Margana: To Seek The Truth

6. The Call of Void

We both dived into the water, and we came out... the atmosphere doesn't feel the same way. It got more... ominous. Perhaps the spring was the way to advance further into this verse or something. I asked Lino if we could look around for some leads on how to get out of this stage, he agreed and now I'm alone again.

Not that I don't mind, but still. This jungle-like space gives me the creeps, it's scary. Like as if something could just jump out of here and fight me till I die. Not that I'm weak, of course. Luckily for me, Lino gave me some kind of rope made of some kind of neon silk. If it weren't for him we'd both be lost by now. Roaming... Roaming... Am I going in circles? No, I honestly doubt it, I would've been able to see the neon thingy again. Something's still off though, it's like I've seen this exact purple tree. Looking around once more, I spotted a beautiful yet creepy domain-like structure. There were weapons on a small table beside it, 2 weapons to be exact. It's like someone's been waiting for us over here. It would probably be 'She' since... Who else would it honestly be?

Finally, is this the end of this horrible nightmare? I can't wait, literally! But— I have yet to meet up with Lino again. I want to get out now and I may miss my chance, however, he's still somewhere in this weird jungle. Should I just continue without him? Yeah, no. I'm running out of this rope thing, I have to use it wisely. I'll just put some marks along the way. That'll be fine, right? God, I've been shouting his name for a while now. Could he be lost?

"Companion? Companion???" I heard someone shouting in the distance, it must be Lino! I'll just go towards him, it'll be easier that way. Oh hell, wait— I forgot to introduce myself. Silly me! I'll just do it later, if there is a later. Kept going and going till I reached the source of the voice, but Lino wasn't there. I took a step further and... I fell into a pitch black pit? What the hell is this?! Was Lino's voice just bait? ... I was baited using the most basic trick ever. Falling into infinite darkness, I'm kind of used to it. It's the same feeling as the one in the cloud-like area. I heard a thump, could I have hit rock bottom again? There wasn't any pain this time, so I guess it was fine. I stood up and still pursued in looking for Lino.

He could've fallen for the same trap. First of all... Where am I?!?! After 12 minutes of searching, I started to lose hope. I missed my chance of fighting whatever was in that domain! I missed my chance to go back home. I simply sat down in total silence just accepting my fate of being stuck here for eternity I guess. Until I looked out in the distance to my east, I saw Lino! Finally, I'm not gonna suffer through this alone. Wait, what if that 'Lino' is another trap? What if I go further from the surface? What if... what i—?

"Hey! Companion! It's me, Lino! You fell in here too. They probably used the same trick as they did with me."

I was shocked, it did actually sound like him. However I'm not going to be complacent, everything that happens in this world has a catch. I let out a sigh and calmly replied saying; "Lino? Thank God you're stuck here too. What's the goal of this area now?"

Lino let out a small mischievous chuckle and answered my question, "We're in a new stage. You can say 'failing' the other one led us here via a shortcut."

I nodded at his response since it did make sense. This world is crazy, and I know it! Think about it, it's like a never ending battle, it's also like a game. Please I need to figure things out. Lino doesn't know anything. If he did, he'd give up the information. That doesn't really matter now, we should move on. I called Lino with me and we continued through this hopeless abyss. Everything was silent, no one was speaking, not even a single gust of wind. That all changed when a familiar low hum came from behind while progressively getting closer and louder. The voice in my head appeared again and said... "Run or fight, your choice."