Chapter 13: A wonderful name

A strange, suffocating aura was coming from the coffin. Even just being near it was quite difficult. For some time there was a dead silence. After a couple of minutes, Anthony broke it: "Only I know about this room, and I don't know what is in this black coffin, but judging by the aura coming from it, there is something incredible there. Whatever it is, it`s yours. If you want to move the lid I can do it." After these words, he looked at Stroph, waiting for his decision.

Looking at the black coffin in front of him, Stroph calmly said: "No, I'll do it myself." Saying this, he slowly began to approach the coffin. Every step was harder and the pressure was getting stronger. The last step seemed to last forever, as if he was walking on the bottom of the ocean. And at the moment when Stroph was going to touch the lid of the coffin, something inexplicable happened.

The whole dilapidated old room instantly plunged into darkness. The passage was blocked by some kind of barrier, so it was impossible to escape from here. But the escape was out of the question, because as soon as the darkness began to appear, Anthony, Richard and Charles immediately fell to the floor unconscious.

Just after that, the lid of the coffin flew away with such a force that it got tightly stuck in the wall, broken it in half.

<What the hell! Even Anthony was knocked out and he, judging by fact that one his knock destroyed wall of arsenal with such weapons as "Ripper", incredibly strong. What's going on here, what's really inside it?> Stroph did not understand what was happening now and why he was the only one who remained conscious.

The next second, a coat, black like an abyss, flew out of the coffin. It looked stunning. It was very long, each piece was perfectly matched, five large triangular buttons made of purple crystal shining brightly on the left side of this coat. It had a slightly high collar, as well as three long and white like snow belts on the right side.

The pressure was already colossal, but when this coat appeared, it became just something unthinkable. It seemed that all living things could flatten out at any moment and become a bloody spot on the ground.

Stroph continued standing, he didn`t understand why, but even though this pressure brought him incredible pain, he was conscious and seemed to be able to move more or less.

"Boy.. who... are...you.? Why, you can still stand on your feet, you're a... a simple weak creature..." Suddenly, words were heard from the coat. They sounded incredibly creepy, as if they came from Purgatory itself.

"I also have a couple of questions, since when did the coats learn to talk? And who or what are you, anyway?" Stroph didn`t try to escape, even just staying on his feet cost him a lot of effort now, the escape was out of the question, he should try to get out of this situation somehow in another way.

"Why, shouldn't I be able to talk? You are not only weak, but a bit stupid too..." Stroph's words seemed incredibly foolish to him.

"Then, what are you doing here and what are you going to do next?" Squeaking his teeth, Stroph said slowly.

"I don't know... I guess I slept too long... Tell me boy... where I am."

"Right now we are in the underground arsenal of the Phantom Association branch in Silver Wings City. In one of the cities of human empire." Stroph answered immediately, this situation seemed more and more strange.

"People... people... I don`t know such race. Who are you?" The words of the coat stirred up all the consciousness of Stroph.

<It doesn`t know who people are? What the fuck is going on here? What`s this crazy coat..> A lot of thoughts were spinning in Stroph`s head. What`s strange, but he completely forgot about the coat in front of him and so he was standing immersed in his thoughts for about ten minutes. It seemed that the coat didn`t worry about the fact that Stroph was silent for about ten minutes. It just kept silent and waiting for the words of the boy of some incomprehensible race.

"I don't know how to explain who people are, but it can be just said we are living beings who can think, talk, and create something." Leaving his thoughts, Stroph answered to the coat.

"What... about... killing...?" These three words sounded incredibly creepy. When he heard them, Stroph's heart shrunk. It was as if the death itself had grabbed him.

"I would say that people are the most ruthless and brutal killers."

"AAHAHAHAHAHA. Well... Well... then you are not a useless race." It wasn`t really clear why, but a terrible laugh came out of the coat.

"I don't understand ... that man is ten times stronger than you ... but why did he fall, and you're not just conscious, and you're standing right on your feet, and you can even talk to me ... You're a bit strange ...". While he was talking, one of the white belts was pointing at Anthony. Seeing it, Stroph made sure that this coat could not only talk, but also had his own consciousness and was perfectly oriented in space.

"So who are you?" Having sighed, Stroph asked.

"Boy, you seem to be a special creature in your so-called race "People". I feel something strange in your body... But to my surprise... it's not because of that you can stand in front of me... There is something unique in you... These three men behind you are ordinary bugs, but you..." Saying this, the coat was slightly swinging its belts, which made it feel like it was a living creature, not some object with a mind.

<Hell, he didn`t answer again who it is. Okay, is not so important now, I need to think about how continue our nice conversation.> Strof thought for a while, then said: "If I'm special, even though I haven't noticed it in myself, don't you want to make a deal with me?" Stroph tried to speak as confidently as he could in such a situation.

"I'm interested in you... But... what deal do you want to make... if it isn`t fair, nothing will get.." After these words, Stroph seemed to feel that the pressure had slightly decreased, it was a sign for him that he was moving in the right direction.

"As I understand it, you have slept for too long, and you don't even know where you are now and what the current world is like. You can come with me and see the whole world. And in return you will help me and share your knowledge. Well, I think you can go on a journey without me, but doesn't loneliness kill you? And don't you want to know why I am special? If you come with me, I think you'll know the answers to these questions for sure.

Stroph was speaking slowly and calmly, he tried to pick up every word so as not to provoke this strange coat.

"You are talking about traveling... Together with you... I think that is not a bad suggestion at all..." The pressure was gradually decreasing, and Stroph felt that even to run a hundred meters now would not be a problem, it seemed that the coat completely calmed down. And the darkness dispersed a little, but the dark barrier still remained in its place.

"Boy, what is your name? I still don't know it..." Its words were no longer as creepy as they used to be.

"My name is Stroph White." He answered his question quickly and confidently.

"Okay... You're quite small, but it's not a problem."

After these words, the cloak began to change, from three meters high to Stroph`s height. Then instantly turned around Stroph.

<Wow, it fits perfectly, as if was made under me> Stroph was surprised by this ability.

"And so Stroph White, my name is 'Snow White Darkness', nice to meet you, I hope our journey will be interesting".

Stroph nodded slightly and after a little breath said: "A wonderful name".