An attempt at explanation

Youngwoo stiffened on spot, shocked. No, wait, what was actually happening?! He looked at Iris, who reciprocated the look. She was somewhat annoyed by Ieva's appearance, but there was also a clear glint of anticipation. Was she waiting for this to happen?

"I wondered what would happen to her." She said. "Seems like she came around with us. Interesting."

"...?" He raised an eyebrow, not wanting to ask the question. Well, he wanted to, but he didn't want to ask just yet. First, he had to sort things out with Ieva so that she'd not hold him at knife's edge.

But to his surprise, it was the blonde woman who asked his question:

"What do you mean?!" She growled a little. "What did you do to me?"

"Che." Iris let out a short sigh, like she was dealing with an annoying person.

'So she does see Iris?! Wait, but... how?!' A thought rang in Youngwoo's mind. Carefully, he asked:

"Ieva... what are you doing? Please... we can talk peacefully." He sounded calm thanks to Calm Mind, but he felt his entire body wanted to shudder. No, this situation was straight up weird. Moreover, it looked like Iris knew what was going on.

"You begin talking or I'm slashing him!" Ieva brought her knife a little bit higher, resting the blade on his sternum.

"Che." Iris put on a little pout. "You can't threaten him."

"Ieva..."

"You shut up." The small blonde barked at him. Then, she turned to Iris. "Answer me." She brought the blade even higher. Actually, it kind of rested just below his neck, its outline just barely visible under the shirt. If she made a quick jab, she'd pierce his aortas, and he'd die in seconds.

Iris snorted in an action of ridicule. It looked like the whole situation seemed like a joke to her. But, neither of the two who were with her followed. Seeing their reactions, she rolled her eyes.

"Che. You really are dense." She looked at Youngwoo. "This woman regressed with us. She remembers what happened."

"...what?" Ieva asked. "No... you fucking trickster. What trickery is this? Answer me now!" She said, careful so as not to let any person around see what was happening (well, the closest ones were about 50 metres from them, so that wasn't too difficult).

"My Wardstone is bound to you." Iris completely ignored Ieva, and instead started explaining the situation to Youngwoo. "It means that the subspace I'm in is bound to you. When you regress, so do I. Do you follow?"

"...so far." He replied hesitantly.

"But, you are not the original owner. She bound my Wardstone to herself first, and you **** the binding in accordance to the Tower's quest. And she got a skill from it that connects her magic essence with mine. In other words, there is a line of connection between her and me."

"...so she's a stowaway in our regressions?"

"Exactly."

"Wait, what?!" Ieva listened to the explanation and only felt the situation become more convoluted. Moreover, she felt irritation. "Stop fucking ignoring me!" She put the knife at Youngwoo's skin and pierced ever so little skin, bringing him pain.

However, she was surprised by his next action. He grabbed her hand gently. He didn't grunt with pain or even grit his teeth. His grip was strong and she couldn't break out of it, but the way in which he guided her hand ever so slightly away from his skin was very careful, as if he was afraid of using too much strength.

"Let me go!" She rose her voice, striding around him just a little bit. Facing him, she aimed a direct blow at his face. However, he grabbed her hand by wrist.

"Hey, hey, Ieva." He started speaking in a calming manner. "Let's tal-" But he didn't get to finish his sentence.

Breaking away from him ever so slightly, Ieva pulled the knife away and kicked him in his crotch. Feeling a surge of pain, Youngwoo suddenly knelled, letting go of her hand. Ouch... why did it have to be nuts?! He was expecting her to bash at him with her head, but didn't consider her attacking his lower half. Ouch, that hurt.

Meanwhile, feeling her hand free, Ieva took a few steps back. Knife still in her hand, she aimed it at him. No, this situation was too much for her. She spent only about a minute with the two, but she found herself just barely able to think straight. This was overloading her brain. Hell, at this rate she'd soon need to be put in a coma to calm down. But she still needed her answers.

First of all, why was Iris here in the first place? Ieva didn't see her before with Youngwoo, and she clearly was connected to her newly acquired skill, but how could she just appear now? Wasn't she only present after she bound the Wardstone in that weird dream? And the second issue: Why was Ieva called a 'stowaway'?! And what did it mean, 'regression'?! 'No... what the fuck is happening anymore?!' She thought with outrage, seeing how Youngwoo was starting to slowly get up.

