Abigail and Modeus continued their journey eastward through Fertissio, crossing vast, rocky deserts and nearly invisible roads overtaken by wild growth and scattered ancient ruins. The midday sun blazed overhead, making the air around them shimmer, yet they walked with calm, steady strides.
"Fertissio is a whole different world from Olfein," Modeus muttered lightly, his eyes scanning the rugged landscape around them.
Abigail, walking beside him, nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's a continent filled with danger. There's no safe transport here. Monsters and demons rule most of the territory. Only the rich can afford vehicles or specialized protection."
Modeus let out a low chuckle, the same unsettling grin playing across his face as usual. "Vehicles? No need. Walking gives you more chances to enjoy the scenery. Besides, vehicles just take away opportunities for a good fight."
Abigail smirked, amused by his typically Modeus-like response. They continued their trek, pushing through the increasingly hot and dry air. The sound of their footsteps was the only thing breaking the silence until Abigail suddenly stopped mid-step.
"Modeus," he called, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation. Modeus halted and turned, his sharp eyes locking onto him with full attention.
"What is it?" he asked, his sly smile still curling at the edges of his lips.
Abigail swallowed before speaking softly. "I wanted to apologize... to the other you. For what happened at Lord Eliphas's house... I feel—"
Modeus raised his hand abruptly, cutting him off. His smile softened, and his eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling a distant, hazy memory. "The other me?" he murmured, almost as if he were talking to himself. "He's asleep."
Abigail frowned in confusion. "Asleep?"
Modeus nodded, his expression calm, without a trace of anger. "Yes. He's too soft for this world. Too kind-hearted. In a place like Fertissio, he wouldn't last long. That's why I'm here... to protect him. I don't want him waking up, especially not in the middle of all this chaos."
Abigail was quiet for a moment, processing his words. The usually ruthless and unfeeling Modeus was showing a side of himself he never thought possible.
"So... you care about him?" he asked, though doubt still lingered in his voice.
Modeus chuckled softly, shrugging with casual ease. "Of course. Even though he's part of me, he doesn't belong in a place like this. He's more suited for a world of peace, far from the madness we deal with here."
Abigail remained silent, absorbing what Modeus had just revealed. It was hard for him to imagine that someone as bloodthirsty and cold as him could harbor such feelings for any part of himself. He had always seen him as a figure of pure brutality, someone who thrived on violence and destruction.
But now, Abigail saw a deeper layer within Modeus—one he had never imagined before.
"I didn't expect you to be so... protective of your other self," Abigail finally said, trying to find the right words.
"For the painful things, I handle them myself. I'll wake him up at the right time to meet his family," Modeus whispered, his voice soft as if he were speaking to himself.
Modeus then grinned. "Don't get me wrong. I don't care about many things. But my other self... he's the exception. He's the only thing I make sure stays intact. This world is bad enough without me losing the only thing still worth anything."
Hearing this, Abigail could only nod slowly. His mind was filled with new questions about Modeus, the man standing beside him was far more complex than he had thought. Behind the menacing and brutal exterior, there was a layer of mystery that only a small part of him had revealed.
"You're really... surprising," Abigail murmured as he continued walking.
Modeus chuckled softly. "I've always been this way. You just haven't known me long enough."
Their conversation then shifted to other matters about Fertissio. Abigail explained more about the distribution of power on the continent—how humans daring enough to live here had to face monsters, demons, and countless threats. However, Abigail also mentioned that syndicates like The Old World Network continued to survive and operate, despite the chaos, in their own way. They had a very strong network of information and control, especially in the eastern part of Fertissio.
"There's a lot we need to learn there," Abigail said, his eyes gazing far to the east. "But it won't be an easy journey. Even with everything we have now, there are still many risks ahead."
Modeus simply grinned again, as if all these dangers were just a game to him. "The better. I'm starting to get bored with these small monsters."
Abigail, used to such comments, just shook his head slightly. Their journey was still long, but this conversation gave him a better understanding of the person walking beside him—Modeus, who, contrary to what one might think, harbored more secrets than what appeared on the surface.
