novelraw Chapter 56: A Little Talk
Chapter 56: A Little Talk
Andrey groaned, his body aching from the impact. His back had slammed against something hard—rock, maybe, or condensed shadow and the pain radiated up his spine like fire. His glasses were askew, one lens cracked, and his vision blurred.
"Andrey! Hey are you okay?!" Sein’s voice was sharp with worry. She was kneeling beside him, her hands hovering over his chest, her face pale in the dim light.
Andrey winced, trying to sit up. His muscles protested. "It’s been a while... since my back hurt this much..."
Sein stared at him for a moment, then let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "You idiot." But her voice was soft, relieved.
She reached down to her belt pouch and pulled out a small healing potion. She uncorked it with her teeth and held it to his lips.
"Drink. Slowly."
Andrey obeyed, the bitter liquid sliding down his throat. Warmth spread through his chest, dulling the ache in his back. He let out a slow breath and pushed himself upright.
Sein stood, offering him a hand. He took it, and she pulled him to his feet.
"Thanks."
"Yeah yeah."
They looked around.
The place was different from the cavern above. Darker, somehow, even though the previous chamber had been steeped in shadow. The air here was still, cold, and thick with an unfamiliar pressure. The ground beneath their feet was solid—smooth stone, carved with faint, glowing runes that pulsed in slow, rhythmic patterns.
Andrey’s Ki senses stretched outward, but the energy here was scrambled—chaotic, like static on a radio. He couldn’t get a clear reading.
"System," he said quietly. "Where are we?"
The system’s holographic screen flickered to life, its usual playful tone replaced by something more measured.
System: Host, you remain within the gate’s boundaries. However, due to the mana distortion caused by the Mana Disruptor, the internal structure has become unstable. Your current location is a sub-layer—a pocket dimension created by the artifact’s influence. It is... chaotic.
Sein crossed her arms, scanning the darkness beyond the rune-lit floor. "So we’re still inside the gate, but everything’s messed up. Great."
Andrey adjusted his cracked glasses, wincing as the frame pressed against a bruise on his temple. "Is the artifact still nearby?"
System: Affirmative. The contaminated artifact’s signature is detectable approximately 200 meters ahead. However, the path is unstable. Proceed with caution.
Sein cracked her knuckles. "Unstable. Of course."
Andrey checked his katana and nodded toward the darkness ahead. "We don’t have a choice. The gate won’t close until we purify the artifact. And the demon is still somewhere in here."
Sein’s expression hardened at the mention of the demon. "That horned bastard. When I find him, I’m breaking every bone in his body."
Andrey leaned back against the cold stone wall, letting out a slow breath. His body was still tense, but the immediate danger had passed for now. "We should rest while we can," he said quietly. "Stay alert, but conserve our energy. We don’t know what’s ahead."
Sein, still breathing hard from the fight, nodded reluctantly. She slid down the wall and sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched. The dim rune-light cast shadows across her face, highlighting the exhaustion she was trying to hide.
Andrey’s hand rested on his chest, feeling the stored energy pulsing beneath his ribs. "I still have some energy stored from the damage I absorbed," he said. "When the demon lets his guard down, I’ll finish him with that."
Sein glanced at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes, then looked away. "So I still have to hold off that possessed hero and his cronies, huh? Not a problem. But I really want to punch that demon’s face myself."
Andrey’s lips twitched. "I’ll hold him still for you. You can have your turn."
Sein’s expression softened into something almost like a smile. "That works, Andrey. I can’t wait."
A moment of silence passed between them. Then Sein’s voice dropped, quieter, more vulnerable.
"This place... it reminds me of the incident. I don’t like it."
Andrey turned his head slightly, studying her profile. "What about before that?" he asked carefully. "What was your life like before it happened?"
Sein stared at him, a mix of emotions flickering across her face—surprise, hesitation, a flicker of old pain. She didn’t answer immediately.
Andrey realized how his question might have sounded. "I mean... what was your life like before all of that?" he clarified, his voice gentle.
Sein let out a long breath, looking down at her gauntleted hands. "Hmm. You should be more careful with your questions, Glasses." But her voice lacked its usual bite. "But since I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you."
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"Yeah... I was like any other hero, I guess. Suddenly got powers that made other people jealous. I became strong, famous. Cleared gate after gate. Lots of people admired me. After joining Vixion Guild, I got even more popular—was on TV, met high-ranking officials, all of it."
Her voice grew bitter. "But because of my arrogance, I became blind. Started doing whatever I wanted. My agenda ended up destroying Vixion Guild. Everyone blames me. I underestimated everything—the gates, the dark mana, the consequences."
She stared into the darkness ahead, her jaw tight.
"Everyone felt wronged because of me. I got so many threats... horrible ones. And when I needed my friends the most, they all disappeared." Her voice cracked, just slightly. "Turns out, none of that friendship was real."
Andrey was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice low and steady.
"I’m sorry."
Sein’s head snapped toward him. "What?"
"I’m sorry you went through that." He met her gaze, his brown eyes calm but earnest. "Being abandoned when you need people most... that’s not something anyone should experience."
Sein stared at him, her expression guarded. Then she looked away, her voice rough. "Don’t pity me, Glasses. I don’t need it."
"It’s not pity." Andrey adjusted his cracked glasses. "It’s just... I understand. Maybe not the same way, but I understand what it’s like to have no one you can truly rely on."
Sein was quiet for a moment, then asked, her voice softer than before. "What about you, then? Are you like me?"
Andrey stared at the shifting runes on the floor, their pale light reflecting off his cracked glasses. He didn’t answer immediately.
"I’m not as bad as you," he finally said. "It’s just... my life has always been too monotonous. Fake, somehow."
Sein watched him, waiting.
"I’ve never really had a goal," he continued. "Just went with the flow. Worked every day. It was boring. My coworkers called me a workaholic behind my back." He let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "But it wasn’t because I loved work. It was because there was nothing else to do."
He paused, his fingers absently tracing the hilt of the katana.
"That routine... it made me feel like a functioning human being. But it was hollow. There was no one I could really talk to. No one I could rely on when I needed to just... share my life with someone."
The words hung in the cold air between them.
Sein didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then she leaned her shoulder against his, just slightly—a small, tentative contact.
"Sounds lonely," she murmured.
Andrey didn’t pull away. "Yeah. It was."
They sat in silence, the darkness pressing in around them, but the space between them felt a little warmer.
Finally, Sein broke the quiet. "So what changed?"
Andrey thought about it. Sarah’s sharp tongue. Lisa’s gentle smiles. The system’s ridiculous demands. The fights. The fear. The moments of unexpected connection.
"You," he said simply. "All of you."
Sein’s cheeks flushed, visible even in the dim light. She looked away quickly. "Don’t say weird things, Glasses."
Andrey’s lips curved into a small smile. "Sorry."
But he didn’t take it back.
The system’s holographic screen flickered, its usual cheerful pink replaced by urgent red.
System: Warning! Contaminated artifact signature approaching rapidly. Energy levels spiking—threat level escalating. Estimated arrival: 30 seconds. Prepare for engagement.