In cautious steps, the group entered the path. With its lush appearance and divine and diverse colors, the beautiful garden exuded peace despite being, in a way, distressing as there was no sign of life other than the strangely alive and extravagant plants. As they walked, the back path got further and further away. 

The leafy buddies could no longer keep the portal open, forcing Lydia to collect them and close what would have been one of the exits. Leafy bushes with colorful flowers showed a not very linear and not very tortuous path ahead, and the grasses with small butterflies around them gave the impression that this could be more of a mirage than a flower field. They were in Agarath's domain, after all.

Mine was hyper-aware, constantly scanning the group, the horizon, and their rear. That place gave him bad vibes, and for a good reason: Mine was supposed to be locked up right there!

Unaware of his abrupt movements, Mine was startled by a butterfly that flew into his face. In his fright, he accidentally disintegrated the poor creature. The group looked back at him and stayed like that for a few seconds until they were sure he wouldn't disintegrate anyone in a fateful accident.

Mine stayed at the rear while Zophiel led the way with Mephistopheles and Lydia. The poor young professor, despite having assured everyone that he would not disintegrate anyone by accident, was tense from head to toe. This only got worse when he saw similar statues from the small space where he had exchanged a few harsh words with Agarath and experienced excruciating pain from an unknown spell. His skin shivered as he remembered the agonizing sensation of that spell Agarath cast with the snap of his fingers. He scratched his own arms, trying to make the goosebumps go away.

Slowing down his steps, Addai stayed beside Mine as they entered a new area of ​​that place: a maze of marble statues. It was as if Michelangelo had made exclusive commissions for Agarath and sculpted all the statues, some dramatic, some sensual, and others innocent and pure.

Mine examined them with wide eyes and movements that resembled spasms when something happened abruptly like Addai's hand reaching for hers.

"W-What a-a-are y-you doin'?" Mine whispered, trying to not stammer too much.

Addai shot a carefree smile, showing his dimples. "Nothing, I just felt like holding your hand. Is there a problem?"

Mine felt his cheeks burn, but that was much better than feeling his body cool down with each step, so he returned a shaky smile to Addai. "O-oh... t-then... t-t-that's okay."

Mine's cold and sweaty hands almost slid into Addai's warm hands, but he tried to remain firm and held his friend's hand a little tighter, which was already damp. Mine then released Addai's hand, wiped off the excess sweat on her blouse, and held the same hand again, still shaking a little when she saw the statues that seemed to follow him with their gaze.

"Hey," Addai called, almost in a tone that startled the jumpy Mine. "It's all right, you're not alone."

Mine looked at his friend, and his pink, glossy eyes denounced his anxiety more effectively than his sweaty palms. All the rage towards Agarath vanished when he saw the demon during the random teleportation. His eyes were more terrifying when he used the sword with Mine's essence, and his laughter could shatter souls and hearts. He had a horrible, sick grin when Mine slashed his face with his own nails, and the last thing he heard from the demon was cruel: "I'll claim you tonight, no matter what-"

"Hey," Addai called softly and gently squeezed Mine's hand. "Does this place… bring you bad memories?"

After some silent seconds, Mine replied. "…Yes." His mind ran and spun, but he collected enough words to form a sentence. "This place… is where Agarath was going to imprison me."

Addai fell silent, and his once gentle and warm expression turned as dark as his hands and forearm. His smile faded, and he slightly squeezed Mine's hand harder. Trying to not show too much of that darkness, he faced forward and chuckled darkly, bringing Mine closer.

It was unknown what was going through his head, but it certainly wasn't words or actions as good and smooth as before. So, Mine decided not to say anything else and just continued walking beside him while monitoring the group's surroundings.

They walked until they reached an area with marble and stone buildings. It was as if it were a tea area or for the domain's master to contemplate the landscape. The stone floor contrasted with the decorative marble pillars that held nothing back other than making the place beautiful. Ahead was a white gazebo with twisted vines around it and, next to it, a long table with cups of tea and a porcelain teapot accompanied by small plates and desserts.

The group froze when they noticed such an abnormality but had already stepped onto the stone floor. The garden behind them was covered in a thick, icy mist; nothing could be seen other than that patch of "garden." Zophiel tried to launch a ball of condensed mana, but as soon as the fog hit it, it fell apart and became embedded in the fog.

"We fell into a trap. Let me check the keychain," Zophiel took the keychain from his waist and gasped.

"What happened?" Mephistopheles approached with his shadow named Azazel on his side.

"The keychain… it's... gray," Zophiel muttered, raising the gray and lifeless keychain.

"It has no use here."

That voice resounded in unison in the group's ears as if it came from all sides. Zophiel soon spread his wings and covered the younger ones, with one hand ready on his weapon and the other guarding the now-deactivated keychain. Mephistopheles stood next to his walking shadow, Azazel, whose hands held his sharp sword.

Mine's eyes couldn't get any wider than that, so, in a poor attempt to escape that place, even if momentarily, he covered them with his hands, muttering something that sounded like: "This is a nightmare, this is a nightmare." Lydia, with her trembling leafy buddies around her, tried not to tremble as much as her little creatures but failed miserably when that voice changed from a solemn tone to a more austere one.

"So... you wandered Around my beautiful mansion... then snooped in my beloved Well… then ended up in my humble garden… and you think I'd let you all come and go as you please? I'm tired of watching your stupid asses messing all my furniture!" The voice shouted as if whoever was behind it was holding back the urge to throw a fit. "Now my puppets are ragged, my casino rooms are messed up, and there's demon blood all around my mansion and dear domain!! You thought I wasn't watching you, but… this feeble trick you have in hands, dear angel… this thing showed me where you all were going…"