Souls

The teleportation this time was exceptionally swift. Midir felt only a slight wave of dizziness before his feet touched solid ground.

He found himself within a magnificent, cylindrical space. Aila stood not far away, her gaze fixed on a bizarre sight in the distance, her face filled with wonder.

This place was a stark contrast to the deep, dark canyon they had just left. It was flooded with light, as if the entire space were saturated with a warm, soft glow that left no room for even a single shadow.

The air was thick with light elements, which gently enveloped every inch of the space. It provided an unprecedented sense of comfort and tranquility, making one instinctively want to immerse themselves in the peace and warmth.

In the center of the space stood a crystal pillar that pierced into the heavens, its peak completely out of sight.

Even more peculiar was that the interior of the crystal pillar seemed to contain countless flickering figures. They were blurred and mysterious, as if shrouded in a layer of soft mist—simultaneously real and illusory, making them difficult to grasp.

“Midir, look! Is someone moving inside that pillar? That’s not just my imagination, is it?” Seeing that Midir had regained his footing, Aila immediately pointed toward the crystal pillar, her eyes shimmering with curiosity and excitement.

“...It’s not an illusion. But to be precise, those aren't exactly people...” Midir said slowly, as if a thought had just occurred to him.

“Not people? Are you saying they’re ghosts?”

Now that they were in a relatively safe environment, Aila’s heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settled. Her usual lively and cheerful personality returned, and she spoke casually with her hands on her hips.

“Ghosts? No, they aren't specters or ghosts. Those are human souls.” Midir gave her a small smile as he spoke, walking slowly toward the massive crystal pillar. He gazed deeply at the blurred figures dancing within.

“What? Souls? Isn't that just another word for ghosts?!” Aila walked to his side, joining him in observing the indistinct shadows.

“There's a distinction there. Things like ghosts and specters should be categorized as undead creatures. A soul, however, is the mark a person leaves upon the world. There is a difference between the two...”

“Whatever, it’s all the same to me... Wait! How do you know so much about this?” As Aila listened to his explanation, she was about to argue back when she suddenly realized something was off. She turned her head alertly to look at his profile. Wasn't Midir supposed to have amnesia? Why did he suddenly know so much about this place?

Sensing her suspicion, Midir could only explain helplessly.

“Don't look at me like that; I haven't been replaced by a monster. It’s just that since arriving here, fragments of memory seem to have surfaced. Knowledge about these souls just naturally poured into my mind. I can't explain why, but that’s the truth.”

Aila frowned skeptically, her nose twitching slightly as if searching the air for any unusual scents. “That explanation sounds a bit far-fetched... though, I really don't smell anything wrong on you.” She circled Midir once before finally giving up on her investigation.

“I know it sounds weak, but I don't know how else to explain it. However, I did recall one piece of good news from that information. Do you want to hear it?”

Seeing that Aila was still acting suspicious, Midir knew he couldn't explain further and decided to divert her attention with another topic.

At the mention of “good news,” Aila’s eyes instantly lit up. She raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.

“Oh? Tell me then. What good news has you so happy?”

“The good news is that this place is our destination—Crown Peak. After all the trouble we went through today, we somehow ended up right here by sheer accident,” Midir said lightheartedly. Knowing this information had clearly improved his mood.

However, Aila was once again filled with doubt upon hearing this.

“Crown Peak? Crown Peak doesn't look like this, does it? From what I know, that mountain is supposed to be a field of ruins from the Age of Gods. Even the inside of the mountain should be a scene of decay. While there isn't much in this place, it’s a far cry from a dilapidated ruin.”

Midir shook his head with a smile, as if he had already anticipated her reaction.

“What the world knows as Crown Peak is only the part revealed on the surface. Our current location is the very bottom of Crown Peak—a hidden realm unknown to most and unreachable by ordinary living beings.”

“You mean we’re underground? Now that I think about it, ever since we entered the Valley of Ice... we really have been heading downward the whole time. So, if we want to leave, we have to climb up from here?” Aila said slowly, looking up at the crystal pillar that seemed to have no end.

“Exactly. But if we try to climb, I doubt we’ll make it. This place isn't suitable for rock climbing. There are other ways to get up, but for now, I need to rest. Opening that door earlier really took a lot out of me.”

With that, Midir sat down on the ground and pulled out a variety of delicious foods from his storage space. It looked like he intended to have a meal right there.

As he produced the pile of food, a long-missed aroma wafted through the air. Aila’s stomach betrayed her with a loud growl, causing her cheeks to redden slightly as she looked at Midir in embarrassment.

“Don't be shy. After all that walking, you must be hungry too. Come and eat so we can recover our strength before leaving. Even though it’s safe here, I can't guarantee what the situation will be like once we go outside.” Midir smiled as he handed her a piece of cake and gestured for her to sit.

Aila took the cake, the blush on her cheeks deepening, but she didn't forget to tease him to ease her embarrassment. “Carrying this much good food... I guess you really are the real Midir after all.”

“Haha, you finally believe me? It’s fine, I don't mind. Just tell me if there's anything else you want to eat,” Midir responded with a smile, his tone full of affection.

In this space that seemed isolated from all external troubles, time appeared to lose its meaning. The two forgot whether it was lunch or dinner, simply enjoying the pleasure brought by the food. Before long, the food Midir had brought out was completely gone, leaving only satisfied smiles and lighthearted conversation.

Aila finished the last bit of a cookie, elegantly wiped her mouth, and looked at the bright surroundings with a sigh of wonder.

“I’m stuffed! If nothing else, traveling with you means the food is always good. It’s hard to believe we’re still inside the Valley of Ice. This environment is so comfortable. It’s just a bit too bright; otherwise, I’d want to take a nap. But speaking of which, is it a bit disrespectful for us to be feasting here in front of all these souls? Will it make them angry?”

Midir, who had just finished tidying up the utensils, laughed at her comment.

“Don't worry about it. Even though there are many souls here, it’s almost impossible for a soul to maintain consciousness in this state. If they don't even have consciousness, how can they feel resentment?”

“I was just saying. I just remembered that my old man is terrified of ghosts and things like that. It’s funny when you think about it. What’s there to be afraid of with something so ethereal?”

“Your father sounds like an interesting person. No wonder you mention him so often.”

“He’s alright. He just doesn't put on any airs. He’s not like my grandfather and the others who are always so rigid and traditional. Do you need to rest any longer?”

“In an environment like this, only light elements can be recovered quickly. The others are negligible. However, we only need light elements to get out of here.” Midir stood up and stretched, looking refreshed.

He lightly waved his hands, and the surrounding light elements seemed to answer his call, converging toward the two of them from all directions.