She looked at me with knitted brows.

“Avner.. are you that scared of me?” she asked.

“It’s not that. I was supposed to return home before lunch. But because I was hospitalized all of a sudden, my grandparents and etler are worried about me. I need to return home now.”

I replied with as much rationale as I could.

“Lunch is over. There’s still time before dinner, right? Can’t you stay longer?”

“I can’t.”

Lynda’s brow knitted tighter.

“I decided to not take the surgery,” she lisped.

“That’s good to hear.”

“So I’ll have to take blood every one and a half months from now on.”

I nodded.

“From strangers.”

I nodded.

“...”

“You’ll be fine. Lynda. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll still go to school as normal next year.”

“You don’t need to tell me that.”

“I’m just saying.”

Lynda finished the cereal bar.

“Can you visit me like this tomorrow?”

“Probably not.”

“Then.. next week?”

She’s really pushing for it.

“Okay. I’ll come next week. I’ll tell you the details through text.”

“That’s a promise alright?”

Out of pity, I nodded.

“Everyone is afraid of me,” She confessed. “Why me? I don’t get why I have to be the one with this disease. Oh, don’t worry. I took my medication this time so I won’t try to say anything weird.. um.. sorry about last time.”

“It’s alright.”

“Will I be able to marry with this disease?”

Will she be able to marry?

“Eventually?”

I wasn’t too sure. We can only hope that Cycline Inc. creates that cure sometime in the future.

Lynda nodded timidly.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

“Alright. See you next week.”

“See you.”

I left the room feeling sentimental.

There was something about her that just didn’t feel too right.

===

“She’s NtBM positive.”

“Wow. So she’s your girlfriend then? You got it hard man.”

“No..”

How did you even come to that conclusion?

“Then? Why did you bring her stuff?”

“My grandparents forced it on me. I wanted to give it to my teacher so he could pass it to her but because of that incident I never got the chance.”

“Ouch. Betrayal. Don’t ever get into contact with the guy ever again. There’s no exceptions this time. You lucked out.”

“I know..”

“About the pureborn. Take hir to the demon association. Or do you want us to do it?” Radingo offered.

“What does Lucia think about it?” Ain asked.

“Lucia, what do you think? I’m sorry I couldn’t get the information.”

We made our way into the elevator.

“Lucia?” I called out to hir again.

“What’s up?”

“Xe’s not responding.”

“Did xe fall off somewhere?”

“I’m pretty sure xe’s in the cabin.”

I could feel hir presence there.

“Maybe xe’s still shocked. It’s funny how you’re acting as if nothing happened even after going through all that. I’m starting to believe that maybe the story of you inheriting your past memories may actually be true.”

“Lucked out. Lucked out. Can’t this guy be any luckier?”

“Anyways, you said your unit is on this floor right? Then we’ll part here. Take care Avner. Get some rest.”

“Don’t talk to angels again. Warning you.”

“I got it. Thank you for today.

I waved them goodbye. When the elevator door shut, I walked to the condominium unit R920.

I opened the door after the PIN.

Beyond the door I was welcomed with a warm embrace.

===

Echoing into the Abyss.

In exchange for erosion damage, it reveals bits of my memories.

Memories of what?

I wasn’t too sure.

What I do know is that the memories are related to why I’m able to fight so well.

The biggest piece of information I got this trip into the abyss was Craim Stygian. A whip sword, and cursed weapon from another world.

What world exactly? I didn’t know. It’s not supposed to exist in this universe.

Same goes for Arondight.

Though I say memory, I have a slight suspicion that maybe it’s just a skill that just raises my fighting prowess and proficiency for weapons.

Otherwise could this be Avner's past memories?

If so then, who in the world exactly is this character? How deep did Novelle intend to narrate about this character?

Though there’s still a lot I don’t know about Echoing into the Abyss– one thing is for sure. I need to use it more often. To unlock more information and perhaps get to the bottom of this mystery.

“Lucia. Are you there?”

Lia was wearing headphones so I don't expect hir to notice my conversation. My back was facing hir, xe would simply think that I’m busy drawing away.

‘I’m here.’

“Are you alright?”

‘How about you, Avner?’

“I’m fine. I’m asking about you.”

‘I’m starting to think that maybe it isn’t a good idea to continue this.’

“Why? Because I almost died?”

[Talking to air again, Shin?]

“Randell, go to sleep for 20 minutes.”

[Entering sleep mode. Weirdo.]

‘I was naive. That’s all. It’s not right for you to risk your life for a selfish wish of mine.’

“If that’s how you put it.”

‘I’m sorry I got you into this mess. It was wrong of me, Avner.’

“I got myself into this mess.”

‘I was the one who instigated you to..’

“I was the one who accepted it. Things turned out alright and that’s all that matters. It’s a shame we didn’t get the information needed. If I was more discerning then maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

‘Thank you for taking responsibility. But the fault still lies with me.’

“No. It’s no one’s fault.”

‘Pardon?’

“No one wouldn’t not save someone they cared about.”

Part of what I said here had relations to the memories from the Abyss.

Avner of the 234th reincarnation and Shin wouldn’t have declared something so bold.

‘Do you know my father?’

“No.”

‘I don’t understand. I’m a stranger to you. Why?’

“To be honest, you somehow remind me of me.”

Do I believe Novelle is alive?

Yes. I want to believe she’s alive somewhere.

‘..Thank you for your kind words, but I think I’ve made my decision. Would it be possible to reach out to the demon association? I’ll report my father’s disappearance and I’ll leave for Hades. They should send professionals to search for him.’

It wasn’t like I could do anything to help here by this point. My lead turned into an ambush, and there are others out there more qualified than me.

“I don’t think I can reach out to the demon association, but I’ll try to find someone to bring you there. Maybe Randingo or Ain. They asked about it just a while ago.”

‘Thank you Avner. I’ll remember to distribute the appropriate rewards when I return.’

“It’s alright.”

I texted Randingo and told him Lucia’s decision.

===

dotturndot: Lynda’s situation seems a little bleak don’t you think? Well.. same could be said for Lucia– or not. I’m not so crazy as to just let Carlos die right? RIGHT? AHAHAHAHAHA.. who knows..