Scott ignored the system’s message, his focus trained on the imperceptible form of the guardian. His eyes could see, but his mind struggled to fathom the existence before him. Yet, an overwhelming sense of ease—a tranquility that transcended mortal understanding—settled within his being.

  “Child,” the heavy voice roused Scott from his serenity, the touch around his hand firming. “Do not try to unravel my form. Not everything must be understood.”

  The words echoed in Scott’s ears, and he blinked instinctively. The unfathomable being, however, had disappeared, replaced once more by the young tribal girl. She raised her head, staring at Scott with a warm smile, her eyes seemingly a gateway to innocence.

  “Who are you?” Scott asked, his voice neither low nor high, devoid of malice but filled with curiosity.

  “I’m a relic of a lost era,” the girl replied, her voice soothing and gentle. “Do not concern yourself with my identity. I wish you no harm,” she promised.

  Scott stared at the girl, his mind racing with thoughts. Those Amazonians also ran into a temple guardian before they obtained Yopi’s Runestone. Is this supposed to be one of those sudden encounters? He pondered. While he couldn’t boast of living an extremely long life compared to the other races in the tower, he had lived long enough to know that most encounters didn’t happen at random.

  Someone or something was always scheming two or three steps ahead, and the lives of most champions were nothing more than playthings for those who reveled in the shadow games.

  “The seeds of distrust bloom within your eyes,” the girl said, her warm smile unfaltering. “Fret not, I have no ulterior motives, child.”

  “Then why did you help me?” Scott voiced his doubts, his gaze shifting toward their clasped hands.

  The moment they touched, he could tell that something within him had been restored—like a cracked vase returning to its pristine state. Yet, he didn’t believe in beings who acted out of pure altruism. No, he refused to believe it.

  “Should I have watched as your mind collapsed in on itself?” she questioned, tilting her head slightly to the side.

  Scott didn’t answer; rather, he couldn’t. He didn’t even know if he would save a random stranger had their roles been reversed. He was no hero—that he knew very well—but a mindless villain wasn’t his calling either. Yet something about the encounter filled him with unease, a feeling that wouldn’t detach itself from his thoughts.

  “For a soul that hasn’t even experienced a millennium of living, carrying the burdens of deities from old eras and distant dimensions must be challenging,” she said softly, gently tapping Scott’s back. “Your right to live the way you want—the way you wish to live—has been stripped from your hands. In your quest for survival, you’ve created this embodiment of yourself. An incarnation filled with so much resentment and fear—”

  “Fear is an emotion I’ve long forgotten. Neither the gods of these numerous worlds nor the devourers from beyond this dimension can bring back what has been killed,” Scott interjected.

  The girl continued to pat him, meeting his gaze with a sadness that made his stomach twist. “Poor child,” she whispered, her glassy eyes brimming with tears. Without warning, she embraced him, sobbing quietly—and he let her.

  Scott’s gaze shifted from side to side. The strange series of events leading up to his current predicament weren’t something he could’ve anticipated, no matter how much he tried. Am I supposed to comfort her, or what’s the play here? He mused, his arms remaining at his sides.

  When was the last time someone cried for me? He couldn’t remember. If such memories existed, they were from a time when a semblance of sanity and stability still touched his world—and his life by extension. Now, however, only those who could transcend to godhood retained all traces of their existence. The rest would simply be discarded, their identities erased and forgotten.

  He remained still as the girl’s sobbing began to lessen. She pulled herself from his embrace, her glistening eyes meeting his own.

  “Your fear isn’t that of death or defeat,” she began, her voice heavy with concern. “What you fear most is being consumed—erased—by the numerous entities jostling for your soul as a vessel. That is why you locked that side of yourself away, and that is also the reason your mind is burdened by the emotions you discarded,” she explained.

  Scott didn’t refute or agree with her words. He silently stared at her in contemplation, unwilling to contribute verbally to the topic.

  He watched as the girl lowered her gaze, using her free hand to wipe away the lingering tears. Then, Scott posed a question. “Why do I feel like something broken within me was repaired the moment you grabbed my hand?”

  The girl focused on Scott once more. At that same moment, his brows creased. He tried to step back, but her grip held firm. Before his eyes, the girl’s form began to shift. In the blink of an eye, she had grown into a beautiful tribal woman, her eyes radiating the weight of defiance and the struggles of young adulthood.

  She smiled, meeting Scott’s gaze, her lips parting as she spoke. “I’m lacking in many ways, but where I am not, I strive to bring comfort to those who are troubled.” Her voice was soft, yet there was an unshakable grace in her tone.

  “Fret not—neither your body nor soul will be harmed by my intervention,” she assured him warmly. “However, a time will come when you must face what you’ve sealed away. You underestimate what it means to inherit the mantle of he who sits upon the mad throne.”

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  “Another fracture won’t happen anytime soon—even if you return to that world. But before you cross the point of no return, you must confront what you’ve hidden. Should you fail—”

  “I know what will happen,” Scott interjected. “I won’t,” he declared, his voice resolute.

  The young woman smiled, her warmth almost tangible. “The path ahead of you is one unlike anything anyone has truly experienced. I wish you good luck, child,” she said, her sincerity shining through.

  “Thank you,” Scott replied after a brief pause. It was the only way he could express his gratitude to the mysterious woman who had gone out of her way to help him.

  “Can I ask a question?” he probed, meeting her gaze.

