Chapter 38 – Floor 2 – Convincing Clico

Clico went back up to the deck after talking to Trike and found 21, who was still gazing blankly into the waterfall as he had been for hours on end. The second 'day' falling down the waterfall had arrived, but the controlled fall into the depths was still ongoing. They must have fallen hundreds of thousands of feet by this point, but the bottom of the waterfall was still not in sight.

It would be fair enough to say that Clico was a healthy skeptic of 21, not because of Omira's pestering, but because of his lack of reputation and mysterious persona. Why should he trust someone who doesn't even go by their real name but instead calls themselves, '21'? His prophecies appeared to have a deep and lasting impact on those he had prophesied to, and the dungeon plan was thorough and innovative. Yet, there was a creeping feeling in Clico that made him on edge around the prophet.

21 felt Clico arrive by some unfathomable means and turned around, beaming happily. 21 bowed to Clico respectfully and sent him a thought transmission.

"Meet me in my room in thirty minutes. I know you want a prophecy." He walked past Clico as if nothing had happened. Clico was stunned. This encounter had to have been a set up by Trike and 21. Thirty minutes passed and Clico knocked on 21's door. His makeshift bedroom and office space was inviting yet cramped. 21 sat with one leg over the other in an office chair with anticipation.

"Welcome!" 21 proclaimed while raising his arms festively.

"Take a seat." He motioned to the empty chair across from himself. Clico tentatively sat down.

"Now. You are a special case aren't you. Lavilin and Nillvia, the twin souls…" As soon as 21 started to speak Clico abruptly cut him off.

"I'm not here to talk about what happened between Lavilin and Nillvia."

"I see. You're here for the trainee, Trike."

Clico nodded with concern.

"Your concern comes from ignorance because you must not know his true ability. He follows the Authority Path. By storing aura proportional to time spend doing nothing, he gains more power! Ha!

What a skill.

Obviously, it has its limitations, and his base aura is quite low. But! When he fights, he is stronger than you and Omira's little summoner strategy. A trainee capable with such power; I don't even think Ziphe knows the full extent of Trike's abilities." 21 explained.

"What? You mean he's not depressed? He's been training this whole time? How can I believe you? What about his abrasive personality?" Clico was shocked. Had he really been misinterpreting Trike this whole time?

"You can ask him yourself afterwards," 21 brushed it off like Trike's ability was common knowledge.

"Anyways, Trike is but one moving piece of this grand puzzle. He will serve his purpose well, but you, you are unique. Your relationship with the antagonist, the big bad guy, the villain, is quite fascinating and a pivotal dynamic for our little expedition." 21 narrated. Clico was at a loss and let the monologuing prophet continue.

"Grown up with a twin soul as your best friend, the woman you came to love, how fascinating." 21 rambled. "An unconquerable dungeon, a lady to save, and yet, why, you?" 21's tone deepened. "Was it coincidence, or did I lead you here all along?"

Clico stopped him.

"I don't know who you think you are, but I don't know you. You may have dug up my background through with the Council's database, but don't think that you know me or my situation." Clico had had enough of the monologue.

"Woah, woah, woah, I know it's a touchy subject, but humor me for a minute." 21 had a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Fine." Clico submitted.

"A twin soul," the narrative started up again.

"One body with two souls. One ego holds the throne for about 20 years, and the other ego for 5 years.

A newly born human body cannot handle the combined aura of two souls at once, and the person dies at the age of 25. The first ego is always a prodigy. How can you not be a prodigy with double the aural foundation of everyone else?

But the price, ah yes, the price is too steep. The body gets worn down quicker, the other ego usually grows jealous of the other and slowly takes over against the other's will." 21 lamented.

"Unless a Deity specializing in Spirit, Shade, or Runic magic steps in, the souls cannot be separated. A beautiful prodigy swapped with a monster who started the Shade War, but, is that really the case?" 21 locked eyes with Clico.

"How could the twin of Nillvia, a mage born in Agate, know about the Destiny Seals of Purgatory, the dungeon's history, and then open it?" He paused.

"Nillvia and Lavilin were always kind to one another, and they both enrolled in the academy and swapped positions constantly. Lavilin always wore a mask, and the two never appeared at the same time. Yet, the kind and considerate Lavilin caused all of this damage?" 21 leaned over the table and looked deeper into Clico's eyes but abruptly sat back down.

"This Dungeon runs in 100 sections. Each floor is overseen by a God or Goddess that can apply rules to everyone below an Authority Realm. Everyone and anyone must obey the rules, even themselves.

They can choose not to impose harsh rules as well. The first two floors haven't had any philosophical or personal trials whereas Floor 0 did. There could be floors that challenge the past, floors that challenge your present self, and even floors that look into the future. There could even be a floor of Regression and a floor of Reincarnation inside this dungeon as well."

