The clouds slowly moved, vast masses of vapor crawling across the sky with ponderous intent, trying to cover the entire Crimson Canopy beneath their oppressive weight.
Under the crimson light of the burning moon, they looked... strange and devious.
The bloody illumination passed straight through them with ease, making the clouds appear as if they were filled with blood to absolute capacity. As if they were pregnant with crimson liquid, ready to spill it out.
Thunder strike, rumbled and painted the world in bright light that felt foreign to Ishiki who had gotten used to looking at everything through the strange Crimson illumination.
’Crap. Am I going Insane?’
He shook his head and then looked at the princess, who still looked in the direction of the Golden floating island which was now hidden behind the crimson veil of clouds.
That floating island was... perhaps the city or an entire Empire called Aethelburg.
Of course, it was just an assumption. There was no solid proof of that, but it was their only way to get out of here.
The Princess stayed silent for prolonged duration, observing the haze gradually cover golden leaves visible at distance. Then she finally spoke with voice carrying absolute certainty.
"I... I know how we can get out of here."
The clouds thundered once more—this time, even the lightning’s flash painted the world in bright crimson rather than natural white.
As if storm itself had been corrupted by the moon’s influence.
Ishiki looked at the Princess with mouth hanging open in shock. "Wait... what do you mean you know? Then why are we here?"
Then, while saying that, Ishiki remembered something crucial, that had been resting in the back of his head for long enough time.
The question that he wanted to ask the princess and the question that probably held the answer to their salvation.
How did Yuki transverse the expanse of Crimson Canopy to reach this clearing. It was strange that no one had ever shared any information about that.
Ishiki mentally shrugged.
’Well, I guess I’m a fool for not asking sooner.’
They had no reason to share. Everyone here knew how, except for Ishiki and Alex, and they never asked for it.
But now was the time to ask the million dollar question.
Ishiki opened his mouth to speak, but Yuki beat him to it and spoke first, answering his previous question.
"Because we need to get stronger..." Her voice was calm and more grounded. "If we want to reach the end."
Her eyes were shimmering with new life, as if they’d finally found destiny worth pursuing rather than merely postponing inevitable death.
Ishiki on the other hand was doubtful and paranoid. And stood there staring at the princess, lost in his own thoughts with a dark expression.
Yuki noticed him zoning out. "What happened?"
Just as she asked, the first drop of rain fell on Ishiki’s cheek—pulling him sharply back from spiraling contemplation.
He blinked couple times, then looked at the Princess and back at the ominous sky.
Soon, Ishiki’s corruption made him say his thoughts out loud. "I wanted to ask how did you come here?"
A distant rumble shook everything after a streak of lightning, brightened the world with its unnatural crimson light that made shadows writhe.
He looked at Yuki and said in an even tone. "First we need to get back down."
’I don’t wanna get electrocuted standing around a damn metal poll on a freaky temple.’
That was just... very unlucky, if someone were to hear.
They both made their way back to the ground, climbing down from the temple with deliberate care and then placing the piece they had cut back in place.
As they walked down the stairs and towards the wooden doors, Ishiki noticed something... unusual that had not been here when they arrived or maybe, he hadn’t noticed before.
Didn’t matter. It was now there and he had noticed it.
Below the statue—at the edge of the stone slate that contained the name of the deity or to whoever this statue belonged to, there was a... shoe.
Ishiki walked to it and lowered down, picking up the abandoned shoe. it was battered, with several holes puncturing leather, but still potentially useable.
He grimaced. ’What am I thinking? To wear some random abandoned shoe found in cursed temple?’
Then he sighed and looked down at his own feet and realized that what he was thinking made perfect sense.
He was wearing an old pair which were just around the corner to giving up.
Suddenly his expression turned dark and desolate, remembering how he had received them.
This pair... he had removed them from one of his party member after he was killed by a Withering beast, during a hunt.
He shook his head violently.’ I... don’t regret it. Absolutely don’t. He died because he was weak. Who told him to be so fragile? It wasn’t my mistake that he couldn’t dodge.’
Throwing the thought away, he looked around for the other pair.
The princess’s voice came from around the door. "Ishiki? What are you doing?"
"I... uh, I was just... looking for something. You can go, I will come on my own."
Yuki lingered for a moment and then replied in a flat tone. "There will be a meeting during the Silver Night, so come at the house where I live."
Saying that, the princess opened the door and left, leaving Ishiki alone in the temple, searching for footwear among skeletal remains.
’uh... that sounds creepy.’
Anyways, after searching for some time around the obsidian platform. Ishiki frowned. "This... is weird."
’How come there is only one of them?’
No matter how thoroughly he searched, he couldn’t locate the matching shoe. That disappointed him significantly—single shoe was completely useless.
Even if these were a little too big for his feet, they were more comfortable then his current one.
Suddenly, the temple’s door opened and then closed.
In that brief moment, Ishiki heard ruthless rain pattering constantly on ground outside, the storm had intensified to severe downpour.
Ishiki narrowed his eyes, hiding behind the obsidian platform. ’Isn’t everyone supposed to be sleeping now?’
A figure walked slowly from the temple’s gate, into the light. They were drenched from top to bottom. The simple robes they wore were plastered to their skinny stature. The person was paler than anyone Ishiki had ever seen.
Their silver eyes were mostly hidden behind veil of long blonde hair that was damp and clinging to face with uncomfortable intimacy.
Ishiki raised an eyebrow, unease crawled across his skin like insects.
’Who... Who is that?’