"Yes... YES!"
A vicious, windy vortex swirled out of control under a forest of stalagmites, tearing and shredding bases, gems, and underground pools out from nowhere.
It howled like a thousand wolves, glowing with a purple light. Its portal dragged along with the chaos.
The underground tornado carved the cavern's terrain with its vicious winds, moving on its own as if the vortex were alive.
As the destructive force ravaged everything underground, witnesses gathered nearby. They praised the vortex and used their ancient technology to influence it, gesturing and chanting in unison.
"Almighty torrent of wind, grant us your blessing and wreak havoc upon Linuxinia! Justice for The Princess!"
The winds howled louder. Four silhouettes raised their arms and unleashed a monumental magenta laser straight through the inevitable force of nature. The entire bottomless cavern glowed a bright, purple hue.
"YES! LET ALL HELL REIGN FROM BELOW!"
The devilish-shaped silhouette aggressively gripped its own horn, tore it from its head with a snarl, and threw five innocent people into the gusting tornado. In that moment of brutality, a dark thought crossed its mind, whispering the driving force behind its chaos: 'Only the destruction of innocence can restore the balance that was once lost.' The silhouette believed that by sacrificing the pure and blameless, it could summon the power necessary to exact vengeance for sins of the ancient past.
Pink blood oozed out from the gaping hole in the being, spreading and splattering at all the screaming souls and mixing with the winds.
The monster laughed maniacally as the force of nature ripped and tore the souls, consuming and growing toward the surface.
"CHAOS! CHAOS! CHAOS!"
And despite tossing souls in, the monster itself was so mentally deranged that it lobbed itself inside the tornado, shredding him and consuming his soul.
The winds roared, the funnel expanded, and the moment of pure chaos was inevitable.
The Ending was successful. Silence took over. Meanwhile, above ground...
* * *
Ubel grunted, pushing his soft gray hair back.
"Something... bad? Do you know what it is?"
Jesica shook her head and crossed her arms, washing away the severe look on her face. The four carriages had departed from the hotel, driving and rolling their way to Linuxinia City harbor.
As the carriage rolled and bumped, Jesica replied with a honeyed voice, fidgeting with her lavender hair.
"Nothing...major. My magic is distorted, so I'm not entirely sure what it is. Now stop asking me, little rabbit. I don't deserve to speak to peasants such as you."
Asahi twitched his eye.
"Stop calling people that. It's degrading and rude."
Ubel's midnight-blue eyes widened in shock. It seemed that he had some connection with Jesica, quickly swooping in and warning Asahi.
"It's just a habit of hers. Get over it. Jesica always calls people rabbits."
Aletha turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Eh?"
"Just ignore her. It won't be long until we arrive. Remember, she's wealthy."
(The man's right.)
Asahi sneered and mumbled, gritting his teeth.
(Not now, Telos.)
. . .
As the carriage passed through a traffic jam of people and others within the streets, the wanderer sat back and relaxed, peering through the crease behind the carriage. The driver informed, while Aletha peeked through.
"If you want, you can open the zipper of the carriage just a little bit."
The wanderers nodded.
"Okay."
The driver resumed.
"But don't open it too far, or you will--
A gust of fresh wind blew through, soothing their pores and carrying floral scents.
Aletha took a deep breath, her back pressed firmly against the chair, and spoke.
"Whoa! It smells so good. Barbeque... Cake... Cheese... yummy!~."
Asahi backed up and darted his eyes to the front of the carriage. He questioned Aletha with a look of flabbergasted astonishment on his face.
"Didn't you just eat dozens of cookies? I thought your appetite would be satisfied by now."
Aletha's face turned a deep red in discomfiture, hearing others gasp around her.
She quivered, nodded with guilt, and swallowed hard, feeling a wave of regret rise inside her.
"Y...Yeah..." Avoiding the situation, Aletha interrupted Asahi with a question, pointing her finger and making a cute gesture. "So, anyways... can you tell me why your tattoo is glowing? Where were you in the morning?"
Telos' voice declared in Asahi's mind.
