The next day…
Dante and Missio strolled through the streets of Verona. After a few minutes, they arrived at the garden. Before them stood a massive open gate, the walls covered in moss as if nature had overtaken it. Both passed it, entering Giardino Giusti. Missio lifted his head, glancing at the tall hedges beyond the lobby. Dante glanced to the side, noticing the ticket office. He walked towards it and opened his mouth.
"Excuse me, can we get two tickets for adults."
The man, presumably in his fifties at the desk glanced up, looking at the brothers. He nodded and typed something onto his computer. After a few seconds, the tickets were printed. The man gripped them, ripping them off the printer. He handed the tickets to Dante. Dante drew his phone and scanned the garden's QR code.
"How much?" he asked.
"28 Aureus." The old folk replied.
Dante typed in the required amount and proceeded with in transaction. He showed it to the old fellow.
"Okay, Go on." He waved.
Dante placed his phone back into pocket. He spun around and headed towards the garden. Missio trailed him. They rounded a small maze surrounding at a hand-crafted sculpture. Missio gazed at the statue of stone with awe-filled eyes. Dante led his little brother towards the larger maze. He halted before the entrance. He activated his attribute, lightning sparking around. He flashed out of sight and appeared again.
He reversed, placing his hand on Missio's shoulder. Missio blinked. In the next instant, they appeared in the center of the maze. At the nexus of the labyrinth stood a detailed statue of a man half-naked, standing in a bold manner. Missio lifted his head, his mouth opening slightly. Dante locked eyes with his little brother.
"Now to begin your training." Dante clamped his hands. "You'll learn how to use your enhanced senses first."
"How?" Missio asked.
"Try to exit this maze…" Dante drew a cloth from his pocket. "While blindfolded."
Missio blinked. "What?"
Dante went behind Missio. "This will help you to control your sense better."
He took off his brother's headphones. A barrage of noises assaulted him. Missio gritted his teeth as Dante tied the cloth around his eyes. The world went dark. Missio covered his eyes, trying to lessen the noise.
"Now… try to get out." Dante's voice rang.
"H-How? I can't see anything." Missio muttered.
"Is that the only sense you have?" Dante inquired.
"B-But they're too overwhelming!" He clutched his ears.
Dante clicked his tongue. "They're too overwhelming because you're hearing everything at once. Focus on one sound, smell, feeling or taste or whatever."
Missio gritted his teeth, taking his brother's advice. He remembered the old man at the ticket office. Using all his mind, He focused on him. The noise around him filtered out. In the distance, he could hear a grumpy voice mumbling something to himself. But he couldn't keep it for long. His focus broke and the noise returned. He clutched his ears harder.
'Damn it…!'
He drew a sharp breath, lifting his head. Focusing once again, he stepped forward. The rustling of the hedges allowed him to map out the maze in his mind. The air felt like a cloth covering his entire body. He moved through that cloth as if he were moving the bedsheet as a kid. The next second, crashed into a wall. He grunted, wiping his face.
'Shit… I lost it…'
He tried to find the sound again. Eventually, he heard clicking. His eyes widened as he rushed towards the sound. Dante followed behind him, containing his laughter. Eventually, Missio reached the place of the clicking.
"Did I do it?" He asked excitedly.
"No, we're still in the fucking maze." Dante burst into laughter, falling to the floor.
The supreme commander caught himself with one hand as Missio frowned.
"The birds were tapping on the statue outside. You're not at th exit but the edge." Dante stated. "Once again!"
Missio exhaled heavily. He turned his head forward, trying to lock onto the side. The grumpy voice of the old man echoed in his ears once more.
"Got dammit, where's my water." The old fellow complained.
Missio backed off, catching the rustles of the leaves. He turned but crashed into another wall. He grunted and rotated. He didn't hit anything this this time. He continued the maze for an hour.
The clouds partially blocked the sun, creating a small moment of shade. Missio halted at another wall. He spun around and headed back. Dante moved out of his way.
'He's getting pretty close.'
Dante thought. The former lieutenant general continued to storm through the maze with extreme proficiency. He stopped once in a while to find the old man's voice. After a few minutes, he paused near an opening.
"This is it." He muttered under his breath.
He stepped forward – he crashed into nothing. He took another step forward, the wind blowing past him. Just then, Dante surprised him, hugging him from behind.
"You did it!" He exclaimed.
"Really?!" Missio exclaimed as well.
Dante took off Missio's blindfold. "Yeah!"
Missio opened his eyes to the world again. He blinked – he was out of the maze. He spun around, gazing at the tall hedges of the labyrinth. He stood in silence for a few moments. The world felt quieter than before. The painful noises from before had suddenly disappeared. He could clearly hear the birds chirp, the leaves rustled and the wind crash against the wall. A smile couldn't help but make its way onto his mouth.
"Are you happy?" Dante inquired.
"…Yeah…I am." Missio replied in a soft tone.
He inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh air. His nose caught the scent of the flowers within. He then exhaled and lowered his head. He opened his eyes as the sun broke through the clouds. The ground lit up, blinding him. He grunted, shutting eyes. After a few moments, he opened them again to see the world in more detail. He touched his fore head.
"Finally… the damn noise is gone…" he chuckled lightly.
He gripped his headphones and put them back on. He tapped them, placing them on full transparency. He heaved a sigh of relief, turning towards his brother.
"Your training isn't over yet." Dante stated. "Keep on actively filtering for the sounds you want to hear, things you want to taste or smell. You're in full control of your sense now. Don't let that grasp go. Make it a habit – a passive activity you do all the time. Then, you'll be able to live peacefully."
"I will." Missio replied, nearing Dante. "When's the next training session?"
"We'll continue on your hearing sense for now. You're still far from mastery." Dante replied, turning around. "This'll also help you in later stages of transcendence so thank me later."
Missio smiled and nodded. "Thanks."