Online In Another World

Calming himself as he began to understand what was gifted to him, he looked up at the Progenitor, who sat there like a colossus of stone-like skin, constantly extending his arms to perform tasks around the abyssal garden.

"So…how do I escape this place?" He finally asked.

A moment was taken before the Primordial responded, producing an unnerving silence as the young man could see his arms in the distance using a water can to provide sustenance to the flowers.

"A question indeed; your circumstance is one that is very much the exception to the rule. It's quite rare for any to escape the After, and usually requires outside interference, as you have received," Adam told him.

"Outside interference? What do you mean?" He asked.

Adam's empty, void eye sockets seemed to stare at him, "One by the name of 'Grimsol' has locked part of your soul into your deceased body that lies on Arcadius; this is a temporary measure, however."

"Temporary? I'm on a time limit here?" He worriedly posed the question.

"That is the case, yes. A week, at most. Fortunately, the flow of time is different in the After than Arcadius; that week there will be a month here," Adam reassured him, "Nonetheless, it is not a generous amount of time, child. As soon as our meeting is done, you will need to set out."

"And go where, exactly?"

"Fear not, that's what I was getting to: your destination," Adam said, "In order to do that, we must make certain…preparations."

It was in the garden, both of divine and dreadful qualities, that he watched as one of the Progenitor's arms reeled back in from its stretched location into the hedge of roses, reaching above the figure's head and gently grasping one of the golden fruits attached to the tree.

There was something about the glistening apples that made them appear to be the juiciest, most succulent dessert in existence; a natural charm of their exuberant shine that made Emilio gulp as he watched Adam pluck the fruit from the branch, bringing it down.

"Do you know what this is, child?" Adam asked, holding the golden fruit in front of the young man's eyes.

"An apple…?"

"Correct. It is an apple; one forbidden by a god that has long since been erased from the memories of this universe. A god that damned his own child to death for a single bite; such a fruit must bear qualities equal to such punishment," Adam explained, "A most alluring prospect, one must imagine. In my garden, however, I wield no such tyranny; I will grant you this fruit, Emilio Dragonheart; child of two names."

It was then that he finally began to piece together the identity of that which existed before him; the "Progenitor", "Adam", such names became clear when the concept of a golden apple was laid before him. However, he felt posing those questions would be fruitless in itself, only accepting the luscious apple into the palm of his hand.

"What's the catch?..." He asked, daring not to indulge a bite until knowing.

Adam stared at him with those abyssal sockets, "Catch? You would question my generosity? No matter. It is wise to be wary; I am not one who possesses an ego. That fruit is infused with the knowledge of where you must go. Regretful as it is, I may not openly speak of such a place, lest we should find the other Primordials' scorn falling upon my sanctuary."

Even if he was assured it came without a price, he was skeptical at best, having already forsaken one of his arms and gained a rather costly ability, nonetheless, it seemed the Progenitor truly was seeking to aid him.

Alright…I guess I should do this then, he convinced himself.

Bringing the glistening apple near his lips, he took a bite out of its smooth, golden shape, finding the taste to be overwhelming. It was the flavor of knowledge; the consumption of that bite imbued into him that which he sought to find: the way to escape the After.

I…can see it! He thought.

It was as though a map had etched itself into his memories, a path leading through the depths of the After and to a singular location: a set of grand, obsidian walls that guarded a circular door. This was the escape; the gateway that led back to the realm of the living.

The "Quandary Pass"...The gateway between the After and Arcadius. I see it. I know it! He thought.

"Have you seen it now, child?"

"I think so…Those walls, and that gate…That's…" He began to say.

After the information flooded into his mind of the whereabouts in which his grand escape could be enacted, as he stuttered out his words, he found himself shushed by the Progenitor, who lifted a single finger to silence him.

"Speak not of it. Keep it in your mind, not on your tongue," Adam warned him, "There are many beings you would not want to hear of such words."

"Right," he nodded.

For the moment, it seemed all major questions had been taken care of; deep in the Dragonheart's mind, he knew where he had to go. The only problem was, he didn't know quite how to set himself on that path. It was the layout of the After and the region of it he existed in that was still a mystery to him.

"You're wondering perhaps how to begin your journey, aren't you?" Adam asked.

"Yeah…How did you know? Can you–"

"I cannot read minds, if that is what you were about to ask. However, over my existence, the subtleties in one's mannerisms, as small as a single twitch of a muscle, has become as easy to read as a book for myself," Adam told him, "Worry not, once you're ready to leave, I will take you to the proper road; no further than that. There is only so much direct aid I can bestow to one."

As he brought himself standing straight, he turned around to see his elven companion was still very much so fast asleep, laying on the grass.

"...Is he alright?" He asked.

"The elven man is in perfect health, fear not; my garden has that effect. He shall be an invaluable asset to your escape from the After," Adam said.

"He's my friend," he looked up at the Primordial.

Even attempting to force his gaze to match the Progenitor's was a herculean task, unable to concentrate his vision in the slightest as a direct look at the entity caused a blur to form and a nausea to spur.

"It seems my words have angered you for some reason. I only speak objectively, child," Adam assured, "Either way, that one is not permitted to view the garden; he shall remain in slumber until you both take your leave."

"But why? Blimpo wanted to meet you, too," he asked.

Adam resumed his duties of tending to the nebulous plot of flowers, speaking as he remained seated beneath the fruit-bearing cedar, "The trial tests one's will, their tenacity, their 'fire', so to speak…It is imperative such concepts flourish in one, as the After is a realm that will enchain you in despair. I'm sure you've felt it yourself; the very air of this realm corrupts your dreams, muddling them with a bleak depression."

As he listened to the words of the Primordial, the garden itself began to shift with its work upon the land; bushes bearing small berries grew, rapidly changing shape as they became designed in the appearance of humanoids. It felt as though the garden was alive; an entity of its own.

"So, you asked me why? Simply, the elven child did not meet those requirements. Perhaps his words led your perception astray; he hid for days, weeks…months, shivering in fear at the footsteps of War," Adam said, "He surrendered his rite of passage in doing so."

"I see…"

There was no point in arguing; it would be a fruitless endeavor against one of the Progenitor's stature. All he could do was move on from the topic, looking around at the Garden of the Abyss.

"What is this place, anyway? It's different from the rest of the After, isn't it?" He asked.

Adam looked towards him with those hollow, yet full eyes, "It's the one place in this endless land of death which life can be bore; that's a beauty I must upkeep. Death is stagnation. Stagnation is the end of dreams. Dreams are the source of intrigue. That's all."

"Life?"

Glancing around, it truly was a serene place; a large, but isolated chamber with walls of vines, bearing fruit and flowers, flourishing with many colors, yet holding ponds of darkness. The name "Garden of the Abyss" felt apt to him.

"The Faceless–I mean…the 'Disgraced One', you called him…What is he? What does he want with me?" He asked.

The Progenitor was slow to respond to such a question, and the answer that came was unsatisfactory: "Child, there are things far beyond your scale that exist out there. I cannot answer such questions, as even I am subject to the wrath of such forces, lest I should draw their contempt. All I can tell you is this: that one is related to Primordials, but even its origins are vague to me. I've come to understand the universe, yet the Faceless One seems to originate from something "beyond". Just think for yourself; do not follow what that one tells you."

That's really all he'll tell me…? He said he'd answer any of my questions, but I guess even that has a catch…He can answer me, but he doesn't need to tell me everything, he thought.