Time

The three were inexplicably brought over to this jungle-type of a ruin, where nature took over, but one could still see the influence of whoever happened to live there prior. There was a mixture of architecture, with random stones hewn all around, but mostly in a state of disrepair, along with a bridge that connected a rift in between these two places, separated by a stream. It had a certain vibe to it, like a drum that was ever-present in the background, harkening back from the times when states might have comprised continents, but people still lived underground. What the trio were looking for and where, exactly, they did not know, but they continued on inside, in any case, for if they had a chance to defeat whatever possessed the monarch it would have been here, although that still remained to be seen.

There were statues just in the middle of a bridge (besides some solid, vertical slabs of stone), but they did not seem to have inscriptions, nor was it possible to make it budge. Whether this was due to the ruined state of the place or not, they were not certain, but instead they went to a vertical stone, not too dissimilar from a couple also available in the lofty temple, and what was written, this time, was...

"This desolation, this abomination...
...this decay, greenery which attempts to portray...
...an abyss, but what could have gone amiss to reminisce?"

Now, Pax and likely the other two would agree that this might have been a bit much; ruined architecture, and then somehow on it itself there is some meta-commentary about its own ruination? Well, at any rate... there were also three choices the trio seemed able to make, some sort of code, that if correct presumably something would happen? The answer, 'archetypes', seem to fit in with the above (perhaps the rest will make sense later); the statues disappeared.

Another couple of statues, this time in the form of the warrior with a sword, also seemed to be connected to the stone altar adjacent to the one they just came from, which this time had...

"These prototypes, these stereotypes...
...this chimera, strife for knowledge ends in entropy...
...mere futility, deceit if not incomplete and obsolete?"

This time the answer seemed to be 'hopelessness', which certainly did not seem amiss with all this ruined architecture around, but what they were still not sure about is whether or not these were tests, and if so... who ever could have set them?

As they made their way from one ruin to another, from merely the periphery of their eyes... they could see something... or someone... but they were not quite sure, for based on what the scientists told them... and the fact that, mostly, no one lives in such ruins, or it would not be so ruined as much... they would have thought that there was no one, and yet at the very corner of the limits of their line of sight...

They continued on, anyway, onto some sort of cavern connected to these ruins, a cave which also seemed to be eaten up by greenery; it did not have many meandering paths, and what there was led them to only one path (the other, with a waterfall, seemed blocked by trees as of now)... a path which ended in a corner occupied by... another crystal, but it was smaller than the ones before, and it... made a strange sound as soon as they touched it, whereupon someone immediately seemed come in front of them, somehow...

A giant, it so seemed... about twice the size of the trio, but something seemed odd...

"Who might you be...?" He said, looking upon Pax and the others as if they were mere ants...

"We... are... we do not mean you any harm! We thought these were abandoned ruins!" At this point the supposed nominal peace was more representative of fright, but if the worst was to pass how impossible could it be to overcome this mammoth with three (smaller) people? They previously went up against crow-bats... and the possibility of aggressive large beetles, maniac clowns, and some odd, green-haired people who could seemingly integrate into and utilize a whole castle for their own use, or such... I am simply saying, if Pax did not care to worry about some stranger's food, why is he now worried merely due to size...? Well, I suppose food is much smaller... poison still a possibility, though, and goliaths are not necessarily aggressive, either...

"They are mostly, actually, but they are also our living tombs, unfortunately..." The gargantuan person said (who kind of looked like some office employee, actually...)

"What... why is that?" Pax asked, reasonably curious about this odd state of affairs...

"This was our temperate laboratory from centuries ago, the lone isle, furthest that a crow could fly... but we made a mistake, we were not perceptive enough to our surroundings, and recognized only too late the alterations..." By 'we' he means who, exactly? Perhaps he just has some imaginary friends? Or are they those who we glimpsed earlier? This is such a strange affair, would you not agree? Almost as strange... although could become stranger... than those 'twos' being underground in the castle, and turning out to be researchers who apparently had their ethereal technology stolen... these ones here, on the other hand, are gigantic and apparently free... but also from a laboratory?

"Wait... centuries ago? How could you still be alive?" Pax asked relevantly... but seriously, are they vampires? Because they do not seem like any stereotypical one... maybe golems? Ah, why am I even wildly speculating, let us just continue on...

