All of them danced and sang in happy celebration.

They sang of shelter and safety, of water and sleep.

The five silhouettes were gonna lead him to a safe place.

He was sure of it.

Ryuji hurried towards the silhouettes. His feet were getting a bit heavy. The fog reached just below his shins now.

As he got closer, beautiful sounds of anklets ringing along with the bells and the vocals came together, creating a beautiful harmony.

He was sure, if he followed the shadows, he would be safe. The air already smelled so fresh and humid. He could almost feel the sounds of trees rustling in a distance.

The world around him seemed to go empty once he reached the silhouettes. 

The five of the shadows were dancing and singing in a circle. Four of them seemed to be the silhouettes of women who were walking at the back, and a single silhouette of a man was walking in the front.

When they noticed Ryuji approaching, they stopped for a second and made space for him to join in the center. Then, The man looked at Ryuji and fixed his gaze on him, Unmoving.

Ryuji couldn't help but notice the silhouette of the man. It felt familiar somehow...

But he just couldn't care enough right now.

Ryuji quickly walked up to them and took his spot in the center. Even up close, all 5 silhouette only looked like shadows. He couldn't make out even a single color on them. Their outline was the only way he could distinguish them.

As soon as Ryuji joined, they started singing their song again and Ryuji walked forward with a smile on his face.

He dismissed his armour and sent it to rest in his Soul Core. His body was battered and bruised, but he wasn't bleeding anywhere. He had masterfully closed and treated his wounds. He had to burn a few of them using his flames.

Ryuji was all but relieved. Finally, he could be free and safe. He hadn't felt rested in so long, he didn't even realise.

Sure, he did rest a bit when he first arrived in hell and stayed in Zen and Ice's care, but his mind was still in turmoil back then...

He had died fighting. After dying, he was on his way to Elysium but was devoured by that serpent Taijin and was spat out in hell on the verge of a second death.

Ryuji thought he's finally saved for now, but he was masterfully fooled by White and pushed to his second death.

Somehow, he even survived that but was spat out in Elysium again... Which should've been a wonderful occasion, only if he wasn't sent to this godforsaken desert!

Hah! But now, he could rest.

Him and the female shadows sang and walked further and further. The fog was almost up to his waist now.

The more he sung, the calmer and more at home he felt. Only the male shadow didn't sing.

'Does he thinks he's too tough to sing or something?'

**