The air grew even colder than before. Kōri's words had stirred something in everyone's minds, something common among mortals and divine beings alike, known as doubt.
Lux was the first to dare to speak:
"What did you see?"
Kōri looked at the mushroom structure the group had built, then sat down on one of the mushroom beds. She sighed heavily and began to explain:
"W-the first thing I saw was..." She clutched her head, trying to remember, but the inexplicable pain and mental gaps prevented her from speaking.
Nero tried to lift her, placing a hand on her shoulder and sitting beside her, saying:
"It's okay."
Kōri nodded and continued.
"First I saw a decaying city, fire ravaging collapsed buildings, people huddled in rubble. I hid under some debris that wasn't burning... suddenly... my body started flying and reached about 250 meters, and then I began to fall heavily..."
Lux stared at her, eyes wide.
"And... did you die then?"
Sunday punched her shoulder in a scolding gesture.
"Let her finish, idiot, go on, Kōri."
"Then, I passed through the ground and entered a beautiful world, where a strange moon illuminated everything, and all of a sudden, chairs began to appear out of nowhere, and a formal carpet divided the chairs into two groups... Then, an ice throne materialized, and then... then... right! Something, like a window, began to display strange images."
She remained silent, trying to recall more; it was even noticeable in her facial expressions that she was searching for the memory.
"The first image was of very elegant people, in a very high-class place... the second was of those same people, but they were all dead. And then, my body began to disintegrate into ice."
Nero and Merlin exchanged glances upon hearing the description: "something like a large window, which displayed images." They both reached the same conclusion...
"A screen!"
Nero turned to look at Kōri, who was trying to warm herself by the fire.
"Anything else?"
She shook her head. Later, Merlin crossed his arms and looked thoughtful.
"And how do you know it was a vision, and not a bad dream?"
Kōri glared at him, in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable.
"A bad dream?... That experience was so real, so real that I still feel the pain of being shattered into tiny pieces of ice... Do you know how much it hurts to have your body divided?"
Merlin stepped back, somewhat frightened by Kōri's tone.
"I'm sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I think Lux and I have something to tell you."
Lux tilted his head toward Merlin, his gaze saying, "Don't drag me into your damn problems!"
Merlin didn't even notice Lux's glare and continued:
"When we separated by the archer, Lux and I came across a giant mushroom tree with many mushrooms. On the trunk were writings by Reirh, Abigail's 'son.' These writings spoke of a red zone and a blue zone, both very dangerous, and that a very powerful, shapeless monster appeared in the red zone."
Upon hearing "shapeless monster," Sunday began to tremble violently. His hands started sweating, and his hair plastered to his forehead with cold perspiration.
"Sunday?"
Kōri looked at him, somewhat worried.
"Sh-shapeless monster, uh... ha... we're fucking dead if we go to one of those areas Merlin talks about... damn it, damn it, damn it! How is it possible that one of those things is roaming free around here?"
Everyone turned to see Sunday, pale as a ghost, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Lux tried to catch him before he collapsed, but his attempt was nothing short of a colossal failure.
Lux and Kōri tried to calm Sunday, but he refused to speak, move, or even breathe deeply.
Nero watched the scene unfold and could only bring a hand to his face, trying to process all of this.
So Kōri had a vision… if someone has a vision, it's because something will happen to them or will happen in the future. So, if it's the first option, we'll get out of here alive! Or at least Kōri will…
Nero looked at Merlin.
Blue and red zone… before everything turned dark and gray, everything was green, so was that a green zone?
Besides, judging by Sunday's reaction, that monster must be a terrible abomination, one that shouldn't be seen or encountered.
The group spent some time discussing the meaning of Kōri's vision, trying to calm the distraught Sunday, all while analyzing Merlin's information. But then, two very mortal things began to weigh on everyone's bodies, things mortals call "hunger" and "thirst."
Nero clutched his stomach, his mouth salivating, indicating he wanted to hydrate himself. He stretched and looked at the whole group, his mind quickly thinking of the plan of action they should follow.
