Abyssal Awakening

That night, Alice found it difficult to sleep. She carefully crawled out of bed while Allura was still sleeping and made her way to the balcony. She glanced out at the sleeping city below and let out a slight sigh.

[Bothered by something?] Cayla asked, letting out a slight yawn.

She noticed a stir in the mental world and understood that Alice had woken up.

’Mnm, just a little.’ Alice leaned against the railings.

She was currently in her pyjamas. A simple white dress with frills that reached her ankles.

Her bare feet touched the cold marble floor, but it didn’t bother her.

Feeling the cold wind blow against her face, she simply closed her eyes and enjoyed this moment.

[Care to share your worries? Maybe I can help.] Cayla suggested as Alice nodded.

Flicking her wrist, she created a temporary vessel for Cayla to use.

Now that Cayla was completely unsealed, bringing out her full form wasn’t difficult.

Seeing a woman taller than her appear next to her, Alice let out a slight chuckle as Cayla sat on the railing with her back to the city.

"I missed it when you were smaller. You were cute like a doll, you know?" Alice smiled while Cayla simply rolled her eyes.

"Cute maybe. But moving around was a pain. Tiny legs." Cayla shrugged before crossing her legs.

"So then, what troubles you so?"

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice rested her chin on her palm.

"Doesn’t matter what I try, the structure of the inner world is eluding me. I know we tried to set it up as layers, but when I gave it a try, it didn’t go well. The layers just kept toppling over one another. There’s no structure for them to sit on." Alice grumbled.

She made sure to leave the mindscape untouched as she experimented elsewhere.

Cayla leaned back slightly.

Indeed, the main issue that came with having a layered world was the lack of a structure. They’re prone to compress and collapse.

It’s akin to making a wedding cake without any support pillars. Even with just three layers, the cake would start collapsing inward.

Therefore, they needed something to work as a supporting pillar.

"That is quite the issue to be losing sleep over. Hmm..." Folding her arms, Cayla wondered what they could do for a bit of inspiration perhaps.

"Maybe we can have the prison act as a central pillar instead?"

"I thought about it. But doing so would expose the prison to outside influences. Something else needs to serve as a structure." Alice shook her head.

The prison was the one thing she couldn’t allow to be exposed since it’s the ’container’ holding all of her ’keys’.

Without the prison, she’ll lose access to a lot of her Sigil powers and...

Maybe even the regeneration.

Losing that would be the biggest blow to her fighting style as her physical power was lacking, even with reinforcement with her energy.

"Shall we take a walk?" Cayla suggested, surprising Alice.

"A walk?"

"Yes. You see, before Velouria’s health deteriorated, she loved going on walks through the realms. She loved seeing what the people of each realm were doing, what was happening across the world and so on." Cayla smiled softly, recalling the past.

"Do you want to leave an anchor behind and take a walk like Velouria once did?"

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice nodded her head.

She got changed into something more... appropriate for the current situation. A simple white dress with a short skirt, reaching only around her thighs. A black cardigan with a floral design, a pair of tights and simple shoes.

She tied her hair into a high pony tail using a red ribbon.

Seeing this, Cayla couldn’t help but pause for a moment. Though they are two different people, their habits were beginning to overlap.

Like Alice, Velouria also chose something similar when she went out for a walk.

A simple attire to help her blend in.

"Shall we go?" Alice held her hands behind her back as Cayla nodded her head.

Leaving behind a marker for her to come back to, Alice hesitated for a moment before opening a portal to the Void.

Stepping through, the two glanced up and saw the conflict between the Void and Nightmare.

The spread was getting faster.

Shaking her head, Alice did a small hop as her body glided through the Void.

Landing on the next island, she wondered where she should go.

Pausing for a moment, a smile crept up onto her face.

"Shall we dive into the Abyss?" Alice asked, surprising Cayla as she hadn’t expected Alice to go to the Abyss immediately.

After coming to the surface, they hadn’t revisited in a while.

"Sure."

