Illusion of perfection.

"Are you Apeiron?" Ace asked, The piercing green eyes seemed a little familiar.

"Where did you bring me to, I was just in the class a few seconds ago and—"

"Cut the theatrics, I know you know you know my name, and I know you are the one who initiated this telepathic resonance, so stop acting like you didn't and tell me why your here." He growled his agitation not only evident I'm his voice but also the darkness that lurked around him.

'What is up with those shadows'

The way the shadows moved, looked, felt, made him feel anxious, Their abyss like depths seem to convey an ominous premonition, that made Ace wary.

Ace asked tentatively. "You've been talking about this telepathic resonance thing since I got here mind explaining to me"

"And before you go saying that I should stop pretending to be ignorant, I really am! Okay! I don't know fuck all about where we are, I'm just as clueless as you, if not even more clueless." Ace said in slight frustration. He hated it when things got blown out of proportion because of a misunderstanding that could be easily cleared up.

As soon as he finished speaking he felt the gazes of the shadows wash upon him.

Even though shadows were meant to be inanimate objects, he could feel their attention on him, it was the kind of feeling you'd get when you someone stares at you, only this time that feeling wasn't coming out a person but the shadows that lay before him.

The tension in the air rose, the shadows circled around Ace, not bothering to hid their distrust.

"Hey, why you looking at me like that? If anyone is suspicious, it would be you, I mean look at the hood you're wearing, tell me that doesn't scream evil and suspicious."

"Hmm ~ I'll have to admit that is true, I might be the suspicious one here." He chuckled to himself.

"Tell you what, Let's start afresh and introduce ourselves. I'll start." He said while taking of his hood to reveal his sickly pale face.

"My name is Apeiron capiō from the capiō family. Now you have to tell me who you are."

Ace internally rolled his eyes, He already knew that he was Apeiron, those piercing green eyes made it too obvious,

'The only reason he told me his name was just to make me feel obligated to say my own in return.'

But Ace had no reason not to say his name, if he didn't, he would be the suspicious one.

"Since you said yours it would be basic courtesy to do the same." Ace said, wearing a facade of politeness.

"My name is Ace Virvitanima of no noble family."

"Ace virvitanima." He muttered under his breath.

"Your the guy who ranked second on the leaderboard, above Emilia Tyche, ranking above Emilia Tyche; the holy maiden you must be very talented."He said, a wide smile gracing his sickeningly pale face.

"Now that we've introduced ourselves, I would like to ask a question."

"Where are we?"

The place they were in was quite strange, at first it looked like a one to one replica of the real world; except time was frozen in place.

But if one looked closer they would notice that the shadows in the room remained unfozen, shifting side to side like a restless toddler.

But that wasn't the only thing that was strange; the people who existed here — albeit frozen in time — seemed too perfect.

Not perfect as in without flaws, but perfect as they looked exactly like how Ace perceived humans to look, not a single odd detail like pimples on their faces or distinct or fingerprints, It all seemed like a dream were everyone was a copy of a copy of a copy; With the only outliers being Ace and Apeiron.

"Where are we? We are in a dreamscape that acts as the bridge between our souls." Apeiron replied.

Ace eyebrows scrunched up, he did not like anyone getting near his soul.

"Do you know how we got here and how we can leave?"