21 smiled and put his feet up on the table.

"I think you know where this is going. Who says a twin soul has to be a newly born soul? What if the twin soul of Nillvia was reincarnated or regressed to become the current Lavilin? Regression, reincarnation, impossible concepts that can't be done by normal Deities, are now possible inside Hell. Only Authorities can change fate in such a manner, but here in this dungeon, it is possible. There may even be people in this party who have already regressed." 21 winked at Clico and sat back in his chair.

Clico wasn't sure what to think. Was 21 insinuating that he had returned with all this information from the future? 21 obviously thought the Lavilin wasn't the same person he was meant to be nor the same one Clico knew growing up.

"Who is Lavilin then? How can I trust you? Your name is obviously not 21." Clico searched for a reason to trust him.

"Actually, my name is truly 21.

I was born on the slave island Ciradok, an island vassal city state of Pyrite. They branded me with the name Ciradok-2121. I was freed by chance, and then I became a disciple of the Wizard King Xie by accident and also unlocked the gift of prophecy.

My magic is Authority based, but it comes at a heavy cost since I am gaining knowledge I shouldn't have in this timeline. Fate corrects itself, however. Constantly under threat, my death is always looming, and fate has branded me an anomaly, unfit for this reality.

In fact, you shouldn't be in this party either. You should actually already be dead.

The quantity of moving pieces that has led us to this moment is more monumental than you can possibly imagine." 21 leaned back in his chair further casually.

"You can imagine how hard it is to believe you." Clico eyed the nonchalant man.

21 sat back down more seriously.

"Lavilin, or at least the one you know now, is a fraud. This expedition was meant to happen organically about 100 years from now when the gates open annually at the dawn of the millennium.

You wouldn't have become a sage and would have been dead by then. You would've stayed as an Agate Wizard, married to Nillvia, and Lavilin would have been saved by your plan. A happy ending!" 21 clapped but then stopped.

"You tell a great story, but I still can't believe you. Where's the proof?" Clico's heart rang hollow, painfully, hearing the happy ending that could never be.

"Proof, everyone want proof! I will give you three prophecies that will, without a doubt, happen," He held up three fingers.

"The first member of our party to die will be the High Priest of the Void Vladimir. He's not actually a God you know? He's a Demigod who can become a God at the cost of his life, but he gets rather upset when I brought that up on the rankings… It should happen on Floor 7 by the way." 21 was specific. It was a claim that could be verifiable. Although, why would one of the strongest members of the party die first? However, Clico nodded. 21 put down one of his fingers.

"Two, the second prophecy is a Floor Prophecy. Floor 42 is the Floor of Entertainment," He started to wave around at an invisible camera. "One of my favorite floors, it's like a reality show of the most exciting things happening on every floor on display for the souls that stay there." Clico was confused. Was this prophecy even relevant to him if it were to be true?

Seeing Clico's confused expression 21 kept going, "Some floors are more elaborate than others. This floor is a waterfall designed to destroy weak souls, but others are designed to keep the souls on their floor forever in exchange for a true death or strengthening the Floor Administrator. There are lots of exciting floors, but I brought this one up because I guarantee you our conversation is being broadcast to thousands of souls, Shades, and monsters at this very moment." He waved again at the ceiling. Clico finally understood why 21 was so manic; he was performing for a reality tv show that may very well be made up.

"Ahem, sorry. Lastly, the final prophecy. This one should be specific to you, huh?" 21 coughed into his fist awkwardly. "I can't spoil too much because you truly are the real winner of this expedition." Getting more serious, he told Clico, "Lavilin and Nillvia will both help you conquer the dungeon. You can indeed save them both, but at a high cost." 21 was solemn.

It was indeed the most cryptic prophecy 21 could have possibly told Clico compared to the other prophecies.

"Could he be any less specific?" Thought Clico. He tried not to laugh and put his head in his hands.

"I know, it is a lot to take in." 21 tried to comfort Clico.

"Could you tell me anything more?" Clico held in his laughter. This guy took serious life and death issues and twisted them into bad fortune cookies. Clico loved Nillvia with all his heart and hated when people brought her up to provoke him, but 21 told him a prophecy that made no sense. Clico could only imagine Omira's hysteric reaction.

"You will find the answers on the 100th and final floor. I believe you can do it!" 21 got up and left the room dramatically without another word.

Clico couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed, desperately wishing Omira were there to see the spectacle. He just got up and left his own room for his reality tv show after telling Clico to conquer the dungeon! 21 had to know how ridiculous he was being if he knew so much, right?

Right?

Omira would have a field day if she knew. Clico kept the story and the prophecy in his mind. One day, he would tell Omira how cryptic and unbelievable 21 had been with his personal prophecy. He'll save it for a rainy day when she really needs a good joke.