As the sky began to turn a deep orange with the setting sun dipping below the horizon, casting its last rays between the ancient ruins around them, the air grew cooler, sweeping over the expanse of rocks and ruins that seemed buried in time. Modeus and Abigail decided to rest, setting up a simple camp among the ruins with a few small campfires lit to ward off the darkness and chill of the night.
Abigail, busy organizing their food supplies from the backpack, glanced occasionally at Modeus, who sat casually on a large rock, staring blankly at the campfire. In the midst of the eerie silence, Abigail finally started the conversation.
"Have you ever wondered," he said quietly, "why an underground village like the one led by Klomin is so important to Lord Eliphas?"
Modeus, who usually wasn't too interested in serious topics, turned slightly with a small nod, though he clearly seemed half-interested. "Honestly, no. But I guess you're going to explain, right?" he replied with a smirk that hinted at some vague curiosity.
Abigail sighed, leaning back against a moss-covered ruin. "That village... they're a major source of information for Lord Eliphas in Fertissio. They might seem like a small, hidden group, but they have an extensive network of spies. The information they have about the state of the continent is incredibly valuable—about demons, monsters, ruins, and all the chaos around here."
Modeus nodded slightly, though his lazy expression didn't change. "Spies? For Lord Eliphas or for other kingdoms?"
Abigail gave a slight smile, as if he had expected that question. "Both. Most of them work for Lord Eliphas, providing information that can't be obtained from other sources. However, some of them also act as spies for the Aurelius Kingdom."
Modeus raised his eyebrows in surprise. "The Aurelius Kingdom? How can they play both sides like that?"
Abigail folded his arms across his chest, gazing seriously at the flames. "The continent of Olfein is under the watchful eyes of major powers like the Aurelius Kingdom and the Republic of Cestisia. There's no safe place to establish an organization like Lord Eliphas's there. Every move is monitored and scrutinized. Fertissio, on the other hand... it's a free zone. There's no clear control here, except maybe by the demons. But even they don't care too much about human life, as long as nothing threatens their territories."
"So that's why Eliphas chose Fertissio," Modeus murmured, more to himself. "It's chaotic, full of demons and monsters, but it also offers the freedom to hide."
"Exactly," Abigail replied. "Even with the risk of monster or demon attacks, Fertissio provides more room to maneuver. The Aurelius Kingdom can't monitor everything that happens here. So, while some people in that village also work as spies for the Aurelius Kingdom, they remain loyal to Lord Eliphas."
Modeus listened with more attention than before. "That means they must be extremely careful not to be discovered by either side."
Abigail nodded, rubbing his tired face after their long journey. "Yes, that's why they stay underground, hidden from view. Villages like the one led by Klomin are crucial for balancing information and power in Fertissio. Lord Eliphas understands this, which is why he maintains good relations with them."
Modeus chuckled softly, his gaze relaxing again. "Sounds like a complicated political game. No wonder Lord Eliphas always has backup plans."
"Exactly," Abigail replied seriously. "And amidst all that, a village like Klomin has to play it safe. They might pretend to work for the Aurelius Kingdom while secretly passing important information to Lord Eliphas. But one wrong move... and they could be wiped out by either side at any time."
Modeus grinned. "Of course, just like all political games. You bribe one side while stabbing the other in the back."
Abigail gave a faint smile, choosing not to comment further. The night grew colder, and the whispering wind among the ruins made the atmosphere even more silent. Modeus occasionally glanced at the ruins around them, seemingly lost in thought.
"Why do you care about all this, Abigail?" Modeus asked suddenly, shifting the topic quickly. "You seem to understand how this game works, maybe more than you should."
Abigail paused, his gaze drifting into the distance. "Because I know what's at stake. Fertissio isn't just a chaotic place full of monsters and demons. Here, every piece of information can be the key to survival... or the cause of destruction. We might be just pawns in this big game, Modeus, but even pawns can make a difference if played right."
Modeus laughed again, this time more loudly. "Hah, a pawn? Don't ever think of me as a pawn, Abigail. I'm not here to play someone else's game."
