Further explanations are not issued, nor needed. Walking forth, and crossing the Dilated Umbral of red energy.
Inside, a beautiful landscape of excessive transparent glass is present in all directions, barely having any colour due to reflecting my own presence.
The similarity with the nothingness is nigh palpable, as displacing in any direction, still leads me forward.
Yet, the glass in the environment gets suddenly impregnated by the waves of scorching Emts emitted from my body, coloring everything around with red, black and dark wine tonalities.
The ephemeral path comes to an abrupt end, intense light blinding me momentarily. When my sight readjust, i'm received with the beautiful picture of a retro futuristic living room with curved patterns.
It would be perfect, if not for the recognizable sound of my beating heart. Or rather, a heartbeat identical to mine, but coming from someone else.
To my right, the Silver haired Young Sophomore is leaving an ethereal red rectangle. But further away, the Mirror Me is appearing too.
He has a halo above his head, this new feature of him has a regular rotation that alters the color from blue to white, then occasional cyan is added to the mix.
This pattern repeats unevenly every couple of second. Which makes me curious, looking slightly upwards, noticing i also have a halo, though it's black, red, and dark wine.
{We truly are opposite equals. Counterpart, as Girlande would say…}.
"Don't do something stupid, Lustful beast".
Ines is at my left, her warning making me laugh.
"There is nothing to worry about, Barking Bitch. It's not the first time i face this idiot. I already killed him once. And today there is no «Hot Aunt» to protect him from my wrath".
Ines is speechless for a moment, but not idle, grabbing my wrist and whispering softly at my ear. "I wasn't talking about this other «You», Vurckair. The lady further away, it's none other than, The Countess Natvasha Nydrikova".
{That almost not sound condescending}.
The conceited, prideful damsel has porcelain white skin, blonde dark hair, and eyes with heterochromia, making them gold and silver, shades repeated in her scaled breastplate, and chainmail armor.
She sighs with displeasure, talking to the Young Sophomore. "What a misfortune i have, to get stuck with the «Old Hag»".
"In four months you'll be old like me. But unlike you. I'm not and never will be a «Spinster». Especially one so mediocre. I defeated you a month ago at close doors so you cease pestering my Fiancée. Which is a shameful event for a Nydrikoff, but tolerable in the big scheme. I'm simply better, and it's well known in the Continent, not only in Clamour. However, a Countess publicly losing in a three versus one. «Ja!». That's pathetic!".
The two women flow their Emts around their silhouettes, but there is barely any trace of the lighting, because the halos absorb most of the emanated energy.
{Is that bad?. Or good?}.
Ines intervenes. "Don't waste your strength in menial…".
Being interrupted by Natvasha. "Who do you think you are to tell me what to do, Imp…?!".
The Countess freeze her lashing, seeing Ines is wielding her golden sword. "Why don't you finish that sentence?. Fear?. Good. Don't forget it's your House, the Nydrikoffs, who want an alliance with «Us». Natvoshka Nydrikova may share a friendship with my mother. But that's all, and different to the Sunderzen. «Us», the Iscandaris, aren't as compassionate to anyone insulting our Lineage, backing up everyone from our bloodline, even the sparse and scarce Decolored Peasants…".
The clicking of Natvasha's tongue shows her annoyance. "The Iscandaris should had learn something else from the Vecturon".
The Mirror Me, Vernnion, shrugs off the comment. "What can we say?. It's our Family bond what unites us. Filling us with courage to take revenge…".
{He seems more focused than before…}.
"I know your mother is the responsible for what almost happened to my Venerable Elder Sister…".
{So that's why it was so engrained the event when i obtained the Mirror Me Memory's…}.
"We have nothing to do with that!". Retorts Natvasha, but Vernnion responds just as fast.
"I didn't say the Nydrikoff House. I talk about Natveria. She may enjoy the protection of The House's League. For now, at least. But it won't be long before i have conclusive evidence against her. Your Great-Grandmother is going to agree to give us your mother as a token of appeasement, after all, this time, our Venerable Aunt Verulkya Vecturion, is not going to tug the leash of our Insane Grandfather, and this madman is something no one of the Nydrikoff House can face without assistance. Although he will not fight alone neither, our Venerable Grandmother, and Venerable Father will reduce everything to dust…".
{I wasn't wrong with my initial assessment, the Nydrikoff's, Dukedom is less powerful than Clamour, but the other Kingdoms and Nations can intervene if they don't consider our advancement «Rightful»}.
"It seems that almost all of us have a problem with you…". Mockingly remarks the Young Sophomore. "This luck of your's is genuinely incomparable, «Strongest Loser». We undoubtedly will take the chance to skin you alive, if it weren't for our necessity of having you on this Team".
{So the five of us need to find the Exit and cross it together. Or we fail this Aptitude Test}.
Sighting, i realize an obvious truth due to our current line up. "Hey!. Everyone, «Time Out»".
"It's «Dilated Time», Illiterate". Admonishes me Natvasha. "And not even «Relative Time» counts as staying outside of Time!".
"Shut the Fuck Up, Or i'll ripe off your jaw…". I promise to Natvasha.
"He actually can". Points out the Mirror Me, knowing the sensation too well, as he touches his mouth, like if the pain remain present.
"I meant «No more confrontation between us, to focus on the pending subject». That's «Time Out», Now. «This is just a temporary measure?» Right?". I ask signaling everyone with an inexistent pattern of five-pointed star, as if i wished to evoke a Beacon, as its evident due to our Halos that can be formed by us. "We're not going to be on the same Team in Takctoor?. Or are we?".
"First, you need to pass the Aptitude Test to receive your Identification Card". Kindly says the Young Sophomore.
"What?!. I scream puzzled. "Why they would sent me here then?. I already received the Identification Card".
"WHAT?!". The four of them shout at unison.
"Why the shock?".
Ines, rolls her eyes, inhaling profoundly instead of sighting with annoyed exasperation. "Because it doesn't matter if you fail the Aptitude Test, Lustful Beast. You are already part of Takctoor".
{Oh!, That makes sense}.
"Damn you, Vecturion!". Shouts Natvasha with anger, wielding a saber with hostility against the Mirror Me, who is the closest Vecturion to her.
Vernnion reacts in kind, materializing a sword made with cyan metal and blazing white etheric edge. "I may be the weakest here, if we are talking on literal terms of power, as i lack an Embryon like all of you have. But i can still kill you before my demise Countess"…