Chapter 254
Depression
IAM dragged himself upward, forcing his body through the thick black liquid. His eyes were tightly shut, his muscles trembling with effort as he pushed and pulled until, at last, he broke free. He collapsed onto solid ground, gasping, his limbs shaking from the strain.
A groan escaped him as he wiped at his face, blinking through the residue clinging stubbornly to his skin. He squinted, making sure the last of it was gone before daring to open his eyes—
—and instantly screamed.
A searing pain tore through his skull as he clutched at his face, his fingers clawing desperately at his eyes. Hot tears streaked down his cheeks as his body convulsed, the agony blinding and all-consuming.
Having grown accustomed to the endless darkness below, IAM was completely taken aback by the sudden burst of light that assaulted his eyes.
He hadn't expected it—there had been no sign, no hint from the hole that anything other than more darkness awaited him above. Yet here it was, blinding and absolute, flooding his vision and stabbing at his senses like knives.
It was shocking,overwhelming and painful.
All he could do was grit his teeth and endure, forcing his eyes shut against the brilliance that had invaded his world. In time, he knew he would recover—his sight would adjust, and only then would he finally be able to take in the sight of where he had emerged.
After a long, stinging while, IAM slowly opened his eyes, it was still red and sore, the faint burn clinging to his vision as he blinked rapidly to adjust. The world around him wavered at first—blurry, colorless shapes melting into one another—before gradually sharpening into focus.
And when it did, he froze.
He stood in a world overflowing with flowers—an endless sea of color that stretched far beyond the horizon. There were tall stems of violet blossoms swaying gently like dancers, petals soft and translucent enough for the sunlight to bleed through.
Fields of golden blooms clustered tightly together, shimmering with dew that caught the light like scattered gems. Near his feet grew tiny white flowers with spiral-shaped petals, glowing faintly as if holding their own source of light. Red and blue blossoms coiled together on slender vines, weaving across the ground like painted ribbons.
Everywhere he looked, life bloomed in impossible harmony—each gust of warm air sending a ripple through the field, a wave that rolled outward until it vanished into the horizon.
There was nothing else but the faint whisper of wind and the soft brushing of petals against one another. The warmth in the air caressed his skin gently, carrying the faintest fragrance of nectar and earth, soothing in a way that made him momentarily forget where he had come from.
He turned slowly, glancing behind him to where he had climbed from—only to find nothing. The hole was gone, vanished without a trace, as though it had never existed. There was no mark on the ground—just an unbroken field of flowers swaying quietly in the breeze.
Lifting his gaze, IAM saw a clear blue sky stretching endlessly above him. It was brilliant—almost too perfect—each hue of blue melting into another like soft silk. There were no clouds, no sun that he could see, yet the world was bathed in a warm light. The sky felt close, impossibly close, as if he could reach up and touch it if he only tried.
IAM frowned faintly. None of it made sense. How did he end up here? What was this place? Was this another illusion—or had he truly escaped?
He rose to his feet slowly, brushing the dirt and stray petals from his clothes, and began walking in a random direction. The flowers brushed gently against his caramel-colored skin, their touch feather-light, almost affectionate. He inhaled deeply, the air warm and sweet, filling his lungs with a calm so deep it made his chest ache. The tension that had been coiled in his muscles for what felt like forever began to unravel. For the first time in a long while, he felt—peaceful.
His gaze wandered across the endless sea of color, each flower seeming more radiant than the last. The petals shimmered faintly in the light—pinks that melted into ivory, deep violets that swallowed the sun, and golds that seemed to glow from within. He bent down and picked one, turning it delicately between his fingers before lifting it to his nose. The scent was intoxicating—sweet and impossibly rich. It filled his lungs and quieted his mind.
He toyed with the petals, feeling their silken texture slide over his skin. They were soft, fragile, and cool to the touch, breaking apart easily when pressed between his fingers. A faint trail of pollen brushed his fingertips, glittering faintly as it caught the light. He smiled without realizing it.
As he wandered, he found himself slowing down. His steps grew heavier, his movements lazier, as a wave of drowsiness began to settle over him. He yawned softly, blinking as his vision wavered. He felt tired—so deeply tired—but not of walking. It was a heaviness from somewhere deeper, buried beneath his chest. A quiet exhaustion that whispered for him to rest… to stop trying… to just breathe.
He couldn't remember why he'd been walking or what he had been running from. All that remained was the gentle touch of petals brushing against his legs and the soothing warmth of the air wrapping around him. The world beyond this meadow no longer mattered. It was just him now—him and the peace of this place. The scent of flowers. The softness of the earth. The feeling of being… happy.
At some point, something in the distance caught IAM's attention—just barely enough to pull his gaze away from the sea of flowers. Far ahead, beyond the gentle waves of color, stood a building unlike anything he'd ever seen. It looked almost divine—its surface gleamed like living light, made entirely of smooth white marble. Towering spires arched toward the heavens, each crowned with faint marble halos.
Broad, pale steps led up to a set of doors so massive they seemed meant for gods, not men. The structure radiated a quiet majesty, serene yet intimidating, as if it existed beyond time itself.
As IAM stared, a phrase drifted through his mind—Sacrificium Sanctum. The words echoed softly in his skull, familiar yet alien, it felt like it had deeper meaning he couldn't grasp. He frowned faintly, trying to chase the thought, to pull on the thread of recognition. But before he could, a sweet scent caught his nose again—a bloom brushing lightly against his leg, releasing its fragrance into the air.
His focus wavered. The marble, the towers, even the name faded away as the smell drew him back. His mind went quiet once more, thoughts dissolving like mist under sunlight. The flowers reclaimed his attention, and the divine structure in the distance slipped from his mind as though it had never existed.