———

The boy kept his head down. He didn't bother look up at Baseball. Not that he could, the cave tunnel was so dark... He was scared that if he didn't watch his feet he trip and fall. Baseball kept his eyes ahead on the darkness. His guilt ate at him from the inside out. He knew he deserved it... He wanted Nickel to love him so badly... And ever since Balloon and him started dating—... They never really talked much. Not as much as he wanted Nickel to, anyway. He felt guilty for thinking such things.

The cave walls slowly grew further apart, and the cavern expanded. The glowing from Nickel's claws could no longer reach the walls. Nickel stopped and looked around, puzzled. His anxiety and nerves raised. Baseball continued further and looked back at the lack of light.

"Nickel? Why'd you—?" Baseball then stopped abruptly as he walked straight into something. Which could not be seen in the darkness. He yelped and stumbled back.

Nickel snapped his head up, and jogged over. "What was that...?!" He asked, and as he got closer he froze as his glowing claws illuminated a massive door. He furrowed his brows, studied every detail. The gilded skull patterns... engravings in a language he couldn't understand. They didn't even look like normal letters, more like runes. "What...Is this..." He whispered.

Baseball backed up, the door was connected to a pristine wall, the darkness stretched on beyond. "That's... uh... I don't know..." He shook his head, confused.

"I don't th-think we should be here..." Nickel warned, he turned to Baseball with a concerned look on his face, "We should leave..."

Baseball shook his head, "Are you crazy?! We've been walking for god knows how long! We can't just go back!" He yelled, the echo bounced along the walls. It sounded like it went for miles. Baseball then tried to push the door open.

"Baseball... I don't think that's a good idea...!" Nickel whined, taking a step back. His gaze shot along all the signs which pointed to this place being deadly. Skulls... There was even red marks on the pristine wall. He took a second step back and heard the crunch of some sort of twig, his gaze averted to the ground. The sound's origin turned out to be bones. They were piled near the walls... He did NOT like that. "B-Baseball?!" He shook, his eyes wide.

Baseball studied the door more closely. A hand print in the centre... Purple. With a skull mark. Similar to the gateway they had used to get here. "Nickel—Come here— You need to touch this!" He gestured to to the door, then froze at the sight.

"Wh-What happened here...?!" He whispered, his lip quivered as he went back towards Baseball.

"I don't really want to find out..." Baseball replied in a scared, hushed tone. He started to second guess this whole door Idea... "D-do you think whatever... Killed them came out of this...?!" He asked, worried.

Nickel looked over the scene again... Hand prints... Bones... Bodies... Blood on the walls... Scraping marks. The pristine walls had been scratched. Nickel realized something very quickly, "Th-these people weren't trying to... Get away from the door..." He muttered with revelation laced in his tone, "They were trying to get in...! The were running from something!"

Baseball flinched, "Running, from what?!" He asked, with panic.

"I think t-that's the part we don't want to stick around for..." He ran up to the door... Unsure if his theory was correct, but it was better than doing nothing."you said I needed to touch s-something here?!" He asked.

"The mark... In the centre..." Baseball turned to it. His gaze firm, but his stance faltered. His nerves were beginning to get to him. He had a feeling something was wrong... Not like he was being watched, but something else. Like he was being listened to.

Nickel raised a glowing claw, "Here's to hope... That I'm not w-wrong..." He shook, the glowing claw pressed against the marking... Silence.

Nothing... The feeling of dread growing.

"It doesn't do—?" a loud crackle shot through the door. The stone broke apart, and the symbol's tablet turned and clicked into place. Baseball and Nickel both fell back as the door opened, the stone sliding apart. Light finally blessing their eyes with sight. But, what they expected to be daylight was a large cavern. Nothing like they'd ever seen before. It seemed like science fiction at first...

A Massive cavern... Littered with houses and people. They didn't look normal... Special features. All of which were mythical or objects used in magic. Sorcery. Crystals illuminated the massive cavern. Structures that seemed to be thousands of years old. And one massive temple like structure on the back wall. Massive Stalactites had houses hanging from them. The very bottom of the cavern was a lake, and streams. The water when moved lit up with bioluminescent light. Mushrooms and moss grew around the edges in the stone. The crystals far above looked almost like stars.

