So, a quick recap, I rushed to Hinnies to try save Stacy and the others and we were all transported-well they were and I inadvertently joined them. I mean how was I supposed to know that they were in the truth dimension.
[IF YOU HAD FOCUSED LIKE I SAID, YOU COULD HAVE SENSED THEM BEING IN ANOTHER DIMENSION]
Hey Dark, I focused all I could. I'm not supposed to wake up one day and grasp the full depths of your power, be nice to me sometimes.
"Oh, a special one we have here, tell me how did you incorporate it into you" The Monarch of Truth and Lies asked
"I don't know how and even if I do what makes you think I will?"
Honestly, I did not still understand the whole "Dark being one with me" scenario, there were still things I had questions on so it wasn't a lie when I told her I did not know
"Seems you are not lying about not knowing, but if you do you can't lie here, it's erasure in an instant so be careful. I want to have fun playing with you. And tell that slave I said hi"
Slave? Who was she talking about?
[SO THAT WILL BE ME, WE ARE REGARDED AS SLAVES BY THEM]
How did she know you were here?
[FIRST, WE ARE IN OUR TRUE FORMS, I'M SURE YOUR HUMAN FRIENDS CAN SENSE MY PRESENCE TOO ALTHOUGH NOT VERY MUCH, THEY KNOW THAT I'M HERE. SECOND, THESE MONARCHS ARE THE ONES WHO SUBJECTED TO SLAVERY SO OF COURSE WE CAN BE SENSED BY THEM, THEY ARE FAR ABOVE US]
Ooh that makes sense, but I guess not answering will not bring up the penalty?
[TRY NOT TO THINK OR SAY A LIE, OR EVEN LET YOUR ACTIONS DEPICT A LIE]
Do you know something?
Ok seems you don't want to answer. But tell me is there a way to bypass?
[JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT DEPICTS LYING. I CAN'T SAY MORE THAN THIS]
Seems something is up. But ok
"If you're done talking with that slave, I believe it's time to focus on me. it's under an obligation not to reveal anything about me, so no use probing it only to make it get erased" The Monarch of Truth and Lies said with a smile that said danger.
"Ok Monarch of Truth and Lies, as I am I cannot beat you and I doubt anyone else in this room differs, so tell us if there is any way out of here" I asked hoping we might at least get Stacy out. At least she would.
Looking at her epithet; Monarch of Truth and Lies, there had to be some sort of challenge concerning how to escape or beat her. And I was prepared for anything at the moment.
"Call me Aurora. It's shorter than that other name. and yes, there is a challenge to escaping from here but sadly for you, no way for any of your species to beat me. the highest you can do is beat a named slave with high difficulty at your current power. You can't even match-up to our subordinates; the guardians, so no way of you being able to beat us. Plus, only the Monarch of Eternity can fully erase me from existence"
I thought Orts were their only subordinates, now there are guardians?
[SORRY, LIKE SHE SAID I'M UNDER AN OBLIGATION NOT TO REVEAL INFORMATION EXCEPT WHEN DIRECTED TO OR IT HAS BEEN REVEALED BY A MONARCH]
I understand Dark, and don't reveal anything that'll be a risk to you, ok?
Stacy Walters
How the hell is he still negotiating with a monarch???
Dan was currently in an exchange with Aurora the Monarch. To be able to stand up to a Monarch is one thing, now conversing? How strong has he gotten now.
I looked round and knew that everyone was thinking the same as me. we were not allowed to do anything that depicted lying here so our decisions were limited but even so.
"So, what are we to do right now?" I asked Sir Henry. We all knew that even if we attacked Aurora head on, we won't be able to land a scratch talk more of beating her
"We just have to wait and see if Dan can negotiate at least, you being able to get out of here"
"Me? Why me?"
"Everyone knows you're the first priority for him so that's what will most likely happen. And we don't have an issue with it honestly; he has helped us by coming to rescue one person and we appreciate him doing that"
I knew I was important to him but not to the point of being first priority.
"So, hey guys, I'm going to leave out the details of my getting here, Aurora says there is a challenge to getting out of here but no chance for us to beat her. So, I'm going to take the challenge and see if I can get us out of here" Dan said with worry on his face.
We all knew there was no chance of beating her and we sort of accepted that when we first came here, but now a challenge? What type of challenge? And how were we supposed to pass it?
"I know I'm speaking everyone's mind now. What type of challenge and how do we pass it?" Sir Henry asked.
"It's basically a truth challenge, she said she wants to make it easier for us but I suspect it's going to be really hard" Dan answered, looked at me and smiled. "I know you all have questions for me but let's leave all till later"
I knew the last statement was directed at me and of course I had questions. Why did he come here? How did he come here? Amidst others. But I guess that is going to wait till later. Now we had to focus on the Monarch.
So that's that with the others, now it's time to go face Aurora and hopefully win.
[NOT TO BURST YOUR HOPEFUL BUBLE, BUT I WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP THIS TIME AROUND]
Yeah, it's fine Dark… it's absolutely fine. It's not fine at all!!!
"So, Aurora, what does this challenge entail" I asked hoping to get some info that could aid maybe in a bypass of rules of sorts.
"It goes without saying but no lies, or you face getting erased. Your answer can be true but wrong so choose your answers wisely. You only have two tries per question and you absolutely can't receive help from anyone while answering. Yeah, that makes up the rules and what not"
"That's all? This might actually be easy I daresay"
"Yeah, it will be easy for me ha-ha-ha" she concluded while laughing.
The challenge was to begin soon; there was no specific time since time was true (uniform) in this dimension. Think of it as sort of zero time here. But when Aurora ordered, the challenge will begin.
I seriously didn't know the types of question I'll be asked. Questions of my life? Of my abilities? Of what we know on the monarchs? No idea which type of questions she would ask me and worse I couldn't receive help from anyone. This was so going to be hard.
Stacy Walters
We all heard the rules the Monarch dished out
No lies
Two tries per question
No help from anyone
And worse still, the answer can be true but wrong
How the hell was someone going to pass the challenge with all these rules?
"Alex? Do you think Dan can actually do this" I asked Alex who was seated beside me
"To be honest, no but knowing Dan, he will surely have a way to solve this"
"Yeah, I guess you're right then"
Dan was surely stronger than Merth Raid. He wasn't the strongest but he was getting stronger at an unusual rate. And he had this presence with him whenever he came to talk with us, it reminded me of an Ort but I'm sure it's just my imagination, he couldn't possibly be an Ort. But even if he is, I'll still love him with all my heart.
Say Dark, if I get erased here, I can be able to manifest myself at the point and still come back. Right?
[THAT IS WHY I'M WORRIED. IF YOU GET ERASED BY THE CONCEPT OF TRUTH AND LIES, THERE IS NO WAY TO RESIST OR EVEN COME BACK FROM THE ERASURE. IT IS ABSOLUTE]
Ok, scary. But I just have to be one with the truth while we stay here then. But I didn't ask what will happen if I fail this challenge
"Say Aurora, what happens if I don't pass?"
"Are you already giving up? Well as long as you do nothing that aligns with lying, erasure won't come upon you. But I guess losing will make me take you back to another world as a slave. So, let's make this spicier, for every two questions, you choose a person to escape this dimension. You're six in number so it'll be 12 questions. If you fail one, the remaining people stay and your chance to escape will be closed"
"Sheesh, well let's get on with it"
"Alright let the challenge begin"