Trial One

Her words seemed to hang in the air for a moment, leaving June thinking. 

She said new batch… so was she not from the group of Challengers that had just traversed through the Breach?

"So then, they're still sending poor Challengers through that particular Rift…" 

She sighed, shaking her head. 

Meanwhile, June wondered exactly what she meant. 

She was speaking as if she had been within this place — the Infinite Purgatory — for a year now. If so, it'd explain why she was so surprised when June said he arrived through a Rift.

But… despite all that, he never heard of a previous batch of Challengers, not ever. Supreme Agler had failed to mention it, and Winston was quiet about it too. The Academy kids also didn't bring up anything about a previous batch either. Rather, it wasn't even a known fact until now.

"What are you talking about?"

June asked, wondering. 

She clearly knew more than him — everyone always did, as a matter of fact. 

It was starting to get rather vexing. 

Every time he desired to know something, he never had the answers. Whereas, most others did.

"Honestly… there's no point in explaining. The Shift is arriving soon, which means this'll be the last time we ever see each other, which also means my information is of no use to you."

She waved him off, leaning back onto the rocky wall with a sigh. 

Her face was obscured by the heavy shadows that lingered in the corner, but June could tell she wasn't paying him attention anymore.

A bit frustrated, June spoke up:

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

However, she ignored him. For a few seconds, at least.

"Listen, dude… no amount of explaining I can do will help, okay? This place is too elaborate — too multifaceted to simply explain before the Shift happens. Honestly, you were doomed the moment you traversed into this particular Rift. To think, that damn Clan Ashen is this desperate for their own kin."

The more she spoke, the more June grew confused. She had answers, but she wasn't explaining them properly to him. 

Obviously, he now knew she was part of a previous batch… but that's it. Other than that, he was clueless. She mentioned something about Clan Ashen and a Shift… none of which June knew the meaning of.

Before he could even ask anything else, a sudden tremor ignited, shaking June to his core.

Something was wrong.

It felt like the space around him was convulsing — as if warping into anew.

Due to it, the girls voice grew a bit glitchy as she said:

"Yup, there it is. Well, I saved you, so at least you'll have a chance from here on out. Good luck."

With that, she stood up and began walking away, her expression full of hidden sorrow.

Whatever was happening, it was jarring June's senses.

'No…'

Ignoring it, he stood up and grasped the girl by the wrist before she could walk away, stopping her in her tracks.

Surprised, she turned around, her lime green eyes meeting his gray.

The moment her eyes met his, he seemed to flinch. Not only due to her alluring eyes, but her beauty itself. 

She was the most beautiful human he had ever seen. She was about the same age as June even, probably older, though. 

She had a small face with black hair, but a portion of the inner layer of her hair seemed to resemble the color of luscious green leaves, pairing perfectly with her attractive eyes.

There was a mole that couldn't go unnoticed either, directly on her left cheekbone, complementing her smooth and flawless skin that appeared slightly flushed, giving it a porcelain-like quality.

A few earrings were also adorning her ear, gleaming under the ghostly fire.

"How…" 

Just then, the tremor stopped, the girl's eyes widening. 

For some reason, she seemed shaken.

"How is this possible…"

She whispered, looking into his eyes.

"How is what possible?"

June replied, confused still.

For a few seconds, she seemed to just think… as if caught in a trance. 

Eventually, she said in an uneven tone:

"The Shift… it was supposed to scatter us within one of the many other Dimensions, yet…"

She began looking around, appearing just as confused as June who stood there, still grasping her wrist. There was indeed a tremor; perhaps that was the Shift she was speaking of, but June was still in the dark.

"You know, you have a problem of failing to elaborate."

He remarked, looking at her.

She looked back at him, still a bit out of it. Then, her attention shifted from him to the hand that was grasping her wrist.

She shook her head.

"The Shift is a phenomenon that teleports those with awakened souls into a random Dimension within the Infinite Purgatory, scattering them forever. It's something that is usually caused by several Dimensions collapsing on one another, taking place every few hours."

She paused for a moment.

"So, we were supposed to be teleported away from here… never to see each other again. Only, that isn't the case, and I think it's because of you, somehow."

She seemed adamant that it was because of June, reaching that conclusion after only a minute having passed. At first she seemed taken aback, but now she appeared sure of it.

'It can't be because of me, can it?'

June's lips parted, wishing to ask her something. But before he could, he stopped himself.

Perhaps it really was because of him. 

Rather, because of his Strict Binding. His soul was bound to the Ark, which may have played a part in avoiding the Shift. 

Of course, June didn't know how… and he wasn't exactly sure, but she said the Shift was something that teleports those with awakened souls. If it has something to do with souls, then his reasoning couldn't entirely be off the mark, could it?

"How… how are you immune?"

She asked with utmost curiosity.

June, though, simply shrugged as if he himself hadn't had a clue. Which he didn't.

"... If you're somehow immune, then there's a chance I can get back to my brother with your help."

After finishing what she had just said, a light within the depths of her eyes emerged, as though she was suddenly hopeful of her dire outcomes.

Curious, June asked:

"What about the Trial Goal?"

It hadn't been long since he emerged from the Rift. Unlike her, who had seemingly given up a while ago, June still desired to complete the Trial. The girl had saved his life, sure, so he'd be inclined to stick with her — especially with her known knowledge. But, he was not going to blindly follow her around in order for her to complete whatever it is she desired, all while using him as a form of immunity to the Shift. 

The Trial Goal was his priority, no matter what.

"Trial Goal..? Oh, right, that thing."

She sighed before she peered away from June's gaze, looking down.

"There's a lot to explain… but first things first, put your clothes back on."

He looked down, realizing he had been standing there with merely his underwear on the entire time.