I made it to the Boundary after following the roads. It took me a good 15 minutes to reach this place.

The Boundary is a giant dome encompassing the central point of the astral plane’s initial erection. That’s most probably where The Seraph is.

Watery ripples spread across the surface. Beyond was a faint dull world of flickering colours.

This is the first time I’ve seen this. To think that I’m going to leave through the Boundary.

Excited? No.

I feel disgusted at myself. Disgusted at the choice I made.

But it’s for the best.

For it would only cause more problems if I tried to fight against all those angels.

I touched the Boundary, it’s solid yet liquid, like goo without being sticky. A great ripple spread across the surface.

Applying more force, my hands began to sink into it. And at a point, the Boundary began sucking me in.

My body fell into space. A kaleidoscope of colours spun around me, the feeling of standing on flat ground returned and I felt an intense pang of nausea.

“Avner?! Are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine.”

My breathing was a mess, I had to lean over and support myself.

“Big bro..”

“We better go quick, come on Avner,” my father supported me.

“Thank you.”

{WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

I really need to get out of here.

===

I did in the end use the bathroom to clear my stomach.

My parents had gone home with Lia by the time I came out. I took a shower alongside my business so it took a while, as expected.

Wiping my still wet hair with the stale white towel, I watched as grandma and grandoa tear off bricks from a tower made from blocks.

Jenga.

“Yes?” Grandma asked.

“Nothing. I’m just surprised that people still play this.”

“Ah, it’s an old people's game. Youngsters these days play with floating ones and such.”

I found it weird how they considered Jenga a game for the elderly. I suppose these sorts of dissonances will continue to exist as long as Shin’s memories remain.

“Should I turn off the heater?”

“No dear, just leave it on. We’ll be there shortly.”

“Okay.”

I went to my new room.

Plain and empty. The walls were a nice cream colour, black shelf extensions on the wall where I can put my stuff.

Most of my items were still kept inside those unopened boxes. All stacked in the corner over there. A mattress had been prepared alongside a pillow.

There’s still a need to buy another set for Lia when xe arrives tomorrow.

I should begin unpacking.

[“How are you doing over there? Call if anything alright?”]

[“I’m fine mom. I’m unpacking things now. Thank you.”]

[Avner, key permission is required to connect to the central command of this apartment unit.]

As soon as Randell finished saying so, a display popped up which required me to input the password.

Then a thought. Has the internet become a free amenity of this world?

No, rather, I think it came included in the OptAR package.

Doesn’t that mean I won’t be able to use Wi-Fi with the laptop then? I’ll have to test that out. Maybe I need to do tethering.

“Randell, I’ll ask my grandparents for the password later. Just be patient for now.”

[Understood.]

Randell went into hiding.

I unpacked my clothes and arranged them in the closet. I need hangers.

Then all the miscellaneous stuff like the male cosmetics, dry snacks, blanket, chargers, etcetera were arranged into their respective spots.

I left a lot inside the box and hid it inside the closet.

I connected the laptops and the tablet to the power socket which had this odd one pin configuration. I switched it on and waited for it to charge.

The lithium batteries inside must have died after not being in use for who knows how long. I might need to keep them hooked on power every time I need to use them.

Actually, can’t I just hook the drawing tablet to my glasses? This does come with bluetooth connection, doesn’t it?

I did some research for the model while I waited for it to charge to a point where it could be powered on. After which I updated the tablet and installed the necessary driver into my glasses.

I had to trouble myself by going to the storage to find the small cable which connects the OptAR to the tablet– which I eventually did with Randell’s help.

I booted up the drawing tablet along with the free shabby drawing software and presto.

A success. All the files were also accessible.

I tested it out with the stylus. The haptic feel of it just makes it so comfortable. I went into the settings to make adjustments to the pressure curve.

Good. Wonderful. Amazing.

I made a fist pump in the air.

I can’t believe I actually found a drawing tablet here.

Now that I know I don’t need a laptop, I trashed it back into the storage and came back to my room with a happy gait.

I opened up my most recent piece and wow, there are a lot of colour corrections I need to do with these.

Time to get drawing!

===

I drew until 1 am in the morning.

My grandma checked on me somewhere around 8 pm, to which I said that I would sleep soon.

I inevitably didn’t.

I finished 2 new pieces in just this short one night. Of course, there’s still some polishing and adjustments that I won’t know it needs until I come back with a fresh pair of eyes. Nevertheless, I haven’t felt this satisfied for a long time now.

I’m completely beat.

“Randell, set my alarm to 8 am in the morning.”

[For today only?]

“Yes. Thank you.”

[Sunday alarm set to 8 am.]

At 2 am in the morning, I turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Or tried to.

Everytime I close my eyes, the memories come flooding back in episodic flashes.

The various deviations of which could’ve happened to me.

If not for my unusual willpower.

If not for the demon who tried to intercept The Seraph.

If not for the fact that I was an angel’s ally.

If not for the fact that I made the decisions to escape.

Everything could’ve ended there.

Its divine glow. The innumerous eyes staring back at me.

Everywhere, from all directions. Staring.

Staring. I could feel them, eyeing every inch of my being.

The sound of the silver bell.

Ding.

I opened my eyes, my body trembled.

I got up and hugged my knees, my breath all shaky.

“What in the world..”

I didn’t stay up late because I was excited about my new drawing setup.

It was merely an excuse to mask the real reason.

Fear.

I was trying to fool myself.

I looked at my trembling hand.

Fatigue from overexertion? Or an unyielding sense of fear?

Ding.

I covered my ears.

Such a terrifyingly beautiful sound.

“I-I don’t understand..”

Had I ever been this weak?

There’s this gnawing feeling in my heart. Somewhere that’s telling me that this wasn’t supposed to be.

I’m better than this.

The Seraph wasn’t the worst thing I’ve encountered.

Because Avner had successfully killed Seraph’s in his past life?

Do demons also have their own versions of The Seraph?

Ding.

Stop hearing. Stop thinking.

Was it alright to leave the demons like that?

Did they die?

What happened to the angels?

Will The Seraph continue to haunt the shopping complex?

Doesn’t that mean I’ll have to face it again tomorrow?

Trembling with cold sweat.

Tears began to trickle down.

Ridiculous.

You’re so weak.

Absurd.

I never thought something like this existed in .

Of all the major characters involved in the story, I now see why Novelle said she wanted more time to flesh out his story.

Comparing him to all the other 3 characters. There’s no doubt that Avner’s backstory is the craziest.

===

dotturndot: bloody h*ll. Scary stuff. Now you know what that pyramid (that looks like Bill Cipher) in the cover art is all about. You’ve seen right? The art? It’s on my website.