Aaron awoke to the fluttering of wings as his entire body ached with an unimaginable pain.
"Ergh…"
He groaned loudly as he felt a hard, unyielding surface pressing against his side.
Blinking his eyes open, he was startled by a cluster of turquoise insects right in front of him.
As his vision focused, he realized they were butterflies, resting on a small perch that jutted from the side of a tall mirror, as if crafted specifically for them.
The walls around him lay in deep shadow, with only the boy's presence disturbing that natural stillness.
He pushed himself upright, his gaze sweeping the dark space once more.
So I'm here again…
Memories of his previous two journeys to this unknown dimension haunted him as the events that had led him there lingered in his mind.
The first had come when he fainted after absorbing a sea terror's core, and the second after barely driving off the hydra with the power of the Ghostship.
Both times I've come here, it's because I'm too weak…
Resentment for his pathetic self seeped through him, drowning him in self-pity.
"Do not dwell on your weakness, but instead, take every opportunity for strength."
The sudden words echoed through the void, cutting through the silence and drawing Aaron's gaze to the reflective surface of the mirror.
In the same position as before, the Old Man sat relaxed on the floor, his silver armor rippling in the darkness in wave-like patterns, while long tendrils of blue and white hair spilled over his shoulders.
This time, however, the blond-haired boy's eyes noticed thick chains driven straight through the man's legs, binding him to the depths of the mirror.
"You keep saving me… Can you tell me why?"
Aaron's question held no animosity and no attempt to pry, only a humble, respectful request.
Beneath the nest of butterflies, the man simply stared at him before responding in a quiet, probing tone.
"Don't you have more pressing concerns than that?"
His clover-green eyes glistened, and a slow smile settled across his wrinkled face as if he had thought of something amusing.
Across from him, Aaron spoke quickly, losing the short-lived air of respect he had shown moments earlier.
"C-Can you help Eleanor!?"
The sudden outburst left the Old Man on the verge of laughter, but he held it back, answering with a devilish grin.
"Of course I can."
In an instant, a smile lit up the blue-eyed boy's face as he almost jumped up and down with joy.
All tension of the mysterious dimension and its secrets had faded from his mind, leaving only the thought of Eleanor's safety.
Then, with a single sentence, he made a fatal mistake.
"If you can save her, then do it!"
A cold chill swept through the space, freezing Aaron in place as an incredible force pressed down on him.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt, making every part of his body squeal in agony and scream for mercy.
Blood rushed to his head as the air was sucked from his lungs in an instant, reducing him to a kneeling fool on the floor.
"You dare speak with such a tone in my presence?"
The bearded man's words were spoken with such bloodlust that each syllable felt like a dagger pressing against Aaron's flesh.
"I give you the honor of witnessing me in my weakened state, yet your pure arrogance outweighs even your instinct for survival."
Every moment pushed the boy further past his limits, with the sound of breaking bones and ripping skin reverberating through the void.
"I-I…"
Snap.
The Old Man's fingers lingered in the air as the sharp sound faded away.
Silence filled the area as the sudden pressure vanished, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"Eh, that's enough for me… Heh"
His laughter sent out tremors that toppled Aaron as he attempted to stand up.
All my injuries are gone…
With only a snap of his fingers, that blue-haired man had healed every fracture and wound on Aaron's body, while also lifting the force that had crushed him.
"T-Thank you for your mercy…"
His shaky response drew another chuckle from the man; however, he quickly stilled his voice and spoke again.
"How about this, we'll make a deal. If you follow through on your end, I'll grant you one wish that you can use as you please."
Each word was layered with a profound complexity that unsettled Aaron, yet the deal was one he couldn't refuse.
"W-What are the conditions…?"
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he imagined what the man might demand, things that could make the deal impossible.
An Apex core? One thousand souls? My own life…
With each passing moment, the tension thickened as the elderly lord thought deeply about his request before speaking.
"In the center of Sea Fallen resides an ancient building called… Ah, what was the word again?"
He paused, rubbing his brow as he tried to recall the word that evaded him.
"Ah, forget it. Go to whatever government building resides in the center of that city and locate a vault."
As he listened intently, Aaron guessed the word that had stumped the man, but before he could speak, the Old Man continued.
"In that vault lies an object of immense power that once belonged to me. I lost it during one of my many brawls in the area… Hmm, perhaps it was against that righteous monk?"