(Don't tell too much, but also don't tell too little to Aletha. I don't want your sister to be traumatized now. You here?)
Asahi bent down to his tattoo and questioned.
"What do you mean?"
(You know exactly what I mean.)
Asahi hunched his shoulders and paced, his voice sounding unnecessarily nervous.
"U...Um, how would I put it this way? Do you remember a man named Telos? The guy we met back in Pladtioa?"
Aletha gasped, her eyes dilated in shock.
"Telos? Yeah, I do. That dark-haired man who has a very deep voice? Wait, are you telling me he's here?!"
Asahi scratched his head, his voice chiming down to an anxious tone.
"Well, not exactly."
Asahi paused and took a deep breath before sharing what had happened. "Remember Telos? That man with the deep voice we met back in Pladtioa?" he started, glancing at Aletha's reaction. She nodded slowly. "Well,"Asahi continued, choosing his words carefully, "Telos... he's gone. I mean, not entirely. His soul, it's a part of me now." Aletha's eyes widened in disbelief, but Asahi pressed on, recounting the unsettling but vivid memory of that night. "I still hear his voice in my head, guiding me, warning me about the cult and their plans. He knew all about them, the Tenth Eye, and the danger they pose. It's like he's left behind this... map in my mind." Aletha listened in stunned silence, grappling with this new revelation.
Her face was paralyzed at how much her brother had experienced in just a short time.
Most of it sounded like a fever dream to her.
While the carriage bumped again, Aletha replied with a rising voice.
"A... cult? Telos is inside your body? How is that even possible?! Can he hear me right now?"
Asahi stopped Aletha and whispered.
"Shh. Yes, yes... Telos can hear you clearly."
He heard light chuckles sound in his mind. Telos' voice sounded much more lenient and laid back than when Asahi first heard him.
(Of course, I can )
Asahi pressed his lips together, silent for a moment as Telos's chuckles echoed in his mind.
"Y...Yes... I know."
Telos' tone became more serious.
(Hold on. Asahi, that lavender-haired girl is right. A disturbance lingers beneath the nation. I suggest you heed that warning and don't tread too far out of the city. I believe this ceremony could be more of a "trap" than a gathering.)
Zeru's sharp eyes darted to Asahi. Suspicion lingered within his mind, seeing his appearance shine out from the rest and hearing Ubel chatter.
"... and now that I have arrived in this nation, I feel like all my magic has disappeared. I had to manually fight my way to get into the city, along with my peers."
Ubel finished while grabbing a glass of water from the crates.
Zeru nodded and sighed.
"I had the same trouble, too."
Aurelia nodded and brushed her silky golden hair.
I, too, have also faced the same stead. Once I arrived from the border of Zomrack, passing through the vast valleys, my flight magic was inevitably stopped when I touched Linuxinia's soil. Rumors among the magic users speak of an ancient force buried deep beneath the city. Some say it is the remnants of a powerful barrier created long ago to protect its secrets, while others whisper of a creature that feeds on magical energy like a silent guardian of the past. Whatever the truth, the unpredictability of magic here adds another layer of mystery to this place.
Zeru nodded silently, pushed his sienna-brown hair to the side, and sighed. Cinnamon-blemished skin blended with lances of sunlight. He brushed leaves from his blue-black suit, fiddled with his gleaming golden gem necklace, and closed his eyes, mumbling.
"It appears that all of us could relate to such absences. I couldn't use my power as well. Perhaps, that's why I have seen the Raven Man use his feet rather than his wings because of the sheer lack of energy."
While the carriages slowly passed through a sea of individuals, with the oceanic breeze blowing with the vast sunlight, Zeru pushed himself off the barrel and grabbed the handle.
"Whatever is going on, it doesn't look good. But now's not the time." He made a gesture to Asahi and Aletha, acknowledging them. "Hey, the two siblings in the back. Yeah, you two."
Aletha was showing the sketch she had made inside her hotel room.
"Look what I drew!"
"Huh?"
