Standing in a quiet hall, Baruch rubbed his sweaty hands together. His eyes were on the wall, not focused on anything.

The large door behind him groaned open, and Baruch turned on his heel. He bit his cheek, hesitating. With a sinking feeling in his stomach and heavy legs, he approached the door.

This guy's really about to betray me.

In the second layer of that space, Hadrian and Alia sat on seats around a round table, observing the projection of Baruch's vision on the table like a shimmering portal to the real world.

For the last two days, when Hadrian got the opportunity to observe Baruch's mind, he'd only seen his resentment grow and Hadrian's silence only made it worse.

Hadrian had underestimated how far the box had teleported him.

Back in the real world, wherever he was, he had not been able to see the city walls even after two days.

From that distance, when he was in the real world, not only could he not control Baruch, but his perception through him was blurry and muddied.

This was solved by coming into this space.

Baruch entered the council chamber, scent of old wood and the oils that maintained it clung to the air, accompanied by flowery perfumes.

Around a large, caramel table, there were figures sitting.

Baruch, pretending not to see the seat meant for him, swallowed and stood there awkwardly.

At the high seat of the table, the young man smiled, showing pearl white teeth, "Go ahead," He said, gesturing for Baruch to take the seat.

With a nervous nod, Baruch took two steps and sat, his clothes shuffling a little too loud, he thought.

Even though it was a round table, Baruch's seat was isolated and he felt he was on the outsiders' end, facing the rest.

Actually, Hadrian didn't have to watch through the projection, but he preferred it like this.

Baruch's eyes met no one's.

"You had something to tell me?" The young man's soothing voice cut through the silence.

Baruch's eyes shot up to the high seat. To the left and right of the young man, identical girls stood. White hair, grey eyes, nothing like Baruch had ever seen before.

When he did look, Hadrian peered into the girls' essence seas.

Rank one mages….

He didn't dare peer into the essence sea of the young man with black leather robes and that stars sigil on the right of his chest, that now seemed to be everywhere.

His presence alone made Hadrian wary. There was a risk, he felt, that the man could sense even his peering.

In his own seat, Hadrian's eyes narrowed as Baruch mumbled, recounting everything involving him.

"If I am tied to anything, I want it known it was against my will." Baruch said.

When he could, Hadrian focused on their reactions. There were slight skeptical looks and hints of bewilderment, but for the most part, nothing Baruch said seemed to shock them.

"You'd confirmed he was no longer in him?" The young man asked the sorcerer lady.

"I did." The witch said, her hair bobbing as she nodded.

The young man's eyes narrowed on her, and with her pale face now having a flush of red, She looked away. His lips stretched to a smile.

"It can't be helped…. " his long fingers drummed the table, then he let out a performative sigh, and stood up.

Everyone else shuffled to stand, too.

"We'll be back on our way then."

The witch's brow furrowed.

"You're leaving?" She asked.

The young man shrugged. "I came as soon as I got word, didn't I?" he looked around the table, "There's nothing here, I almost thought you wanted to waste my time, see what you could get away with."

Everyone's gaze was on the caramel table.

The young man chuckled but it didn't do much to ease the tension.

"For now, it can wait. There's always more than one way to deal with things."

He raised his chin.

"You," he said, and Baruch's head rose, somehow knowing it was him being addressed.

"You're coming with us."

Circling the table, the identical girls followed.

For a moment, Baruch wasn't sure what to do, but hearing the chamber door groan open, he turned quickly on his heel and followed.

In the dull white space, Hadrian leaned back into his own seat, his eyes narrowed in thought.

He'd not warned Baruch against going.

One, he felt it would be pathetic of him to "beg" Baruch not to tell on him. And second, Baruch's knowledge was still limited.

Well, they might obtain something they can work with, but I'm willing to risk it to learn more.

Baruch, you wanted to sabotage me, but you're still working for me.

Baruch's perception projection grew faint until only the table was left. While Hadrian would love to sit in this space and watch until he learned something, his vessels were in Krager's wild, and he had to ensure their safety.

His makeshift council table and room dispersed into mist.

Ascending up to the first layer in an instant, he summoned the box.

You've regained your essence.

As it spun slowly in front of him, Hadrian thought.

But like me, in this first layer, you can't manifest your abilities.

Shortly after Hadrian had brought it into this space, he thought of the possibility of it attacking him in the second layer when he returned, so he immediately returned and put it in the first layer.

Observing the now regular looking metal box, Hadrian sighed.

Will I ever be able to make use of this thing?

Simulating the sinking feeling, he descended into the fog and left the dull white space.

Hadrian and Alia, now completely healed, sat on bare rock as the wind blew their hair about.

Hadrian pinched his nose, and closed his eyes for a moment. Even after two days, the lingering effects of the box were still affecting him.

There was a persistent headache and buzzing sound. Even walking straight was a problem. But, it had introduced him to sitting down and meditating.

Everything he'd gone through after his death was becoming too much for him. Especially the constant mutilation of his vessels.

Not in the condensed, polluted city anymore, he'd found a moment of respite.

His watery eyes fluttered open and he took in the sounds of the jungle.

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