Spinning on her heel, Alice dived down headfirst as Cayla jumped after her.

Creating an exit portal, Abyssal miasma burst out from the opening, but Alice simply shrugged it off.

Such miasma couldn’t affect her anymore. Maybe when she was still at the start of the journey.

But now? When she could kill Lords and Apostles? It was simply akin to a gentle breeze.

Flipping her body, Alice landed atop a tall building.

It was an unfamiliar city, but seeing the lights filling the streets, Alice couldn’t help but smile.

Unlike the surface, there was no day and night cycle for the Abyss.

People usually had an operating time, but a few would have their own schedule.

It’s a lifestyle that’s suitable for both day walkers and night owls.

Making her way down with Cayla following behind her, the two attracted quite a few looks of curiosity as Alice didn’t bother hiding her right eye.

To others, it simply looked like an Abyssal Mutation.

On the other hand, Cayla’s beauty turned several heads.

Suffice to say, it was impossible for the two of them to walk around without being noticed.

The first place that Alice visited was the stables as she wanted to know where she was.

But as the stable master answered her question, Alice couldn’t help but pause.

Surprise filled her eyes as a smile hung on her lips.

Her next destination was found.

Cayla didn’t say anything but simply followed behind Alice.

Creating several portals, they quickly crossed the gap and arrived at a certain city near the Abyss Waters.

Bustling streets that refuse to stay silent no matter the time of day. The cobbled path that had water filling the gaps.

Large carcases of Abyss Beasts that were hung above the streets with large hooks. Countless workers peeled the Beasts layer by layer, salvaging all that was useful.

Docks filled with boats ready to sail into the distance, while others transported Cargo into the city.

Her first experience with the Abyss.

The start of her journey...

The Slaughter Docks.

She promised that she would only come back when she was ready to get revenge for Lilia. But...

Revenge came to her instead.

Unfortunately, they never made a grave for Lilia. Her body was probably discarded and disposed of, as with many deaths that occur inside this city.

’Sorry Lilia. That was irresponsible of me, right?’ Alice exhaled as she stepped through the city.

The layout of the city hadn’t changed. The colosseum was still there, as with the other stores.

Alice even found the room she woke up in after Allura saved her.

Beneath the colosseum would be where the sealed Lord was.

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice decided to be nosy. But first, there was a certain store she absolutely had to visit.

A small inconspicuous building located in an alleyway. A single main door and a window that showed luxurious clothing for Hunters and Nobles alike.

Flicking her fingers, Alice applied a disguise for both herself and Cayla.

To others, she would simply look like a noble lady with black hair and red eyes.

Walking through the main doorway, the sound of bells echoed out as a woman let out a slight yawn and poked her head out from behind the store.

Dark tanned skin, a pair of golden eyes and long black hair tied into a ponytail.

A small store with one side meant for male outfits while the other is for females.

Tables in the middle for the common citizen.

"Hello and welcome. It’s not often I get customers at this time of day. How may I help you today?" The woman smiled, doing a formal bow.

"Do you happen to do repairs? You see, I have an outfit on hand that is rather... worn down. It’s an important one for me, so I want it preserved." Alice asked with a small smile.

"Depends on how big the damage is. But unless it’s completely destroyed, I think I should be able to repair it without much issue. Can I have a look at the outfit you wish to have repaired?"

Holding back a chuckle, Alice reached into her pouch and pulled out a Hunter’s Outfit.

The very first one she ever got. For the cost of 15 platina, a certain woman had modified it to her exact measurements.

As the woman laid her eyes on the outfit, her pupils trembled for a moment. This was definitely her own work. The way the stitching was done, the disguised signature hidden in the seams...

"Where did you get this?" She asked, her fingers clutching at the edges of the outfit.

Narrowing her eyes at the guest, she considered the power difference between them.

If required...

"A certain woman paid for it without me spending a single penny. 15 platina for the modifications needed to make it my size." Alice smiled as the disguise rippled apart.

Seeing the girl in front of her, the woman’s eyes widened.

"How have you been, Sera?"