"Let's leave Reirh and the visions for later. Right now, we need to find water and a food source like fruit or meat. Merlin and I will search for food with our wands. Lux and Sunday will look for water tomorrow."
Lux sighed in disapproval, though he nodded without objection. Sunday sat on his bed, while Merlin prepared to look for something to eat.
"Take care of the shelter," Nero said, grabbing his wand and standing next to Merlin. "If we don't come back in about three hours, come looking for us."
Merlin took his wand and said softly, almost a whisper, "Fulgeo."
When the light flashed, he looked away, squeezed his eyes shut, and passed the wand to Nero.
Nero stroked the wand, then pointed it ahead and looked at Merlin. Merlin nodded and began to walk, each step laden with a touch of laziness.
The two started walking, with Nero in front, while Merlin trailed behind with his eyes closed. Nero paused for a moment and said,
"Activare." Then he conjured two playing cards and tucked them into his clothing.
"Danger?" Merlin asked, forced to open his eyes.
Nero shook his head.
"Prevention..."
Merlin nudged him in the back, causing Nero to stumble to avoid falling.
The hatless wizard glared at him with annoyance and said irritably,
"Why did you choose me?" Then, he stretched out with immeasurable laziness, "I wanted to sleep, and then you chose me, with this desire to sleep that I have for you."
Nero looked him in the eyes; Merlin's black eyes and Nero's red eyes clashed in a battle that lasted for what felt like an eternity.
"Merlin..." Nero smiled, hesitant to ask, "Are you a sweaty person?"
Merlin joked, then said hesitantly, "A minor annoyance, like the sting of a bee's needle, or rather, like the feeling of sleepiness."
"Why are you asking something you already know for sure? That's not like you... are you an imposter?"
Nero shook his head.
"It's just... you seem to know a lot about this world... I'm going to tell you a secret that you shouldn't tell anyone."
Those words made Merlin raise an eyebrow.
"I know nothing about the holy Principles, Merlin."
Merlin didn't react in the way Nero had expected; instead, the hatless wizard simply chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Well, you're quite absentminded, my friend. Think about it, how can someone who's been in this world for two years not know something so basic? That's why I'm laughing."
"Two years?"
Merlin blinked twice, his face showing confusion.
"Haven't you been in this world for two years?"
Nero shook his head.
"No, not even close. I've only been here a month and a half. Have you been here for two years?"
Merlin nodded and sat down on the ground, gently leaning against a soft mushroom tree. Then, he closed his eyes and patted the earth beside him, inviting Nero to sit.
Nero obeyed and watched him for a few seconds.
"Nero..." Merlin's voice sounded weary, "Do you want to know how I came to this world?"
Nero sneered, then said:
"Why are you asking something you already know for sure? That's not like you... are you an imposter?"
Merlin reigned and opened her eyes.
"Well... I don't know how, but my body awoke in a strange place, where there were thousands, no, hundreds of mirrors reflecting back at me, a gaze devoid of any emotion. Then, a burning pain began to engulf me, as if I were merging with something, and then, I simply awoke alone in a dirty room, in the West Zone."
Nero nodded with a hint of understanding and new questions, but he only opened his mouth and said:
"I awoke in an abyss, some phantom creatures touched me, I fused with 'Nero,' and I awoke next to little... Rose."
Nero, upon saying "Rose," molded his lips, a hint of frustration in his voice. Then, he glanced at Merlin and cautiously considered a dangerous question.
"Merlin, the first time I saw you was in the East Zone... so, if you woke up in the West Zone, how did you get to the East Zone, if that's forbidden? Also, why were you there in the first place?"
Merlin laughed in a way that would terrify a demon, then leaned close to Nero's ear and said:
"Well, my dear friend Nero... some things shouldn't be asked, much less revealed..."
For a moment, all the air left Nero's lungs. Merlin's voice, so cold and threatening, was strange to the red-eyed man, since his companion Merlin had never used such a cold and cutting tone before.
After a moment of absolute silence, during which the two exchanged glances, something moved among the bushes, making a noise that caught both Nero and Merlin's attention.