Mr. Jin Woo Sung stopped at a pool, washing himself in the lukewarm water. Hygiene is indeed important, but I don't need to partake since my hygiene doesn't degrade over time. I left him for a moment, exploring the area.
There were these huge pillars, four of them, and in the middle was a pool. The pillars were made of ceramic tiles, colored with a dull white grey. They were cold to the touch.
Mr. Jin Woo Sung, finished with the quick wash, ordered his shadows to split into groups and explore the surrounding area. He mentioned to me that he can teleport to his shadows, wherever they are, except in special circumstances.
As he found out earlier.
That explained why he wasn't able to protect his two shadows that died fighting that humanoid. He was in that yellow dungeon.
A different space...
We had an illuminating yet short conversation; he really wasn't that much of a talker. I have a problem with reading his mind, but I made sure to never pry any further. However, if a strong thought seeps out, causing me to read it, then that's fair.
A few hours passed, and it was still the same.
No clues, no new interesting areas, just the same. Our echoing footsteps, the dripping water, and sometimes the rushing water. It was all we've heard.
We couldn't even hear our breathing over the oppressive silence. It was as if we were the only ones that really existed in this place.
This whole prison.
I can tell that it's affecting Mr. Jin Woo Sung; I can tell his desperation, but he kept a stoic face. I don't blame him, I am becoming desperate too.
Suddenly, he stopped.
I can tell he received some sort of message.
"One of my shadows found something. Follow me. It's quite a distance, keep up." He said, activating some sort of skill, and his speed has increased. I then followed, trailing behind.
We've run for maybe forty minutes until we've arrived at the destination. Mr. Jin Woo Sung would sometimes destroy a wall or jump over a pool to shorten the travel time. Very efficient.
We've arrived, spotting five shadow knights circling over something of interest.
It was a discarded red suit with a golden yellow outline, along with a blue tie. The tailoring was sophisticated, accurate.
"A school uniform..." Mr. Jin Woo Sung said.
My heart sank upon hearing that. I imagined a young, bright student whose keen intellect was snuffed out before it could properly bloom. A grim prospect.
It hasn't been long; maybe they're still around.
Mr. Jin Woo Sung then ordered his shadows to scour the area, even ordering them to check the bottom of all the pools just in case.
The water here was strange but harmless; a person can survive without eating for weeks, whereas dehydration kills within a week. If this student was alive, they need immediate help.
"I'll scour ahead. Just shout my name when you find something, I'll find you." I said to Mr. Jin Woo Sung, and he nodded, quite a good team we are. We haven't formalized it, but I get the sense that he wouldn't mind if I walked alongside him.
I made sure not to destroy any walls and minded my speed; I wouldn't want my reckless carelessness to injure anyone. I dived into the pools, no matter how deep they were. I checked all corners and even focused my eyes on the ceramic tiles. Checking for any marks.
"Reinhard!" My name was called, and I instantly knew where Mr. Jin Woo Sung was. I've dashed straight toward his location, destroying several walls in the process with my speed.
Time was of the essence.
I've arrived and spotted several shadows circling over a collapsed young man. That discarded uniform was definitely his since this young man was wearing an inner-sleeved shirt. Severe dehydration and starvation have seeped in; we managed to arrive just in time.
The young man's hair was brown, and with a fair complexion. Nothing about him stood out. An ordinary student then...
Mr. Jin Woo Sung produced a potion, a container full of water, and some tasty rations. What a useful magic, having your own magical storage.
He held the young man's head and poured the potion straight to his mouth. The young man's energy suddenly spiked, and they looked livelier.
The young man instantly opened his eyes and scanned us for a moment; shock was plastered on his face upon realizing that he was surrounded by tall, shadowy soldiers.
"Am I dead...?" The young man said, while his expression was mostly blank. His eyes were the only animated features. It's like staring at a painting.
"No..." Mr. Jin Woo Sung and I replied.
The young man gazed at the shadow soldiers. Mr. Jin Woo Sung must've realized how disorienting it was, and so with a single dismissive wave, the shadow soldiers retreated to his own shadow.
The young man's eyes were shocked, but they recovered almost instantly.
"I take it that you two are just as stuck as I?" The young man said, and we could only solemnly nod. The young man sighed, disappointment forming on his expression.
"I met a person here, also a student, but from a different yet stranger school." The young man said, surprising me. Another lost soul...
"He showed me some amazing things. Black moving tendrils came out of his mouth, using it to navigate this place. He wore a costume, and he said he was some sort of hero."
"I don't know where he is now. I've lost track of him after he said that he was going to check something out. He said that something was watching us..." The young man said with a depressed tone, albeit forced.
There was something wrong with this young man. His words seemed genuine, but fortunately, because of my divine protection, I can grasp his thoughts.
It was strangely conflicting.
Was he calculating? Was he measuring?
I don't know what it was, but something was unsettling about this young man. Mr. Jin Woo Sung unsettled me at first, but there was a some good inside him.
Inside this young man, there was a void. But I don't want to judge a person within a first meeting, I wouldn't even judge after a second meeting. Maybe it's just my nerves.
"What's your name, young man?" I asked with a smile.
He slightly bowed his head and opened his mouth. "Kiyotaka Ayanokoji."