DoorBound

Atlas looked through each bag and took out the items. In total, they had about a week's worth of food and a surprising amount of water, along with supplies meant for cooking and even a small set of knives.

After taking inventory of everything, Atlas finally had a real breather to look around more. Iris was sitting on the edge of the slab, sharpening her sword against some type of stone.

In the distance, chaos was breaking out. Groups were attacking other groups, each one having a bloody battle. Most of them ended in a total loss for both sides, with some rarely coming out with a winner.

This was all due to Atlas and Iris showing everyone the technique in such an open way. Well, if you really think about it, it was more due to Near, but they added more fuel to the fire.

The surprising part about all of this was the fact that they themselves weren't targeted yet. Instead, it was as if their action of taking the first move scared away potential threats. But Atlas knew that this would not last for long.

If this situation didn't change, then eventually people would start to starve, and each group would be fighting tooth and nail for a simple amount of food and even water. Eventually, the strongest would end up on top, and Atlas knew that their group of two was not the strongest.

Atlas kept thinking about ways to survive longer, but each one left him with a bad taste in his mouth. While thinking, he gave Iris another long look.

Her blonde hair flowed to her side, giving off a look of natural beauty. She had hazel eyes and soft-looking lips. In the outside world, she would have definitely been called attractive. To Atlas, this was only a distraction.

Right now, he had to focus on the situation at hand and use this woman to her utmost potential. She was smart and tactical, so he decided to bounce ideas off her in hopes of coming up with a plan. Atlas loved the saying "Two heads are better than one".

Before he went into the Trial and even before he became a librarian he would often be alone without someone to talk to. He knew that if he found someone who matched his thought process his own potential would greatly increase.

Getting up, he went and stood behind her.

"You know this peace we have is only going to last a brief moment."

Iris closed her eyes and tilted her head back, as if waiting for rain to fall from the sky.

"Yes, I agree. It looks like we might die at this rate." She opened her eyes, looking right into Atlas's. "Do you have any ideas, Mr. Edmund?"

Atlas finally looked out into the distance and said what was on his mind.

"After thinking about it, there's only one real option here: try and push ourselves to the wall and find a way out."

Iris's ears pricked up at that statement.

"Interesting… to the walls… I kept thinking about how we were going to have to learn to dive into the ocean. That idea of yours has some merit, but it also runs us into more problems."

She leaned forward and let her head fall into her hands, each one covering her eyes with her palms.

"Firstly, let's say we have enough supplies and Aether to get there and dodge each group. How would we scale the wall or break through it? On top of that, what are the odds we don't get killed by a creature of the sea?"

Atlas had considered each of these points, but it at least gave them a chance to survive instead of slowly dying at the hands of the other groups.

"For me, I think it's worth the risk. At the very least, it beats dying here. Besides, what's the other real option?"

Iris didn't speak. Instead, she let her hands talk for her by pointing at the water, reminding him of her statement about diving. Atlas followed her finger and looked over the edge.

The water below them was churning with the waves. Its deep blue color made it feel like a regular ocean, but the horrors below were hidden just out of sight.

"You really expect us to dive into the ocean… to find what exactly, some lost city?" Atlas scoffed.

"No, Mr. Edmund. In fact, I expect to find exactly what we are looking for: a key."

Atlas paused, thinking about her statement.

"Go on."

Iris finally stood up and walked next to Atlas.

"If we think about it like a real trial, the most impossible task shall lead us to the reward. And what's more impossible than surviving the sea? I was thinking about this more and more… I believe that this whole thing has a figure overseeing it."

Atlas almost couldn't believe that she came to the same conclusion as him. This was a real possibility.

"Let's say you're right. How can we even dive into the depths? It's not like we're professional divers."

Iris had a look of contemplation on her face before moving her hand in front of her.

"We can use this." Iris let her Aether flow freely, turning it into a swirl of yellow energy.

Atlas got the idea immediately.

"You want to substitute our lack of knowledge with Aether?"

Iris smiled slightly.

"Correct."

Atlas liked the idea of testing more ways to use Aether.

"What were you before coming here into the trial, exactly?" he asked.

Iris didn't answer immediately, instead pausing.

"I'll tell you before we leave this trial."

Atlas didn't pester, instead reevaluating Iris as a whole. She was someone who was tactical and logical. It was frustrating just how high her emotional intelligence was. It felt like he was talking to someone who could make the hard decisions quickly.

Finally, he placed his hands on the ground and then plopped down, sitting criss-cross applesauce. He motioned for her to sit beside him. Finally, he spoke again.

"Let's get to work."