The thin walls became thicker with each step, the straight lines began to pulse like a heart, and soon everyone was saying goodbye to those who chose eternal rest as their darkest wish.
Vasily stood at the forefront of everyone. Unlike Bernard, he wasn't much of a conversationalist, but the smile on his face was palpable. From his hat, he pulled out a feather, and from his pocket, a piece of paper; the sound of the sliding ink quickly filled everyone's ears.
In Candela's eyes, the solitary Homunculus had the same traits of curiosity as Killbit, but with something more. While her brother pointed and ran around talking nonstop, Vasily pulled objects from the pockets of his long coat to collect samples of the environment. She kept remembering his words about Sophie; Candela wanted to understand more.
Beatriz stayed further back next to Killbit, acting as the group's rearguard. While she offered sweet words to Killbit, the way he responded made her smile. But deep down, she felt a rage toward Killbit. His nature of devotion to his creator made her want to plunge her sword into his chest, and then heal him after taking out her anger on a child in a man's body.
The group penetrated the deepest bowels of Leviathan, unlike the dark and calm passage they had used the first time, as remembered by Candela and Killbit.
The shortcut was open to a point where if you looked closely, you could see the exterior of Leviathan. Everyone soon realized they had passed through the creature's interior eyes, nose, and mouth. Then, in Leviathan's throat, some small beasts remained that were easily split in half.
"I forgot. Bernard didn't explain anything about Ascaris, but I came to some conclusions using my tracking methods and conversations with Bernard." He created a magic circle that gave rise to an image. "Ascaris is a cluster of beasts that has two cores, one that generates more beasts and another that is what Bernard needs."
He stood next to Vasily. "This means that the beasts' core is the gluttons' banquet. I wonder if this will make the gluttons hungrier." He looked at Killbit. "I'm afraid I might cause some harm to my brother. Do you have any idea about the possible effects on him?"
"Based on the knowledge I have, I'd say it's impossible to know the effects on his body, on his personality, or on Bernard's control over him." He drew his pistol, taking down a beast. "If you let me analyze you completely, Killbit, I can tell you what will happen to your body. I'm anxious to discover the anatomy of a Homunculus."
Beatriz snarled at Vasily. "I am surrounded by idiots. Your look disgusts me, Homunculus. You act like a scientist, treating us like objects. You must treat yourself that way too, right? So it wouldn't be bad at all to split you in half."
"Your statements are correct. I am made of the fusion of all the scientists' intellect condensed into an artificial brain, and yes, that makes me, in part, an object." He raised a hand high. "But my researcher's gaze comes from the desire to take care of others. Since we are unique beings, someone needs to know the complete functioning of our bodies, in case something happens to us. I learned about care from Sophie."
He stood in front of Vasily. "You're right. I apologize for the creature treating you like that. Unlike us, his view of scientists is totally negative, not that mine isn't becoming that way either."
He looked into Vasily's eyes. "Everything they create can be used for the collective good. The question is who has it in their hands. Because you were cared for by Sophie, you became something wonderful."
Vasily sighed, put his hand on his holster, and in a quick reaction, Candela summoned her Cleaver. Her illusions surrounded Vasily, but he only pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
What he was carrying was a small map. Vasily explained that it had been made by him and Sophie. The first memory he had of his existence was of Sophie lifting him from the ground, saying something, but he only remembered the smile on her face.
Even before he had taken his first steps, he already knew a feeling well: love. He couldn't see Sophie as a mother figure or even a sister. For him, she was an equal, and she couldn't be reduced to a caregiver for a child. In his opinion, she grew along with him at every moment; they taught each other. She was the only being who compared to him, and by her nature, Sophie was the only one who understood him.
The map came about after a series of unsuccessful projects created by the duo. After that, they focused on searching the depths of their minds for an idea. Sophie then told him about a fragment of her memory: she was in a long field of flowers, all the people around her were happy, and by her side was a man whose face she couldn't remember, but she knew was her father.
Candela was in disbelief upon hearing this; it was the same place from her memories. But instead of telling Vasily, she remained silent. She didn't want to ruin Vasily's moment of sweet memories.
"Because of that, I swore I'd find a way out of the tower to go to the rose field. I remember she was very happy."
"That's why you knew Bernard. He got here from somewhere. So what happened to Sophie? Isn't she with you because she managed to escape from here?"
"I believe in that theory, but there are still some points that don't connect. We made a deal: I would make devices for Bernard, and he would show Sophie the way out. But the day before he came to pick her up, she disappeared."
"I didn't want to say this, but what if it was all Bernard's plan? What if he never intended to do that with Sophie?"
"Impossible. Don't you remember something? She's similar to you; one of Bernard and Dante's missions is to free you and your kind from here. My goal is to complete this map of the tower and the leviathan to give to her. I know I'll see her again."
"You're so determined; it impresses me. I never thought a being like you would have love engraved on your chest. So we must race to defeat Ascaris; it will bring you closer to finding Sophie."
Beatriz regretted what she said. Killbit felt something new: a deep sadness. Vasily put the map back in his holster. Candela gave a long, fake smile. Her insides screamed nonstop. For the first time, she felt envy.