>>5502521 “Why are you here? And where exactly, are we?” You exclaim, naturally embarrassed by where you are currently placed—yet sensing the clear teasing that the bat-themed woman was trying to do. You instead calmed down and chose not to let her rouse you into an outburst.
“Well, don’t you remember? You made Gothika, otherwise formally known as Asteroth your familiar and banished her from the physical plan by speaking her name, her real name. Hence, we’re in limbo, or rather the mental space version of it and not the intermediate state. It’s the only way I could currently communicate with you while abiding by the evocation. Although, that won’t matter since you’ll be leaving Gotham anyway.” Barbatos explains, reminding you with the cheeky waggling of her finger.
“Like inception?” You say, thinking back on that movie as the principle made the entire realm make all the more sense to you.
“Yes, exactly like inception. Time dilation is far stronger here than in the upper echelons of the dreamscape. One hour in the real world can equal to nearly a year (333 days) here.” Barbatos nods.“So, let’s say that you slept for ten hours in the real world. In the first level, it would only be a week (8.3 days), in the second it becomes six months (5.47 months), and in the third, it’ll be ten years (9.1 years). So, by that, can you solve how long it’ll be in here, the purgatory of dream space?”
Thinking about it for a moment, recalling the imprecise math from the movie before refining the 1:20 ratio entirely based on the information fed to you. Before long you inevitably came to an answer, which by its very concept caused your eyes to widen. “a hundred and eighty years....”
“Wow, you really are astute, perceptive too. Yes, I chose this place precisely since it’ll be the easiest to converse with you without any outside interference. After all, you’re gradually becoming a big name in the otherworldly realms. Ms. Successor.” Barbatos smiles, clapping her hands in delight.
“Right, ignoring the potential condescendence you’re giving me, I’m just going to ask this. You said you had to abide by your master upon swapping places with Asteroth. Who exactly is your master? Why exactly did you feel like it was necessary to hijack Asteroth’s placement in the first place? Not many people would willingly throw themselves into the bus like that.” You curtly ask again, trying not to get swept by the dragon’s antics and take control of the conversation.
