Depthsroot Chapter 2; Post-Black Friday

Carl, Sam and Steve, the few people that actually did know who Shinrona was from previous interactions, would all be not only dumbfounded, but secretly pissed and confused. They were in denial about what they had seen, but it was for a short time. There was nothing else that could be said nor done about it, after what they'd witnessed happen right before their eyes on numerous dimensional levels before returning to a state of complete bliss and serenity, as if nothing happened. They couldn't help but have their own thoughts and feelings, knowing what it took to get there, but the rest of the crowd seemed to be pleased. There were some that did not believe and simply did as they would, disregarding this person for their own desires, but those that actually were close enough to know and understand would remain with Shinrona. They knew he had some sort of abilities that could help them, even if many others did not. They would all see his face and know his name, believer or not, but only the ones that were ready, themselves, would be able to hear him and be around him. They were curious to know more.

The Otherworlders that were able to exist after Black Friday of which had appeared in the Depths would be listening intently along with the most curious of the underdwellers. Indeed, the Otherworlders retained their memories; perhaps not all, but many. Their strength matched and exceeded many of the being that were perhaps just now understanding the powers of the universe and what they truly meant, but the elders were far more aware of what it meant when universes collided and collapsed. They would heed this man's words and already be on their way throughout the Veritas, already having enough wisdom of their own to interact with the land. The Beginners would be left down below, until they had enough power to understand the Worlds Above. Some Otherworlders that were left would be with the Depthsroot Villagers, yet not retain consciousness that they were from other worlds. If they did, then they were just not strong enough to remove themselves from the Depths and up to higher ground. Thus, with the Rogues, they would stay.

The natural glowing aura that would usually surround Shinrona would suddenly disappear, as did the luster of his appearance. The shining light around his head would become like dark fire raging on, yet also drooping down over his sullen, tired eyes. "... Carl. Sam. Steve." Tomon narrowed his eyes. "... Sally." Sally knew who she was. "Uhhhh. How long was I out?" He nonchalantly scratched the back of his head, avoiding eye contact cautiously.

Each of the addressed parties stood there awestruck, somewhat lost on what to say and how to feel, even still, especially after seeing Khrona in person. "Impossible..." one of them said under their breath. After what they'd been through and everything that was seen, it was hard to actually look at Khrona Tensei, himself, in the flesh.

Sam: How did you do all of this?

The others wondered the same thing, but simply didn't say it. Of course, they wanted to be able to do whatever it was that Khrona had done and do it, too, but right now everything was just a lot for them to actually handle. Sally seemed to be just as upset, even though her part in all of this was somewhat jaded.

"You Should Already Know The Answer To That Question, Sam," a Voice spake directly into his head as the eyes of the large body that rested over their city glowed with consciousness. Yet, after that, it would remain silent for a moment to allow Sam's own thoughts to continue to process the words that were spoken into his mind after he heard the voice, likely puzzled by the response. After enough calculation time was given to match however long the waiting period of Sam coming to these conclusions for himself and had finally passed by, the Grand Golem etched into the very mountainous wall before them would continue to speak directly to Sam in his head, guiding his thoughts on. "You Have Witnessed All Of The Events That Brought You Here." No one else could hear the Grand Golem at the time except for Sam, himself, who asked the question. Only Sam was being referred to, as well, and no one else would have been able to hear the thoughts of the Grand Golem speaking to Sam. "I Have Chosen You To Speak To For A Reason, Sam. It Is I; The Grand Golem." After awaiting Sam's response, the Golem would speak his breath into his head, "Come To Me, Sam."

Tomon, casually known by his lifelong chums as 'Khrona,' would nonchalantly and rather lackadaisically raise his arms up, shrugging his shoulders slightly and effortlessly, as if using the least amount of energy possible. "... Like I said, it was God." Khrona would scratch the back of his head, looking up to the sky aimlessly and mindlessly, as if he hadn't a clue in the world. "... I could have sworn I told you guys this before we got to this point, and all during..." Though, considering the state of the planet before the all of them were taken to the Veritas, Khrona very much understood why it would be both hard to believe and to keep up with, and probably to remember, as well. He didn't blame them, but there was nothing that was changing what is and what was, nor what will be, to a certain degree. "... Well, what can I say...?" He gave his signature Cheshire smirk, shrugging his shoulders lackadaisically once more. "I... T-YO." He stared at them and held in a great deal of cackles and snickers.

After all that they had witnessed, it was hard to believe it, but Khrona was, yet again, standing right in front of them, in the flesh, claiming that God had granted him some sort of gift that no one else had... And there seemed to literally be no other explanation to it that actually made sense. This caused each of them to be stunned, puzzled about what they could or should do. Each of them though independently, and then would come back collectively over time, but Sam would respond to the voice.

"I'm not ready yet..." were the words that he thought, muttering them to himself under his breath whilst looking down to the ground. "This is a lot... I have to think." Suddenly, Sam would break away from the group, and would be off somewhere to think for himself for a while. The others that came together wouldn't know really how to actually respond to Khrona, or whatever he was at the time, having to deal with some other hard truths, themselves, about what happened with that Michiogre.

Steve: Admittedly, among the destruction, everything is turning out pretty smooth.

