Phase 10

David's Perspective

"You bear a striking resemblance to someone familiar—" we abruptly halted in front of an elevator, and as we awaited its arrival, the grandpa turned his attention to me.

"—pray tell, are you perchance connected to Éti—" I swiftly interjected, determined to prevent the utterance of that name.

"Sir, I assure you, I am not," I interjected firmly, purposefully severing the connection that would reveal my true identity.

"You bear an uncanny resemblance to his spouse, uncannily so. Regardless, Mandryx, contact your father and obtain his consent, lest I deny both of you refuge here."

"Understood, Grandpa."

The two resumed their conversation while I stood apprehensively in the corner, my unease mounting. I had not expected the elderly gentleman to notice my appearance, assuming he had paid me little mind.

Upon reaching the designated area for Mandryx to communicate with his father, the elderly man motioned for me to join him in a secluded corner. Reluctantly, I complied, positioning myself intently at his side.

"You remind me of him," the previously frigid old man suddenly adopted a warmer tone.

"W-Whom do you refer to, sir?" I inquired, though I already knew to whom he was alluding.

"Do not attempt to conceal your true identity, my son. That bracelet adorning your wrist is the clandestine gift I bestowed upon him."

"I apologize, sir, but—"

"Do not fabricate excuses. That bracelet was crafted by my son, the very reason Étienne abhors me as his father-in-law." His words left me perplexed. However, before I could seek further clarification, Mandryx approached us.

"How did it go?" Mr. Lex inquired.

"Permission granted," Mandryx promptly responded.

"You are prohibited from entering my laboratory. I will not tolerate another mishap within those confines."

"But—"

"I do not wish for your presence in my laboratory, Mandryx."

"I—"

"That is final! Seek exploration elsewhere, but not within my laboratory."

And thus, their altercation came to an end, with Mr. Lex departing without granting Mandryx the opportunity for further argument.

"I detest that elderly gentleman, forever thwarting my endeavors," Mandryx vented his frustrations, his tantrums as perennial as ever.

Allowing him to vent his frustrations, I refrained from interrupting his soliloquy. Engaging him in conversation would only stoke the flames of his temper, for he was an indulged soul, prone to irate outbursts over trifles. I silently followed his lead, resisting the urge to provoke him further. After traversing a series of twists and turns within a tunnel, we arrived at a door bearing his name. He opened it, allowing me to enter first before following suit.

"Are—" I began, only to be silenced by his hushing gesture and a penetrating gaze fixed upon my eyes.

"Does it sit well with you that we are forbidden from exploring his laboratory?" I rolled my eyes at his query.

"If it serves to prevent you from causing further mishaps, then it is more than acceptable," I replied, continuing into the room as I found myself captivated by an aquarium within.

"Do you comprehend that the most exhilarating realm to explore within this cavern is none other than his laboratory?"

"I know not, nor do I wish to know."

"How callous of you."

"Hush!"

"Tsk! Merely moments ago, you addressed me with an air of formality, and now you comfort yourself as if we were intimate companions."

I chose to ignore his comment, engrossed instead in the observation of the peculiar organisms inhabiting the confines of the aquarium.

"What manner of organisms is this?" I eventually turned to him, feeling a distinct sense of revulsion towards the creature.

"Why, do you appear repulsed?"

"I am indeed, this creature elicits a sense of disgust in me. Its peculiar appearance, particularly the oversized eyes, is profoundly unsettling."

"This— how can you belittle Reigail? He is adorable, can you not see it?"

"Re-Rei— what?"

"Reigail, an amalgamation of 'Raiden' and 'Gail.' What is the matter with that?"

And therein lies the reason why my facial expression betrayed my disbelief. How could he christen that unsightly fish with my own name?

"What?" this individual retorted in response to my reaction.

"How heartless of you to name that unappealing creature after me!"

"He is not unappealing. And why should it matter to you if I named him after a part of—?"

And that caught me off guard. Slowly, I turned my body away from him, concealing my shocked reaction. So many possibilities, and yet now? You truly are an imbecile, Thunder. Why couldn't you exercise restraint?

"Now— now— must we continue this charade? Concealing our identities only to reveal them ourselves?" I closed my eyes tightly, releasing my pent-up frustration.

This is precisely why I refuse to involve myself with him. I am an easy target.

"I—" and before I could even defend myself, our surroundings suddenly convulsed.

"Another earthquake, why have they become so frequent of late?" I should have been alarmed, but this individual casually uttered those words and nonchalantly walked outside as if nothing were amiss.

I cautiously took a seat on the nearby couch, experiencing a bout of dizziness due to the tremors. They persisted for several minutes before subsiding, and just as Mandryx returned with a cup of coffee, the origin of which I couldn't discern.

"Coffee, Raiden?" My body tensed, and my mouth lost the ability to articulate.

"You—" he didn't finish his sentence, as a loud knock interrupted him.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Once again, his temper flared.

Silently, I expressed gratitude to whoever had knocked, for they had rescued me from this precarious situation.

"What is it?" inquired Mandryx with his customary tone.

"There has been an accident in the right wing, and your grandfather insists that you be present as it directly concerns you."

"Oh, now he concocts another reason to banish me from his domain. Very well, I shall follow," and with that, the person who had knocked departed, leaving me alone with this individual once more.

I remained silent, focusing my gaze upon the floor, as if it possessed the power to shield me from my own imprudence.

"We are not finished!" he exclaimed before leaving.

I waited for ten minutes before venturing outside, not to follow him, but to return to the station. I no longer wished to lay eyes upon him, nor did I desire any further entanglement with him. This shall be the final encounter, and if it entails my return to the surface, so be it. I merely yearn to escape his clutches, even if it means relinquishing all the sacrifices I have made for this mission, eradicating him completely from my life.

I entered the nearest elevator, descending to the ground floor. Without a second thought, I donned my suit and plunged into the depths. It may be disconcerting to contemplate the perils that await me within the confines of this confining abyss, but the prospect of him resurfacing in my life, fully cognizant of my true identity—my partner whom he chose to abandon—fills me with a far greater trepidation.

Alas, I had forgotten to retrieve his identification card, a crucial oversight. I had no choice but to seek assistance from another diver and borrow their identification. I did not waste precious time waiting, as someone promptly handed me their identification without verifying my true self.

"Thank you immensely," I expressed to the generous individual who lent me their identification before proceeding towards the tunnel and the abyss.

Within the dimly lit expanse, darkness enveloped me as I traversed the wider portion of the path adorned with luminescent rocks. A peculiar unease permeated my being, attributable perhaps to the tempestuous thoughts that plagued my mind. I shivered, feeling a chill in the air, my breath becoming labored. Nevertheless, I pressed onward, determined to reach my destination. However, I soon realized that minutes had elapsed far beyond the duration of our initial journey.