Well.
In Zabulus' case, the next place they arrived at did indeed seem like that.
A big building. The words coming straight out of his mouth, a 'dump.'
Somehow, even at the worst of times, his instincts never wavered or misled him into the dangerous zones of existence. So with his luck intact, and his ever piling tension, he tried to ask the hooded leader; "Where do we go from here? Why are we standing outside this shithole of a 'place?'."
Agh, he couldn't help but let his tongue spill out the truth with an attitude! Now he had to hear about his disrespectfulness and all that. And of course, before even counting himself in, there was also Phronta to tell him how he was being inconsiderate. With a bunch of stutters and shaky words.
Yet, and with this oddness spreading across his body, this unshakable sense of core groundlessness kept bothering him. It had been there for the past few minutes as they were walking—ever since he met Avtarus—perhaps.
Even when he looked around or when the sound of the wind was so soft that it should not even be seen as wind, the gentle cold would spread throughout.
'I really hope you understand, Lamb. There was no coincidence in that woman's appearance. Belligerent or not, the strength you carry within your heart- That can never, and will never be hidden from those who can read minds and hearts; and you, I'm sure... will become a legend or a nightmare to everyone in this world's memory.'
'And will you just get it over with, as well!? To think you won't shut up for once in ever, just because we're in the same body, just because our hearts are connected!' Zabulus lashed out at his inner voice.
'Do you not see my words beyond their scintillating depths? Human minds are forever incomplete; I am made up of everything, while being made up of just you. Shouldn't you be wiser for your age, in realizing this? I've always been with you.'
'Then why, just why must you call me by that same name that the filthy corpse does too!?'
'Zaig■, I'm afraid myself, but the person who called you in such a billowy way. Ah, it would have brought me to tears...'
'Stop trying to piss me off... just talking to you sends spikes through my teeth! Hurry up, already!'
'Huh? Was he going mad, himself? Oh wait, yeah. He was. From the very beginning... There was a boy and a tree...'
'And you don't have to bring up old stories, what the fuck did you appear to tell me anyways!?'
'I told you what I told you. There are no coincidences here. You're a variable, and no matter how many times you try to escape the equation, it will always pull you back in. You already broke one prophecy by not following the dead girl's words... And to break another is to alter fate in its entirety, and not to mention, you even brought another God's Attention. What was it? Vespara... and the other one was?'
'...'
'Eskra, was it? Perhaps they will hold no hostility... Maybe. But I am no fortune teller, and don't bother expecting me to answer all your questions. It's not my job as the voice of reason to provide the answers and to protect the one I took advantage of.'
"S-s-sir?! W-we've arrived at the l-location and!" Phronta squeaked.
"...Shit! Didn't even notice." Zabulus suddenly came back to his senses as the voice was cut off by her.
"What was that!? That's some disrespectful behavior we're hearing from an outsider!" An old man said from the doors of the big building, "Any more of this from your lot and-"
"Calm down Strophon, it's me, Kilgore."
"Oh? It's you? What have you been up to- Nevermind that! Who's this disrespectful Azkite bastard? Look at him, he's not from around here either!"
"Calm down. We don't mean no harm here, rather, you need to think! How else is someone down here if you don't recognize them?" Kilgore walked forth.
"You mean to say..."
"You're getting older. Maybe it's time someone replaces you. But, yes."
"Haha, I'm soon-to-be retired! Ah, I should've gotten it now. He ate the First of Forty-Eight! Are you fucking crazy kid!? Are you trying to eat yourself and die!?"
Zabulus could still hardly speak. The remnants of anger were all that was left, and combined with the fatigue he felt-
"Shit, kid, those side-effects must really be getting to you, huh? You're probably feeling like vomiting! Come, we should head in!"
Zabulus did not retort against his claims. Maybe those symptoms really did come from the First of Forty-Eight. But there really were two things he wasn't feeling. If they weren't things he'd feel, then...
He quickly grabbed onto his right eye socket and gripped as hard as he could, but he couldn't feel a thing. And when that was not the case, the lack of nausea got him concerned.
'....!' A voice tried to break through.
'......!' Again, this attempt;
Until he could not hear another ring as his hands continued clasping harder and harder. And were now beginning to spill a small pool of blood.
As if time was still, and even as the gushing river began taking form.
'.....'s....'s....'
Finally, the voice rang with sharp volume this time.
"...Queen be damned! What happened to your eyes!?" Strophon backed away in horror.
'.......'s.......' A voice he knew... ringing deeply within his soul, there was nobody else he knew...
There was someone, someone he knew and saw terrible things with, things of flesh; terrible things from Eskra, a man who once killed him...
Vetro's voice came from the seas of his soul. But it was not the right time for it. He had to push it down, as if saying 'Later, later!'
Kilgore spoke, "Huh? You're not being serious now are you? At any rate, this isn't anything new. Azkites come with no eyes, ain't ever seen one before, Strophon?"
"G-Goddess! Yes, true. But, that blood! Look!" Strophon seemed to be out of himself again. He didn't have to worry.
A girl had stepped out from behind the stairs. She was wearing a flimsy dress and had golden wavy hair. When Kilgore noticed the look and got his attention away from Strophon, she asked: "Will that new friend of yours come here?"
