The Black Pit of Death - Ⅱ

"Long Live… King."

Michael snorted and then turned around. Michael's reaction did incite a horrible look on Hagrid's face. 

Arthur lowered his head in his direction and then he turned around as well. 

Exiting the pub, they immediately left for the main entrance. 

"This isn't Earth." Arthur hissed. 

"Whatever. Hearing that phrase always makes me laugh." He replied without looking back. "Everyone deserves freedom. Fuck's wrong with people saying stuff like Long Live blah blah. And they say with their chest too." Michael mocked. 

"How ironic of you to talk about freedom being something that everyone deserves."

Michael let out another snort. "Want me to laugh?"

"If you like insults being thrown at you, then be my guest. Laugh all you want." Arthur replied with a roll of his eyes. "Everyone has preferences. I won't judge."

"Hah! You think you're being slick, aren't ya!"

"Perhaps." Arthur replied and his head suddenly jerked back as he felt a massive ripple in the sky. But it wasn't just in the sky. 

Far away, from beyond the dome that separated the two dimensions, a force shook the naturally occurring fields not only on Earth, but its force was felt over in Eden as well and the translucent dome shuddered like the loose window of a car. 

"What's up?" Michael asked, turning his head around. 

He rarely saw Arthur react so much. 

"I felt my fath—" He paused midway. "—it's nothing. I just zoned out."

"It's only been a few hours since you've left your lover girl and you've already committed a murder and are now zoning out. Don't tell me "you" of all the people in the world need a compass to function or you'll crumble."

Arthur scoffed through his nose. "I have yet to comprehend the reason why you and Maria- or even the others think we are together." He paused, as if finding the right words. "Your besottedness when it comes to matters related to me is even more baffling. It's unhealthy, you know-" He gave Michael a sidelong glance as he tried to look towards the weirdly shaped sun. 

"You're just ignorant." Michael replied. However, his voice lacked the usual scorn and pompousness. "You might understand stuff better than me, but you are ignorant when it comes to yourself." He kept walking, not sparing a glance back at Arthur. "You're being so defensive. Like chill for a sec there lil' bro. It's not that deep. You can just say you are not dating and end it there."

"Clearing the doubt and leaving no room for the argument to sprout out again is the best course of action. If I do not do it, I am sure you will bring it up numerous times again. And truth be told-" He cranked his neck. "-it's starting to get on my nerves as well."

Michael smirked, breaking the scowl that was ever present while talking to Arthur due to the perpetual conflict of interest. "Hmph. All the more reason for me to say it again and again."

Arthur let out a tired sigh. "You know there are no rules applicable in Eden, right? I can just say a Troll ate you as a casual dinner."

Michael let out a defiant laugh, his voice turning into a distant echo by the time he spoke. "I'd like to see the day when you can actually do something instead of yapping 24/7." And then in a mocking way, he flicked the few strands away from his face. "Oh apologies. I meant, 'chattering' 24/7. Jabbering. Palavering. Nattering!"

"I know what yapping means, Michael. Don't push it."

"A day to be remembered." He scoffed once again. "A day where Arthur Olvasen isn't a killjoy and the creator of awkward moments."

Arthur sighed once again. I want to go back to Hammerfest!!!!!! He cried internally. 

"Your parents must love you for the foul mouth you have."

"And your parents must really love you for no particular reason." 

Arthur looked down at his feet, his mood taking a complete turn. His voice turned heavy as I replied. "I suppose so." As he absently stirred the dirt with his shoe, his posture seemed to wilt further. "In their own twisted ways."

Michael looked over his shoulder, stealing a glance at him before biting back the sardonic remark. "Hmm." He merely hummed to himself and his features softened, any hints of mockery and hate evaporating into this air. 

After a few minutes of silently walking and letting the sun's heat boil up their skins, the roar of a creature brought them out of their silent, mindless stupor. 

Looking up, both of them saw a creature that looked like a chimaera between an Ostrich and a Lizard. It had the signature legs of the Ostrich in a pale brown colour. Its body stretched long and lean, covered in scales instead of feathers and lacked the vibrant sheen associated with scales in novels and movies, appearing dull and lifeless instead. 

Atop its long neck sat a lizard-like head, complete with sharp slit-eyes and a mouth lined with pointed teeth. Two arms protruded from its body, resembling those of a kangaroo. Overall, it felt more like a chimaera than an actual animal. 

"What on bloody Earth did they do to make this retarded looking…I dunno, shit? It's a big chunk of shit, is what it is. I can't even describe it!" Michael commented in bewilderment at the creature- or rather, animal of this world. 

"No one asked you to describe it, Young Lord." Arthur remarked sarcastically, the shadow of the pensive cloud that loomed over him a while ago already drifting away. 

As he said that, Arthur raised his arm upward. The two men—one sitting on the chimaera and the other resting his weight against the giant metal door that was bleached off its colour—looked in their direction, instantly, identifying the medallion. 

The sun shaped medallion with the sun's rays spreading in every direction. 

The man sitting on the chimaera looked from underneath his brown hood at the two boys and got off his mount. He was almost the same height as both Arthur and Michael. Wearing a tight, brown leather armour, the man had a pale skin that rivalled even Arthur's. While he was wearing a hood over his head, much of his features were obscured but even the veil of clothing couldn't completely mask the scarlet red eyes and the straight horns that extended out from the hood without tangling with the cloth. 

Unlike Michael's which had grooves all around it, the man's horn was much smaller and much smoother. 

He looked at the two with a lazy glance and then shook his head towards the other man. 

The other man was not wearing the hood. 

He was a rather short man and had a chubby face with slanted crimson eyes and a mix of dirty brown and black hair styled as rough bangs all over his forehead that stopped right over his brows. And right where his hair stopped, two small stubs protruded outwards, barely 2 inches in length.

"No way this son of a gun has a bowl cut." Michael snickered, trying to maintain the "Young Lord" persona. 

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all." Michael replied and then turned back with a sneer. "Unless you love getting bullied and thrashed around, that is."

"Sounds like someone you'd love to pick on." Arthur retorted as the man timidly opened the giant door with a single push of his short arms. 

"Geeks like these should be bullied." He snorted. The frown on his features eased out as the man bowed to him. "Or not. Whatever. It's fucking ugly." 

Saying that out loud, the two men suddenly jumped and stood to the side. Whether it was due to the fact that they got scared, or heard a language they never heard before, the reason behind their sudden fright was bound to stay hidden. 

As the two boys took their first step inside, a chilling wave washed over them. 

The two of them looked up, just a little, and then turned in a full circle before coming face to face with each other. 

"You can't be serious."

"Fuck me....and fuck these peasants."

The two of them exclaimed.