A/N: Sorry for uploading a short chapter and sorry for not updating in 2 months. I did plan on updating sooner but I was too busy preparing for Shadowbringers. And now that it's released, it will take up most of my attention for the next couple of months. And I won't be able to update until I clear the Savage raids, which are coming out at the end of July.
However, I still plan on updating this story, and I plan on seeing this to its conclusion. And when I clear Eden Savage, I will get to updating this story. So until then, here is a short chapter.
"Welcome Trickster, to the Velvet Room," greets the bizarre old man.
Ren looks at the old man and young girl with a look of confusion. They told him that this is his dreams but he felt too lucid for this to be a dream. Why did he call me Trickster?
"My name is Igor, I am delighted to make your acquaintance," he gestures to the young girl. "And this is Lavenza. she is a resident here, like myself."
The small girl gave Ren a soft smile and bowed, "My name is Lavenza. My job is to accompany you through your journey."
Ren approaches them with caution. He had so many questions to ask.
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter," Igor informs Ren. "It's been quite some time since we've last had a guest."
"Guest?" Ren finally says.
Igor simply chuckles and continues, "Normally, only those who are bound by a contract may enter the Velvet Room." Igor looks around the room, "This is curious though, to think that it would take the form of a prison."
This confuses Ren even further. If he was a resident here, why would he be surprised at its appearance?
Sensing his confusion, Lavenza speaks up, "The Velvet Room's appearance reflects the state of the heart of its guest. So, with you as its guest, it has taken the form of a prison." Her tone saddens as she explains.
"My heart is a prison?" Ren asks, still struggling to comprehend what is going on, "I don't understand."
"It may take some time for you to fully understand," Igor reassures Ren. "However, the reason I summoned you here is to discuss matters of utmost importance," Igor says, never breaking his smile, "matters that will decide your future."
"What matters?" Ren asks with concern.
"This world is not as it should be, it is filled with distortion," Lavenza explains. "If this distortion is left as is, the world will succumb to ruin."
"Ruin?" Ren asks, still slightly confused, but has an idea of what they'll say next.
"Ruin is the calamity that will mark the end of everything," Igor answers, making Ren nervous. His heart rate and breathing once again speed up.
"The end of everything? Why the hell are you telling me this and not someone who is capable of stopping this 'ruin'?" Ren asks, hoping he doesn't get another vague answer.
"Because whether or not the world succumbs to ruin, depends on you," Igor answers. Ren's eyes widen in response.
"Me? How am I meant to stop the end of the world?" Ren asks Igor, making no attempt to calm himself.
"In the coming days, you will enter a contract of some sort, after which you will return here." Igor answering in a vague manner yet again.
Why is he being so cryptic? "You're still asking a lot from me," says Ren.
"I am aware that you will be unable to do such a feat alone, that is why you will require our assistance, as well as the help of other individuals like yourself," Igor explains. This arouses Ren's curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Ren asks.
"I'm afraid we will have to attend to the details another time." At that moment, loud bells begin to ring. At the same time, Ren's body begins to feel heavy. He feels more tired than he has ever felt and feels like he will fall asleep at any moment. "Until then, farewell." After Ren hears that, darkness overtakes him and drifts back into unconsciousness.
À Suivre
Crossposted on AO3 and Spacebattles