Welcome to Gaia! ::

While waiting for the boy to respond, AJ started to think of the Voice. What Mr. Pillar White told him about the story of the lonely legacy. He believed the lonely legacy was the Voice which wanted a True King.......

The young Tiefling spaced out a bit.

All I want is my brother back. Erebus thought in response to the Voice. My real brother.

Someone behind him tapped him and he almost jumped, looking back. Erebus relaxed when he realized that the other boy was being encouraging, which was something rather gratifying in this world. And all these stairs.

He grinned back, tail wagging, and gave the other boy a thumbs up.

Erebus remembered what the Voice had said about fragments.

His smile seemed to dim a little as he looked back at the other boy. It wasn't easy to spot if the other had the white flower upon his arm that signified that he had been sent in here by Medea too.

But... even in the life he had been living as a lie, it had felt so real. It probably were real to the fragments too. And thus, he kept the smile on his face, and shook the boy's hand.

His mind returned to reality, quickly noticing that Maple was no longer in sight. Had she disappeared? Taken? Did she continue on without him? Concerned, Uru went up after her. How far she had gone, he was not certain, but he simply hoped that she is fine. At the very least with the other former shadows.

[[ 169 + 29 = 198]]

Sharp pain was jabbing into his side, resting upon the steps, hand on his side. He panted as he glanced up the stairs with squinted eyes. Damn, it looked like he was only half way there, and yet, it felt like he was running up and endless staircase.

Maple wasn't in sight still, did make it to the next floor? Perhaps it was not the best idea to race someone who was in better shape than he was.

The Voice again, and this time it had become pathetic. Begging as if its life was in danger.

It was.

Uru scoffed at it's pleads. If you could make someone into a True King, then you should have done that than put everything through this hell hole of s**t.

[[ 198 + 27 = 235]]

The nod from Erebus made AJ so cheerful, he got a companion. Someone who will not judge him based on his Tiefling appearance. He gave Erebus another pat, an affectionate one, hoping to give him some energy. Having a person to interact was much better than all the silence. Then he continued to bounce stairs, like a dancer.

Not really. He almost forgot the Voice. Annoying enough.

The temptation for it was so good, so good to say no. Nevertheless, he was just a fragment and he didn't want to be a king at all.

If you could give me all my happy moments back, I might consider. But sorry, you already ruined everything.

For the offer of becoming a king, AJ just laughed in his mind. He knew that the Voice could hear, the thoughts of all of the fragments.

Don't be silly! You consider that is a good offer. Do you ever know how much responsibilities a king has to shoulder? I guess not, seeing you just stop the truce as you like and let the seven kings fight like that.

I am going to climb to the top and discover your secret, annoying Mr./ Mrs./ Ms. Voice.

Even a splendid temptation won't stop his determination. I am coming for you, the Voice.

He was really not used to not speaking, he used to speak a lot, teasing others while having fun. Using expressions and gestures made him feel so weird. The shrug from Erebus was responded with a shrug, added with a forced smile. AJ noticed that the steps were not as easy as it was in the first part, his legs were like tied with some weight. He was moving a bit slower.

But he had to continue.