That being, who resembled an angel, looked directly at the cloaked figure, seemingly looking directly into its eyes through the mask. Thus, after a few seconds of silence, the immaculate being took one corner of its dress with its left hand and another corner with its right hand, then made a cordial bow. "What is this monster doing? What the hell is this?" was what the cloaked figure thought.
With the bow completed, the immaculate being extended its right hand forward, palm open and pointing upwards. This seemed like an invitation, but for what? A quick death? The answer came immediately. A strong white light began to shine in its palm; the light was intense, the cloaked being felt its skin burn even with that protection.
The light then abruptly dissipated, and in the hands of that angelic being, a golden scythe with a white, shining blade, similar to the light seen before, was visible. The cloaked being tried to understand what was happening, but everything was too impossible, everything was incomprehensible.
And then, extending the scythe upwards and striking its hilt against the cavern floor, the scenery changed immediately. The cloaked being quickly realized that they were no longer in the cavernous environment of before.
Across the ground, soft, verdant grass stretched to the distant horizon. A sky painted with the most beautiful blue was present in that landscape, and white clouds like the immaculate being's dress enhanced the beauty of that sky. A ball of fire illuminated and warmed the cloaked figure's skin, yet not in the way it was accustomed to. The heat was serene, comfortable, and perfectly balanced with the fine breeze that stirred the lawn. On the horizon, grandiose mountains with snow on their peaks showed their imposing beauty. Everything there was beautiful, magnificent, something never seen in Haile, something that will never be seen in Haile.
The cloaked figure didn't know where to look; everything was beautiful and impossible, calm and peaceful. It could have collapsed from not understanding what was happening, from not being able to distinguish what place that was, but its mind opted for another alternative. Was a landscape like that real? Could that exist in the same world as Haile? The cloaked figure didn't see itself on the verge of collapse; it saw itself feeling something that had long been forgotten, covered by the orange sands of the Haile desert. It felt hope, hope of finding a place like that even in hell. There was no understanding in its head of what had happened, what was happening, or what would happen. In its head there was only the formation of a dream: to find a place like that, to find that peace, that feeling the landscape brought.
— It's beautiful, don't you think?
A melodic, sweet, and serene voice was heard, and then the cloaked figure remembered that it was not alone in that paradise; there was a being who had also come with it from hell.
— I didn't expect you to be able to speak, monster. Why did you bring me to this place? What do you want from me? I suppose I'll soon be just another one on that pile of flesh and bones. But... after seeing all this, dying here wouldn't be bad; it would even be a demonstration of mercy from fate. To bring me here, ignite a flame that had never been lit before, and make me die while it burns.
— All of them told me the same. All of them dreamed the same and died for the same. "Life in the desert is so unbearable that they would trade everything for a distant illusion." So I thought. After a long time, I understood that it's not about the illusion, but about the feeling it awakens. It's indescribable, entirely new. The mortals who came here, experienced happiness for the first time here, and so, they decided to die with the fresh memory of being free from the sands.
— So that's how it works... I never knew of a creature capable of enchanting a living being in such a way. For a moment I was afraid I would end up dead here, but when it comes to enchantment magic, that fear vanished...
— You will never understand what this is about. I see you have a strong intention to engage in combat, and if that is how you wish to die, then so be it. It was an honor, mortal.
There were no plausible reasons to justify an angelic being remaining in that cavern, and furthermore, taking so many lives using the argument that they accepted dying with that vision. It made no sense. The cloaked figure, lost in such thoughts, had no time to react to dodge that blow. The scythe's blade made a perfect horizontal cut at eye level, yet this cut was not meant to kill.
— Why do you hide your face? I am not permitted to end a being's life without remembering its face.
The mask fell apart into two pieces that soon rested on the soft grass. There, the appearance of the cloaked being was revealed. On the bridge of its nose was a clean cut that had bled recently. Its eyes were blue like the sky of that place, but unlike the sky, they did not shine; they were opaque. Below its left and right eyes were two tattooed dots. Its face was marked by youthful features, and there was a weariness that seemed to go beyond the physical. Its short hair was strange; it appeared to be entirely black, but its roots seemed to have a silvery hue, this was the part that the hood did not cover. The young man was breathing heavily and his eyes were wide, the scythe was close to his eyes, making it clear that it was not over yet. The blade's glow was almost tangible; the emanating heat burned the young man's eyes and skin.
— Your interior yearns for the end, yet I still see resistance in your being. How can two parts of the same being yearn for such distinct ends? One part of you desires the definitive end; the other, life. Which one is the facet of your true self? You know, upon touching the divine fragment, or the jewel as you thought, it brought forth your greatest desire. You yearned for death when you touched it, but before me, I do not see the same being who desired an end. You are a fragmented person, one part full of obsession and another full of desires. Which one are you?
— I didn't touch anything! I just saw it shining and suddenly all this happened.
— You yearn for death and life at the same time, and, unfortunately, I cannot grant you this. Everyone who came to me had their will fulfilled with their price paid. The divine fragment gives, but takes in equivalent measure. If your desires were simple, it could be done, but I see that your life goes beyond the ordinary... go, seek to know yourself, and once you are ready, I will be here to give you what is due. You touched the jewel and are now linked to it until your desire is fulfilled.
Looking at the figure, no longer with an expression of surprise, he spoke:
— I know who I am... my name is Flior, the most recently graduated from Covak, the newest reaper. My goal in life is to cleanse the desert of beasts, monsters, and things like you. I am a creature hunter and always will be, nothing more, nothing less.