Everyone seemed shaken up, and panicked by the door opening. They panicked and stumbled back, running for their houses and the massive structure across the cavern. Nickel was shocked and confused... He stepped inside, only to have something grab his cloak from behind, and lift him into the air. He choked and clawed at his cloak with his own. His feet dangled and kicked in panic.

Baseball yelped, and observed the claw, which he'd thought to be Nickel's own, but a lavender rather than deep purple lift him. He was then swatted back and slashed. His eye gashed open. Blood trickled down his face and he screamed.

"Who are you?!" Beckoned a voice, slightly raspy, but stern and certain. Protective, in a sense. The Object, ghostly and luminous stepped forwards, their eyes glowed purple. A scowl, baring teeth to look threatening, a facial expression that would send any running. Their voice echoed throughout the cavern.

Nickel choked out; "N-Nick—el...!" Through gags and wheezing. He searched desperately for breath as his cloak was tugged at. His claws grasped at the one keeping him up. "P-Plea—se! P-Pu-t m-me Dow—wn!" He gasped, and coughed.

The figure across from him paused and studied the claws and eyes that Nickel bore. They took a step back, dropping him to the ground... Narrowed eyes and skeptical gaze planted firmly on their face. "Nickel, eh?" The muttered, their eyes trailed over his features...

Nickel collapsed, and wheezed on the ground for a minute, his voice barely managed a; "Y-yea-h..." His voice strained through his adrenaline and injured throat, a claw came to run where his neck would've been if he had one.

"Why are you here..." They questioned, stepping closer. Their stance hall and offensive. Trailing along the stone path until Nickel was at their feet. Baseball attempted to rise, but they pushed him down again without even looking.

Nickel inhaled, and quickly spoke, "M-Me a—and my frie-friend got l-ost... I-In that cave..." his lip was trembling at this point, his eyes had teared up. The lack of oxygen had sent his nervous system into panic.

The other studied his face, they had their doubts, "Were you followed?" They asked harshly, as if accusing him.

"I—I d-don't think so...?!" Nickel panicked, unsure why they would've been followed. Baseball didn't dare speak up, and offer the feeling he'd felt earlier as information. Scared they'd hurt the two of them.

The figure paused, and waved an actual hand, using a lavender claw to lift Nickel to his feet. He was still trembling. "Geez kid, you look like you're going to piss yourself..." They finally let up, lowering their hand beneath their own cloak.

Nickel panted out of nervousness, and looked around, both embarrassed and scared, "What—?! Who-who are you...?! Why—?"

"I thought you were someone else. I'm sorry..." They softened their gaze, "You... Always been able to do... That?" They then pointed at Nickel's claws with their own.

Nickel looked at his claws, then flinched and made them disappear, "W—no! No— hahaha....! No—... Uhm. What? Do what?" He chuckled trying to play it off. He forgot he wasn't supposed to do that in public. He didn't expect this to be 'in public' either. Nothing about this seemed normal, and it was probably too late. But he wasn't about to take chances.

The ghostly object looked unamused. "I saw you... Yo—You think I'm stupid, or something, kid?" They grumbled. Their face VERY annoyed. "Were you always able to do that?" They asked again, tapping their foot against the stone below.

Nickel let his awkward smile fade, and he cowered back a bit. "None of your business..." He muttered defensively.

The object stared at him for a moment, "If you touch someone, do you kill them?" They asked, confidence in their tone, they sounded incredibly condescending, too.

Nickel was shocked at how this random guy just—Guessed that?! He stammered for a moment, "N-no—?! No! That's insane?!" He lord through his teeth. A clear falsehood. Nickel was not a good liar under pressure.

They stared at Nickel with that same unamused expression. Nickel, however, didn't budge. And stayed looking clueless. They sighed exasperatedly and then glared over at Baseball, pointing at him, "Kick him, then." They demanded.

"What?" Nicke asked, confused, and nervous. He knew... This was bad. "Why?! I'm not gonna kick my friend!" He acted appalled.

