A stumbling Monster made its way out of the Boss Room.
Limping, it slowly walked.
Going down the stairs challenged its balance, but it managed to remain on its feet.
The Monster's body wasn't bleeding; bruises did cover its entire body though.
Scales were missing, and the right side of its face had been deformed.
Healing would probably take a while.
'Hurts... It hurts...'
Its body swayed from side to side as it made its way to the circular "elevator".
Upon entering the circular area, it turned left and took two steps. Probably so as not to be visible from the Boss Room.
'Too... Strong...'
The Monster collapsed.
Its body quickly hit the ground without breaking its fall.
Thump-
'Couldn't do... A thing...'
Rage and frustration overpowered by tiredness and fatigue.
'Too strong... One Monster... After the next...'
The Monster struggled to flip its body over.
It lay on its back for a couple of seconds, before bringing a hand to its neck.
On its chest and neck, the Monster's index finger absentmindedly drew the outline of an ellipse.
Half an ellipse.
Something used to be there.
'I shouldn't have let him... Take them...'
Mark clenched the hand that lay over his chest.
He blinked. And from the corner of his eyes,
"You're making this pretty hard on yourself." She said with a voice that only he could hear.
Short red hair, green vibrant eyes.
The same woman once more.
'Get out of my head.'
She lay on the pieces of rubble by his side and stared, seemingly amused.
"I'm not in your head. You already know that."
Mark shut his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere. Closing your eyes won't help."
'Get out of my head.'
She slowly pushed herself off the rubble and, on her hands and knees, approached.
eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ "I'm not in your head, Mark."
He finally turned his face towards her.
'Don't take her appearance.'
"Why? You don't like it?" She asked with a smile charming smile. "I've judged it to be the best appearance though."
Mark clicked his tongue and turned his face in the other direction.
'You're my Titles, right?'
"Is that what you think of me?"
'Am I right?'
"Only partly. But you don't need me to answer. You already know."
Mark turned his face towards her once more, and she was only inches away.
He hadn't heard or sensed her movements.
Zephyr hadn't mentioned her appearance either.
More than enough proof.
'You are in my head.'
She got even closer.
"I'm not in your head, Mark..."
The woman raised her left leg.
With her hands on each side of his neck, and her knees on each side of his waist, she positioned herself above Mark.
"I am your head."
'You're not really here.'
A malicious smile was drawn on the woman's face.
"No, I'm not. I'm not really here. But at the same time, I am."
Chuckle-
'What's that supposed to mean?'
"I'm always there. But at the same time, never really there. I'm the Shadow to your Light. The steps you leave behind as you walk." The green vibrant eyes seemed to glow faintly. "Who am I?"
Mark stared at her for a bit before turning his head to the side.
"In the world of dreams, I am queen. In the world of nightmares, I am king. They are my weapons and my nests. My weapons and my tools. Who am I?"
She brought her face closer to his.
He had grown to dislike that face more and more.
"Who am I, Mark?"
'The Devourer... And the Evolving Monster.'
The woman shook her head.
"No. No. Think deeper. You already know the answer. Come on, Mark..."
She lay her head against his chest. With a clenched fist, she banged on the right side of his chest repeatedly.
He couldn't feel a thing.
"Don't make me wait any longer."
Mark opened his mouth.
She could hear his thoughts, yet his lips parted.
The woman raised her head and stared at him, her chin against his chest.
"The unconscious... Part of me."
"That's right."
"The unconscious... That should only be noticed in dreams and nightmares."
"Is that all?"
"Feelings... Emotions..."
"Mm!" She cheerfully nodded. "And more, but that's not important right now-"
"My unconscious talking..." Mark interrupted. "The unconscious that's supposed to be... Mm... Magic."
"Magic?" The woman smiled knowingly.
"Brought to light... And given... Something akin to life... Through Magic... Through Mana... Or perhaps... Through those Deadly Sins."
"Aha."
"Dreams are your weapons and tools... That's why you're showing up now. You can only do that... When I'm beaten up... When I'm half dead... When I'm half asleep."
"Bingo!"
"My unconscious..."
"Yes?"
"What do you want?"
The woman pushed herself off.
"I thought you would never ask."
***
"Oh, come on! I'm telling you-" Raven dodged the Spear thrust. "I just want to-" He dodged a swing of that same Weapon and jumped back. "I just want to talk."
"What do you know... How do you know..." Zephyr did not lower his Spear. "Of the Tyrs?"
"Which question do you want me to answer? Haha."
The Wind around Zephyr started moving.
Quickly, a storm covered his body.
"Alala. Can't see a thing." Raven complained, though his smile remained.
The storm seemed to grow narrower and narrower.
Its focal point, the eye of the storm, was the tip of Zephyr's raised Spear.
"Think a cracked Spear will be able to handle all that?"
The next second, it seemed like the whole storm had been condensed into the Weapon.
Violent winds spiraled around it, and a typhoon ruled the hollow center of the Spear.
"I guess we will just have to find out."
Raven let his shoulders drop as he sighed.
"Alright, alright." He raised his open palms to the side. "What do you want to know? What I know about the Tyrs?"
Zephyr remained silent.
"Not much." Raven continued. "Something between a Kingdom and a Clan. They lived somewhere far away. No one really knows whether they are from this Continent or not. Strong Warriors who valued individual force and chivalry. I'm assuming Duels were-"
"Don't assume. Tell me what you know."
Sigh-
Despite his smile, a vein had appeared on Raven's face.
His patience was wearing thin.
