks like as if the memory of itself is barely holding on.

  His hands move in terms of his words, “An aasimar. Just like you and I.”

  “A-aasimar…?”

  He nods, “Yes, indeed.”

  I almost wanted to stare at him. Ask him.

  What the hell is an aasimar?

  But I couldn’t.

  I refrained myself.

  “He was…connected—to the light, that was. Aasimar of Light. But alas, his judgement fell wrong. His consequence wasn’t severed, but it was his own undoing.”

  There’s silence between us. I fill it anyways.

  “So…what happened?”

  Kassamir for once, looked at me. Serious, not lightly smiling, or even so much as slightly.

  Serious.

  Then, he spoke.

  “He…he was lost from light. That’s what happened.”

  I slowly nod. It sounds important. A cool title. I wish I had something like that.

  “He sealed me here, but not before I could purify him. Now, I spend the rest of my days here—until you came.”

  I point at myself. “M-me?”

  He nods triumphantly. “Yes. Only another aasimar could get me out of these chains! I’m glad. Being here for about fifty or so years does something to you.”

  I deadpan.

  Kassamir doesn’t look over 50.

  And…there’s no way he could’ve been here for only 50 years.

  Something already tells me he has a horrible sense of time.

  But his hands outstretch at my slightest move.

  “But…there’s still one thing I want to do here.” I look around.

  There’s nothing here in this cave for him.

  Kassamir might’ve lost it.

  And when I mean it, I mean his mind.

  He might be schizophrenic.

  If…that wasn’t already apparent.