'What is this place?' Arthur wondered to himself as he felt the runes that covered every inch of it. Unless someone knew this place like the back of their hands, they wouldn't be able to step a single foot into it.
But there was also Arthur, who can feel the existence of runes as if they were a part of his own body. He had his doubts whether he should just leave, but he didn't have a good argument why he should do that.
Since this place was in the Pocket-Dimension, it must be a part of the test. Was it specifically designed for runes apprentices? That would explain why it was filled with runic traps.
"Crouch or you die," Arthur whispered to Jonah. The latter obediently followed as he whispered back.
"Why are we whispering?"
"I fear we're not alone in this place," Arthur said with a frown.
He could distinctively feel it. The existence of other people. The only reason he could feel their fading existence was his Art that used Existence as a fuel.
'Why are they not moving?' Arthur's gut feeling was screaming at him. However, he was trapped currently. Whatever choices he chose to escape, he would end up showing his cards.
It was a stupid thing to do, revealing your strength. No matter how thrilling it is to prove himself, he knew that there was an advantage in remaining in the shadows. He only had one life, he couldn't just risk it and hope some divine being would protect him.
Arthur kept going. There were two reasons for that. The first one was that to go back, he would have to beat that middle-high-tier monster alone. Only peak-rei-rankers were capable of that feat.
The second reason was that if there was a Key in Jerano, this place would be one of the possible hideouts. With how many traps Arthur encountered along the way, this place was protecting something.
'Or locking something.' Arthur thought to himself as he felt the suffering of the people around him. After he started practicing his art, it became easier for him to gain insights into the existence of others.
He didn't know but his mission here wasn't to study but to find the key. As the two kept walking through the corridor that was lined with traps, doors began to appear.
"What are these?" Jonah whispered with a pale face. The doors had a single small window with bars in it. They looked like prison doors.
Arthur had the same question. He walked slowly toward the door and peeked through the window. His vision adjusted after a few moments and he stood in front of the door, rooted in his place.
Inside the empty room, there were tens of chains protruding from the walls to its center. All of the chains collided around a single figure in the room. When Arthur peeked, the figure raised his head and looked back at him.
Arthur had never seen such eyes before. Savagery, hunger, and hollowness twirled together in them. They radiated dangerous light as they looked at Arthur.
"What is it?" Jonah asked and tried to peek into the room, but Arthur pulled him away. Without saying anything, Arthur kept marching forward.
"Let's go."
"Boss, what's wrong? Why is your hand shaking?" Jonah said as he looked at his wrist that was being pulled by Arthur.
Arthur let go of him and shook his head.
"Listen, don't go near those doors. I think I know what this place is." Arthur said in a serious tone. Jonah looked at him with a frown. "This is… a prison."
Jonah's eyes widened as he started looking around at the doors and taking a step back.
"T-this, then, we, that… Then, we need to leave," He said in a bumbling and panicked tone. His face paled when Arthur shook his head.
"Leave where? The monster is still outside." Arthur shrugged.
Before he could say anything more, a deep roar shook the corridor originating from the cell. It was hard to say that this was a human that was making such a sound, as it sounded like a thousand animals being killed.
Arthur placed his finger on his lips as he led Jonah further inside. Even though this place was filled with convicted people, it wasn't that dangerous given that they were chains.
They passed many cells that had another prisoner before reaching a great hall. The hall was circular and had a single platform in the middle of it.
'A teleportation circle.' Arthur looked at the platform. They stepped into the hall and looked around. There was nothing else to note but the barrier enveloping the circle.
"Who are you?" A voice came from somewhere and it pressed against their chests, making it difficult to breathe. "What are you doing here?" The voice, magnetic and might, asked again.
"Hey, you should identify yourself before asking us who we are!" Pulling out a strong front from somewhere, Jonah reprimanded. Arthur almost face-palmed at the ill-timing of Jonah's aggressiveness.
The voice went quiet for a few second as if it was stunned by the idiocy of Jonah.
"You intrude upon this space and demand explanation?" The voice seemed genuinely confused and Arthur knew it had every reason to.
Arthur had a general guess about the owner of this voice. It was weird that the prison was so empty with only runic traps lining its corridors. There were usually guards or something that protected this place.
"We're taking the national exam, we're no intruders!" Jonah said with a raised index finger.
'If you're going to tell them who we are anyway, do it before you get us killed.'
"I would have accused you of lying if I didn't know." The voice replied after a while. "However, I still don't understand how you reached this place."
"Using our feet, obviously," Jonah answered in annoyance as he crossed his arms around his chest. "You're not very bright.'
'Is this guy an idiot?' Arthur sighed as he smacked Jonah on the head. He then bowed slightly as he introduced himself.
"Greetings, Great One," Arthur said. "My name is Alexie Linan. We chanced upon this place as we were taking Jerano's exam. Are you the guardian of this prison?"
"A polite one you are." The voice said in amusement. "However, you're not very honest. He might be a fool, but your friend is more worthy of talking to me than you are."
Arthur felt like someone has slapped him in the face.
"Still, you're peculiar." The voice continued and hummed a little. "Do you know who I am?"
"No," Arthur answered.
"That's an honest reply." The voice decreed. "Very well. You may leave this place. This teleportation circle is going to lead you to the outside world. Furthermore, you'll reach the other island that you aim for."
"Really?!" Jonah shouted with zeal.
"Of course, you need to offer something in return."
Arthur smiled. There was always a catch.
"What is it?" He said, dropping off the polite act. The voice answered shortly after.
"The crystal that you have."
Hearing his words, Arthur frowned slightly. He didn't say anything and the crystal he gained from the sandman appeared in his hand.
"It's only just that I don't let you pass easily. Give me that and one of you can use the teleportation circle."
"One?" Jonah's face paled as he glanced at the crystal in Arthur's hand. His expression said it: He didn't have a crystal of his own.
'You wretched thing.' Arthur thought inwardly with a sneer as he looked around the hall. 'It's trying to test us.'
"Yes, one. The other one needs to find his way out."
Arthur understood its plan. If Jonah stayed here, he would never be able to leave this place. The runic traps that Arthur had guided him through would rip him to shreds the moment he walks into them.
"A gentle reminder," The voice said and Arthur knew it wouldn't be gentle. "No one has passed the test yet. Whoever of you two teleports away now, he is going to be…"
'This damned psychopath.' Arthur grinned inwardly as his face remained stoic and devoid of emotions.
"The number one ranker on the second test."
Here comes the reward. The incentives are now laid on the table. The punishment and the reward. The glory and the failure. This voice knew how to tempt people.
"I like to be just," It continued, much to Arthur's liking. "Since both of you reached this place, I'll give you the same opportunity to leave it."
"What do you mean?" Jonah asked with a frown.
"You can decide who gets to leave by discussion, of course." The voice said. "But if you like to fight, I'll give you the chance to prove your skills. Your strengths are now the same." Arthur felt no change in his body, but Jonah's body began to glow.
This voice knew that Jonah was weaker, but it didn't weaken Arthur. It wanted to tempt Jonah with a false sense of power. People would show their colors when they feel powerful and when they are cornered.
Now, Jonah was feeling both.
'However,' Arthur turned apologetically at Jonah. 'I think I'm a psychopath myself.' Arthur realized as he wanted to test Jonah himself. He was glad that they were given this choice this early. After all the things he saw, he needed to test others to trust them.
'What is it going to be, Jonah Raver?' Arthur thought to himself as the crystal flew from his hand and hovered in the air. Jonah turned to face him.