"What. Oh- No, wait!" That exchange also ended in a flash, and, very suddenly.
All that occurred had faded away just as quickly as everything came to a standstill, a wave of calming blue washed over, just like the sea-blues in the ocean and this water began covering his skin.
"Who...?" There she was, the golden-haired woman in front of Zabulus. As if healing his soul, the blood came rushing out back inside.
"I am the Third and final child, Tecinrah of the Inner walls, and my third nature is what you behold of now." Her smiting beauty was not covered or concealed by any means. Not even as the dress wavered down the top of her body, showing more of what a man desired. "This is the only place where your vision may be blessed- Perhaps for longer, a moment, or sooner, until this is where you belong... But yes, don't hesitate any longer. Leave your wounds or mental suffering to the sacredness of the world."
Zabulus wasn't one to be smitten by pretty faces- Nor the way they moved and danced, giving a vibe of playfulness. Rather, as a man, he believed the opposite. Though it didn't strictly apply for women; but for everyone. That they are vicious predators with second intentions. In these vile worlds and in their filthy existence, all he heard; no matter who was speaking, was always 'give and take', just like anybody.
"Yes... Thank you for your healing and all, but what do you want from me now? And why are you here?"
She cocked her head in confusion, just barely. "Oh, no... you misunderstand, I don't wish to take anything. But I must say- Why is it? I wanted to touch an Azkite's soul and metaphysical form for so long~ It's just so calming, so bewitching~!"
Tecinrah's soft-pink lips were shaped up for the better part of the tone, in an adorable and cheerful way, like someone would who spoke with their friends or the ones they loved. A friendly but at the same time an almost completely one-sided love.
Phronta gazed into their conversation, she looked happy that Zabulus didn't refuse being healed and further helped by her elder sister. She gave them an inch of personal space, as if too shy.
"Your friends should go meet our other sibling. It was a pleasure meeting you, Azkite. Thank you Phronta and Sir Kilgore for granting me the most pleasing of today's memories." She looked even more beautiful, shining radiantly as she walked back in with an elegant pace.
Zabulus had to look away, even the moon or a star would be a better sight for him, but for all things! He was in the damn inner-walls!
The air wasn't that bad here, despite it being such a quarantined place, in the middle of a wall as if a ravine-city.
Zabulus gave a long sigh, he knew himself better than anyone else, yet-
"The most pleasing experience in a person's life is not the first time you meet those close, it's always the memories after..."
'Tell me about it, just end this and push everyone back from your damnation, for your fate will only lead the tides, for the wave of change will wash all away. Even the wretched ones would move on for the next ride... Or else you'll fall in deeper.' Something deep in Zabulus' core sparked a wave of thoughts that were not his own.
Perhaps those words were his true self trying to surface, but it was likely beneficial to keep it down, otherwise he'd lose Onofre's favor, too.
However, he couldn't help but become doubtful as the darkness he envisioned became lighter by every step he took in this place. It was not quite a utopia by any means. But something began becoming undone within him, something fundamental. As if it was being awakened, or changed, or maybe both.
Still, he was almost forced; if not by choice to follow these people.
'If only I didn't randomly climb that damn wall!'
'Waaaah... He has a scary expression on his face... Should I go talk to him?' Phronta thought, but as if sensing her next actions, Zabulus held his arms out.
'Arrogant! Angry! Abusive! Triple A's! And most of the words start with an A!'
"S-sir?"
"Nothing. Don't worry." He brushed her off like dust off a shelf.
"Oh come on, Kid. Don't act like that. You're still walking in unknown territory, have some slack. Here's some slack." Kilgore said, justifying his actions before, which only got Zabulus to look in displeasure. "Maybe don't act like a bitch right now. It's the best you can do, eh?"
"What bitchy thing did I do? I merely held my arms out in frustration. Perhaps you should learn not to assume things, and have more sense on your side than making up shit..." Zabulus commented, "Or maybe you need to get the gears in your head turning before doing anything stupid."
Somewhere... somehow, he was acting like a delinquent at this moment. Somewhere? Maybe with a hint of wisdom. Something in this place was off, the inside completely contrasted the outside in a way that most would say is an impossibility.
The outside, all rocky and with houses made of metal sheets and/or wood, the people were instead wearing royal robes and hoods that came straight from a very fairytale-like story.
It was as if a group of nobles came together to start living in a poor and under-developed place, expecting it to become just as wonderful as their noble city, but alas, the people of such a place were ill, or, infected. They were all broken, and beaten, and had no use other than serving the rich, and at the worst of times were to be considered living trash-bags of trash...
The people within the inner wall were normal, more normal than those on the outer wall, at least.
The inside of this big building was even bigger than wha the outside promised to be, yet looking up, he saw chandeliers and gold embedded on the marble architecture, for some reason, chipped, but still well decorated with a sense of a 'rich guy's apartment', nonetheless.
In here, the light from the chandeliers never dimmed, and the place didn't smell like dust or mold at all, if anything it held a very gentle sweet, fresh and clean smell.
Everyone in the room, there was Strophon... and only Strophon here, seated on a throne, appearing weak and like he was about to throw up. Yet, just at this moment, he was completely unable to hold on anymore... and immediately retched.