Lotor was growing weary. This place was draining in a manner he had rarely experienced. Even Allura was showing signs of the attrition. He felt like he had been trudging over the rocky terrain for hours. Time was pointless here, but his mortal mind demanded structure.
One day it will be unnecessary.
Please stop. This place gave his doubts power. He could almost hear the words out loud. They carried close to him like a stray whisper: a conversation he had no desire to take part in, but the words haunted him. The presence was nothing new, but here it was so much more magnified.
Briefly, he wondered if Allura suffered the same as he. He glanced at her. She was leading the way, spurred onward as if by an invisible string. The way had been silent save the rich voice constantly interrupting Lotor's thoughts.
Surely you don't believe she is like you in any respect save your unfortunate lineage.
Lotor's blood boiled. But the words continued.
You know what birthed me. She has no idea what you are capable of. She will never be like you and vice versa.
A stab of pain shot through his temples and Lotor bit his tongue, lest he grunt. His conscious control began to slip underneath him once again, collapsing on itself and sucking him along. He reached out a hand, attempting to ground himself before he lost himself in the flashback. It couldn't happen right now, not with Allura right there…
I am the strongest part of you. I am the reason you are. Give in like hours before.
Why now? He bemoaned. This was bad. He needed to leave this forsaken place before he lost his composure. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Leave!
His fingers brushed the rough granite and reality snapped back with a jolt. He gasped, digging his nails into the craggy uneven surface of the rock.
"Lotor?" Allura started, turning to look at him.
"Sss –" He caught himself before finishing the command. His body shivered but he was able to snap his face into impassivity before she caught the moment of vulnerability. Shame flooded him and under other circumstances he would have thrown himself into a rage.
Allura met his tumultuous orange eyes for a long time. She was cautious but sympathetic.
This cursed place amplified every one of his emotions.
"Are you all right?" The princess hazarded. She did not remove her gaze from his own.
"Yes," he answered resolutely despite his trembling hands. He said nothing more, having not the heart to lie to her. He took a couple slow quiet breaths before straightening. His claws refused to retract so he curled them into fists. "This place is affecting me," he confessed.
Her gaze immediately softened. "It's pulling on me too." She glanced back the way they came. "I'm starting to feel like we are going in circles as well. Maybe the way out is not any direction…"
Curiosity cleansed the remnants of his panic. "What are you thinking?"
Her brow furrowed. "If this place is a corridor within the walls of reality what is keeping us within it. What did we cross to get here?" She asked knowing the answer.
"The quintessence field," Lotor stated. His thoughts picked up pace. The prince licked his lips. "Allura, when I entered this realm. I felt it. I felt that power." He paused, realising that his words could very easily be misunderstood. "I did not know how to manipulate it, only how to let it take me." He met her eyes. "But you can."
She regarded him for a long time before looking to the ground. "I can't," she finally said.
Confusion laced his words. "Why not?"
"I won't be able to," she hedged.
He stifled frustration and dared to put a hand on her shoulder. "You've tapped into alchemy before. If we concentrate, maybe you can manifest a gateway. I can lend strength…" He trailed off.
"I don't think I can. There is a darkness here, I can't touch it. When I saved you from that wraith, Lotor, I pushed too far." She shivered. "This place is corrupting."
Lotor opened his mouth to argue otherwise but he snapped it shut when a harsh breeze cut through the two of them. Riding the wind, was a berating militant voice.
"That is why you must leave!" The voice commanded.