The Ardor of Their Embrace [Part 2]

We entered the emporium and were greeted by a lengthy and somewhat creepy person that probably worked here. They had a mask that covered their eyes which emphasized their large unpleasant smile. They were also accompanied by a shorter person in a similar outfit as the tall person. The shorter one had the same masks but she had no smile, instead she had a dreadful half frown exposed. I think they were both women, however, when they spoke it was an odd mixture of masculine and feminine vocals.

“Welcome, Progeny of the Void.” The two workers said at the same time, perfectly sync.

“We shall give you a brief tour of our establishment, and show you to your sleeping quarters. Then you may browse our masters’ glorious collections. We hope that you’ll enjoy your stay.” The two said, still synchronized.

My brain started to flood with questions and ideas. I didn’t know where to begin. One thing that stood out to me was that they called us the same thing Vapula did at our first dinner. ‘Progeny of the Void’ is that related to Seven Primordial Pneuma of, whatever? I have a good feeling that it is. I suppose I can just ask Vapula when we return home…

Hah… Home… I’ve been here less than two weeks and I’m already calling this place home… I shouldn't be bothered by that. What I consider home isn’t the mansion. Home to me is the people I am surrounded by. Cute, isn’t it?

Anyhow, we had a quick tour and were shown two large grand hall rooms filled with copious amounts of random items. Clothes, weapons, statues, paintings, stones, books, décor, just endless stuff. We had zero idea of what to do, so we just wandered aimlessly for a little bit. None of us had felt like one of these items was trying to speak to us. So, we eventually just got a little bored and started to talk to each other about the odd mission. But then something caught my eye.

After some time of meandering around the endless things, I saw Nel standing at one of the corners of the tables with a picture frame in her hands. It may not seem like it but I think she is warming up to me. So, I thought I should build a little more on this.

“Hey. What do you think of that picture?” I asked as nicely as I could.

“... I don’t know… I like it though.” She replied quietly with an usual sluggish cadence. She had her hand gently touching the picture.

I leaned a little to get a better look at the picture. The moment I glanced at it, a light chill instantly ran down my spine. There was no picture, only the frame for a picture. How odd, almost scary. I thought. I wonder if I should investigate why she likes it, or, for some reason, I felt like hugging her. She seemed almost distraught about the picture frame.

“So, Nel. Do you think you are going to take this back?” I asked.

She slowly looked up to take a deep breath. As if she was released from some type of trance. She then quickly turned her head to me.

“That’s a dumb question.” She asserted with a harsh scowl.

“So does that mean you are?” I responded.

“Yea-yeah, of course I’m taking it with me!” She puffed.

“Well good. Maybe you can help me find mine.” I smiled.

“Wha-Wha-Why would I help you!” She stuttered with embarrassment.

“Well, because we’re friends.” My smile got bigger.

“Frien-! Wha-Wha-Wha-Whatever! Tha-That is definitely not true!” She got more flustered.

“Then how come your face is so red?”

“My! My face is not red!” She yelled.

“Hey, Nel?”

“What?!”

“Can you tell me about your body art some time?”

“WHA!!!” She squeaked loudly with great confusion.

I smiled at her waiting for an answer.

“You’re weird!” She screamed and stormed off with steam bursting from her head. “IDIOT!” She turned to face me one more time to yell that last insult in.

I waved at her as she ran off. I then giggled to myself with the sense of victory.

I sighed a little. My brain quickly went back into overanalyzing mode. She wanted to take that picture frame that had no picture in it. She was staring at it for a long time too. It looked like she was in a trance, or under a spell. I’m almost eager to find my own item to see if I’ll have the same reaction. I guess I better start looking.

In the grand room lit by large candle chandeliers, I wander around with the others for a few more hours. In this time, Írui found a raw uncut violet gemstone, Elros found a worn wooden carpenter's hammer, and Vahaemarr found a thin bronze statue about the size of his arm. Quen, Aeryvon, and I still haven’t found our item. I got the chance to ask Írui how she found hers. It was almost exactly the way Nel found hers. A vague daze, cut off from her surroundings.

