Chapter 385: Ember’s Real Name
Jonas wasn't sure when the stone exit to this space lit up, but at some point, he noticed the light coming from it. He wasn't sure if that's what it was supposed to look like when it was active, but he didn't see a reason to just ignore it.
It felt like it had been three days since he'd entered this place, but he was doing his best to remind himself that the amount of time for him might be different than it was in the real world.
"I think the exit's open," Jonas told Etaina, interrupting whatever topic she was currently going on. "So, you have a choice to make."
"Huh? A choice?" she asked, as if she didn't understand his statement.
"Yeah. I'll be leaving and you have to decide if you want to leave too," Jonas answered. "You can stay in here and enjoy this place for however long it'll take before Elysia comes to get you, or you can come out with me and see if you can find Elysia yourself."
Jonas felt a little bad at using Etaina's sister in that manner, but he wasn't that broken up about it. Part of it was to confirm some suppositions he'd made talking to Etaina, since she wouldn't answer him if he asked about some subjects directly, while indirect questions and statements seemed to get some information, it was a little difficult to connect some of it for certain.
Such as what a firebird was. As well as if Elysia was one too or something else.
There were a number of different things that he wanted to learn, but apparently Etaina's mother and father had done a very good job of coaching her on what she shouldn't say to people who weren't familiar to her. Or people who didn't already know that information.
Which made Jonas wonder if that's how Etaina got trapped in the first place. That Douglas knew so much about firebirds in the first place that he was able to talk to Etaina without having to ask any sensitive questions, which in turn helped the trust she had in him grow until he took advantage of that.
While that was another supposition, Jonas didn't care to inquire about it. As if it was true, he had a feeling that Etaina might feel rather embarrassed about it and Jonas didn't want to do anything to risk her deciding to leave or anything.
In regards to leaving this place, Jonas wanted Etaina to make the decision. If she chose to leave, then he'd be able to learn more from her, but if she chose to stay, then he'd at least know that he'd fostered just a little bit of trust there by allowing her to make the choice and respecting that decision. Otherwise it'd be essentially him kidnapping someone who was already kidnapped. It certainly wouldn't help her trust him, nor would it help him actually learn anything like he had from her so far.