Casmute

Chapter Three: Ivettépé City

After an unknown amount of time had passed, the sky no longer shone brightly, displaying the scenery of the sunset. The sun hung behind the group, casting a soft golden glow. Faint breezes of the east wind brushed against them as time passed, and the earth gradually sank into the serene tranquility of dusk, everything appearing peaceful and serene.

"We're approaching the city of Ivettépé," said Aleem.

The city was situated at the border between day and night, the transition between day and night imparting a unique charm to it.

In the district bathed in daylight, the city's buildings were bathed in gentle sunlight, exuding a warm glow, known as the Yang District. In contrast, the district shrouded in darkness revealed sturdy and imposing silhouettes, known as the Yin District.

Buildings, exposed to the light of day and night for long periods, displayed unique colors and textures, as if sculpted by time and light. From west to east, as the sunlight waned, the city's buildings appeared more robust and stable, like witnesses of time, bearing the sedimentation and changes of the years.

As the gateway from Neubhau to Neubyop, while the Empire still stood, the city of Ivettépé attracted the gaze of countless adventurers. It served as a gathering place for adventurers, whether they were official imperial exploration teams, adventurers from various tribes, or lone wanderers, all making this city their starting point for ventures into the unknown.

On the bustling streets of the city, a mixture of various languages could be heard, and flags from different regions fluttered in the wind. In the city's taverns and inns, laughter from adventurers and discussions about the unknown were often heard.

In the brothels, girls from different places, each with their own characteristics, greeted guests in gorgeous attire. They not only provided physical pleasure but also spiritual solace to adventurers. The eloquent song and dance performers were not only a source of entertainment but also important channels for adventurers to gather intelligence.

The city's market was exceptionally lively, with various precious minerals brought from Neubyop displayed on stalls, and shelves filled with a variety of equipment, attracting the attention of passersby. Adventurers purchased equipment and exchanged information here, preparing for their upcoming adventures.

At the far west of the city lay the road to the unknown. Adventurers prepared themselves here, guided by the city's law enforcement, to venture into the eternal night domain—Neubyop.

At the onset of the rebellion, Ivettépé swiftly declared independence under the decision of the Citizens' Committee, waving the flag of freedom and expelling imperial officials. Seized from the Empire's grasp, the city survived the rebellion and became an independent stronghold.

In the midst of the war-torn era, Ivettépé still stood upon the earth. However, the influx of people into the city was no longer the merchants and adventurers of yesteryears but rather refugees who were displaced and desperate.

They came to this city with sadness and despair, seeking refuge. The once prosperous streets of the city had vanished, replaced by chaos and wails. Although the city still stood, it was no longer the prosperous land of freedom it once was.

"It's been a while, I never expected to see it like this," said Celia softly, feeling both surprised and heartbroken by what she saw.

Aleem remained silent. In his heart, Ivettépé was a familiar and dear land. As a member of the imperial exploration team, he had spent countless years here with the city as a base for his journey to Neubyop during rest periods.

This city was not only the starting point of his career, but also the place where he met, knew, and fell in love with Celia. To him, this city was his second home, carrying his memories and dreams.

They entered the city with the flow of refugees, the city's soldiers showing signs of fatigue but still striving to maintain order. The entire city seemed like a giant pressure cooker in need of release, filled with suppression and anxiety, ready to erupt at any moment.

Upon entering the city, Aleem swiftly led his family to the Yin District. Compared to the Yang District, the Yin District was quieter, with few pedestrians on the streets, and the shadows of buildings appeared even deeper in the night.

Here, they had entered the domain of night, devoid of sunlight and relatively cold. For refugees from the eternal day, such an environment was difficult to bear. Therefore, the Yin District of Ivettépé was seldom visited by refugees, becoming a relatively deserted corner of the city.

"It's amazing, there's no sun in the sky!" exclaimed Isis excitedly.

"Yes, we're on the other side of Casmute now."

"I originally thought you'd be older by the time we came here together as a family, but I didn't expect our plans to be advanced," chuckled Celia in response to her daughter. In front of her children, she always met challenges with a soft heart and a warm smile, as if all difficulties could be resolved with a smile.

"Darling, where are we going next?" Celia asked Aleem.

