The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 38: Inheritance (Part 1)

I frowned. From what we both knew, when you were launched into the Rift you would appear where you had the strongest connection. For us that should have been home. It wasn't like the dimension of the Violet Oath was far from us either and unlike Vanter or Ana, there wasn't a seal on us.

"Unless something pulled us here," Aria mumbled her own musing, the same as mine. It was the only explanation. Something strong had pulled us from the Rift.

"Let's find shelter first. I need to check on Zen's condition." I looked around to see a rising slope. "We should be able to see something from up there."

We trudged up the slope, our feet sinking dep into the snow. Surprisingly it wasn't all too cold. The air was a bit chilly but more than anything it was refreshing, and I realised why. There was an abundant amount of mana. It filled and refreshed me, allowing me to breathe easy again. As we reached the peak of the slope it became even more clear we were far from home.

"Aria...," I turned back and helped her take the last few steps. "We're in a bit of trouble."

She stared down at the expanse that had opened on the other side of the hill, "Oh shit."

An entire city laid out surrounded by enormous stone walls. From our view above the city we could see the mass of houses and the neat streets they were segmented by. On the far end a castle stood brilliantly white and to its left a sea port. There was nowhere on earth like it. While the architecture could be the similar, the lack of snow within the walls, the way the light shimmered around it and the mana on the wind, it had to be surrounded by a barrier.

"Where are we?" Aria asked alarmed. "Oh my god. I can feel mana here. It's like... I've never felt so much before. It's not like with Endi where it was concentrated. It's everywhere." She took in a deep breath and opened her arms wide. She laughed enjoying the feeling.

It was a feeling the game could only try to emulate and while I knew what it felt like. For Aria who hadn't come to terms with her other self, it was new.

I however had to frown, "The city's empty." Even from where we stood overlooking the city we still should have been able to see its people moving about, guards at the entrance or even smoke from a chimney. There was nothing.

"Maybe they're all asleep?" Aria said hopefully.

"In the middle of the day? That would be its own problem." I took a step towards the path leading to the city's gate, securing Zen once again on my back. "Whatever's going on, it looks nicer than here. Also, I am, in no short terms, tired."

"Do you want me to carry Zen?" Aria asked.

"No. I need you to be ready in case anything happens but be cautious. We don't know what we're dealing with. The mana here... it's a little too pure for comfort." I had only felt mana like it on one other occasion and that was in a wilderness no one travelled. In a city that should be full of life, that shouldn't be possible.

We made our way at a decent pace down the hill and eventually reached the more solid ground leading to the city. It was a short road and though well kept, didn't seem to show signs of any use. There were no tracks or scuffs that indicated carriages or even people passing by. As we reached the towering gates, my concern was at a new high. It was absolutely empty, and the gate was wide open.

"Hello?" I called out confidently but hesitating inside. The instant trouble came we'd defend ourselves. Despite my nerves however, nothing happened. It was complete silence.