They grumbled to themselves, frustrated by the teen's stubbornness. "It doesn't need to be a kick. Holy... Just tap him. That's fine too." They growled.

Nickel shook his head with ferocity, "No! Why?! I'm not doing that!" He shouted.

"If you're telling the truth, he won't die now, will he?" They gave a smirk, as if they knew what Nickel's answer was going to be.

Nickel took a step back, and began to panic. God knows what was going to happen if this guy called the police! Were they with the police?! He didn't know! And he didn't plan on find out, so out of panic, he kicked them in the face... Waiting for them to drop dead.

Nothing happened.

The object stayed stationary, arms crossed firmly. "Really?" They raised a brow. A chuckle soon followed, "What did you plan to accomplish? I can't die again, you know." The laughed, "Even then, it's kind of hard to kill The Crowned of Death." They took a step back, Nickel's foot phased out of their chest. "I'll have to hand it to ya' good try kid."

"Wh—h—huh—?! H-how did—?!" Nickel stumbled back. Shocked, truly. That should've killed—them! What did they mean already dead?!

"I know, this must be confusing, huh." They turned around, "I suspected The Divine had as much planned, but I didn't expect her to replace us so easily..." the figure's arms flew towards the man, and connected to his back, then dragging on the ground.

Nickel didn't even know what to say. "Who are you?! How—how did you know?! I-I dont—?!" Nickel blinked, sweat poured down the side of his face.

They chuckled, "Figured as much as soon as I saw those claws!" He smiled, "The names Coiny, Kid." He turned back and held out a hand for Nickel to shake.

"I-I don't have any arms to—u-uh..." He stepped back, a bit offended.

"No! Stupid... I wouldn't have asked ya' if you couldn't. Claws." Coiny held up one, it waved slightly from his back, the purple emitted onto his cloak.

"I-I..." He glared at the claw, "Oh—OH! R-right..." His face tinted rose gold in embarrassment and realization, he held out a glowing claw and shook his hand. "Sorry..."

"No need, I assume you got them as of recent? It's fine. I didn't mean to offend you." He smiled, taking his ghostly hand back. A friendly smile, yet one of authority on his face.

"Y-you aren't... uh... Gonna call the cops?" Nickel muttered out of worry, as Baseball finally rose. Coiny allowed him to and watched as Baseball stood awkwardly next to Nickel.

"There's no need." Coiny said casually, "I am in charge. If I deemed you a threat, you wouldn't still be standing. Did you miss the 'The Crowned of Death' part?" He grinned, shocked at their lack of knowledge.

"What does that even mean?!" Baseball questioned, finally speaking up. Nickel turned his head back to him as he spoke, then looked back over at Coiny and nodded wanting to know too.

Coiny's face shifted to disappointment, and aggravation. "God? The God of Death." He stated bluntly.

Both boys stood in shock. Nickel's fell open, his eyes wide as melons. "-L-Like a god, god? Like— Divine—D-Divine shit?!" Nickel stammered, "You're a GOD?!"

"Yeah." Coiny huffed, his fingers tapping his elbow as his arms were crossed, "You didn't know?"

"NO! NO OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! HOW THE HELL HAS NOBODY— FOUND OUT?!" Nickel shouted, as he looked around at this—what seemed to be—less than real cave. It was real. Too bad nobody could've pinched him without dying.

"Everyone Knows..." Coiny muttered in confusion, "I'm actually more shocked you didn't...?" He befuddled.

"No—nobody—EVERYONE knows gods aren't real!" Nickel yelled in retaliation, stomping his foot. His eyes sparked a brighter purple, he blinked a few times, startled by it.

"You're real, aren't you?" Coiny pointed at Nickel, "I believe you're my successor." He informed, a smile grew back on his face, and tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Nickel had been speechless. He? A God? No. No! This was all wrong. He didn't DESERVE nor was he FIT for GODHOOD. "Y-You've got it all wrong! Nope! No no no! This is all one big—Prank! Hah! G-good one!" He waved a finger using his claw at Coiny, laughing.

Coiny did not laugh, his face shifted to a blank one in response.

