Chapter Text
It's been quite a while since Avery walked up to the monumental golden door, eyeing it up to gain himself some time from whatever was waiting behind it. It felt like he was about to melt away, and I mean literally. He wasn't sure why he stood still, or why he thought he was "gaining himself some time" by doing that, but his mind was too occupied by other questions he chose to think of instead, he pushed these away. That courage he built up before heading down the mines and audacious acts of his were nowhere to be found, as if this door was physically crushing him to the ground. Something about it was making Avery uneasy, and the thought of letting such a thing get to him seemed to bother him more than the door itself. He couldn't understand why, and the unknown was always his biggest enemy.
Well, today might be the day I beat my enemy then, he thought. Maybe it'll be some cool pvp you know? He knew all of this was really stupid, but it made him feel somewhat comfortable enough to move a little. By moving, I mean shifting his weight to his other leg. Okay, he really needs to lock in this time. He could sense some weird, some dark aura type of shit luring out of the door. He was smart enough to tell that it was no good.
Good or bad, he had to face it. He had to. He knew that, didn't he. He wasn't gaining time, he was wasting it. Didn't he come here to find d3rlord? If he kept being a pussy, god knows when he'll find him. He had to take action. No, he must. Yeah. That's better.
"Okay, here we go I guess." He murmured between his teeth. He took a deep breath before taking a few steps forward, straightening his back. Looking confident meant being confident. He looked around one last time, furrowing his eyebrows as if he had to memorize the weird corridor-like cave he came from, and stepped in through the gate.
He fluttered his eyes from the sudden lighting shift, a sunlight peeking through from somewhere Avery couldn't see, nor that he wasn't sure existed. He could feel the intense air filling up his lungs with dust, a slight breeze brushing strands of hair off of his face. The room seemed to be round, and a small, golden fountain was standing in the very middle of it. The floor was uncluttered, torn off parchements and dirty fabrics that seemed to be cashmere laying down on the cold stone. He couldn't make out what the pages said, it seemed to be some other language. Maybe he couldn't see properly in the dim room, or he was just so stressed to the point his vision was getting blurry. Either way, that wasn't the best topic to cudgel his brain over right now.
So this was what d3rlord was so horrified of? It must be something else, something, someone. Just, anything other than whatever this was. Did he show up at the wrong place? Maybe there was another gate. There was no way he would've miss it, he was so careful with every instruction he could get from d3rlords video. Was he?
No, i shouldn't think this simple, Avery thought. There were still a lot of stuff to investigate on, and he wasn't planning to give up on this like that. No way in hell.
He walked up to the fountain, his steps loudly echoing through the room. Maybe a little too loud for crocs like these. He slowly peeked inside, his own heartbeat ringing in his ears. He wasn't sure what he was hoping to see. A note from d3rlord? A sign maybe. Something to lead him. Something. Anything.
But all he saw was himself staring back at him with a frown, reflecting on the shallow water, softly rippling with his intense breathing. Water? Really? I mean, it was a fountain after all, but was this really it?
He grumbled, palming his face. He let his shoulders fall, resting his face in his hands. This was stupid. Really stupid. He wasn't failing this fast, no way. He didn't even begin, and he already had to deal with a dead end. Maybe he should've really turned right. What if that didn't result in anything either? What would he even do after that? Was he seriously gonna give up on d3rlord?
No. He wasn't. Never he would ever consider that. He could just get out, and find some other gates or whatever. Even if there weren't any, he wou-
His thoughts got violently cut off by a loud, deep voice filling the room.
"Interesting. Such determination and desire for one, although thy lack of knowledge."
He froze in the spot, goosebumps covering his skin. This... voice, he was hearing, was coming from everywhere. He could feel it go beyond him, and echo through existence. He wasn't sure if that made sense, but it was true. He never felt this horrified in his life, he could almost feel whoever this was in the air. It was compressing Avery, making it harder to breathe. He didn't know how to answer, but he knew he had to. Words lined up in his throat, but all he managed to get out was a faint whisper.
"W...Who are you." He knew the answer damn well. It was whoever d3rlord saw in this room. It had to be. He didn't know how he was so sure of this, but he could feel it. This was the “dark aura” he felt ealier, something that he knew wasn’t hiding, it was everywhere already. He couldn’t help but feel smart to think of that sentence.
“Why are thou here?” The voice spoke again. It sounded calm. Wasn’t threatening, but he knew he shouldn’t make it repeat itself.
“I.. Won’t answer until you do.” Avery said making sure his voice didn’t crack. This was the last situation he’d want to look weak.
“Quiet. Thou cannot challenge me in such scene. Now, why are thou here?”
Okay, well. That couldn’t be more clear.
