PRESENT DAY
After killing the demon in the cave, Bryce arrived in front of a building, an old warehouse that was barely standing. There were no demons or wandering spirits in the area, so Bryce slowly walked inside.
The warehouse was empty. Its roof was open, and the whole structure looked like it could collapse at any moment. Bryce walked to a corner and stood there for a moment. Suddenly, a door appeared out of thin air on the floor.
Without wasting time, he opened the door and went beneath the warehouse. He climbed down and found another door in front of him, which he opened.
He entered a space that looked like a living room. It was big, with bookshelves filled with books around the walls, and a couch in the center.
Bryce had discovered this place a while ago. It was an underground extension of the warehouse. The entire building was protected by a strong spell Bryce created. From above, the warehouse looked abandoned, but no one could tell what was hidden below.
"You're back." Eva came out from one of the rooms, walking slowly into the living room with her hands held together in front of her. Her voice was calm and little. "So, did you get any information?" she asked when she stopped.
Eva looked even more beautiful than before. Her long white hair reached past her hips.
Bryce walked to the couch and slowly removed his jacket. Unlike when he was in the cave, his tattoos were now clearly visible, covering his entire body.
"The demon mentioned Valtor. That means our suspicion is right. Valtor may be the key to getting valid information about the demon lords," Bryce replied.
"I'm guessing you killed the demon before getting any more information," Eva said.
There was something about the way she spoke, no expression, no emotion. She always kept a straight face.
"There was nothing more it could offer me. All demons are cunning, they always want something in return and I was not about to grant a favor to a demon," Bryce said.
"I don't have any book about Valtor, and the only place that will have something like that is the academy."
"So I have no choice but to go to the academy to get the book," Bryce said.
"You haven't been to the academy in a long time, and if I remember correctly, you were banned from ever entering the academy."
Bryce paused, remembering the past. "If this is the only path I have to take to achieve my goal, then I will take it. Nothing will stop me."
"I will leave you to rest then, until you are ready to go to the academy," Eva said, then walked back into the room she came from.
Bryce sat in silence for a while after she left, something he did often.
Then he stood up from the couch and walked into another room. Inside, there was almost nothing except a pool of water in the center.
He walked slowly toward the pool. His tattoos covered his body, and to the normal eye it looked like there was no space left for more, but they were placed systematically, with no overlaps and still room left.
He walked into the pool, sat down, and crossed his legs. Only his head remained above the water. Then he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
THE PAST
Bryce was still confused about everything. He had been in a coma, he had been asleep for two years. As he walked, he tried to look around. He saw people moving through the hallway. That was when he realized he was walking through one.
Most of the people passing by were around his age.
"Where is the restroom?" Bryce stopped and asked Eva.
"It's right over here." Eva turned to the right and pointed at a door.
Bryce quickly turned and walked toward it. When he reached, he entered, while Eva remained outside.
There was no one inside the restroom, which was a relief. Bryce went straight to a sink with a mirror above it.
He didn't look around. He just turned on the tap and splashed water on his face several times.
When he finished, he took slow, deep breaths. Everything was overwhelming. After steadying himself a little, he slowly raised his head and looked into the mirror.
Then the memories began.
The night his friends told him they didn't want to go to the mansion. Him persuading them.
The entrance of the mansion. The living room. The library. The book. The dark figure he saw. And worst of all, the way his friends died.
Everything felt so vivid. It might have happened two years ago, but to Bryce, it felt like yesterday.
As anger rapidly built inside him, sadness and regret followed. It became overwhelming, and tears streamed down his face. He didn't stop them.
He let everything out, he yelled at himself in the mirror.
Eva, standing outside, heard him. But she understood.
After the yell, Bryce regained himself and walked out of the restroom. Eva stood quietly beside the door.
"Please take me to Father William," Bryce said.
"Okay," she replied and began walking.
As they walked, Bryce didn't pay attention to anything around them. His mind was fixed on seeing Father William.
Eva finally stopped in front of a door. Bryce noticed it was different from the room he had woken up in earlier. Eva opened the door, it was a hall.
Bryce saw Father William standing in a corner, so he walked inside.
"You can come in," Bryce said to Eva.
She stepped into the hall and closed the door.
Bryce slowly walked toward Father William and noticed something, the hall's windows were unusual. He could tell the hall had once been a church.
Bryce reached Father William. "I need you to explain to me what has been going on while I was in a coma," Bryce said.