"Let's rest at Monty's inn for a while."

"Is it Uncle Monty's place? I really hope he's still safe and sound," Celia's tone revealed both anticipation and concern.

Celia was a native of Ivettépé, and since she could remember, she had always remembered this kind uncle. Celia's parents passed away early, and the Citizens' Committee sent her to the orphanage in the Yin District, with Monty's inn located next door to the orphanage.

In this place where the sun was unseen, Monty always brought surprises to the children in the orphanage, whether it was his homemade snacks, handcrafted toys, or, in his spare time, volunteering to tell the children stories of his adventures in his youth.

All the children who grew up in the orphanage knew him, and he knew each one of them. In Celia's heart, Monty was a figure from her childhood, much like a father.

The group traversed narrow streets and arrived at the inn's doorstep. Light shone through the inn's windows, and a sturdy figure paced inside, appearing very busy. Aleem pushed open the heavy door and quickly closed it after his family entered. Inside the inn, Aleem saw the owner of the busy figure and the refugees lying on the floor.

"Uncle Monty!" exclaimed Celia excitedly. Monty looked up, his face showing a surprised expression.

"Oh, my little Celia! Is it really you? And Aleem too? What a pleasant surprise! How long has it been since you last came back? I was really worried about you," Monty got up and gave Celia a bear hug, then turned to Aleem and also gave him a hug.

"You know, once you folks leave Ivettepi, you don't plan on coming back to see this old man, huh?" Mont chuckled.

Aleem awkwardly smiled and replied, "We originally planned to bring the kids back when they were older to visit you, but things took an unexpected turn."

Mont shook his head with a hint of resignation. Then, he looked at the three children standing by the door and said to Celia, "Little Celia already has three kids, huh? You sure can outdo Ia when it comes to bearing children."

In the Ha'u religion, Ia was considered a sacred animal, symbolizing life, fertility, and reproduction.

Upon being compared in such a way, Celia blushed and quickly pulled Isis closer to her side, saying, "Uncle Mont, these are my biological children, and the other two are temporary foster kids we picked up on the way. Say hello to Uncle."

"Hello, Uncle!" Isis politely greeted Mont.

Mont smiled and patted Isis's head, saying, "This child has grown so tall, and she's just as beautiful as you."

Celia shyly smiled.

At this point, Aleem stepped forward and said, "Mont, we need..."

"I know what you want, Aleem," Mont interrupted. His inn had been accommodating refugees since the uprising began, and the influx of refugees had made him well aware of the situation in Nebuha'u.

"All the rooms in the inn are already occupied by refugees. There are no vacant rooms now. However, if you don't mind, you can stay in my room for now, and I'll clear out a space in the basement for you to stay long-term."

"Mont, we only need a few days of temporary lodging. You don't need to go through so much trouble," Aleem said.

Mont looked at Aleem in confusion and asked, "A few days? If I understand correctly, you mean you'll still leave?"

"Yes, we'll continue heading east," Aleem confirmed.

"Where else can you go? This is already Ihneira, the border of the sun. Where else can you go?" Mont exclaimed, his emotions reaching a boiling point due to days of hardship and the despair of the refugees. Aleem's decision had pushed him over the edge.

"Aleem, I warn you, don't think about taking Celia and the kids on such a risky journey. You know what lies to the east! That cursed place will only get you lost! Don't blame me if things go wrong!" Mont's voice grew stern.

Aleem fell silent, trying to maintain his composure. Exhaustion made him unwilling to argue further, but faced with Mont, who was like family, Aleem felt the need to explain.

"Mont, I understand your concern. Please let me explain."

Seeing her husband and Mont in disagreement, Celia quickly approached and gently took Aleem's arm, signaling him not to argue.

She spoke softly, saying, "Uncle Mont, I know you're worried about us, and this decision is indeed risky. But I trust Aleem, and I ask you to trust us too. Everything has been carefully considered before making this decision."

Mont's gaze softened slightly in Selya's gentle demeanor. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

After calming down, he looked at Celia and the children and said, "I hope you really understand your decision, Aleem. Celia, I'll take you and the kids upstairs to eat and rest."