“I am looking for someone. I’d say someone who’s been here before.”
“I do happen to acknowledge who thou may be speaking of. ‘Derlord’ , mayhaps?” Avery stepped back slightly. How did it know? Did that mean it knows where he might be? But that doesn’t make sense. Wait no, it does. But how will that help Avery? Would it be able to guide him? Was it even trustworthy, knowing what he knows about this mysterious voice.
Said voice, as if it already had its answer by the silence, continued.
“If thou long for ‘Derlord’ this deeply, i am willing to assist.” Seems like it not only read the silence, but somehow read his thoughts too. Avery didn’t know how many times he is going to get creeped out by this dystopic situation. He didn’t bother questioning this time.
“And why should i trust you? If he ran away from you, he had a reason to.”
“Then why aren’t thou running away?” That was a good question. A really good one. Damnit, it really knew what it was doing.
“What exactly are you offering?”
“I offer thou the opportunity to be beneficial. If thou let me in thy brain. I obtain wisdom that thou would never be able to achieve.”
That shamefully didn’t sound like a bad idea. He didn’t know how to answer, but he knew
“I see that thou are utterly zealous to help him. Do thou think that i would be speaking here if i were to offer anything but to lend assistance? If i failed to satisfy thee, allow me to show why i am necessity. Closer, Avery.” He knew it meant the fountain, taking a step closer and leaning in to see the water better. His disappointed reflection from before had seemed to leave its place to a more curious one, staring back at him once again. His mind was working too hard on thinking what could possibly happen next and not letting his guard down just in case, he didn’t even realize the voice knew his name. There were better stuff to be surprised about anyway.
The water started to bubble up, rising slowly. A faint glow was coming from the bottom of it, somewhere deeper than it should be. The blue light was creating pretty shapes on his slime body. He reached for his inventory, clutching on its zip gingerly as his other hand laid on the side of the fountain. The lights changed colors, and shaped into forms Avery couldn’t really make sense of. Was it playing with him? Because he was so ready for a 1v1 right now. His knuckles turned white, probably messing shit up in his bag. His big inhale, which was about to form into some not very nice sentences, got stuffed back in his throat with the voice.
“Observe carefully and find out what thee will allow to happen if thou make a false desicion.” The visions cleared up instantly showing derlord tottering; breathing hardly as he hurries, dragging his leg in clear pain as it leaves a messy trail of blood behind. Avery’s eyes widened, leaning in to make sure he is seeing this right. Shit. SHIT. He was late. Terribly late. He had to get there RIGHT now. He spent all this time bitching around when derlord needed his help. He failed him. He was supposed to help him back, but he was just too busy being a scared little shit.
“Thou shall make the right choice, or it is going to be too late for thy precious friend. Join me, and thee will be inconquerable.” He had to do something, and he had to do it now. The chilly room now feeling hotter than ever, drops of slime-sweats making their way down his face. Breather Avery, think straight, he thought. Come on.
“I know you’re evil, there’s no way I’m believing your shit! I’ll… I’ll find another way. I can do this. I dont need you. I don-“
Clank. He looked over the water again, seeing the knight collapsing on his knee. Fuck. He was stupid. So stupid. What would derlord think, he thought. I’m not smart enought to even think half of his mind. He knew he wasn’t enough to do this, but he knew he can’t not do this. He had no other choice. If he wanted to fix his mistake, just at least help derlord, he had to do this. He knew it wasn’t trustable. But-
“Thou have no other alternatives to debate on. I would suggest thou hurry.”
It was right. It was so painfully right.
Maybe he didn’t have derlord’s mind to think like him, or as significant as he was, but if he could just be useful for once in his life, this was the opportunity.
“Fine. Okay. Do whatever you want. As long as he’s okay.”
“Splendid. Come forward and take a sip from the water, my vessel.”
He leaned even more in, the shapes and lights slowly fading away from the water as it decreased to its old height. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. No, stop thinking about it, you already decided. Just stop. He let go of the hand holding onto his bag for his life, running it through the water. It was slightly shaky from how long he was gripping it for, he didt even realize he waz so harsh about it. He slipped his other hand in, jointing them to form a tiny cup, watching it slowly fill. Don’t think about it. He hestitantly brought his literally hand-made cup over his mouth, some of it dripping through little gaps and staining his shirt, but he didnt really mind it. Stop, just stop.
Pressing his wrist on his chin, he let the cold water flow into his mouth.
It’s too late.
One by one, until the last drop fell on his tounge.
Don’t think about it.
He could feel the water travel through his gullet.
Stop.
And spread to every inch of his veins.
Thinking.
He felt his vision getting… weird.
About it.