  “If it’s something I am permitted to say, I will not deprive you of the knowledge you seek.”

  Scott nodded, his curiosity piqued. “Who—or what—are these things bound by chains? And what purpose does the expanse serve?” he asked in quick succession.

  “This land,” she began, sighing softly while shaking her head, “is merely a remnant of an epoch long forgotten.” She paused, raising her head toward the massive chains binding the unfathomable creatures. “They… they’re simply searching for penitence,” she said, her voice partly strained.

  Scott’s gaze alternated between the woman and the imprisoned beings. It seems she knows—or knew—them well, he thought, suppressing his urge to pry further.

  “As for this place’s purpose,” she continued, lowering her gaze to meet his, “it varies depending on the individual. Everyone who comes here is called by that purpose. Some leave or perish before they find it, while a lucky few discover theirs—and are reborn.”

  Scott’s brow furrowed as he digested her words. I hate philosophical nonsense like this the most. Nothing is ever straightforward in this place, he grumbled inwardly, adjusting his stance.

  Then again… could it be that my subconscious brought me here for a reason? He pondered, though no answers came forth. I have no idea how many days have passed. Zara and the others might be awakening soon, I can’t waste time here.

  “I can sense the will to leave from you.”

  Scott snapped out of his thoughts, his attention returning to the woman. His eyes widened in surprise. When did she…?

  The beautiful woman was gone. In her place stood an elderly figure—stooped with age, her toothless smile wide and warm. Her eyes barely opened as she regarded him with quiet amusement.

  “You have already exited the trial once,” she whispered, her voice slow and unhurried. “You may leave a second time—but you will never be allowed to return.”

  She placed her free hand atop the one she already held, rubbing it gently as she continued. “It is not my place to tell you what to do, but opportunities often present themselves in the unlikeliest of places.” Her smile widened. “I am sure you’ll be fine, child—regardless of the decision you make.”

  Scott glanced down at his hand, feeling the warmth of her touch. “Thank you,” he said, bowing his head slightly.

  “Reward me,” she said suddenly.

  Scott raised his head, meeting her wide grin. Both her hands stretched toward him, trembling with eagerness. She could barely stand, and her eyelids fluttered as if the effort to keep them open was too great. Yet, she looked as expectant as anyone hoping to receive a gift.

  “What do you want?” Scott asked, his curiosity piqued.

  He hadn’t expected her to request a reward so bluntly, but he wasn’t opposed to the idea either. After all, there was no real way to quantify the aid she had given him.

  “As long as it’s something I can part with, I will give it to you,” Scott declared.

  Yet, silence greeted his words.

  His brow furrowed as he studied the old woman. She remained perfectly still, unmoving. “I said—what do you want as a reward?” he repeated, more firmly this time.

  Still, there was no response.

  “Hello?” he called out, waving his right hand as he took a cautious step forward. But the old woman remained frozen in place—her outstretched hands unwavering, as if suspended in time.

  Scott halted his advance, a chill running down his spine. What the hell is going on now?

  He pivoted to either side of his standing position, but nothing other than the barren stretch came into view. The notion that the woman had fallen under some sort of attack or spell made no sense—especially when he considered what she had done, and her unfathomable form.

  While Scott’s thoughts drifted, the familiar chime of the system’s notification rang out in his ear—but this time, a blackened notification appeared.

  A hand materialized out of nowhere and shattered the notification before it could display its full message. Just as quickly as it appeared, the hand vanished. Scott, on the other hand, stood frozen—his mouth slightly open as he stared at the empty space where the message had been.

  The hand had moved so fast that he couldn’t tell when it had appeared—or how it disappeared.

  He blinked several times, his gaze flicking between where the old woman stood and the fragmented remains of the notification.

  What the fuck is going on? Scott pondered, confusion the least of his worries.

  His gaze lingered on the woman’s open palms, and his brows creased even further as his thoughts raced. There’s no way in hell I’m handing over the War Hammer of the Mad God, the chain, the vessel containing Ember’s soul, or anything of significant value to me. Anything else, though, I don’t mind parting with… but what would satisfy her as a reward?

  Scott suddenly retrieved an item from his inventory. This should be good… right? he mused, staring at the runestone.

  Of all the things in his possession, he believed the guardian—an entity he guessed prowled the expanse—would appreciate Akas’ Runestone the most.

  Without a word, Scott placed the runestone in her palm.

  The old woman’s stationary form stirred. “Akas’ Runestone,” she muttered, her fingers curling around it. “You would give me this?”

  Scott nodded. To him, it held no real value. Since he had returned to the trial, there was no guarantee that future rewards would include more runestones. Although he considered saving it for the Silent City, there was no assurance that collecting runestones would be a requirement to progress. Even if it was, he believed in his chances of survival.

  The old woman, on the other hand, cackled softly—cradling the runestone as if it were a precious relic. “Thank you… thank you so much,” she murmured, her smile brightening. “You’ve reminded me of…” Her words trailed off as she shook her head gently, lost in thought.

  “Don’t be in a haste to leave, Scott Dorsey. The Chained Expanse is a place destined for people like you,” she said, her voice heavy with meaning.

  Scott’s expression darkened. “How do you know my—?”

  Before he could finish his question, the old woman vanished.

  He stood there, staring at the barren patch where she had been, questions flooding his mind. “Nothing in this place is ever fucking straightforward,” he muttered, his feet carrying him forward.