We wandered around for a little longer while the others waited for us. I looked up and I think Quen found hers and Aeryvon was fixated on something. I started to get impatient with not knowing what to look for. There are literally thousands of random objects. I just have no clue what I should be looking for; what everyone found makes no sense, just random. Perhaps if I start touching some things, I might feel something.

“Tch.” I hissed in anger at the unrested.

For a second that felt like days. I thought I saw everything was burning in a colorful inferno. I blinked several times in confusion and rubbed my eyes. Once my eyes refocused, from that hallucination and my moment of quick frustration. I saw it. Hardly noticeable by the other extravagant objects surrounding it.

“That’s it…” I whispered with anticipation at the sight.

Unbearably simple: it's just an all dark green ring. My heart sank beyond the floor beneath me. I had the strange sensation of just wanting to touch it, only for a moment. I was so focused on the ring that I didn’t even realize that each of my fingers were writhing in desire for the ring. I quickly used one hand to wipe my eyes because I thought they were bleeding from how warm they were getting. I obviously had no idea what was happening to me but I knew that I at least needed to touch that ring.

This deep, torturous viridian. I hovered my hand over it, hesitant to even touch it. But the urge to be one with it was so strong, like floating in nothingness and the ring would just come to me. I realized that I wasn’t about to be intimidated by a little ring. I quickly grabbed it. With the ring covered by my tight grip around it. I quickly noticed how impossible it was to even think about what my body was doing: changing from the inside, like a metamorphosis, or I was just high from being stabbed by a syringe filled with morphine. Something that was unholy, yet astonishing. This heat within my body razed my blood. Expanding with each heavy breath. The corners of my lips started to twitch with an uncontrollable glee: I was starting to smile. I then quickly covered my mouth with my other hand, so the others wouldn't see. I don’t know if this is how the others felt, but whatever I was feeling, must have been different from theirs.

Hand with the ring started to tremble greatly, either from the anticipation of looking at it, or from the unnecessarily tight grip I had on it. I opened my hand with the ring comfortably in my palm. I held the ring to the less bright chandeliers with the need to examine it more efficiently. I started to enjoy the exhilarating sensation. I still could not explain what was happening. I then carefully and precisely donned the ring on my right index finger. It was a perfect fit. Burning my entire arm with ecstasy. While marveling at it on my finger, my face felt sinister from the unnatural smile I’m sure I had. In these moments, everything made sense. It felt like my purpose was clear.

Then suddenly, the sensation wore off. The burn from within me faded. And yet, like I was an addict, I still wanted to gaze at it. My senses came to me, I dismissed any idea of superstitious rings or simplistic objects. Recognizing that this may just be some type of magic trick. I took one deep breath and remembered that the task at hand was completed. I found my item, nothing more nothing less.

“Hey, Ryosuke. Did you find something?” Írui asked softly.

“Yup, I found a ring.” Feeling normal, I held my hand up to show them.

“Oh cool!” Írui reacted.

“Hi, everyone. I found my item too!” Quen came behind me to show us a quite worn down and old book.

“That looks… Interesting.” Írui commented, with a faint smile.

“Alright, I think we are finally done with this. Hey! Aeryvon! Did you find something?!” Elros shouted.

Aeryvon slowly looked in our direction and gave a slow nod of the head, then went back to look at his item. Which I think was a scarf or sheet, maybe.

“Awesome. We can go to bed, final-”

“Has everyone found an item?” Elros was interrupted by the two workers who asked us the question at the same time.

“AH!! What the!” Elros shouted in fright and jumped away a little.

“Not funny!” Elros growled at a giggling Írui and Nel.

“Yes, we have found the seven items.” Vahaemarr responded to the workers’ question.

“Allow me to catalog the seven items and you may retire for the evening.” Said the synced workers.