"What leaked from our experiments... from the universe... is a certain essence that... both annihilated everything, including our mortal coils and any possibility at having the usual lives again, and..." That is quite the statement, one has got to admit... but how does one's mortal coil be annihilated... perhaps that means they are immortal? Does this not sound somewhat similar to the others who were also negligent with their experiments? Instead of going through the effects themselves, though, the results were stolen... and I suspect (if indeed whatever leaked from here is the same as the production of their probes) if they knew that they could have become immortal, and tall... that they would probably regret having it stolen. At least they have their optimism going for them, though...

"Was it... the ethereal archetypes that leaked?" Clemens suddenly said, specifically homing in on what the trio were probably all thinking, although one supposes that it was more of the ethereal energy that does the leaking, with archetypes likely following in its wake...

"I believe they may be called that now, but centuries ago we had no idea as to what they might have been. Not just nominally, but what they were capable of too... the first time we witnessed that was when our other half vanished into the ether... taken away by an incomprehensible abyss, never to know them again, swallowed whole by the netherworld..." That is... quite the explanation, and clearly he is more than just some huge person... technically, though, could an abyss ever be comprehended? Is it not just a bottomless hole? I suppose if one shone a light strong enough to go to the bottom, if it was not literally bottomless, then one can 'know', but otherwise it is just like any space where eyes cannot bounce light off from...

"Other... half...?" Pax asked, while contemplating the possible implications with a sort of meandering solemnity usually only reserved for a meditative pause...

"We are from a species called the 'twos', although we are mainly known as that only by those who meet us here in this dimension... not exactly a twin, but whenever our kind cross a certain spatial barrier we seem to be forever intertwined through synchronization... it is a bit strange, but it became second nature to us, up until that point..." Well, that should perk up Pax's interest, considering where they just came from... what kind of spatial barrier, though? Like a black hole, perhaps, whose event horizon transforms all? I mean, usually it just makes people into individual spaghetti, theoretically elongated to infinity... so, perhaps this is the opposite? Or not, strictly, as it was never explicitly said that short or tall were their original forms, so far, anyway. Could this be a new kind of physics? One where phenomena does not just destroy life?

"Twos...?! You must be related to a few scientists we were just talking with! We did indeed notice this strange phenomenon of synchronized walking... as they have not been separated, like it seems happened here so long ago..." Exactly, now the crucial question here is, I think, the one the whole of existence depends on... are they, literally, all scientists in their species?

"Well, the world is surely small... we might need to speak with them at some point, then... meanwhile, why would you not meet with the three others that inhabit this place, just before this cave, where you came from? They might like to know this also, and possibly provide you with some other information..." Oh, so those were not just shadows whispering in the dark...

"Ever since that accident aeons ago we were never the same, hollow and lifeless do we feel..." Well, one might feel like that if somehow one lives forever in some dilapidated cavern, one has got to admit...

There was a tiny water nearby, among all the green shrubby and the multi-pronged crystal, water that fell from the cave itself, as if it was sobbing, and saying...

"What could time, in all its vastness, mime...
...and this blue, in its elastic dewy wet, imbue...
...when eternity does not hold a candle to modernity...?"

One supposes, then, that it makes some contextual sense after talking with this giant 'two'... although there does not seem to be any candles in the vicinity... I assume, though, by modernity one can compare the ones at the island below this one, and contrast their 'ancestors', as such, stuck here because of what happened long ago, due to 'time'...

As soon as they went back down, suddenly, those who were formerly on the margins of the ruins came on the forefront, beginning with the upper left one, saying...

"We have not been visited by anyone in such a long time... why might you have come?" I suppose this being the furthest island, and a ruins, might have something to do with it...

"Uh, well, you see, we came after being told... by these 'two' scientists, who I think might be related to you, although they are quite much smaller, you see, for some reason..." It is almost like they have a problem with moderation...

