Aoto's voice appeared different, as if it carried more than one person behind it.
Chema: You're not Aoto. Who are you?
The halo around Aoto's head squirmed, and Aoto's body began to sway fiercely as if he were going to sway all the way down to the ground.
Chema: HEY, AOTO, AOTO, snap out of it.
Chema slapped Aoto, trying to bring him back.
Aoto: I'm back, I'm back. Thank you, Chema.
Confused, Aoto sat while Chema went to fetch him a glass of water.
Soma: So we're in the library, which hasn't changed since the last time I visited.
Aoto: Soma? Is that you?
Soma: Why yes, yes, it is me, Aoto.
Aoto questioned why he could hear Soma when he thought Soma had returned to the sea.
Aoto: How can I hear you?
Soma: That card that turned into a liquid part of it was me.
At first, I didn't realize it and sank back into the sea, but I saw a light at the bottom that I had never seen before. It turns out it was your eye, so I'm sorry in advance, but I don't want to stay in that abyss if you don't mind.
Aoto: Don't mind what Soma? And why are you apologizing?
Aoto began to clutch his left eye for dear life, feeling like his eye was being penetrated from the inside.
All he could do was hold on; right before Aoto reached his pain limit, it stopped.
Aoto, breathing heavily, leaning over in the chair, holding onto his eye, stopped feeling pain.
Aoto: Is it over? Soma?
Soma: Sorry about that, Aoto, I've chosen to take your left eye.
Aoto: TAKE MY LEFT EYE?!
Soma: Yes, from this point on, I'll be here watching over you.
Aoto: WHAT! NO GET OUT!
From writhing in agony on the floor to now trying to gouge his eye out, Aoto was unsuccessful in his attempt.
Soma was here to stay.
Coming to the consensus, Aoto knew that he was stuck with Soma and gave up on trying to get him out.
Walking back with the water, Chema dropped the glass on the floor, shattering it on the ground at the sight of Aoto's eye.
His left eye had become just as dark as his; Aoto's left eye mirrored Chema's color and shape.
Chema: Aoto, are you okay?
Aoto: I've been better, but for the most part, I'm good.
Chema: Can you even see?
Aoto: See? Of course, I can see what you're talking about.
Chema reached into his pocket, grabbed a small pocket watch, and opened it. He turned the watch around, facing Aoto; the watch was sleek and seemed to tell the time correctly; Aoto could see his reflection on the small watch dial.
Aoto: My eye…. It's gone.
Aoto's left eye was black, almost an exact copy of Chema's; he didn't react with words; instead, he stood up from his chair and began ripping books off the shelves.
Book after book, they began to pile one after the other, causing Chema to follow him, picking up as many as he could each time they fell.
Chema: STOP!!
Aoto didn't listen and continued to destroy, taking down as many books as he could; he began to scream, letting out all of the anger that had been pent up inside him.
Chema: Are you done?
Aoto, exhausted, slid his back across the end of a bookshelf, slowly sliding down till he hit the floor.
Aoto: Yeah, I'm done; sorry about that; I've been having difficulty adjusting to my new life.
Chema's eyes softened as he heard Aoto talk and felt pity for him.
Chema: It's okay, I know how stressed you must be; hell, I would be too if I were in your shoes. You certainly will face more challenges along your Journey, Aoto, but don't worry, you're not alone; you have support.
Aoto: What the hell are you talking about? What Journey am I going on? Everything that's happened has just been sprung upon me with no explanation.
If you, Soma, and Garius are supported, then I might as well be a dead man, cause the two of you aren't even real.
Tears started to roll down off of Aoto's right eye, and on his left, he cried the black liquid.
Wiping his tears off, Aoto saw that the tears from his left eye were black and asked, "What is this?"
Chema came down to Aoto's level and hugged him in a way that he hadn't been in ages.
Chema: That liquid is known as the elixir of death; it comes from that sea, and each drop is a lost soul fending for itself in that never-ending sea.
The journey you set out to go on is one that you can only choose to do; whether or not you wish to explore this world is your choice; however, you decide to live is your journey.
You have been marked with a devil's sign that will undoubtedly bring you adversity, but I know you will manage to power through and find a way.
Aoto wiped away his tears and fell asleep in Chema's arms.
Aoto: Chema? You there?
Chema: I'm here, but it's time you left.
Spending too much time in this place can be detrimental to a person. I would hate to see those effects on you this early.
Aoto stood back up and took one last look at the library, trying to commit its look to memory, and said, "I thought you'd never let me leave here," with a smile on his face.
So much time had passed that Aoto had completely forgotten how he arrived, and how the gas filled the room.
Aoto: Okay, so how do I leave here? Is there an exit or something?
Chema: sort of Aoto, brace yourself, and if you ever find yourself back here, don't be a stranger.
Aoto: brace myself? For what?
After saying this, Chema ran up to Aoto, slicing his neck.
Aoto fell to his knees, gasping for air, but only a mix of blood and black flowed out.
Aoto: Why?
Sound: AGH AGH AGH HE HE HE HE *click*
damn looks like the fun's over; well, let's see how he reacts to this sight.
Aoto and Sound swapped, sending Sound back to the abyss and Aoto back into his body.
But not a sight Aoto could imagine.
Grabbing his neck with both hands, Aoto made noises as if he was gagging, even though his neck was no longer sliced.
After trying to breathe and failing for some time, Aoto could finally breathe again. Taking his hands from his neck to his eyes, Aoto covered them, closing them, and tried to comfort himself.
Aoto: You're okay, everything is OK, it was just a bad dream.
Soma: Aoto.
Aoto, being distressed, never took the time to examine where he was or what Sound had been doing in his body.
Aoto: Soma, is that you? It's nice to hear a familiar voice.
Soma: Did you take the time to notice where your body is, Aoto.
Aoto: No, I was too preoccupied by the cut in my throat. Why?
Soma: Aoto, when you open your eyes, try your best not to freak out, okay, and remember it wasn't you. It was sound.
Aoto: What are you talking about, Soma?
Aoto began to lower his hands from his eyes to witness a horrid sight.