Haaaah..." Cole let out a brief sigh.
He might have kept his life, but he had lost his clothes. Cole stared at the grave before him with weary eyes. Though dazzling, it was still the resting place of a former deity.
As much as he'd love to simply rip out "whatever remained" and complete the task, there was a sort of disrespect in it. He wasn't expecting to get burnt to a crisp nor to arrive at Sant Flora's tombstone so easily but well, it happened.
'I really might need to start questioning my luck.' Cole rubbed his eyes. Indeed, the pillar behind it was constructed of sand and veins.
Cole cautiously glared from a safe distance. 'Something tells me there's some sort of protection on this.'
He sighed heavily. "I just can't catch a break."
Cole decided to take the risk; if he perished, then so be it. If not, even better.
Cole knelt before her tombstone in respect, then carefully plucked out the flowers growing on the grave. Afterward, he clawed his way into the soil using his bare hands and nails.
Cole dug at least thirty feet deep; the place she was buried was made of loamy soil, unlike the whole cylindrical structure. As he went deeper, Cole felt something cold right beneath the layer of soil.
Dragging it, Cole pulled out an arm.
"Ain't no way!" He exclaimed with vigor.
He went deeper by tracing the arm; with a single pull, Cole brought out a human-like corpse from within. Its hair was green, curly, and luscious, with a delicate, gentle face and red, dried lips.
"Jackpot!" He rejoiced.
For a Homunculus, the skin felt far too real and soft. If it weren't for Cole's expertise, he would have been fooled by its authentic qualities.
What truly made Cole certain it wasn't a real body was the fact it hadn't decomposed despite being buried for so long; he could tell by the soil texture that the grave had been built for a long period of time.
Even then, a strong feeling of joy permeated and spread through his body. After all the countless hurdles and deaths, Cole finally completed his objective. It made him reconsider every last curse he had uttered throughout the entire journey.
Though the victory was comparable to a small grain in a sand bed, it was a ray of hope for Cole; perhaps with enough effort, he could have a happy ending.
Still, that was basically imagination at his current stage.
Cole placed the body on the ground and slipped back, glaring at the sky with a weary yet hopeful look.
He then realized, 'How do I get back?'
"Once you overextend your time there to precisely twenty False Days, it'll reel you in." Cole's mind flashed to her explanation.
"Did she know I didn't have a way to return? She probably set me up from the start." He muttered nonchalantly.
From the height he was at, Cole scouted the area with his eyes and landed on the thin spiral part of Katharis leading all the way back to Null Centura. The distance was still ridiculously far.
'I'm barely sure how long I spent here; it's possible barely two days have passed.' Cole backed the Homunculus and wore a steady face. 'It's pretty stupid and illogical, but I might have to try climbing at least.'
'With any luck, by the time I reach the storm cloud, twenty days will be exhausted before I get struck by lightning.' He chuckled nervously. 'I hope.'
'Tis been centuries since I saw living human flesh in my world.'
Cole heard a deep, thick voice echo in his head.
'Huh?'
'Look above you.' The voice ordered.
Cole slowly turned his head above; by the time his eyes saw its source, he was left stuttering for words. The focal point parted the clouds previously hiding it; dark matter birthed and died at its edges.
Cole was flabbergasted, then stopped caring five seconds later. 'Oh, it's you.'
'Are you not surprised by my appearance?' it asked, quite baffled.
Cole narrowed his eyes and straightened his lips in an unperturbed manner. 'Not really. I mean, I was, but... meh.'
'Tell me, human, what do you hope to achieve with Sant Flora's remains?'
'A second chance at life for my sister, that's what.' Cole furrowed both his brows. 'Who or what are you, anyway?'
The focal point burst into a loud, insulting laugh which rang strongly in Cole's skull. 'I am no one. I am nothing, yet at the same time, everything you see here.'
'So...' Cole couldn't quite grip what he meant.
'The realm you invade belongs to me, the Forsaken King of...'
Cole's mind went numb and reverted back as it uttered its name. 'I didn't quite catch that. Can you come again?'
'Don't fret yourself. I would not be Aught if mortals and deities could comprehend my existence. The very knowledge of my true name strips one of life.'
Cole's look softened for a moment. 'Are you the one who created this place?'
'I am, but at the same time, am not.'
Cole's eyes twitched in annoyance. "This is getting seriously unpleasant."
Cole looked to his left and right. 'Uhmm... do you perhaps know how I can leave this place...'
'Drop Sant Flora's remains and I'll return you back to the surface. Of course, I will feast on any memories you have of this place.'
'Sorry, but the whole reason I'm here is because of this Homunculus.' He demonstrated with random movements. 'It'll be a frosty day in hell before I decide to leave it here.'
'Hell, you say...'
BADUMP!
Cole erupted in a garment of flames; he threw the Homunculus to the side and winced. The heat burned his skin, but it didn't hurt as much as it was supposed to.
Simply put, his body reacted to the flames, but the pain didn't really shoot through his body. As the seconds passed, he grew calmer despite his roasting flesh, and with a body adorned in flames, Cole gave the focal point a menacingly intense glare.
Cole's body burnt to cinders in the end.
'Truly frightening. What have humans been indulging in these past centuries?'
'Nothing too crazy.' Cole interrupted its ramblings.
His ash-hardened skin reverted back to its soft, light, and smooth form as his eyes gleamed with life.
Cole wiped his lips using his thumb. 'That won't work.Try something else.'
'Hmmm... I understand what you are now.' The voice spoke with boastful pride. 'Suit yourself. All escape has been closed off. You may remain here till your soul loses form and fades into nothing.'
'That won't happen.'
The focal point receded. 'We shall see.'
Cole placed the Homunculus on his back.
SCREEEEEEEEECH!
'So as not to make your stay in my home too dull, I summoned entertainment. Please do enjoy my hospitality.'
Cole stretched a visible yet flickering smirk. 'Things couldn't be better.'