"So, you must know we were once 'twos'... and, yes, as it happens, we were also much smaller once... but the netherworld has a way to upend physics, and reality itself... we figured it might be the reason why creatures were much larger historically too, but currently it seems only we are, trapped forever more in this ruined dystopia where we can no longer do that which imbued us with such passion, so long ago, scientific experiments..." Well, that then does imply that they are originally smaller than usual... and that the netherworld was originally in the... upper world? By definition does not make sense, but then why would creatures have been larger? Gravity, perhaps? The atmosphere? I suppose if one does change reality, generally...

"That is... indeed, quite interesting... I was about to say, though... we were told by them that... in some legend, anyway... there might be something that could possibly help us here, potentially a weapon enveloped in some ethereal coating or something..." Are you it is not a chocolate coating, Pax? Would certainly be more delicious... but one cannot possibly eat a weapon, regardless of its coating... ah, never mind all this diversion...

"You mean the very energy the archetypes use to traverse the universe... and sure, there is such a thing here, but there is more, too... talk with the two below to find out more..." Oh, and I just made light of the coating, when in reality it is possible to go through the cosmos with it...?

"We... or should that be 'I'... are ever so tired, being so large, so alone, so cast out of existence..." I suppose it would make more grammatical sense if one transitioned from those two, yes... but, most importantly, you can say 'one' now, finally! But being cast out of anything is not fun, no...

Then there was another large one, slightly to the lower side in comparison to the one we just talked with, but still left-side of these ruins...

"I heard that you came from conversing with others of our kind, which is interesting in itself, but they must be more like our past selves, with barely much in common now..." So, one must wonder, is time passing for them or are they mere shadows in a static world? Because if time does not flow, then how they past? But if it does, why can they seemingly not change much?

"How... did you 'hear' that? I had only just told the one in the cavern over there..." Good point, Pax, and here I was rambling about a minor point of contention...

"Well... in the time we spent here we mostly linger... but, also, developed a certain type of sensing, one where we seem able to feel through objects and the space in between... we think it may be the remnants of what the netherworld is capable of... and suspect that it is but one, basic ability possessed by the archetypes..." Is that, possibly, the definition of telepathy? Perhaps through a slightly different mechanism? Speaking of which, the first of these four... seemed to, almost, spontaneously appear near Pax... could they have the ability to teleport too?

"Curious... could we ever be so capable, were we to spend time within such an environment, then?" And why would you want that, Clemens? Why would anyone want to creepily know what is in another's mind? Selling the data that someone voluntarily released, perhaps, but if they got that data when it was safely tucked within brain cells... that would surely be a step too far...

"Possibly, but we are not sure, for double-blind studies have not quite been conducted, you see... we could have done those so long ago, but the state of this place, now..." By 'we' here I assume he has not momentarily forgot that he lost his other 'half' and is referring to them again after centuries, no... I assume it is merely a reference to the four here, and their collective experimenting in the past, perhaps... but who knows, I conceivably could be presuming too much, and memory loss kicked in, possibly? By the bye, if time does not flow as it normally does... I wonder how the brain might change, and if perception itself changes, or it is merely reality being reflected, as opposed to differing types of sensing...

"Not even sure if we prefer our former, more logical life, or this bizarre existence in between dimensions..." Is what he said thereafter... which, I suppose, is an interesting thing to think about and debate, possible... although not many debaters would have experienced existing in different dimensions, so they might decline the discussion due to a lack of experience...

The only one left, now was the one on the right section of the ruins, within... some bushes, as if trying to conceal the bulk within overgrown nature. It was ever so slightly reminiscent of the two strange 'people' in front of the crystals in one of the castle's floors, but one should assume this one here is more 'alive' than those two who were more likely to be holographic automatons, or such... alive, of course, being a relative term, as after centuries it seems to be as alive as one might be awake after a day or two of no sleep...

"We have noticed you as you entered... not sure if you noticed us, but perception is always interesting to observe, is it not? As in, how it was that my green hair faded into the background of the verdant foliage,.. but never mind about me, what brings you to our ruins?" He began by saying, apparently revealing all his cards from the get go, or at least the trick he had up his sleeve as we entered... not so much now that their guards have been lowered, and we can converse in comparative friendliness.

