"My dear guest, I can see what motivates you but I want to know what kind of end do you seek."

Arthur inwardly snorted and snapped at the talkative Timos.

'Can't you stop talking for a moment?'

"I'm genuinely curious. A person of your strength can achieve many things so it shouldn't have been hard to hide your race and live 'happily ever after'. As boring as it seems to me, that kind of ending is wildly fantasied about, strongly desired by most, if not all, mortals. I mean, look at me, I'm eternally living a peaceful life without worries but it bores me to death! Where's the 'happiness' they talked about?"

"You wouldn't understand. It requires emotions, something you obviously do not have."

"It's here that you're wrong, invitee. I chose not to have them for they are a hindrance, something that clouds judgment and makes anyone do foolish, perhaps even suicidal things."

"Then how can you expect 'happiness' when you refuse to feel?" Arthur snickered at Timos, who was actively talking to him almost every day.

"Happiness can come in many forms. I mean, should I consider myself currently happy now that I'm less bored? Or is it relief that I can finally talk to someone? The whole existence of emotions is illogical and contradicting to everything. The greed that causes wars, the grief that causes revenge, the anger that causes chaos… wouldn't it better not to feel anything? Wouldn't it facilitate everything? You sacrifice emotions and you earn something greater."

"If you discard your emotions then you're no longer a human."

"Ha! I spit on this humanity you talk about. You're no longer humans? What? Aren't you the one being illogical here? It's not only the humans who have emotions. Every other race can feel something, including the worms under your feet and the cows, chicken, and pigs they slaughter to feast on. It's never been something exclusive for humans."

"Does this topic interest you that much?" Arthur rolled his eyes and dropped his head, gazing at his hand, which he was slowly clenching. Strangely, there was an almost unnoticeable numbness which stole his sense of touch.

"Oh but it does! Very much, actually. However, I can see that you're replying half-heartedly so I will end it with a question, as usual. My dear guest, what would you do when the emotions you hold so dearly suddenly vanish? Will you be an empty, emotionless shell? Or will you still convince yourself that you're still like most 'humans', able to feel anger and joy."

"I'm not obliged to answer."

"Of course you're not. And, in fact, you've given me a clear and satisfying answer without even realizing it."

After that, fortunately, Timos ceased talking, leaving Arthur be for quite a while. The couple didn't engage in any obscenity along the way due to the suffocating weather and the peeping being who was following after their steps and talking from time to time.

As they took Timos' advice, the couple headed North-West but were met with no favorable results even after half a day. The Black Devil didn't specify the distance needed to reach the ravine so the two of them continued traveling nonstop.

They Stamina was infinite so they didn't feel physical tiredness and the savage aura lingering everywhere wasn't potent enough to affect their mentality. The sight remained unchanged, a wasteland covered in inextinguishable fire, decayed ruins, and scorched, corrupted earth.

Surprisingly, they didn't meet any Cthulhu, much less parasites, which made their trip smoother and less time-wasting.

..

A full day after their departure, Arthur and Lucy took the first step into an unscathed and unknown region. It was like stepping from one world to the other as there was a clear line separating the hellish area from a tropical and calm forest.

The couple heard the noise of cicadas and rustling of nearby enemies. Even more astonishing was the scarlet sky which drastically changed, becoming clear and blue, like Astria.

"What do you think? Isn't it a good place to rest and relax. There are many things to gain here."

Actually, what the couple did was circling around Timos' body and end up here. The forest was lush, serene and seemed like a totally different world.

"Most of Riarravar was built by the GameMaster and 'God', however, it doesn't mean that the rest of the twelve didn't contribute. This forest, in particular, was the handiwork of Ventus and I. 'Tis a land of opportunities and only a handful of people were invited here, including you."

Before Arthur could spend some time contemplating the beautiful sight, the Strategist spoke again:

"I'm sure you do not believe me but it remains a fact that I created this land which I call The Free Space. I did fail in creating a functioning Race, however, just like anyone else, I'm capable of learning."

The forest was humming with life, totally opposite to the rest of Riarravar. The bright canopy, the birds that sing sweetly, or the unseen sun lighting up the dirt path ahead of the couple. It was decorated with outgrown roots, wildflowers and fallen leaves that crunch beneath their feet. The smell of blood was replaced by the fragrance of the minty grass and the damp earth. Each breath is like water, cleansing and fresh.

"Now, go forth. Explore."

Arthur and Lucy didn't wait for him to say that before they began wandering around, enjoying this new environment. They didn't have to be so tense or on guard around the clock, it was apparent that this place is void of dangerous beasts.

They did stumble upon deers, boards and such but they only stared at them from afar, neither interfering with their lives or killing them. They had plenty of food in their storages and uncorrupted place shouldn't be poisoned by their arrival.

As the Black Devil said, they were invited here to rest and, if they're lucky, chance upon unique opportunities.

*******

"I found something! I found something!"

The Water Empress lifted her head and gazed at her lively short subordinate who was jumping around while holding a dusty old book. They found a bunch of ancient diaries, mostly belonging to the Bard Aneirin, and they're currently reading the comprehensible ones and deciphering the gibberish.

"What did you find?"

The empress kept a deadpan face while speaking, having heard the girl repeat the same thing for a while now.

"It's about the Star Empress!! Apparently, she's friends with The Black Devil!"

A frown appeared on the flawless face of the tall woman. She stood up and read the book presented by her subordinate. She flipped through a few pages before mumbling:

"It couldn't be Timos, right?"

The short girl retorted: "No! It's definitely him. Who else but him is called the Black Devil?"

"Anyway, whether she's really friends with him or not doesn't help our case."