"E-Explain this. Why are you with Shadow Cult?! Who is she?! What the fuck is happening?!" Her voice was shaky, and so was her hand, but she **** herself to act as calm as she could.

'Hell, not like I have much a choice, do I?' He thought momentarily. No, if Ieva regresses with them as Iris said, he'd need to have a talk with her anyway. Better sooner than later. Besides, it'd be tricky to deal with her if she were to send her drones after him. No, he needed to calm her down and explain the situation to her as soon as he could.

"...please calm down." He rose his hands lightly. "You need to calm down first, Ieva."

"No... no no no. You're not gonna trick me again. Answers. Now."

Suddenly, they heard Iris' voice:

"Che. Stupid like a child." Who was she talking to, actually? "This man is a regressor. When he dies, he comes back in time."

"...?" Ieva looked at Iris momentarily, and then back at Youngwoo. "...what?"

"That's true." He nodded lightly. "I know it's difficult to believe, but... I really do."

"..." Ieva... well, it was difficult to say what she was thinking. Well, she couldn't just believe Youngwoo's words, but... there was something about his words that sounded... right.

No, wait, it must've been what Donnie was talking about. She took a step back.

"Don't you fucking dare try to hallucinate me." She growled. "I know your dirty trick."

"...?" Youngwoo made a perplexed expression. What was this woman speaking of? "...I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes you do." She replied. "Now, I want the truth. Who are you? Why are you with Shadow Cult?"

"Why the hell do you think I'm with Shadow Cult?"

"Don't bullshit me. You were with Mobius just today."

"...Mobius?" He looked even more surprised. "Who the hell are you talking about, Ieva?!"

"..." She looked at him. No, she shouldn't believe he doesn't know who Mobius is. But... deep inside her, she subconsciously knew he was telling her the truth.

"Look... I'm not with Shadow Cult, alright? I have no clue who Mobius is."

"..." She squinted her eyes at him. "Arthur Page. That's his full name."

Suddenly, Youngwoo's eyes widened.

"He's Mobius?" He closed his eyes momentarily, trying to figure out why that was actually important. "But... who's Mobius, anyway?"

"..." 'Is he acting? It... weirdly enough doesn't look like he is. No, even Norma wouldn't be able to act like that.' "...he's second in command of Shadow Cult." She observed his reaction, feeling her heartbeat slow down ever so much.

Youngwoo looked at her, and then at Iris. The floating woman shrugged in response. 'I mean, I get it, Shadow Cult means bad, but mister Page seemed to be quite nice... but then again... he didn't seem normal. He seemed quite powerful... there might be something to what she's saying.'

"...okay, I get it. You think that I know him?" He asked, and seeing a tiny spark in Ieva's eyes, he got his confirmation. "I know you won't believe me easily, but I really didn't know him before today, nor did I know he is Mobius."

"..."

"Listen, Ieva... I have nothing to do with Shadow Cult. I just want to climb the Tower."

"..." She looked at him, but she was clearly thinking deeply about something.

They stood in one spot for a few more seconds. Slowly, Ieva hid the knife into her pocket. She looked at Youngwoo, but her eyes had no real focus. Was she simply too confused, too lost. No, she'd need a long rest and a thorough explanation to understand. She felt her legs getting a little wobbly.

"I... I don't get it." She said. "Why... why does it all feel real?" She wasn't even sure what she was truly asking. For at least a few minutes, one of the most brilliant people in the Tower became a babbling mess in front of Youngwoo. "Then... no... I... I... n-need to... think..."

Slowly, over the course of nearly 10 minutes of standing in one spot, she started piecing the fragments together. No... her mind stopped. She was unable to compile everything together. In reality, she'd need a day or two off. Why did it make sense? The reason the Shadow Cult would stay around him... the reason she had that new skill... the reason she remembered... yes... for some reason, she felt that this man was speaking truth.

Suddenly, her limbs went limp. Her brain was overloaded to the brim, and it was like it short-circuited. Completely out of blue, she lost consciousness and fell to the ground, to surprise of the two who were watching her.

[A/N: A messy chapter, but that's supposed to show how messy it looks to Ieva. Barely anything makes sense.]