"Hm, interesting thing you said there, but we are wondering... what else could there be here? What have you done throughout these... centuries? Still hard to believe it has been so long, and you are still here..." That seems to be a two-in-one question, Pax, which, I suppose, is only reasonable in such circumstances, but still, you know many answerers seem to ignore, or forget, usually the first question, because their minds happen to be suddenly preoccupied by the next one in line... always seemed somewhat inefficient to ask one at a time, but it can be better than sending three messages by the end, otherwise... and why do you assume that it is hard to believe that anyone can exist for centuries? Do you realize some trees do so for millennia, even? Sure, they do not go saunter about so jauntily, but still...

"Indeed, it is also difficult for us to understand, but we have now merely resorted to observations of the world around us... after living within intense ethereal energy, do understand, the world just looks and seems different... it is as if one could be an object, instead of merely a subject, within an objective world... oh, and with regards to your little question there, an archetype has been situated here ever since, the source of all this energy, our own very black hole forever confining us to our past..." Well, he did at least answer both questions, clearly surpassing my expectations.... I wonder if intense energy feels, or tastes different... an object, not a subject? Like a tree, possibly? One assumes that trees still have a sort of consciousness, but they are apparently more of a static object, more of an object than many objects, in fact, which can be carried around... but, just to observe, sounds interestingly calm...

"Wait, did you say there is an archetype? As in, a living, breathing creature from the netherworld...? How does it even survive here?" Ah, I knew I must have missed commenting on something earlier, and it so happened to be the most crucial highlight of what this fellow said...

"Oh, it does not quite need to survive... in fact, if there were alternative intentions, this world would be of such need... but, we, along with the rest of this physicality, seem to still exist because the archetype appears to prefer to... perceive, instead of merely destroy, like it can do... not that that prevented it from annihilating our former laboratory and our other 'half', mind... but in the time since it seems it does not act purely on instinct, anymore..." Well, that is settled, then... what is this an archetype of, a scientist too? How many of them are there?! They must be replicating... but really, how can a being so powerful just restrain itself so...?

"Quite... interesting..." Is all Ventus had to say on all this, but one assumes she took it all in, digested it, and is currently processing it at the speed of a quantum computer...

"We went from objective testing to sensing, these last few centuries... from attempting to reason, to merely feeling, existing... such an odd existence..." Or, I suppose, one could do both at the same time, but perhaps different dimensions necessitate separate existences? That could be plausible, possibly... but the question here is, after so many centuries how would it feel? Would chocolate taste the same, or would over-exposure to it make even the most potent taste bland?

What the trio then decided to do, after talking to all of them, and learning about the archetype here... is to know to attempt contact... whether it was possible to create such an encounter with a creature of such definition was not quite known, but they thought it was one of their best possibility to defeat the monarch with his own archetype possession. So, they went inside the cave, further on than they had done when they first met the first of the giants... but not before something crashed.

A statue from above a ledge... they went to see what it was, when suddenly they were teleported to another part of this place... which seemed to have more doors in between the foliage. They continued following all the doors until they came to a treasure chest which contained the archetype's sceptre, apparently a weapon imbued with some of the capabilities that the one resident here might have had, and with it they were able to clear the debris from in front of the cave's entrance, and went up back to the first 'two', who told them to talk to a tree to the south...

"If you happen to be wondering how to get past the trees on the other side of this cave... let the arboreal entity down below whisper to you the solvent of one's curiosity..."

Which apparently could clear up some other greenery in front of the waterfall, but not before it said...

"Thine evergreen dendriforms thwart your inquisitiveness about the other side of the aqueous space? Why, I may indeed convince my friends to take a holiday, if one happens to want..."

After which what was presumed to be the archetype could be glimpsed...

"You... three...who might you be...?" This misshapen soul asked. They looked as if a shadow had taken form, and left only two red eyes and a mouth to interact at all with the world. It did appear threatening, but based on what one of the giants said prior, the trio decided that the threat might be only visual, and perhaps unwarranted... and so, they decided to continue on after this initial contact, for they might yet possibly get assistance...

