The moment they stepped off the long bridge and onto the main plaza, a voice bloomed in their minds, deep and steady, a sound that felt less like hearing and more like remembering.
[The vitality of this city is a surprise. In a world of destruction, people are busy surviving. Each of them is full of hope, and this city is the best proof that they have not given up yet. The people and things you encounter here will surely guide you to higher and farther goals in the future.]
Leo and Ashem stopped in unison, exchanging a wide-eyed look.
"Okay, it's back," Leo muttered, his gaze darting around the bustling square as if trying to spot a hidden speaker. "That's a narrator, right? I'm not crazy?"
Ashem gave a single, firm nod, her expression unreadable. "It is."
"So, do we ask the Exarch?" Leo suggested, unnerved by the disembodied commentary on their lives. "Is this a normal thing here? Did he hear it too?"
"Don't," Ashem said, placing a hand on his arm to stop him. Her cat ears swiveled, her ruby eyes scanning the plaza with a newfound alertness. "It better be a narration." She clenched her fists almost imperceptibly. "Because if it's not… well, I've killed my fair share of ghosts, fiends, and other things that whisper in the dark."
A nervous chuckle escaped Leo. "Right. Okay. Forgot for a second that I'm traveling with a one-woman paranormal exterminator."
Despite the creepy intrusion, the narrator's epic pronouncement had set a scene, and Leo found himself truly seeing the Crystarium for the first time. The city wasn't just magnificent; it was alive. Towers of crystal and white stone spiraled towards the glowing sky. He saw people with rabbit ears haggling with merchants, children chasing each other through the legs of armored guards, and the air hummed with a thousand conversations, the smell of roasting food, and the faint, clean scent of ozone from the nearby Aetheryte. It was a vibrant, hopeful place, a stark contrast to the grim, silent forest.
The Crystal Exarch, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned, his arms spread wide in a gesture of proud welcome. "Welcome to our home—the Crystarium. I am truly glad you are here." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I would like to take you to my study to talk, but… hmm." He paused. "For us to have a meaningful discussion, you first need to understand our world. How about this? I will give you a brief tour of the main facilities, and then I will leave you to explore for a bit. Gather your own impressions, and then we will talk."
Ashem nodded in agreement.
The Exarch smiled, turning to point at a massive, multifaceted crystal that floated serenely in the middle of the plaza, humming with a low, resonant energy. "That is the main Aetheryte."
"Leo, this may be new to you, but Ashem should be very familiar with it. Though your arrival point was off, you were still summoned through the proper channels. My theory is that you should both be able to attune to that Aetheryte, and through it, connect to the aetherial network of your own worlds."
"What does that do?" Leo asked.
Ashem wiggled a finger at him. "It means," she explained, "that once we're attuned, we can most likely teleport back home."
Leo's eyes widened. "Teleportation!"
The Exarch nodded. "To the left of the Aetheryte, up the stairs, is the Catenaries, home to our artisans' guilds. Downstairs to the left is the Cabinet of Curiosity… it's a vast library. If you wish to truly understand the history of the First, that is your best choice." He then gestured to the right. "And over there is the Musica Universalis, our main market. It's the heart of the city."
He looked at them both. "That should be enough to get you started. Have you got the general layout?"
Ashem nodded, but at that exact moment, a massive yawn escaped Leo. He was suddenly, overwhelmingly exhausted.
"Ah, my apologies," the Exarch said quickly, his tone flustered. "I was so excited, I overlooked the obvious. This world is perpetually bathed in the Light. You're not accustomed to it, but it is, in fact, the dead of night. What you need most right now is rest."
He gestured toward the market district. "Next to the market is an inn called the Pendants. I've already arranged rooms for you… ah." A wave of awkwardness washed over his voice. "My sincerest apologies. Summoning you, Leo, was entirely… unexpected. And housing in the Crystarium has been rather tight lately." He looked from one to the other, unable to meet their eyes. "I… was only able to secure one apartment."
Leo blinked, looking at the Exarch, then at Ashem. "Emmm…"
Ashem, completely unfazed, simply patted Leo's shoulder. "It's fine. We can share."
Leo stared at her, stunned. "Huh? We can? Is that… okay?"
She tilted her head. "We're the same person, aren't we? Does it bother you?"
"No, no, not at all! If you're okay with it…" Leo certainly didn't mind the idea of sharing a room with a beautiful cat-girl, even if she was his alternate self. A little thrill of excitement shot through him, and his heart rate kicked up a notch. His rational, scientific brain promptly shut down, replaced by a flood of decidedly less-scientific thoughts.
Suddenly, an intense, uncontrollable wave of heat washed over him, pooling low in his gut.
!!!What was that?! Calm down, calm down! Do not make a fool of yourself in the middle of a magical city!
With a surge of powerful self-control that strained every nerve, Leo managed to wrestle the impulse back down, letting out a shaky breath.
That was close. Almost had to deploy emergency… uh… emotional support techniques. On myself. He wiped a fresh bead of sweat from his forehead. That was weird, though. That feeling was… way more intense than usual. At least double. And it felt… different?
Wait. Did he just miss something?
"No!" The realization hit him like a physical blow. "Our feelings are synchronized!"
He risked a glance at Ashem. The tips of her white cat ears were flushed a deep, tell-tale pink, and he could see a fine sheen of sweat on her brow. She was looking right back at him. As their eyes met, a silent, mortifying understanding passed between them.
So that "different" feeling, the extra heat, the "double" impulse… came from her.
Ultimately, they were the same person. Gender and race aside, some base instincts were, apparently, surprisingly similar.
Despite the internal chaos, they both forced themselves to maintain a veneer of composure, praying the Exarch hadn't noticed.
"Ahem. And it's quite a large apartment, so there is certainly enough space for two people," the Exarch continued, completely oblivious to the silent, hormonal drama unfolding before him. "You two?" he asked, finally noticing their distracted, glassy-eyed expressions. "You both look exhausted. Perhaps I should just take you there now."
The shared awkwardness was suffocating. They both scrambled for an escape.
"Ah, no, that's okay! I, uh, think I'd like to look around a bit first," Leo blurted out.
"Yes! Me too! I'm going to go check out that Aetheryte!" Ashem added, a little too quickly.
"Very well," the Exarch said, either buying it or being polite enough to pretend. "Explore for a bit. I've already spoken to the innkeep at the Pendants. When you've rested, you can find me in the Ocular, the main hall at the top of the tower." He paused. "Ah, one more thing. The people of this world are generally unaware that other worlds exist. Your true origins would be… difficult for them to comprehend. If anyone asks, simply tell them you are a compatriot of the Crystal Exarch. It is a local custom. It means 'ask no more questions.'"
After arranging everything, the Exarch gave them a nod and departed, moving with a sense of purpose.
"So," Ashem said, her voice laced with a hint of guilty-sounding cheerfulness as she tried to break the thick, awkward silence. "Shall we go… attune to the Aetheryte?"
"Right. Yes. Good idea," Leo nodded quickly.
They began walking side by side toward the humming crystal, the space between them charged with a subtle, unspoken, and deeply embarrassing new emotion.