The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 38: Inheritance (Part 1)

"Let me try," Aria stepped past me and yelled with all her might, "HELLO!" The sound echoed down the streets bouncing across the stone houses and into the open sky. With how quiet everything was, even someone in the centre of the city would have heard that.

"Aria, scan the place," I gave her permission to use magic and she immediately did so. A pulse of mana resounded away from her, itching against my own senses and running through the city. Aria paused, reading the information that had come in. She frowned, "I've got nothing. Everything came back clean but there's no life. Not even a rat or bird. I don't even think I got insects...."

I looked to where we had come from. Fields of rolling snow and trees in the distance. The city seemed more comforting but I had fallen for similar traps before.

"Let's go in for now," I secured Zen over my shoulders before stepping past the boundary. The moment I did, the chill upon the air vanished. Like I had thought, a barrier was covering the city keeping the outside elements at bay. Aria followed curiously as our steps echoed down the streets. We walked slowly passing by dozens of storefronts. An empty bakery, a deserted market, clothing stores with mannequins dressed ready but no one to contemplate their wares.

Aria stared at the clothes mannequins as we moved past, "You don't think they're going to come alive, do you?"

"I hope not," I replied stiffly. I hated things that moved when you looked away and from Aria's smirk, I could tell she had said it on purpose.

"The clothes though, they're not bad. A bit outdated though."

"Are you comparing it to Areithia's fashion?"

"In general, I guess," she eyed them again and waving her hand stripped the mannequin naked and floated the clothes towards her in a neat pile. "What?" she looked at me defensively as I eyed her. "It doesn't look like anyone will miss it. Besides it'll be a good souvenir. I think Erin would look cute in these."

"Grab something for Zen too, her clothes are barely hanging together."

Aria happily pulled what looked like an adventurer's cloak and dress, stowing it for later. "What about you?"

I was a bit roughed up but thought it better to leave it alone, "I'll be fine."

Potential theft aside, we continued down the main street until we reached a secondary wall that seemed to separate the districts. Behind it the buildings became significantly less cramped, becoming villas and specialty stores. Further still we could make out the wall to the castle.

"Well," Aria smiled, "If we're going to stay anywhere, might as well be a castle, right?"

"Also seems like where someone is mostly likely going to be."

The castle was bleached in pure white stone and adorned with light blue colouration. As castles went, it was more for decoration than defence. Though it stood behind a wall, the wall itself wasn't all too high and glimpses of what laid beyond were easy to see. Leading to the castle proper was a magnificent garden full of blooming flowers and though they came in many colours, a clear favour for red could be seen.

"It's beautiful," Aria complimented as we reached the front gate, a white metal structure that spanned a dozen metres. The gate swung open easily as we pushed against it.

I stepped through, mindful of where we were, "It really is a sight but something like this needs someone to care for it. Everything here has been too clean."