It was termination. Nothing but complete termination of the zones. They were all desolate and white by now, courtesy of the Batter. The vast empty corridors, once inhabited proudly by Elsen and reigned by the Guardians of the zones, were replaced by echoes of realists, nemesis planted on the metal floorings by none other than the baseball-esque-clad, hubris-attired purifier himself. Somewhere far away, a cat mourned for the loss of all who once settled, all mistaken as deadly specters, muttering speeches of regret under his breath. Though he hated admitting it, he was, without doubt, purring elegies in regards to the Batter as well, the one he had slain without ever intending to. But what he didn't know is that elsewhere, at the very borders of the 'purified' zones, a masked merchant was still busy tending to beloved matters.

His voice was unspeakably reassuring, as if nothing had happened. Yet the Batter knew that there was a slight hint of matter-of-factness in his tone when he spoke. "Buenos dias, purifier."

The Batter bolted straight up in shock, looking at him in awe. The first thing that came to his mind is that he had thought he was already dead. Perhaps, he thought, he was in the afterlife. But he hadn't imagined that it'd be practically the same, and that Zacharie was there with him, and that the area - wait, room..? Was making him wobble. No, it wasn't dizziness nor the effects of recently waking up, it was something else he questioned, and he demanded an answer.

"Where am I?" He implored boldly, and by the sounds of it, relieved that nothing much had changed either. He glared at Zacharie, sitting right adjacent to him, a chuckle reverberating behind his mask.

"Certainly not in the afterlife yet," he replied pertly. "You're in a monorail, friend."

The Batter looked at him with a stoic, unconvinced face. "This doesn't look like a monorail.''

''Indeed. Not the one you were expecting, is it not?'' Zacharie sighed and took a pause before opening his mouth, but the Batter didn't register it. ''How did I survive?''

Zacharie sank in his seat and relaxed his arms behind his head, his legs crossed in addition. ''I must say, congratulations for purifying the zones.'' He snickered, much to the Batter's apparent displeasure and how seriously he took it all. ''On the other hand, you did manage to eradicate all life that flourished and thrived there.''

''How did I survive?''

''Ah ah ah. I see you're quite impatient,'' he hummed. ''Long story short, you're welcome.''

Awkward silence. Zacharie was reluctant.

''This is the monorail that leads to Ebion. Fortunately, your pagan quest didn't involve setting foot into Ebion as there were, of course, nil phantoms. And so it was preserved. Remaining Elsen reside there. They will be expecting you. And your apologies as well. They're not very pleased with what you've done.''

The Batter opened his mouth to retort, but instead asked a questioning, ''Where is the Judge?''

''Zone 0. Sulking.'' The amusement from his voice has nearly vanished. ''We're almost there.''

Zacharie sat up and looked away. Clearly he's ruminating and clearly it's brought him some pain. The Batter shrugged this off, held captive by all his questions that he's hesitant to ask and waited until they finally arrived.

Zacharie got up and stretched. He took the lead and walked out, Batter following behind.

''Watch your step.'' Zacharie laughed and stepped back as the Batter paid no mind to him, greeted by nothing but an aqueous mess thanks to taking an unfazed step into the lake. The masked boy climbed onto the small boat and lent the Batter a hand as he recovered and got up, liquid plastic dripping everywhere. Zacharie pulled out an oar and started rowing, the Batter looking ahead.

The Batter was somewhat upset.

But most of all, he was anxious.

Very anxious.

''The puppeteer doesn't control you now, does he?''

''Not anymore.''

Zacharie nodded and sighed contently, boarding the dock. The sunset was barely skimming the brine, plastic water, the ripples of the boat glistening from the light. The Batter, still a bit damp, got up alongside him, eyes slanted due to the brightness.

An Elsen stood on the other side of the dock, idling. He glanced at them and took a deep, throaty breath. ''Oh, you're back...''

''Did you miss me?'' It didn't take a genius to know that Zacharie was simpering madly.

''Hhhh...the others...are waiting for you two,'' the fray Elsen croaked. Zacharie patted his head and turned back to the Batter, reaching out a hand. The Batter refused in an unfaltering manner and Zacharie simply turned on his heel and walked to the village.

The village was mostly colored with coal, making it look dark and the pavement warm. There were ruins all over, and to everyone's surprise, just the slightest bit of mossy, tattered vegetation was scattered all over. The land was scarcely populous, save for the few Elsen who shuffled their way to acknowledge the two, chanting sheepishly and shooting vehement glares at the Batter, to which he eschewed them off. ''It's him! It's him! That's the monster!''

''Everyone,'' Zacharie began. The Elsen watched attentively. ''We'll sort this all out later...right now..'' He stretched and yawned, intentionally trying to prove a point as the Elsen gave no reply. It was only a trice of a moment before the Elsen gave curt approvals and skittered back to their homes.

Zacharie turned to the Batter with a huff. ''Well, we managed to weasel our way out of that one.'' The Batter waved this off and they resumed walking.

A while passed and they had arrived at a small, dome-like structure that served as a humble abode for Zacharie. The masked boy quickly picked the lock, fumbling with it at some, finally opening it and then propping himself on the seat of a nearby desk. There were a few chairs surrounding a table in the middle and a desk at the corner. A large window was located right at the end of the room and there were a few blankets and pillows just in front of it.

''Sleep wherever you want. The stuff's in the closet.''

The Batter acceded and pulled a mattress out of the closet, positioning it just beside Zacharie's slumber area and laying down on it.

In no time, the Batter hastily fell asleep. Zacharie, however, stayed up for most of the night, scribbling some notes on a few pieces of papers, shoulders tensed and eyebrows furrowed in concentration before finally giving way. He staggered onto his bed, making sure not to step on the Batter, who was out like a light. He couldn't help though but gaze longingly at him - the one whom he had saved and who swore to protect Zacharie himself. He figured he liked it better when the Batter was asleep; he looked much more relaxed and at ease, so unlike his usual, somewhat smug scowl.

Zacharie derided mentally at himself. That was no doubt a rather absurd observation. He gave an exhale and threw himself on the bed, somewhat uneasy. It took a while, but then he finally succumbed to a dreamless sleep along with the Batter.

''Zacharie.''

Yawn.

''Zacharie.''

''What...?'' The merchant looked at the Batter with lidded eyes. The Batter sat up.

''...Why am I really here?''

''Because you're alive...? And you need a place to live.'' Zacharie's voice was groggy.

''I know. But if there's no specters than why am I here?''

''Because... specters shouldn't be the only reason why you're here. That's unfair.''

''No it isn't.''

Zacharie groaned. ''So what? You want me to kill you now? You know I couldn't do that. Not now. Not ever.''

''I need to go to the Room. Find the switch and turn it off.''

''If you do that none of us will survive.''

''...Then that's how it's supposed to be.'' The Batter got up.

Zacharie was slow to react. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at him. ''No, please don't do that.''

''...''

''Look, I know it's hard. And I probably can't change your mind by now. But I can help you. Just not now. You'll see.''

''...''

''Trust me. It'll all come along soon enough, I promise.''