Epsilon woke up once again in a daze. Everything around him was spinning, up became down, left became right, it was so bright, yet so dark at the same time. Jolting up in confusion, he gripped his head. But after a few moments of steady breathes, it all went back to normal.
And further more, his body didn't hurt anymore. Finally getting a look at himself, he saw that his entire body was wrapped in numerous amounts of bandages that were awfully clean of blood.
Tearing them off, Epsilon was even more shocked that there wasn't even a single scar left on his body. Even the one that he received a long time ago, that was just under his eye had disappeared too.
'What? I could've sworn I was in my Soul Sea?'
Did he get kicked out? Without haste, Epsilon quickly summoned his runes, but a surprising new message from the Nightmare Spell appeared in front of him.
[Mark of Divinity] is ready to evolve. Proceed?
"Uh, yes?"
And not even a few moments later, new runes shined right before him.
Attribute: [Spark Of Divinity]
[Spark Of Divinity] Attribute Description: "Every fire starts from a spark. Somewhere deep within your soul, a radiant spark shines with divine light."
'So my affinity for divinity is stronger? That's a benefit I guess, but please tell me that's not all that memory did?'
Summoning more runes, Epsilons eyes widened.
Name: Epsilon
True Name: End Of The Unbound
Rank: Dreamer
Soul Core: Dormant
Soul Fragments: [368/1000]
Memories: [Maddened Frenzy], [Best Friend], [Crossing Tunic], [Wrath Born]
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Bond], [Yang], [Judgment], [Spark of Divinity], [███]
'What?'
Its name was...? He couldn't quite explain it. He could read it, but as soon as his eyes moved away from it, it was like its name disappeared from his mind. He couldn't even say it out loud, and he was sure he wouldn't be able to write it down either. Not allowing that to stop him though, Epsilon continued to focus on it.
[███] Attribute Description: "Despite being born of the Fey, Seras was ultimately a Nephilim. Despite being of royalty, she was rejected by her own people, even her father found her unsightly. And so, unable to endure their malice any longer, she silently exiled herself, causing a small seed of hatred to bloom in her heart. As one who has inherited her estranged lineage, you have inherited that hatred too."
'Hmm.'
There was new info surrounding the divine known as Seras. He already knew that she was hated by all because of her Nephilim origins, but it seems like she initially belonged to a group of people known as the Fey, and amongst them, Seras had been a princess of sorts?
But for whatever reason, Seras could not be kicked out despite how much the people hated her, not even by her own father, who he assumed was their king. Instead, she quietly left them all behind while silently carrying this grudge.
And supposedly, Epsilon had inherited that grudge.
'But I don't feel any different?'
Well, if the negative part of this Attribute was supposed to make him hostile towards the Fey, it didn't matter now. They were all very much dead. It was something he didn't need to worry about.
'It's about time I get out of here.'
Tearing the bandages off, Epsilon summoned the newly repaired crossing tunic, and headed downstairs to figure out where he was.
**
Ki Song was sat in front of a fire, with a pot of a strange soup boiling on top of it. She watched as Cassius stirred it a little, before looking up towards her and giving a thumbs up.
Instead of reacting somewhat positively, she groaned as she clasped her hands against her face, causing Cassius to flinch.
'How did things turn out like this?'
She used most of her explosives early to distract the swarm of Chimeras, and to grab Gracias attention, but Epsilon ended up charging right into the attracted swarm for some odd reason. Perhaps by mistake.
Miraculously, he almost won. Smile Of Heaven had to save him at the last moment, and if it wasn't for her, Epsilon would've burnt alive.
'That lucky idiot. I went through most of my supplies, just for him to fall sleep for a week.'
And he was a bloody mess too. There was no time to clean him up, and so she had to lug his unconscious bloodied body out of that forest. That wasn't even the worst part of his injuries though, his body had went through a strange change.
He was older. Not like an old man, but he seemed somewhere in his 30's? He even had a modest amount of facial hair.
'Was that his flaw? That can't be, I would've noticed it sooner.'
Journeying with him was going to be weird now.
Regardless, the way things were looking, escaping the dream realm anytime soon would be a impossible. Smile Of Heaven was in a strange predicament too, and in order to help her, she would need Epsilon who was currently in a coma. He woke up a day ago, but to her disappoint, he fell asleep again just as quickly.
'He seriously owes me one. I'm not doing anything like this ever again.'
Cassius stretched an arm over towards her, which held a bowl of soup. It was brown, with strange pulps of Nightmare creature flesh floating inside of it. He had a forced smile on his face, but it instantly collapsed when he saw Ki Song staring daggers into him.
'She might actually kill me!'
She swiped the bowl from his hands, before devouring it savagely. All this thinking was giving her a headache.
"How long ago did she leave?"
"I'm not sure.. but she did say she wouldn't be out for long. Why?"
She grew tense. Summoning her sword, she pointed it at the empty doorframe that led out of the rather humble dinning room. They usually kept all the lights in this place off for a very good reason, so when she tried to look down the corridor, all she could see was an ever-growing darkness.
Seeing Ki Song arm herself, Cassius dropped what he was doing and raised his fists, with his legs shaking. Unfortunately he had no weapons of his own, and Ki Song had already given away her only spare.
A long creak echoed throughout the darkness, making them all tense but ready for whatever creature sprung out. And not long later, they could hear footsteps grow closer.
Her grip around her sword tightened, prepared to thrust at whatever emerged, but in just a few short moments, she was surprised to hear a familiar yet human voice.
"Why are you guys pointing weapons at me?"
Emerging from the dark, was Epsilon.
But rather than feeling glad to see him again, Ki Songs agitation only grew, and Cassius grew even more terrified.
"Who the hell are you!?"
Epsilon asked in confusion,
"What's that supposed to mean??"