Sora followed Jarek in silence. The mountains behind them receded with every passing minute, and the rocky, inhospitable environment gradually gave way to earth and vast fields. The tension that had built up throughout their conversation showed no sign of dissipating. With every step he took, Sora could still feel the pain of his burn, the sensation of having brushed against something dangerous, something he didn't understand.
He glanced at Jarek, who was walking ahead of him with disconcerting ease. The latter seemed so sure of himself, as if he knew exactly where he was going, at once relaxed and terribly serious. Sora, on the other hand, was not so certain. His mind was full of unanswered questions, and this feeling of incomprehension was not pleasant.
“Tell me,” Sora began, his voice calmer, but tinged with a curiosity he couldn't suppress, "why are you staying on this floor if you're already Gold rank? You could easily go up a few floors if you wanted to."