Asahi saw the vivid dark lines and the massive tail that took up half of the paper. He couldn't help but feel proud of her sister's talent. Aletha continued.
"Cool, right? I think I've regained a smidge of my powers. I can summon paper from thin air!"
Asahi's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Oh, that's nice."
Asahi and Aletha jumped up, hearing Zeru's voice shout at them.
"Hey, you two!"
Asahi and Aletha stopped their discussion and drew attention to the dark-skinned man. He opened the carriage door, and loud chatter rushed in, blinding sunlight flooding the carriage.
Zeru bowed down and introduced himself, noticing that Aurelia, Ubel, and Jesica had exited the carriage.
"I'll make my introduction brief. My name is Zeru; you may see that I originate from the dunes of Zomrack, but that isn't your worry. Please, step out of the vehicle and be careful not to trip over."
The siblings answered with a cheerful, energetic tone.
"Okay!"
* * *
Exiting the carriage, Asahi and Aletha noticed that their carriage had arrived a little too early.
They couldn't even see the other three carriages, forcing the entire group to wait for all of them.
(The beauty is just as it was years ago.)
A hot skirmish filled the crowded streets, bursting with people, markets, and animals.
All the buildings were blanketed in a pensive, hazy golden light, each varying in height but forming a glorious sight.
Aletha gasped while she lay her hand against the railing, watching the city slope downwards to the busy docks.
"Wow! It's so pretty!"
Asahi couldn't help but smile, seeing the pillars of white puffy clouds drifting across the azure horizon.
All could see the shimmering sea in the background and noticed that the perilous green mountains were much more visible than they had been yesterday, with all their lush greenery reflecting the bright light.
While waiting for the others to arrive, Asahi pulled out his magical notebook, grabbed a pen, and turned to a page, writing to pass the time.
[This street is shrouded with individuals. With so many different styles and fashions of hair, attire, and bodies, it's unbelievable that there are this many people. Pladtioa is nothing compared to this.]
Asahi's eyes caught Jesica arguing with a large man in the background. He chuckled lightly and continued.
[I watched the sunrise and heard chatter bouncing off from corner to corner. My sister was too bored, so she continued drawing on the back of her sketch, drawing a beautiful landscape with... what looked like cookies?]
"Hey! Stop looking!" Aletha shrieked with a pouty face.
Asahi scratched his head and sighed.
"I'm not... I'm not."
[I know Aletha is creative, but she could be very secretive, too.]
(Ten minutes later.)
At last, the remaining three carriages arrived from the large stone ramp, with Drimi's head poking out the window, and the sounds of activity lingering within the urban atmosphere.
She had no time to mess around.
When her carriage and the other two parked near an alleyway, Drimi raised her hand and yelled.
"Alright, everybody off. See those two white-haired people standing near the railings over there?"
The riders answered.
"Yeah."
Drimi made a gesture and pushed her dark hair to the side.
"I want all of you to follow them, okay!"
On the second carriage, Kali jumped out and sprinted to Asahi at full speed, pushing through the crowds without hesitation.
Her hair gleamed and shone with the sunlight, wrapping her arms around Asahi and whispering.
"S... Stay close to me."
"Kali? What are you doing?!"
(Again, Asahi. It's not the time to fool around. I sense the presence growing ever so closer.)
Kali's eyes sparkled with awe seeing Asahi's tattoo glow in a flashing pattern on his chest.
"Ooo!"
Asahi was overwhelmed by the constant barrage of thoughts that were flooding through him. And to make it worse, a loud voice sounded out from the approaching colorful group.
"Hey, feces face!"
Kali backed away.
"Eh?"
She turned to Asahi and asked, her tone conveying confusion.
"Is he talking to you?"
Asahi nodded.
"Yeah."
While looking back, he saw Devlin, Phthonus, Sally, and other new faces approach them. Drimi, who stood in the front group, raised her hand and pointed at the street curving downward. She raised her confident voice and announced to the people as they passed by.
"Alright, listen up! I know this group is large, and there are distractions everywhere, but I want all of you to stay together. I don't want to go through the hassle of finding you guys. You here?"
