After a long and fruitless discussion, Lixs found himself more confused than ever about the book's true meaning. about the book's true meaning. Zaresha suggested it might refer to a place of scenic beauty.
However, this only deepened their confusion. What kind of place did "scenic beauty" even mean?
Zaresha nodded slowly.
"Perhaps it's one of Caelum's characteristics," she murmured.
Silence descended.
"What if we return to that place and ask again?" Virellia suggested.
They agreed. Without hesitation, they returned to Vurce, hoping to uncover more about Caelum. But Vurce, once bustling, was now eerily quiet and deserted. Lixs and Zuxsin fell silent, submerged in the strange atmosphere.
Lixs took a slow, steady breath, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
Vurce was usually teeming with life, but upon their return, the atmosphere had drastically changed. Streets once crowded with merchants and the sounds of passersby were now silent. A cold wind carried a chill, and a thin mist veiled the city's narrow alleys. The vibrant colors of the lantern lights seemed dim, as if even light was reluctant to linger.
Around them, ancient buildings stood in silent vigil. Shop signs swayed gently in the breeze, producing soft creaks that felt eerie in the stillness.
"What's happening? Why has Vurce suddenly become like this?"
Without warning, the book in Zuxsin's hands pulsed with a thick, black aura. Ink bled across the once-blank pages, as if the book were writing itself.
The endless darkness slowly faded. Silence returned. Virellia, seemingly understanding the words, propelled them with her power.
A sudden force hurled them backward as black fissures ripped through the air. Lixs and Zuxsin gaped at the fissures floating before their eyes.
When things returned to normal, the city's bustle resumed as if nothing had happened. People resumed their trading, children's laughter drifted from a distance, and the aroma of street food filled the air. Lights hung along the main street, reflecting a warm glow on the slick stone pavement.
The once pitch-black Vurce gradually returned to its former state. The cheers of the people rang out. Zaresha, injured from a fall onto the stone, painfully struggled to her feet.
Blood flowed from her knee, staining her fingers. Lixs and Zuxsin rushed to her side, tending to her wounds.
Her wounds mended slowly, the blood receding as if time itself reversed.
But Lixs and Zuxsin still pondered one thing: where had Virellia gone? When they reopened the book, they were shocked—the pages, once filled, were blank again.
Zaresha glanced at the book.
"That book… it might be the cause of all this."
Lixs nodded. He suggested discarding it or giving it to someone to prevent similar incidents.
But Zuxsin remained silent, staring at the book, thinking of his sister's fate. He assured Lixs it was unrelated.
They fell silent.
Zaresha finally broke the silence. "What if we return to Vurce? Someone there might know how to fix this."Maybe someone knows how to solve this."
They agreed. The three returned to Vurce. Lights shone, a cold wind pierced their bodies, the hustle and bustle of commerce returned—all blending together in the city.
Meanwhile, Virellia had entered a rift in the dimension, suspended in time. She saw past and future events. The horrifying visions brought her to her knees. Desperation clawed at her mind. How do I get out of here?
On the other hand, Lixs approached an old man in front of his shop.
"Excuse me, I'd like to ask…" he began.
The old man shook his head, surprised.
"Impossible… I've lived seventy years, but this is the first time I've heard of someone escaping that."
"That? What do you mean? Has anyone else experienced this?"
"Fifty-six," the old man replied. "That's the number of people who disappeared and never returned to this world."
Lixs fell silent, his eyes widening. He wondered, "Can Virellia come back?"
The old man chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you a newcomer to Vurce?"
"No," Lixs lied, though a single name echoed in his mind: Caelum.
The man's surprise turned to seriousness.
"Caelum? How do you know that name?"
Lixs feigned confusion.
"What do you mean? I didn't mention that name…"
The old man was intrigued. He began to recount that Caelum was a beautiful place with waterfalls, rivers, and breathtaking scenery. But it wasn't the beauty that people sought—it was the ancient power sealed within.
"So there's a power there that many people seek… Do you know where it is?" Lixs asked.
"You fool," the man said. "If I knew, I wouldn't be living peacefully here. Many crave that power. If you find it, you'll be hunted by the power-hungry."
Though disappointed, Lixs thanked him for the information. He immediately sought out Zuxsin and Zaresha to tell them everything.
After searching every corner, he finally spotted them beneath the fox statue—a sacred animal in Vurce.
The large statue in the city center was a focal point. It depicted a seated fox with its head raised, carved from white stone that reflected the surrounding lights. The fox was considered sacred by the people of Vurce—a symbol of wisdom and protection.
As night fell, Vurce transformed into a city alive in a different way. Colored lights hung along the alleys, traditional music drifted from small taverns, and the sounds of bargaining echoed from the night market. But beneath the merriment, there was always an inexplicable mysterious aura—as if the city held deep, ancient secrets.
"Strange…" he muttered.
"What did the old man say?" Zuxsin asked.
"Caelum is a beautiful place with sealed power. But he doesn't know its location."
"Maybe we can look for other clues," Zaresha said.
Lixs sighed.
"But what if we leave without Virellia?"
"So…" Lixs and Zuxsin said in unison.
Zaresha chuckled. "You two finishing each other's thoughts now? That's new."
Zuxsin began discussing the mysteries of Vurce and the possibility of someone entering the dimensional rift. Lixs interrupted,
"But Virellia isn't an ordinary human. How could she get in there?"
"Maybe she could. But earlier, I saw Zensh from your sword flowing into Virellia's body," Zuxsin's brow furrowed. "I saw Zensh flowing into her body…"
The Zensh allowed Virellia to take human form. Zuxsin suggested Lixs withdraw the Zensh. Though hesitant, Lixs tried. Several minutes passed. There was no sign of Virellia's return. Frustrated, Lixs questioned Zuxsin's plan.
Zaresha tried to calm them.
"Enough, don't argue."
Lixs grew suspicious.
"How did you know I gave Zensh to Virellia?"
Zuxsin swallowed hard.
"Sight. It's the ability to see and detect Zensh."
Lixs fell silent, then asked,
"So we'll still look for Caelum?"
Zaresha smiled, seeing Lixs, once emotional, now calmer.
A cold night wind blew. They sought lodgings to rest. Vurce at night remained vibrant, full of entertainment and activity.
Their inn appeared grand from the outside. The building was tall, with large glass windows and neatly arranged marble pillars. Light from chandeliers illuminated every corner, giving a warm and luxurious feel. Upon entering, a red carpet greeted them, with neatly dressed servants standing near the door to welcome guests.
Their room was spacious and comfortable. There was a soft bed, a large window with thick curtains, and a small table adorned with a fresh flower vase. The city's sounds were faint from outside, but inside, everything felt calm. They entered the room, resting to prepare for the next day. The room lights were extinguished.
When morning came, sunlight filtered through the curtain gaps, softly illuminating the room. The morning air was still cool, and the city outside looked different from the night before. The streets seemed deserted, like a city just waking from a long slumber.
Lixs jolted awake, startled to find the room empty. Panic set in as he scanned the room. to find his friends gone. He immediately looked around, trying to find them."
Lixs quickly prepared and hurried outside. In his haste, he accidentally bumped into several people at the inn, until he finally found Zuxsin and Zaresha walking towards him.
"Why did you leave without saying anything?"
Zaresha laughed. "I tried waking you—twice. You didn't budge."
Lixs scratched the back of his head, offering a sheepish grin.