Back again. The cemetery is not where he wants to spend his afternoon, especially after earlier. Zen’s grateful that he’d only been out for a few hours. Along with his body getting to recoup it somehow knocked cobwebs off his memory. It’s less fragmented than it was before. Making it easier to think on his feet.

Before coming up here he had checked on Solace. The town had been fine. None the wiser that thousands of creatures are preparing to descend upon them. The more dangerous creatures seem to still be stuck in the cemetery. At least, that’s what he hopes is happening. Only one way to find out. He pushes the gate open and walks toward the seal. Trying to look in every direction at once. If they aren’t in the town they have to be here. But it seems quiet. Has he been fooled by their lack of activity in the town? This is one of the times he wishes he had better sight to see the creatures, or at least an Astro here to assist him.

The emptiness is unnerving. He feels his tension level rising. Even the old section where his people are buried is empty. Not even one of the weaker creatures is around to taunt him. Nothing around the seal. Hundreds of creatures just don’t disappear. He has never seen them willingly go back into the Abyss either. This whole situation is bizarre. He wishes the Psyren were here and fixing the seal. Something is wrong here. It is possible the escape last night had been a fluke. Something caused by the tear in the seal. It seems to have gone back to its normal size. The green glow he’s accustomed to has returned. Before the seals went into place, it isn’t like anyone had tested them. And to his knowledge, this is the first successful attempt at destroying a seal partially. If this becomes a trend it is something they’d have to consider in the future.

Just to be sure, Zen walks around the seal. Looking for any changes. If it weren’t for the lump on his head he’d question if he were hallucinating the whole thing. The place is so quiet. And so is the town. Nothing is here. Had this strange behavior from the creatures been part of Tyr’s plan or an unintended consequence? And what had caused the creatures to come flying out? The more powerful creatures usually don’t bother coming out of the Abyss unless there is an Astro nearby. Something to feed on. And there isn’t one in Solace. He’d double-checked that before arriving.

He leans on the fence. Trying to put all the pieces together. Before coming out here he had been chewed out by the elders. Losing a fight wasn’t something they took to well. They also want some definite answers to what happened. In their eyes, either the gate is open or it isn’t. They are sure it couldn’t happen both ways. And normally Zen would have agreed with them. But now he isn’t so sure.

The elders now want visual confirmation if the gate is open. The problem is Zen can’t actually see the gate. Not now that the seal has returned to normal. That is a gift reserved for the Astros. Which of course he isn’t and there isn’t an Astro coming. There is no way anyone with Astro blood will come near the seal now that it’s going crazy. That would guarantee the gate being open. And if he goes into the Abyss the chances are good he’d end up trapped in the Abyss, unless the seal goes haywire like yesterday. But the elders aren’t ones for calm logic right now. They’d expect a mailed letter from the inside. Death Walkers are expendable. Even when they are near extinction. He thinks they’d be relieved if the Death Walkers are wiped out.

Zen grumbles as he stares into the wreckage zone where the seal sits. Part of the fence is gone and pieces of the spirit statue still litter the ground. Somehow the other four statues are still standing. Not even a nick. The returned normalcy is unnerving. He needs to decide what to do and walk through the final gate to face the seal. He could jump into the seal and pray he doesn’t get trapped in the Abyss. Assuming the gate opens up and lets him in. Or the seal could spit him out on the other side of the cemetery. It all depends on the condition the gate is in. And how strong the seal really is. Something he isn’t sure of anymore. Last night as the battle raged on, he would have sworn the seal was all but destroyed. For him to be able to see the gate, the seal would have had to be at the breaking point. But now it appears as if nothing happened. Like a twisted dream. Part of him knows he has to find out what is happening, and not only to keep the elders happy. It is possible the unstable nature of the seal could have destroyed this entrance into the Abyss. A new entrance could be open somewhere without any type of gate or seal. Just an open portal. Putting more than just Solace at risk to be attacked by creatures. If something bad can happen it seems to happen in this town.

Zen stands up, choosing a second option to investigate the damage. It isn’t ideal but it is better than being stuck in the Abyss. If that happens the town could be defenseless for a month before another agent could get here. He strolls up to the edge of the seal, careful to not actually touch it. He’ll toss his chain in to see what happens and what it touches. If it comes out the other side of the seal than the gate’s still closed. He prays to the gods that he doesn’t hook anything too dangerous doing this. His muscles still ache. He checks the length, still enough energy left to get about twenty feet. Hopefully that is long enough to get something, and not something that just pulls him in.

He takes a deep breath, calming his nerves. Zen starts to swing the chain, taking careful aim. He squeezes his eyes shut as he lets go of the chain. It flies into the green aura cutting through the seal. A soft clang sounds as it makes contact with something. He walks around the seal. It is the gate. Ok, maybe closing his eyes isn’t the best idea. He lines up with the middle of the seal once again. Taking aim. This time it disappears.