World Divider

★ The Long, Long Passage ★

There wasn't a single light in front, behind, or to either side. Even when I tried to create light with magic, the area immediately around it grew faintly bright for some strange reason, but it did not illuminate the surroundings.

If I spread my arms, I could touch the walls on either side, so there was no doubt I was proceeding down a single straight path.

But as I walked that passage for several minutes, then thirty minutes, then an hour, until I no longer knew how much time had passed, and I could no longer tell whether I was going up or down, curving or moving straight, I began to feel as though my body were floating in a vacuum of darkness.

At first, I called out to the companions who should have been nearby, but gradually, I began to feel as though I were the only person in the entire world.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

My breathing was ragged, sweat dripped from me, my legs felt heavy, and my strength was at its limit.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Only my breath and heartbeat were proof that I was still alive.

"Huff, huff, huff..."...