"We are explorers... searching for... archetypes... you must be..." Pax replied, as hesitant as he could ever feel, for visuals are not quite easy to shake off... he intended to persist, though, for if the giants observed this archetype for so long, and they were truthfully so ancient themselves, now, then what they claimed could only be epistemologically correct, for if it was not they would have likely been annihilated themselves, by now... the only way all of this would not have been true is if they were in a conspiracy along with the archetype, but how likely was that considering they did indeed look like one half of the 'twos' and did also talk quite a bit about their prior scientific research? I suppose they could also be physical puppets, but at that point... all would be uncertain, so... the trio decided to continue on with the bet that they would not be crushed...

"Indeed... how did you figure that out? I am that of which you seek, but I have been here for so very long... I do not seek to annihilate, even though I can still recall my last accident... but not now, I derive serenity from mere observation..." Well, that was a safe bet, then... as safe as any reasonable deduction can produce... I wonder, though, how the archetype themselves could think it was an accident? They did not intend to come here? I can only imagine them falling from the sky, like some raving meteor, and being unable to not destroy everything they happen to land on, but other than that I would know not know how this all transpired, and the others will likely not ask this specific question, since there probably are a limited set of questions to ask...

"How... could that be possible? To go from destruction, to solely perceive...?" I thought Clemens would not go for that angle, specifically... but, still, this one question is interesting, from an abstract, sort of generic basis... 'solely perceive', though, makes it seem like they are a brain in a vat... or perhaps we could be that too, and all is mere simulations...

"I saw a tree. When I noticed it, I asked myself... what is the difference between it and me? Could trees spend a miserable eternity in one place? If they did why would they have not evolved to move away? Suddenly, then, I had assumed the tree's consciousness... I was the tree, and there I had reached a state never in my dreams had I ever even imagined... a certain oneness, a mere unit of absolute calm...." Well, that was kind of unexpected, was it not? A tree... faced an archetype, that is sort of like the very essence of creation in opposition to destruction, and instead of the usual expected outcome of life... one of the two being annihilated... one changed the other, and presumably both kept on existing. It is an interesting thought to ponder, though, whether there are any trees that are more miserable than others... trees are so static, and it is not like they can exercise to release neurochemicals that would possibly alter their moods... they cannot even create roots to absorb nutrients in places that are rich with them, merely having to find what they can, where they are... such a stasis. But, assuming another's consciousness... is this something only archetypes can do, I wonder? Is it, also, merely a matter of... possibly, mirroring neurons? Wait, do archetypes even have neurons? One would assume so, if they are indeed alive, but based on what the giants mentioned it seems like they might be existing in between dimensions, and the implications of that are not quite known... if so, the question becomes, was this truly just a mirror, or had they perhaps indeed become the tree?

"Hm, does that mean all archetypes have felt this, though?" Pax asked, among the many possible questions... this was not quite irrelevant, and although many others could have possibly been more interesting, this impacted their current investigation also...

"Far from it... we are creatures of bottomless despair... for that is all there is at the very fundament of all life, and existence... you all feel it occasionally, but our very habitat is that of which makes a cascade, an infinity of negativity. This is why, at the base, root, and crux of the archetypes is destruction... and it is the same reason, to different degrees, for many other creatures too..." Well, that was quite the downer, if I may say so... but, realistic, presumably? If, also, these archetypes are the creature representative of life at the very substructure of all lives, and there is also despair at the bottom... it kind of seeps up, in a trickle perhaps, to the whole tree of life? An infinity of negativity, though, does indeed seem... negative.

"Sounds... sad. How did you get so far away from that, then? Just that momentary calmness with a tree...?" Clemens opined... and while it does indeed seem strange for someone to be so totally changed due to a plant... I suppose anything can make sense in the world of ethereal creatures. At this point I would not be surprised if they can transform themselves into other beings too... they seem to be able to do quite a few things...

"Essentially... and the realization that perception and understanding of a variety of angles is what seems to be fulfilling. Creatures who solely destroy can never be happy, for it is a desire that only seeks a greater quantity... but sitting here, at the depths of a cavern in a ruined island at the furthest of the world... this is where the potential is for perfection. My visage might never alter, and so will only still communicate destruction... but being mostly alone, here, meditating, seems to me, at least, the way I should pursue..." Is it not curious how the archetype does not seem to mention that little bit of trivia, the fact that this is a ruined island due to their own 'accident'? But, I suppose, if they regret it... perfection, though? More so than what this fabled species can already attain? Quite an aspiration... such a contemplative existence, though, one has got to admit...

