Chapter 3 : The prisoner of the tower

Since the last time, Domgis had made several intriguing discoveries.

First, he had learned that the insects were not limited to the form of coins. They could also be found in the form of objects, always small, no larger than a bottle.

Second, in his personal library, he had found a book that mentioned these creatures. They were called Linocles, or skin-eating insects.

Third, nothing in the book described any ability of these insects to take the form of objects.

This meant that an entity, a phenomenon, or perhaps someone, was forcing them to remain in the form of inanimate objects. But for what purpose?

Moreover, the books in Domgis's library were themselves a mystery.

They contained very precise knowledge about this place.

Here, beneath the Tower of Chaos, a place that wasn't even supposed to exist, the slightest thing seemed to defy logic.

How could a human be here? And worse yet, be self-aware?

Domgis, for his part, seemed unaware of how he had arrived there. He had no memory of his past.

What troubled me even more was that he wasn't in the tower, but beneath it.

Something deeply abnormal was happening here.

Another question haunted me: how did he know his own name?

He had no memory of his arrival, yet he was convinced his name was Domgis.

I eventually understood the reason: his left arm bore inscriptions. Words traced on his skin, a slightly glowing tattoo that disappeared when Domgis stopped paying attention to it:

[My name is Domgis]

But how had these words appeared there?

It was another enigma to add to the long list of mysteries in this place.

There was undoubtedly a before and an after my arrival here. Something must have happened.

But for now, everything eluded me.

***

Domgis had embarked on a strange hunt for Linocles.

Why?

Well, when you're stuck in a place as deserted as a ghost gathering, you have to keep yourself busy. And this activity had become his favorite pastime. Or rather, his *only* pastime.

At first, he searched for them randomly, like a child rummaging under couch cushions for lost coins. But later, something changed.

The little light began to help him.

Yes, *that* light. The one that had emerged from the bottle and seemed to have a penchant for aerial acrobatics. It now floated around Domgis, flickering but determined, as if it had decided to become his personal coach in this absurd hunt.

"You want to help me?" asked Domgis, skeptical.

The light danced joyfully, as if to say: *Obviously, and you'd better thank me.*

From then on, the hunt for Linocles became less of a chore and more of a strange game. The light guided Domgis, leading him here and there, pointing out objects he would never have noticed otherwise. Sometimes, it stopped in front of a small pebble or a piece of rusted metal, and Domgis, with a resigned sigh, bent down to check.

"Are you sure this is one?" he grumbled once, after flipping over an old shoe for the umpteenth time.

The light flickered, almost indignant, before swirling around him as if to remind him who the real Linocle expert was here.

And, admittedly, it was right. Thanks to the light, Domgis found more Linocles than ever. He even began to wonder if this light was some kind of magical insect detector.

Another time, as the light led him toward what appeared to be a pile of dust, Domgis stopped short.

"No, now you're exaggerating," he said, hands on his hips. "Even Linocles have standards."

The light insisted, swirling around the pile with almost annoying energy.

"Fine, but if this is another false alarm, I'm warning you, I'm ditching you for a lamp."

As he rummaged, he indeed found a small object engraved with the symbol of a tree. Domgis raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself.

"See?" the light seemed to say as it danced victoriously.

"Yes, yes, you're amazing," Domgis admitted with a smirk. "But if you could also find me better clothes, that would be even better."

***

That time, Domgis had brushed against an old lamp marked with the engraving of a tree with drooping branches. He was about to examine it more closely when a familiar glow appeared beside him.

The light flickered rapidly, almost urgently, and began dancing in front of his eyes.

"What do you want?" murmured Domgis, intrigued.

The light rushed toward a nearby rock, then returned to him, repeating this movement several times.

"You want me to hide?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The light flickered insistently, as if to say: *Yes, and quickly!*

Domgis, despite his doubts, decided to trust his instinct. He slipped behind the rock, barely hiding in time.

That's when the Linocle emerged from the lamp.

The creature seemed disoriented, moving at first at random, before taking a long path through the tunnels. Domgis, still concealed, held his breath. Sweat beaded on his forehead, a result of the effort he had exerted to hide quickly.

The light floated beside him, flickering but calm, as if monitoring the scene.

"Why are we hiding again?" whispered Domgis.

The light danced slightly.

"Tell me, if you want me to follow this Linocle, you might need to give me a hand. I'm not exactly an expert in insect stalking, you know," he said, watching the Linocle move away.

The light flickered, as if to agree, then began guiding Domgis through the winding corridors of the cave. It discreetly illuminated the path, while remaining faint enough not to attract the Linocle's attention.

The Linocle, for its part, seemed to be searching for something. It suddenly sped up, racing ahead, and Domgis, urged by the light, began running after it.

"Maybe you could help me catch it instead of dancing in front of me!" Domgis grumbled, out of breath.

The light flickered, almost amused, before rushing ahead, lighting the way for him.

Finally, the Linocle stopped in front of a door.

The door stood like an anomaly in the vastness of the cavern. It was covered in a reddish moss that amplified its strange appearance. Made of dense black steel, it exuded an impression of absolute sturdiness. Just looking at it, one could tell how resistant it was.

Squinting, Domgis noticed a faint mist escaping from tiny gaps in the door, slowly spreading into the surrounding air.

The Linocle struggled, trying to force its way through these openings, but they were far too small for it. After a moment of futile effort, the creature gave up. It stood still, as if frozen in invisible contemplation, before turning around and disappearing into the darkness.

Domgis approached the door, the light floating beside him.

"So, this is what you wanted to show me?" he asked, examining the patterns engraved in the black steel.

The light flickered, as if to say: *Exactly.*

"Alright, it's impressive, I'll give you that," Domgis admitted. "But if you want me to open it, you'll have to explain how. Because right now, I don't exactly have an instruction manual."

The light swirled around him, almost as if pondering, then began dancing in front of the door. It flickered insistently, as if urging Domgis to push.

His hesitant hand grasped the handle. The door opened without the slightest resistance. This unsettling ease made him uncomfortable.

Suddenly, a violent wind burst through the opening, striking his face and blowing his long white hair back. The gust seemed charged with a mysterious force, carrying a sense of dread and uncertainty.

Domgis turned to the light, seeking a sign of comfort or guidance. But it remained still, floating outside the door, as if refusing to go further.

"You're not coming?" he asked, his voice slightly trembling.

The light flickered faintly, almost as if to say: *No, it's up to you to continue.*

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the horizon stretching beyond the door. The light, though reassuring, seemed almost to abandon him to his fate.

"Very well," he murmured, resigning himself.

Beyond the door, a straight and singular path stretched as far as the eye could see. The walls, unnaturally clean, were entirely transparent. It was the first time Domgis had seen something so strange.

When he entered, he was confronted with his own reflection in the mirrors.

A first.

A detail, seemingly so trivial, gripped him with terror. Panicked, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

His reflection did the same.

Without further thought, he scrambled to his feet and rushed toward the exit. In a desperate gesture, he slammed the door shut behind him with all his strength, his breath short and his heart racing.

"That was too close…" he murmured, wide-eyed. "Thankfully, I escaped."

I watched him, incredulous. How could he be so oblivious?

Unless...

The light stayed close to Domgis, floating beside him like a silent guardian. It seemed reassuring, but its subtle agitation betrayed a deep unease, as if it knew something he couldn't understand.