The cavern fell silent once more as the woman finally couldn’t force out anymore tears.

She remained curled up in a ball as her shoulders shook from time to time.

.....

.....

Tired of the time wasting away, I finally spoke up.

"Tears won’t bring them back. You’ve cried enough. It’s time you get back up." My voice wasn’t loud, yet in the stillness, it echoed off the walls.

She remained motionless.

Not answering.

"They were really important to you were they not?" I asked after a few moments not receiving any answer.

.....

.....

Just when I was about to call it quits and try my luck elsewhere..

"Yes... very important.." her voice was small.. if it weren’t for the quiet surrounding us, I wouldn’t have even caught it.

"Then if they were as important as you say, it’s all the more important that you stand up." She raised her head slowly at my seemingly harsh words.

Her eyes, puffed up from crying for so long, looked at me in search of some form of comfort.

There wasn’t any here. Just hard truths.

"If you remain in this pitiful state, then their sacrifice would’ve been in vain.

If all you’re worth is curling into a ball and shedding useless tears without end. Then it would’ve been better if you had just perished with them as well. At least that way you wouldn’t embarrass and insult their sacrifice."

Her eyes shook. Tears threatening to spill out once more.

"Don’t..." my cold words dried up the tears.

"If you have the strength to cry, then you have the strength to train. Train to become powerful enough that such a thing never happens again." I raised my hand.

"To become powerful enough that no one would dare harm your loved ones before you." I clenched my fist.

Crack! Shatter!!!

Space shattered around my clenched fist.

My focus remained on the phenomenon my raw physical strength was causing.

"Become powerful enough that your enemies only feel overwhelming despair when they face you."

I unclenched my fist as my attention finally returned to her stunned face.

"That is what is required. Not tears. Strength. Overwhelming and despair inducing strength. So, if you understand that and are no longer interested in disparaging the sacrifice of your loved ones..." I locked my eyes with hers.

Gold meeting blue.

"Stand. And never weep again. That is a fate to be left for only your enemies."

She remained quiet as our stare down held for a few moments.

I could see the resolve and determination finally shining through her teary gaze.

A few drops fell. Not from pain. No. From recognition.

A slow smile tugged at the edge of my lips as she slowly stood up. Patting away the dust that had clung to her body.

"Thank you, benefactor. I am forever in your debt." In an unexpected turn of events, she suddenly bowed.

I stood up slowly.

"Raise your head. It’s not so nice for a pretty lady to be bowing her head, I’d rather look at your face instead." I smiled. Trying to ease the tension in her posture.

It seemed to have worked as she rose, a calm smile on her face.

"Forgive my rudeness earlier. I hadn’t thanked you for saving my life before showing you such a disgraceful display." Her manner of speech suddenly did a complete one-eighty as she adopted a regal and formal tone.

Not that I minded either way.

"Never mind. I completely understand." I waved off her concern.

"My eternal gratitudes. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Lysera Varellis, third daughter of the Conqueror, Durmont Varellis, the ruling emperor of Aetheris Prime. Of the star sector B-0000345. Under the dominion of the Galactic Caldera Empire."

"Might I know where benefactor originates from? I can have my family prepare a fitting reward for your help and have them send it to your home planet once I meet up with my sister and explain all that happened here."

...

...

"Hello.. benefactor? Did I say something wrong?" She waved her hands in front of me after receiving no reply.

I blinked once.

Twice.

Turned around.

WHAM!!!

"Ahhhh!" She yelped in surprise as I slammed my head into the wall with just enough force to crack it but not destroy it.

I swiveled.

Eyes burning hot.

"You... repeat what you just said." I was having a hard time containing my excitement.

"Umm... which part. Benefactor?"

"Everything. Word by word. Don’t leave out a single detail."

"Umm.. I said, I am Lysera Varellis, third daughter of the Conqueror, Durmont Varellis, the ruling emperor of Aetheris Prime. Of the star sector B-0000345. Under the dominion of the Galactic Caldera Empire."

The words were still the same. I wasn’t hearing things.

"Ummm... benefactor, is something wro..."

"YESSSSSSS!!!!! YOU FUCKING BASTARD AUTHOR!!! NOW WE’RE TALKING!!!" I suddenly yelled in pure excitement..

I didn’t understand a single thing of what she’d just said. But I could deduce space jargon whenever I heard one.

"FINALLY!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA...." We were finally entering that stage huh... my first alien.

One would think it was obvious already from the blue skin and incapability to breathe within the abyss’s atmosphere.

