There they were, the two of them by the fire. the moose had left for some reason neither knew as they talked.
"You're a madman, you know that? H-how the hell did you even manage to kill one of those devils? I-Is that how you lost your arm?" Amias asked while eating a piece of sweet and slightly spicy fish and not just any fish, but a demonic angler from the depths of hell itself, where there was a sea just above them.
"Well, no. After whatever happened when we chased that shadow from above, I went unconscious. When I woke up, you'd undergone a transformation, the moose was licking me, and I was starving. I looked for something or practically anything, to eat for a while, and then eventually..." He paused, lifting his stumped arm.
Amias looked at it with a mix of shock and disgust.
"Y-You... R-Really? Of all things? I mean, that's gross. I-I get why, but... what the hell? That's, you know, what that is," he said, honestly, then sighed.
"I expected more of a reaction, but after everything you've gone through, you've hardened," Tobi replied.
Amias simply nodded. "So you fought that angler with only one arm then?"
Tobi nodded.
"How?"
"Oh, well, there's not much to say. I killed it," he said bluntly.
...
"I'm sorry, that was meant to be a joke."
...
"I'll just explain, don't worry," Tobi added.
"It was a bit too serious... I couldn't tell," Amias admitted, and Tobi gave a nod.
"Well, to start, it wasn't easy. Its scales were extremely dense, as hard as iron. I learned that after trying to burn them. I already knew they reacted to sound, so I had the moose help by diverting noise in different directions. It was a team effort, though the plan didn't work at first; it was mainly to gather information. What we found out was that it responded to sound and vibration. It had no real vulnerability, except the gills, which would flare open every now and then."
"Since I can create flame, I figured I could burn it from the inside out. The only consistent sound in this maze is the tapping of water, so I used that. Once I found a spot where the dripping noise could cover my footsteps, the moose and I waited for an angler to come. Eventually, it did. it wasn't as large as the other two we faced, so I imagine it was a juvenile. That worked in our favour."
"I walked up to it, matching my footsteps with the rhythm of the dripping. Once I was close enough, I shoved my arm into its gill, and the moose stomped on its arms so it couldn't fight back. Then, I effectively burned it from the inside out. It took a second to die," he explained honestly.
"Oh, okay, so you snuck up on it. Why didn't you just wake me?" Amais asked.
"It wouldn't have helped. But even if we could, why would I? You saved my life and looked exhausted."
"Well… um, actually no, not really. Moosey had it handled. You saved me, remember? You were on fire."
"Did I?" Tobi asked, genuinely curious.
"You… don't remember?" Amais asked slowly, confused.
"No, I don't believe so," Tobi answered honestly.
"Huh. That's weird. You were awake; you saved me. But I guess you don't remember," Amais mumbled, unsure.
"Well, who knows? I tend to be unpredictable. Besides, I'm not exactly human."
"I mean, yeah. Hunter named Death, regressor, and all that. But if you're fated to die, you sure seem to get really lucky not to. I mean, shouldn't you have died, like, a lot of times by now?"
"Perhaps. But I know not what I am. I is as based as I am myself."
"…W-What?"
"I didn't know what it meant either at the time."
"So… what does it mean?"
"I don't know. I just made it up."
"W-What? Why?"
"Because I believe you needed some humour in the moment, Gravewalker."
"…Whatever, hunter," Amais muttered before grabbing another piece of fish. "W-Why am I even eating? I'm already dead."
"Because you're still human, at least your soul is."
"True… um, I guess," he said, confused but simply chewing on the sweet and slightly spicy fish.
They both fell quiet, basking in the warmth of the crackling fire. Above them, the water shimmered and rippled gently.
"…Since the maze is usually dark, won't the fire attract predators?" Amais asked, breaking the silence.
Tobi laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Amais asked, a bit unnerved.
"Amais, do you remember how, back on Earth, creatures were scared of me when I had a god inside me?" Tobi asked, and Amais nodded.
"Yeah… is it because you still have some of the god's power? Did you, like, awaken them or something?"
"No, Amais. They're not hiding because of me." He paused, his voice calm. "They're hiding because of you. That's also why we've been able to stay here for a few days. And why I didn't have you come hunt with me and Moosey."
Amais stared at him, eyes wide.
"R-Really? They're scared of me?"
Just a few days ago, he'd been torn apart like nothing, reduced to prey. And now… even those monsters feared him?
"Of course," Tobi said with a small smile. "Look at you now. I swear, you grow stronger every time I see you. You're at least a foot taller than me now. Way to go. I'm sure that'll impress the girl you like."
"H-Hey! Actually, I was supposed to meet her again after the portal," Amais said, suddenly remembering. "I promised we'd continue our date. Ah, shit…"
He trailed off, scowling as he stared into the fire.
DAMN IT ALL TO HELL!!!
"Tobi… we've gotta find that portal. I owe the vampire girl a date. I mean… I promised her we'd finish it. And I haven't finished it yet," Amais mumbled, honest and determined.
"You know, most people would be dealing with serious trauma after everything you've been through," Tobi said, confused. "And you're talking to me about a girl."
"Oh, well… listen, the Shadow messed me up, yeah, and getting eaten for a few days was probably worse, but I killed the bastard. Not the Shadow yet, but… you know, that can wait. Since the beginning of this nightmare, after I should've died, she's been there. And she flirts with me. It's not like a one-sided thing it's just… I can't miss this chance," he said honestly.
Tobi let out a rare, genuine laugh. it was kind of chilling, really, hearing him laugh without the usual dryness.
Ah, a hopeless romantic, he thought.
"I understand that," Tobi said, his tone shifting to something more grounded. "But don't be reckless. You're not past your trauma yet. Rest."
Amais opened his mouth to argue, but Tobi simply raised a hand.
"Yeah, b-but… I don't know, actually…" Amais sighed. "It's just been so long since anyone's seemed that interested in me. Like, that way. I wasn't alone, exactly, but… I always felt like I was. At school, I was with people, sure, but usually I was just there, quiet, in the background. I was scared to do anything, really. It's kind of stupid. I'm not or wasn't someone girls looked at. So her noticing me, being the one to start the conversation… it was nice. I don't want to lose that."
Tobi was quiet for a moment before nodding. "I understand. There was a girl I loved, perhaps the only one in my whole life romantically, that is. I hoped someone would see me, acknowledge me… but eventually, I gave up. I just roamed, hunting as I always do. Then one day… I saved a girl who had given me my first real hug. It may have been a small, fleeting thing, but she didn't leave. And for someone like me, a nobody, that was enough. I stayed devoted to her. I suppose… we're the same in that sense."
Amais chuckled softly.
They both sat in silence for a while, the fire crackling gently in the damp atmosphere of the maze, its warmth cutting through the otherwise cold and unforgiving place.
"Are we idiots?" Amais asked. "We know someone for barely a moment, they show us a little kindness, and now we're obsessed with them."
"Perhaps you're an idiot," Tobi said. "I know I'm not."
"Yeah, well… at least I'm not insane," Amais muttered, annoyed. "Burning yourself alive."
"It's not like I actually die from the flames," Tobi replied calmly. "I just feel them."
"Yeah. Insane."