Everyone in the group answered.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Good!" Drimi raced to the wanderers and clapped her hands. "Then, if you can be so kind, Asahi and Aletha, guide everyone down the street. There should be a staircase leading to the city center. You'll know it when you see it."
Asahi and Aletha nodded their heads and stood straight.
"Okay!"
"And make sure that everyone in the group is close. Please, I don't want to search through this crowd of people."
Kali nodded and clung to Asahi's arm.
"We won't let you down!"
Drimi chuckled.
"Ha ha, good."
* * *
The crowd density gradually increased as they proceeded down the street.
The group all stayed together. Some were chatting, while others gazed at the sight.
Aurelia jumped up and socialized with strangers while Ubel sneered and tried to seclude himself, holding onto Jesica's hand so she wouldn't run off and argue.
Asahi and Aletha stood out from the group; they were the only two people with white hair. Aletha mumbled while the noise of the crowd got louder.
"People… people everywhere."
Asahi patted her back and whispered.
"You'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
He looked over to the stream of individuals flooding the streets and then back to his sister.
"Yeah."
"Okay…"
They passed through a marketplace where merchants screamed out to their customers to buy their products. All of the signs were plastered with blinding bright colors.
"Come and get our pork bellies!"
"Signs, get your Linuxinia signs here!"
"Look at these fashionable dresses. A perfect fit for the ceremony!"
It made the wanderers realize that no matter what, this city was teeming with advertising.
(I'm not allowing it.)
Asahi ensured that no group member would go anywhere near them. He, Kali, and Aletha continued further down the street, anxiousness overwhelming him.
. . .
Trumpets blared out in the distance, followed by the banging drums and the loud cheers of a massive crowd.
The group had a hard time advancing because some were blocking their way. Luckily, they found an opening among the sea of heads and continued further to where the place was.
A sea of seats encircled the center, with carriages of different sizes and shapes parked around it. It looked like a massive stadium with bleachers reaching the heights of buildings.
Kali pointed out as the crowd's cheers went wild.
"We should find a seat..."
(Chatter)
Asahi found it so hard to hear Kali that he had to be a centimeter away to listen to her voice.
"What? I can barely hear you!"
Aletha gripped Asahi's wrist, passed through the stairway, and yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Bro, we need to find a seat now!"
Another trumpet blared. Aletha agreed and informed Drimi that the group would sit in the highest seats, far in the back, near the ocean. Drimi nodded while she was pushed and shoved.
"Okay, okay. Let's go there."
Asahi made a gesture and led the group across the bleachers, ascending further up the chairs. As they passed through the crowd, the group could see a massive stone platform suspended high, surrounded by bleachers.
Kali scratched her head and held tightly to Asahi's arm.
"Stick together."
"I'm trying as best as I can, Kali."
Phthonus leaned in and mumbled.
"What is this all about?"
Devlin jumped in.
"I think it's about the announcement of world peace to all six nations?"
Sally pushed her platinum hair and raised an eyebrow. "What happened to the seventh city?"
Devlin shrugged, "That's Wraileza. The queen is severely against it. I can't believe it. If my parents were here, they would be fanatic about this. This ceremony will be monumental for this world's future, marking a turning point for all of us." Devlin paused, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "If this peace agreement succeeds, it could end centuries of conflict and open new possibilities for alliances and cultural exchanges. But if it fails..." Devlin's words hung in the air as he considered the potential consequences. "It could lead to further unrest and deepen the divides that have kept our nations apart for so long. Possibly another war."
Zeru tilted to the sky.
"If that's true, then it's no surprise everyone from different nations has come all their way to gather here. How long have they waited for this?"
Aurelia pushed through the crowd and snapped her fingers.
"They waited years for this to happen."
Asahi and Aletha bounced up, finding an empty row of seats at the top.
"Years? That's insane."
Telos' voice chuckled.
(That's nothing compared to last time.)
Asahi raised an eyebrow.
"This happened before?"
Jesica, Zeru, Ubel, and Alai all answered.
"Yes."
* * *