Abigail smiled slightly, though he knew that beneath Modeus's rough words, there was a deeper truth. Chaos may engulf Fertissio, but within that chaos, there are many intrigues and hidden agendas that must be understood if they want to survive.
***
As the night wore on, they fell into silence, letting the quiet fill the space between them. Modeus spent the rest of the night lost in thought, while Abigail pondered what lay ahead. Their journey to the information center in eastern Fertissio might lead them deeper into a web of intrigue, far beyond just monsters and demons.
Modeus slowly closed his eyes, sitting near the dwindling campfire. The soft sound of Abigail's breathing, now asleep, mixed with the chill of the night breeze. However, Modeus didn't fall asleep as quickly as his companion. His mind began to drift into the quiet of his subconscious, pulling him away from the waking world.
In the pitch blackness, Modeus found himself in a place he knew all too well—his dark subconscious, with no clear floor but still providing a sense of ground beneath his feet. Above him, stars shone brightly, distant and unreachable. They decorated the night sky as if offering a glimmer of light to the empty world below.
Before him stood a small house he hadn't seen in ages. It was simple, small, yet filled with memories. The house in Lilac City, where he grew up, where his other self had once felt safe. Modeus approached silently, nostalgia gnawing at his heart. Each step felt heavy, as though an invisible weight held him back. Still, he moved forward, the door of the house seemingly waiting for him to enter.
Without a sound, Modeus opened the old door. He stepped inside with a heart full of anxiety and sadness. Inside, it was quiet. Too quiet. There were no sounds, no laughter, only silence dominating every corner. The furniture he once knew looked worn but not broken. The dining table in the corner was clean, but no one was there. The emptiness grew stronger, squeezing Modeus's feelings until it was almost hard to breathe.
He walked towards his old room. The old wooden door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. The room looked exactly the same, so familiar yet feeling strangely foreign. In the middle of the room, on a small and modest bed, someone was sleeping. Modeus watched the figure in silence. It was himself—or more precisely, a part of himself. The face was peaceful, unburdened, and unmarked by deep wounds. The figure seemed undisturbed by the darkness outside, sleeping soundly as if nothing was wrong in the world.
Modeus stood there, unmoving, just watching. He said nothing. In fact, he didn't dare to approach. An indescribable feeling began to flood his heart. Seeing the sleeping figure made him feel very distant from himself. How strange it was to see someone so similar, yet feeling so different.
In a voice so soft it was almost a whisper, Modeus finally said, "It's not time yet… it's still a long way off."
His words were barely audible, as if he were speaking more to himself than to the sleeping figure before him. There was a profound sadness in his voice, a mix of regret and acceptance. He knew that this sleeping self, the softer part of him that once lived unburdened in a simpler world, couldn't exist in a place like Fertissio—a land of violence and darkness.
Modeus could only watch, unable to touch or wake his other self. He didn't want to disturb him, didn't want to drag that innocent figure into the brutal life he now led. His other self was too gentle, too fragile for this world. This cruel world would destroy him, transforming him into something unrecognizable. So, he let his other self remain asleep—in peace, far from the chaos of the real world.
Modeus shifted his gaze, surveying the small room. Posters on the walls, neatly stacked books on the desk, toys still arranged on the shelves—all felt so familiar, yet also as if they belonged to someone else. He realized that this place, a part of his past, had become a memory he could never return to.
Tears did not appear in his eyes, but within his heart, there was a deep wound. Leaving his old life behind was not just a physical transition, but an emotional one. Modeus had sacrificed much to survive in this harsh new world—including a part of himself. He once hoped to return someday, but now he knew that hope was nothing more than a fantasy.
"Arche… forgive me," he whispered, almost like a prayer that would never reach its destination. "If only I had realized sooner, you wouldn't have had to endure all of this."
With slow steps, Modeus left the room. He knew that his other self was better off staying there, in a safe and peaceful place, within this tranquil subconscious. But for the Modeus of now, there was no room for such peace.
As he closed the door to his old home, a sense of emptiness lingered within him. The darkness of his subconscious enveloped him once more, but the stars in the sky continued to shine—perhaps to remind him that even in the darkest places, there is always a glimmer of light that will never fade.
***