Mont led Celia and the children upstairs. Before leaving, Celia cast a worried glance at the tired Aleem, who smiled and reassured her with his eyes that he would be fine.

Aleem fell silent, trying to maintain his composure. Exhaustion made him unwilling to argue further, but faced with Mont, who was like family, Aleem felt the need to explain.

"Mont, I understand your concern. Please let me explain."

Seeing her husband and Mont in disagreement, Celia quickly approached and gently took Aleem's arm, signaling him not to argue.

She spoke softly, saying, "Uncle Mont, I know you're worried about us, and this decision is indeed risky. But I trust Aleem, and I ask you to trust us too. Everything has been carefully considered before making this decision."

Mont's gaze softened slightly in Selya's gentle demeanor. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

After calming down, he looked at Celia and the children and said, "I hope you really understand your decision, Aleem. Celia, I'll take you and the kids upstairs to eat and rest."

Mont led Celia and the children upstairs. Before leaving, Celia cast a worried glance at the tired Aleem, who smiled and reassured her with his eyes that he would be fine.

Alone downstairs, Aleem sat silently, gazing at the dimly lit street outside, which led to Neubyop, a darker and more mysterious realm.

"Is this the right thing to do..." he murmured to himself.

Aleem's solitude didn't last long. Soon, Mont came downstairs from upstairs.

"They're resting upstairs now, lad. Now, spill out your entire plan and let me see what you're thinking," Mont said.

Aleem shrugged and took out a map from his bag, spreading it out on the table. It was a map of the explored areas of Ihneira and Neubyop.

Aleem pointed to the location marked with a campfire on the map, indicating a canyon in Nebuha'u named Shemeshude.

"Before I left the expedition team, our survey group explored this area and established a base here. However, due to some circumstances, only our group knows about its existence, and it has never been reported to the Imperial Archives."

"Later, the Empire and other exploration teams did not continue to explore in that direction. This base might indeed be known only to a few members of our group."

"You're banking on this little base in the middle of nowhere? You plan on waiting in that desolate place and wait to die once your supplies run out?" Mont retorted.

"When we first arrived there, we also thought it was just an ordinary canyon, lifeless and barren. It wasn't until we discovered this." Aleem opened the folder containing a book, which had the official Imperial format on its cover, with golden letters clearly stating "Shemeshude Survey Report."

Aleem opened the book, which began with the official records of the investigation, then flipped to the section with illustrations. Mont saw the words—"Illustrated Fauna of Shemeshude Region."

Seeing these words, Mont froze. In his mind, Neubyop had always been a desert wasteland, rich in mineral resources but devoid of life. Eternal night and the realm of death had become his impression of Neubyop.

Due to technical reasons and supply issues, the Empire's exploration of Neubyop had always been on the periphery. But for those living in the eternal day region, the eternal night realm was inevitably desolate, devoid of life. Therefore, even though Neubyop had not been fully explored, people were more willing to believe that Neubyop could not harbor life.

Mont picked up the survey report and browsed through the detailed records of various species, feeling shocked. This directly overturned his previous understanding, and in a trembling voice, he asked, "How do you prove these are real... that such a place would have life? This is too unbelievable..."

"Yes, for residents of the eternal day, Neubyop without sunlight and temperature is impossible to harbor life. These discoveries, at that time, also overturned our understanding."

Aleem took out the Hapniu he had been carrying with him all along. This creature, resembling a brain with tentacles all over its body, was a memory aid tool developed by the Imperial scientific department, capable of replicating and reproducing memories.

Coming out of the backpack, Hapniu immediately sensed the presence of people around it. Its tentacles stirred in the air, dripping smooth mucus.

"Here, Mont," Aleem invited.

"Is this thing really safe? It looks disgusting," Mont cautiously took the Hapniu.

He fought back the nausea and covered it over his head. He felt the strange sensation, like a cold, viscous substance directly covering his scalp, as if countless tentacles were constantly swimming, penetrating his pores.

The tentacles of Hapniu swiftly extended into Mont's mouth and ears. A refreshing sensation spread through his body, without any feeling of suffocation. Hapniu's tentacles provided Mont with fresh air. However, the strong sensation of something foreign soon followed, causing Mont to feel dizzy as he plunged into Aleem's memories.