[Chapter 2 - The ruins]

It wasn't long until we came upon a large, purple room with six large buttons on the floor.

"Welcome to your new home, innocent one" Stress smiled. "Allow me to educate you in the operation of the ruins."

Stress went over and stepped on four of the six buttons and pulled a lever on the wall. The door made a grinding sound as it slid into the wall. "The ruins are full of puzzles. Ancient fusions between diversions and doorkeys."

I took in what she had to say, because who knows when I'll need it the most. Stress explained that to move from room to room, one would have to solve the puzzle.

The next room, Stress told me that I would need to activate several switches in order to proceed, but she had marked the one I needed to get.

And indeed they were marked. With big, yellow arrows pointing directly at them. After that, Stress congratulated me, saying that she was proud of me. I'm not sure how it's been since someone said that to me.

The spikes blocking our path lowered and we were able to move forward. Stress's voice suddenly got more serious as we entered this room.

"As a human living in the underground, Mystics and other creatures may attack" Stress nodded towards a dummy standing close by. "You will need to be prepared for this situation. However, worry not! The process is simple."

"When you encounter a Mystic or any other creature, you will enter a fight. While you are in a fight, strike up a friendly conversation."

The words 'fight' and 'friendly conversation' probably shouldn't be in the same sentence. Ever.

"Stall for time, I will come to resolve the conflict. Practice talking to the dummy."

"Ok..?" I went to the dummy, which just slightly taller than me.

The red heart from earlier appeared, and four options appeared as well.

• Fight

• Act

• Item

• Spare

Clicking Act, two more options appeared. Check and talk. I chose talk.

"Umm.. hi Mr. Dummy?" I tried, no response, obviously. But Stress seemed happy with me so that's good.

"Ah, very good! You are very good." She patted my head gently, I was a small child. I didn't mind it. She guided me to the next room.

"There is another puzzle in this room..." She flashed an almost childish smile. "I wonder if you can solve it?"

I followed after her, a little confused as to what she meant, when something crashed into my leg. I looked down and it's a frog, it's head reaching my knee.

I was displayed with same four options again and wondered if this is what Stress meant by 'puzzle.'

However, instead of the options just saying Check and Talk, it now said Check, Compliment, or Threat.

Choosing Compliment, I said. "Hey Mr. Froggy, you're looking very- um- nice today!"

The frog blinked twice.

"Froggit didn't understand what you said but was flattered anyway."

That voice again! Where was it coming from?!

Stress gave the Froggit a look, and it scurried away. I had so many questions to ask her. What was that yellow light I saw? Could she hear the voice too?

Stress went over to a path completely cover in spikes. "Is this the puzzle?"

Stress nodded and had me take her hand. The places where we walked seemed to have fake spikes, because whenever Stress stepped on them, they'd disappear into the floor.

Stress commented, saying how the puzzles were a bit too dangerous for now. The next room was a long one,  it's walls stretching on for a long time.

Stress requested something from me. She said to walk to the end of the room, all by myself. I felt a little offended. I mean, I know I'm a young teen, but it started to feel like she was treating me like a little kid.

Regardless, I followed her instructions. At the end of the room, there was a large pillar, and I could see something purple poking out.

"Hello?" I poked my gead around the corner. It was Stress, hiding with a small smile on her face.

Stress came out from behind it and explained how she never left, and she wanted to test my independence, and how she had to 'attend to some business.' Which meant I'd be alone for awhile.

Stress gifted me a cell phone, that way if I ran into trouble, I could call her. After promising her I'd be good, she left.

After a ling time of absolutely nothing happening, I decided to head to the next room. I know, I know, it's bad to wander away from the spot a person left you because they can cone back and then not find you. But I was bored of waiting.

*Ring*

"Hello? This is Stress. You have not left the room, have you?"

Time to see how good my lying skills are.

"Yeah, I'm still waiting for you. Why do you ask?"

"There are a few puzzles ahead that I have yet to explain. It would be dangerous to try to solve them yourself. Be good, alright?"

"Alright."

*Click...*

Ok, so I've gotta be careful going further in.

I looked around the room. Right in front of me was another of those weird lights. To my left was another Froggit, but they looked like they didn't even care I was there.

Reaching out, I grasped the yellow light tightly, letting it's energy run through me. The leaves crinkled under my weight.

Playfully crinkling through the leaves fills you with determination.

At this point, I'd gotten used to the disembodied voice. So it came as shock when I turned around to see a boy my age, maybe a bit older, standing behind me.

He had a blue shirt with an @ sign, blackish brown hair, kinda pale skin, and grey eyes that sparkled slightly behind his glasses. But weirdest part was, he was translucent. I could see right through him! He gave me a friendly wave.

"Hello."

"Um, hi?" Was he some type of ghost?

"My name's Joe, who might you be?" He playfully grinned.

"False. False Symmetry."

"Pleased to meet you, Falsey."