Baseball studied that as Nickel internally tried to justify how he wasn't a god, and then slowly spoke to him. Softly; "I think he's telling the truth, Nickel..." He whispered.

Nickel made a noise of unsureness and glanced up at Baseball, "No! No—I—You don't u-understand... Baseball... I'm not fit for that kind of—Power—...!"

"—Then why did The Divine choose you?" Coiny asked, taking a step forward, he then placed a hand on Nickel's shoulder comfortingly. Baseball furrowed his brows in immediate jealousy.

Nickel flinched, "S-someone chose...Me?" He was astonished. How could anyone choose him? He barely even understood how Balloon loved him. Now someone had chose him for a Godlike role?!

"Yeah." Coiny affirmed, he looked between the two of them and then turned, "Come with me." He beckoned. Nickel and Baseball exchanged shocked glances.

"Should we...?" Baseball asked with concern.

"I-I honestly... Don't know anymore..." Nickel muttered, as he reluctantly let his footfall and follow Coiny. He was too scared, confused, and distraught to protest.

Coiny walked through the magical environment, his cloak rustled as he stepped closer to the structure on the opposite end of the cavern. The stone path winded and twisted unpredictably, but it was beautiful nonetheless. People slowly began to emerge from their houses when they had seen Coiny as he led the two teens through the underground town.

"I-I Know we already asked this, but you didn't really answer before—I-uh...What is this place? Exactly...?" Baseball stammered anxiously.

Coiny looked back, and held a hand out gesturing to the vast cave, "This is the Catacombs. A city beneath the capital, Where the Mythicals take residence and study sorcery, and witchcraft." Coiny explained proudly, "Usually the Crowned of Life rules over this place, while I watch the gates of the afterlife, but I'm here in his stead." He spoke more sadly as he conveyed that last part.

"What happened to him...?" Nickel questioned.

"He's away." Coiny replied inconspicuously. He wasn't speaking the whole truth. But, Nickel didn't dare pry.

"What are Mythicals?" Baseball asked, changing the heavy subject, which made Coiny jump, as he seemed deep in thought. But, he eventually replied.

"They're Objects born with supernatural abilities and magic by nature." He huffed, as he continued.

"And they all live here? Why?" Nickel asked, but quickly added to his statement to prevent confusion, "N-Not saying this place is necessarily or inherently terrible, or ugly or nothin, just... uh... I don't know... Inconvenient...? I guess?" He shrugged.

Coiny chuckled, "Many people want to enslave young Mythicals. Not all of them live here. But many children, especially orphans, and some of the weaker ones tend to stay. It's also the best school for witchcraft in all of Centra-Omnia—Besides the Capital's. That is."

"Oh." Baseball blinked.

They entered the large temple like structure, many people were rushing around. Some children, some adults. They jumped at the sight of the three, but waved hello. Instead of torches to light the place, it was decorated with crystals. A high roof above, a chandelier was hung. The crystals on which changed colour, and shimmered in the light. The floors were carpeted, they were red and had a velvety texture. Nickel liked the feeling of which beneath his feet. The walls were a deep grey and royal purple colour. Statues also lined the large stairwell, which seemed to spiral up forever, and similarly downwards.

Nickel looked about in awe...

Coiny stopped and looked about, "Now... I'd tell you to head straight up to The Divine's temple. But... The academy has forms you can stay in. I need to touch base with some of the other Crowned to make sure the surface is safe..." Coiny sighed, then calling over someone, they rushed over without a hitch. "Lightning, could you show these three over to a spare dorm?" He asked.

Lightning adjusted his glasses awkwardly, and hugged his books to his chest. "I-Oh! Uh! Sure! Follow me." His raspy voice called, a grin showed on his face as he waved for the two boys to follow.

"Oh—! And be careful of Nickel, don't touch him—or you may die." Coiny warned with caution and concern.

Lightning flinched, looking between the two coins, before nodding quickly. "I'll—Ill be careful! Don't worry sir!" He comforted, then looking to the two, motioning for them to follow once again. "This way...!" He flew off down the long hall.

Baseball and Nickel followed silently.

———