Carl: ... Well, yeah, you do have a point. That giant pothole is a giant open field now, and part of the city was completely destroyed by a giant THING, but. All in all, this new one isn't attacking us, and neither are you... *suspicious stare* Khrona.

The way Carl, Sam, Sally and Steve knew Khrona was meta, because Khrona was not supposed to be actually physically meeting up with these people ever, due to their presences being outside Vescrutia. Yet, somehow, they were face to face, and he was definitely the same Khrona was was written about on the site.

Carl: Dammit Khrona.

Steve, though he was definitely actively engaged in all of this, did still notice that Sam said something to himself and seemed to have changed slightly in his demeanor. "You say something, Sam?" But by the time that happened, Sam had already left on his own Sam adventures. Steve was worried, but left it alone. He had his own things to think about, like what he was going to do first with his own ideas. "Hey Carl," Steve said, "I'm going to go check things out and see what's going on around this village now that everyone has calmed down and shit." It took a while, but all in all, things seemed rested, and from here on, Steve could inspect things as he needed. He took off.

Carl, however, would stand before Khrona, still trying to find words and things to say. It was like he had something to say, also didn't want to say it, but was thinking about saying it and wondering if he should before too long, but ending up just not saying anything at all and making general confusion due to lack of response, which is worrisome at times. Like if a person just stops breathing. So Carl would simply be this way, apparently, until he was able to do something else.

Khrona, who had barely enough time to entertain people with closed hearts, as opposed to all the others who would naturally welcome him and his kindness because they did not know of Khrona before, would simply stand there with Carl and wait for whatever he would say for a little while, tapping his foot impatiently. "Look," he said rather blandly, rolling his hands through his hair, "I'm going to let you know straight up and flat out; I don't have time for this. If you have time for this, great, but that means you have too much time to waste. Too much idleness that comes from your closed heart to me. Whatever the case may be, things are as they are and being upset with me actually will only make you look bad from this point on." He shrugged his shoulders. "Stop clinging to the past if people trying to move onto the future. If you're the one trying to keep things as they were, or holding onto what someone was before due to your OWN interpretations, feelings and thoughts, then you're not helping anything. You're holding people back. Everyone, actually." Khrona crossed his arms and shook his head. "And don't throw a tantrum inside your heart, then go out in a rage and cause chaos, either. Or hold it all in and let it consume you, like you usually do, and don't tell people. At the end of the day, these things will only make you look bad. It's not productive anymore. It never was."

Khrona looked around this place, realizing fairly swiftly that many repairs were finally being done as was proper. The period of Restoration had begun, but among restoration, those who were being counterproductive to it would be spotted easily. "And don't go gather people in your own emotional fits and have them stand beside you and be condemned with you. Holding onto negativity makes your negativity hold onto other people, and then you're all bound. See now why it's not good to let your own feelings get into others'?" He wondered if any of these things were making any sense to Carl. Sometimes, when people held resentment, no form of logic could overwrite it, simply because the feelings are bindings and clinging and won't let go once they've grabbed someone. "You know what?" Khrona said with a sigh, really seriously having no faith in this, "I'm gonna go do other things now." With a deadpan expression on his face, he would, without any hesitation nor wait for response, turn his back to Carl and begin to walk off into another part of the Depthsroot, where he could find people who were trying to be productive toward a greater good. "Y'all kids play nice now~!" he'd say, going to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Carl grew frustrated with the things that Khrona had spoken to him, to the point where he still did not know what to do. Sally was nearby, watching the conversation between the men, but quickly disappeared once Khrona did. Carl was the only one left, standing there, puzzled and frustrated. He needed time to think, both about what to do and how to feel. One thing he knew, he would find out what was real and what was true. He couldn't believe that all of this was happening, and especially that God was doing it. He needed his own answers now, even if it meant going to find them on his own, like usual. So Carl would set it in his own heart to go find out what the truth was. "I just don't get it..." he mumbled to himself, clearly looking upset trying to piece it all together. "... Dammit. But I will." He clenched his fist and started to walk away. There were tons of things going on around here now that everyone was out of their turmoil and oppression, but nothing was restored yet. "The people who are restoring can finish doing that, but I... I need to go my own way." It wasn't that he didn't want to help, it was simply that he needed to take care of his own personal things before he could be of any real help, and he knew this. That was why Carl set off on his own.

"What's it to you?" Carl would snap back at this stranger, becoming rather immediately defensive. He was getting really close really quickly, and Carl wasn't comfortable with it. He was up to something. Wanted something. Carl didn't like it. "And why are you even coming to me? Do I know you?" Everyone wanted something from someone. That much, Carl was more than aware of, since he wanted things from people too and knew how people were in order to get what they wanted. He only hoped that this guy wasn't looking to get into something he shouldn't.

Carl paused.

He looked deeply into the blank white face, studying its features as he thought long and hard about his response. He thought of the sleek clean newness, like that of a fresh new slate, and the words that were spoken to him by this strange man in dark clothes, with a mask of his own. 'That mask...' he thought, looking up to the eyes of the man that stood there in front of him, yet also at the face that was made.

"Show me your face," Carl said profoundly, narrowing his eyes, "And I will see after that."