Once again, he sank into his thoughts, sorting through his memories as if rummaging through old records.
"I-Is that why you were sealed here?"
The man paused, furrowing his brow in confusion as he looked at the boy.
"Eh? What the hell are you on about?"
Aaron tilted his head, his puzzled expression deepening as he responded cautiously.
"Did that 'monk' you mentioned seal you here after you lost to him in a fight?"
A heavy silence settled over the room once more, with not even the butterflies above the mirror daring to make a move.
"Lose? Lose to that stupid bald freak? Hahaha, maybe I misjudged you! You're quite a funny fellow, boy!"
Quakes slammed against the blond-haired boy as the echoes of his laughter shook the place, even creating small cracks in the mirror that held his projection.
Doubt began to creep into his mind as he wondered about the man's sanity, but the Old Man resumed speaking, picking up where he left off.
"Anyway, once you infiltrate that pathetically weak chamber, you'll be able to find it very easily."
As he finished his thought, he sighed, then let out an unnerving grin that bared his teeth.
So I need to break into the town hall's basement vault and steal his weapon for him? Wouldn't this be a crime? And I'd be helping a man I can't even trust, someone sealed inside the Abyss…
If he denied the deal, Eleanor would be gone forever, and this man might never speak to him again.
On the other hand, if he accepted, then by aiding this mysterious man trapped within the Abyss, he could doom the world to whatever dark plans the man had in store.
"How can I trust you to keep your word about reviving her…?"
His cautious voice echoed quietly through the void; however, the Old Man looked unfazed by his doubt.
"Do kids these days not know about Soul Pacts? I could have sworn they were commonplace only a few centuries ago…"
As he mumbled, he stroked his beard, as if reminiscing about his younger years.
On the other side of the mirror, Aaron wore a confused expression as he responded in a puzzled manner.
"Can you tell me what a 'Soul Pact' is, then, sir?"
Despite the man's friendly discussion after the earlier incident, even the boy knew that he was beginning to ramble on to an extent that wasn't necessary.
"Ah, of course, how rude of me… When you form a Soul Pact with another, it is completely binding and unbreakable without any margin for error. If one side fails to complete their promise, their soul will be devoured by Death himself."
As he spoke, Aaron noticed an unusual look of shame when he mentioned Death.
Did this old guy encounter Death? Well, he is pretty old…
"Boy, you do understand that while inside this realm I can read your thoughts, correct?"
His expression had deteriorated with his brows furrowed in slight disapproval; however, they quickly returned to a neutral stance as he read more of his thoughts.
H-He can read my thoughts? And he never told me?
Aaron backed up a few feet with a wary look across his face; however, the green-eyed man simply laughed at his concern.
"So, will you make the pact with me or not?"
In the blink of an eye, his attitude had dramatically changed, with his personality returning to the stoic and wise man that the blue-eyed boy had met before.
"C-Can you promise that civilians won't be hurt if I help you?"
The simple request left the man baffled for a moment, confused as to why this young child cared so deeply about innocent lives.
With a voice even quieter than a whisper, a single sentence slipped out from his sealed lips.
"You two truly are alike…"
He stopped himself quickly, touching his finger to his lips, afraid Aaron had overheard; however, the boy just wore a worried expression.
"Ah, well, yes, I will not injure any civilians with what you are retrieving for me."
As the words exited his mouth, he watched as Aaron visibly sighed with relief and spoke again, this time with confidence.
"Am I correct to state that if this pact is completed, Eleanor will return to life, and you will receive that weapon. Are we in agreement?"
"Indeed, we are."
And then, as if time had skipped a beat, an invisible force tore through both figures, brushing against their very souls, binding them together in an unbreakable oath.
"I should also inform you, since this is involved with our pact, that the city you once knew as 'Sea Fallen' has, as of today, ceased to exist."
Once the words had left his lips, the butterflies began to flutter their wings, floating up into the dark abyss above.
They hovered above the cracking mirror as Aaron's jaw practically fell to the floor with the sudden information.
"W-Wait a second!"
He barely had time to shout at the projection of the elderly man before the turquoise creatures soared through the sky, striking the mirror in bursts of light.
A piercing headache immediately dug its way into his mind as he felt his vision wane, threatening to return him to the real world.
"Y-You… Y-You should've… T-Told me… S-Sooner…"