But who knew just how freaky these abyss walkers could get? So now, hearing space jargon from her own mouth, I was sure...

"Finally...." We were now getting to the really interesting bits.

"Umm... benefactor. Do you perhaps need some time to sort yourself out?" The alien, Lysera, she called herself, suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?" I snapped out of my excited state as I looked at her.

She was giving me the look one would give an asylum patient.

"Uhhh..." I couldn’t help rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment. Seems I had gotten a bit too excited after meeting my first alien.

"Sorry about that. I’m perfectly fine. I just remembered something interesting is all.. hahaha.." I laughed it off.

She maintained her look for a few moments before finally nodding in approval.

"So. May I know benefactors name? From which planet and star sector you originate from? It will make things infinitely easier when the rewards are prepared." She asked once more...

"Oh.. that? I have no idea what you’re talking about." I shrugged.

"Huh? So benefactor is an abyss walker?" She slowly distanced herself..

"What? No! Ever seen an abyss Walker this good looking before?" I felt genuinely offended at that comparison.

"Huh. Must be why those guys get upset whenever we address them as abyss walkers." I chuckled at the thought.

"Then. If benefactor isn’t an abyss walker, how do you explain not knowing such a basic information?"

Basic.. she said.

"Well. I don’t know means I don’t know. It is what it is."

"So benefactor is dumb. My apologies."

"Why you little..." I held back my tongue. For the grace of her being my first alien, let’s give her a pardon.

"Unfortunately. If benefactor isn’t aware of his general location, it will be impossible to send the rewards over. What a dilemma." She paced around anxiously.

"Hey.. all this talk about a reward. Did I ever ask for one?"

"Aha!" Ignoring me completely she suddenly exclaimed.

"I know what I’ll do. I’ll just let big sis reward you on the spot when I regroup with her. She might be a little strict. But I’m sure she’ll understand when I explain everything."

Listening to the musings of the alien woman, my ears perked up.

"You... you know where we are?" I asked. Hopeful to finally leave this godforsaken place.

"Hmm.. of course. I procured a map of the location from Sand city. We can use the abyss stones to get back. Luckily I got quite a few."

"Ehh? Sand city? Abyss stones? What the fuck are those?" I couldn’t help asking.

"Umm... benefactor doesn’t know? Oh right..." she seemed to have gained a sudden enlightenment..

"Benefactor is dumb. It’s alright if you don’t know. I can explain."

A vein twitched on my forehead, but I held back, waiting for an explanation.

"Sand city is one of the cities at the outer fringes of the abyss. It’s a city under the dominion of IBNIS AL’KABIN. The Undying Capital. That’s where I was lucky enough to appear during my transfer. My big sister was the one to give me the map and abyss stones."

"As for what abyss stones are. They’re the only things capable of moving through the chaotic space of the abyss, thus allowing for teleportation. Unless of course one is proficient enough in the Law of space to navigate the treacherous and confusing domain of the abyss.."

She completed her explanation swiftly. A few thing immediately stood out.

The transfers were indeed random.

There were established cities here. That one I could already deduce from my recent encounter.

And finally... "I thought teleportation wasn’t allowed in the abyss." I asked.

I didn’t count my use of space to perform the same action as the chaotic environment wasn’t a bother to me. But according to the old man, it should be a bother to the majority.

"Yes. Naturally. One wouldn’t be able to break the spatial barrier unless they have a deep enough understanding of the supreme law of space. But the abyss stones bypass that rule. Allowing for such a thing to be possible."

"I see. So, we can finally leave here is what I’m hearing."

"Yes, benefactor. You just need to tell me when you’re ready." She pulled out a weirdly shaped grey stone as she said those words.

"What are we waiting? Activate that thing and get me the fuck out of here." Like I would waste anymore time in this deserted wasteland when there was a whole abyss waiting to be explored.

I came to stand beside her. Noticing the significant disparity in our heights.

"Alright then benefactor. Please. Hold onto me." Listening to her words. I unconsciously wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"Is this good?" I asked. Too excited to bother with her reaction.

"Ye... yes... I’m activating the stone now.." she stuttered, before...

CRACK!

An audible crack bounced off the walls as space churned and twisted violently before...

Wap!!

Our figures disappeared from the spot..

....

***********

A/N: Alright. Time for our first city... hahaha..

I know we haven’t gone too deep yet, but what you guys think bout the abyss so far. There’s still a lot more to come though..

Like I said, might be a fairly long mini arc.. but anyways..

************

Thanks for reading...