"That is... good, but... from our understanding there might be at least one other archetype out there, and I do not presume they met any tree, yet... based on what we experienced so far, too, it appears that it is rooting everyone in raw insanity, and possibly more as well..." The castle was insane, Pax? Yes, I suppose I would agree... to say the least. The fact we need to go back there to finish all this makes me shudder... but archetypes and trees, truly, perhaps we would solve all our problems if we just bought an arboretum, and hope that they all want to observe...

"I do actually know all about this... for this is what my observation leads me to perceive, too, even though I have never left here. The archetype you speak of is indeed hell-bent on annihilation, but... it will not be immediate, swift... it wants to crawl its way into this world's innards, to consume from within with fury, and mad intensity... I had known them, centuries prior, and they did not seem likely to want to change... but, then again, I did not either, until I had my visceral experience..." Well, that sounds a bit icky, I suppose, and maybe the idea with the arboretum would not work? Could we arrange a visceral experience, then? If not, we could settle for combat, or perhaps arm wrestling? Well, that is a strange idea, to arm wrestle an ethereal creature from the abyss... but hey, all will be well!

"What... can we do, then? I can help by utilizing the ethereal, but I reckon it would still not be enough... could you... help us?" Ventus asked, as if awoken by a faraway call that resounded upon the very life of the brain within her. Although, of course that could only be her, for the two others cannot utilize such a thing, why, Pax can barely utilize a sword...

"That would be difficult as I had never left here, and I would still like to merely observe for all eternity, but... alongside our many other capabilities, archetypes can also clone ourselves, essentially... my consciousness will still remain here, my central existence just to perceive... nevertheless, I could assist you by allocating a slight bit of my will to accompany you on your journey to possibly defeat this malevolent archetype. First, though, I need to see if you are capable of this arduous journey, I shall test you... if you feel ready?" For... what? Only a slight bit, too? Can we possible haggle about this? Ah, so many questions, but we need to be ready for... wait, is it combat with an archetype? But the trio will be annihilated, surely! Or, perhaps, now that this archetype has calmed down a bit... they would not be as devastating? To hope...

"Uh... maybe?" Is all they could muster, for of course, how could they not hesitate?
"Let us, thus, initiate this splendid ballad of fear, and uncertainty..." Well, that sounds inviting...

The battle began... well, one would hope it was more of a simulation, as otherwise the trio would be in real trouble based on prior definitions of what archetypes are capable of... and indeed it did not seem so amazingly impossible, and after a while, following a few trades of abilities here, and there... always interesting to see what an ethereal creature can do, especially before encountering one who will likely not hold back as much, this perceptual archetype said...

"You seem like you can handle even worse than myself... I have, actually, been restrained in my dealings with you, for I think I could annihilate reality itself if I concentrated all my perceptual observations throughout all the time I have been here, but I will not, of course... what I shall do, though, is copy myself to lend you a fraction of my abilities, in order to put a stop to all the malevolent possibilities of the archetype now taking residence near Ignis. Shall we go now, then?" Well, it is a good thing there was restraint, then... but also, if they can truly do all that, then even if it is only a fraction, it will possibly still be proportionally potent? Hopefully...

As an side, though, if they were to have not been prepared to withstand this archetype's test, they would have simply settled with... this little brazen bit...

"I am ever so sorry that you do not seem capable to withstand the harsh reality in the future... by all means, though, do try to ameliorate yourself like I do ever so often, and come back when you feel like you can tackle me, once more..." Is that... like... the first time passive aggression was implied? I had no idea archetypes could be cheeky... who knew?

If they were simply not ready, on the other hand, time's hands themselves were summoned...

"Do approach me again, then, when you feel like facing eternity head on..."
Nobody can accuse archetypes of not being grandiose, I suppose...

After squirrelling away in Ventus' abilities, the original archetype merely proclaimed...
"You have not happened to defeat the malevolent archetype, yet... I know for my proxy's senses tell me, verily..."

So, then, they went back... but first talked to the 'giants' once more, because why not...

"I notice that you finally got to meet the archetype that had existed here ever since our accident... we were around too, but had never quite had the courage to approach. We... merely observed... while they observed the world, which is how we presumed that there were no malevolent intentions still present, but one can never be sure, you see..." Is what the one in the same cavern, on the left, said... and, one would think, after centuries that they would have, surely, gotten some courage... but, I suppose, if one's laboratory was destroyed like that, then that must have instituted some kind of trauma that even observation cannot overcome...

"Yes, of course, but for now we really have no other option except to use any help we can... there does not seem to be any huge risks, though, after that little tale was recounted..." Yes, Pax, but there could not have been any tales, and perhaps the only tale there would have been would be one in the future, where the giants recall how you were eaten in one fell swoop... just like you ate that strange food in the castle, and yet still lived to (possibly) tell the tale...

"That was our impression too after observing for so long... certainly, it does seem like the one at Ignis seems far more ill-intentioned... we do hope you could manage to settle this, or the very world might be at stake..." We sure will try... but, really, we never quite read or heard anything specific about the Ignis archetype, have we? Merely, it was all about the monarch... could it be, perhaps, that the archetype absorbs the intentions of the 'wearer'? Or is it the other way round?

"We might persist for a few more centuries... but forever...?" Is all he kept saying then, potentially for centuries thereafter... the poor soul...

Outside, the one on top of the hedge on the left now seemed to say...

"You have an archetype's capabilities? We do think that is a major boost towards the likelihood of defeating the oppressor possessed by the malevolent ethereal creature... certainly, you could do quite a bit more..." Well, yes, that is exactly why they bothered with the test, not to mention the fact of coming here... I suppose, we could have come just to talk with you all, but then again we were not even aware you were here in the first place...

"Let us, indeed, hope so... for if it does not work, we are not quite sure as to what else can possibly happen, no... but, using one archetype to defeat another seems to be the most sensible option, here..." Of course, Pax, always fight fire with fire... except when it can only potentiate and worsen the situation, so be sure to learn the physics of flares beforehand...

"Indeed, it does... and based on the destruction wrought on our laboratory, as can be witnessed, this archetype has quite a few capabilities in storage, and that was centuries ago, too..." Why, does time not usually wear life out? Or does it work in reverse in this other dimension, perhaps?

There was also the one on the lower left, who earlier conversed about the archetype's abilities...
"That creature... be careful with it, for archetypes seem to be a double-edged sword, and even if well-intentioned... 'accidents' happen..." Yes, we can see your dimensions in front of us, it must have been quite the accident... but, then, immortality does not sound that bad...?

"We are aware of this place's history, but would hope that it was indeed an accident that did not occur due to intention..." Well, Pax, technically that is the definition of an accident, yes, although I suppose rehashing the point further emphasizes it...

"Try to use logic in any decisions you make, at the very least... then, perhaps, you would not make such a miscalculation as we have..." You were all in pursuit of science, too... what hope does Pax have, then, truly...?

"Do we... forever dance along with this creature to some sort of infernal, eternal rhythm...?" Maybe? Hey, thinking about silver linings, but it could also be the new samba or such...

Lastly, the one on the right side of these ruins, who before went on about perceptions, said...

"That archetype! The one we noticed for so long, at the depths of the caverns... could it really help, not hinder?" When it comes to depths does not usually refer to vertical spaces, not horizontal ones? I mean, if archetypes are from the depths of an abyss... can it be a vertical abyss, perhaps? Like a really long hall...?

"Well, so far it seems willing to assist us, but we shall see if anything deviates from the stated intentions..." Of course, Clemens, that is the logical way to approach this...

"If they had not destroyed us completely in the centuries we have co-existed here... then perhaps they are indeed not intending to destroy... unless, of course, they are merely disguising themselves for some ulterior motive, until the time is right or so..." Like he disguised himself among the bushes, perhaps? Well, I suppose, not much of an ulterior motive there, unless one includes chilling with greenery as a motive...

"Could seeing nature take over here have changed them? Seeing all the growth..." It might have changed them, just like it seemed to change you, former scientists...

It was, now, after a thorough exploration of these ruins and a cave, that the trio decided to head back to... the dreaded, insane, maniacal castle of damnable doom, full of crow-bats and one, solitary, but malevolent archetype who seemingly wants nothing more than to possess all!