Another Life In The New World

Forewarning

The tall man had a scruffy beard and worn out armor. His skin was misty gray with eyes that looked dead in the midnight. A woman older than him stood by his side. She had skin paler than his and her eyes consumed nothingness.

“What brings you here, General Gurthe?”

“I am surprised that you still recognize me. It is time that we discuss some matters,” his deep voice was intimidating.

“There is nothing to discuss. You tried to kill us, remember? And how did you get out of the castle?”

“A warning I shall bestow upon you. Do not proceed to Sursum Ante,” his eyes looked at me with meaning.

“I trust Madissa’s words. It is you who I do not.”

“Listen to him, child. Please, listen to us and we will let you decide for yourself,” the horrific woman spoke.

“Why should I listen to my killers?”

“Because this is our only way right our wrongs,” Gurthe bowed his head to me.

“You have to try better than that, and why only me?”

“Time is short, Ragnameddon looms closer by the day. That is all. We must take our leave.”

“Wait, what does this have to do with Sursum Ante?”

“I say this to you before we vanish, falseness awaits your ascent.”

Before I could ask another question, their skin turned into dried leaves. I finished relieving myself. Heat consumed my face as I returned to Girly.

“What took you so long? Did you do something else in there?” Girly giggled.

“S-shut up! I took a dump while I was at it,” my face burned hotter.

“It’s cute to see you red as beet. It makes me want to—,” she stopped herself.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Well then, let’s make dinner.”

“Are your hands clean?”

“My hands will enhance the flavor.”

“Eew. Wash it by the river or something.”

“Okay,” I smiled at her.

I left the treeless vastness and looked for a river. I saw my face reflecting from the river as I washed my hands. I looked handsome as ever. Then I saw something shine at the bed. I reached for it, but I got swallowed by the water.

Deep blue embraced me. I underestimated the depths of the river. I swam down towards my goal. The water tossed me like a rag doll as I got closer to the shining object. Pressure crushed my chest the deeper I got. When I reached the riverbed, I only had five seconds to resurface as the timer indicated.

My health bar depleted rapidly like the river flow. The time was up and I failed to resurface. I faintly saw someone reach for me. She looked like an angel falling from the sky. I smiled at her before closing my eyes.

A white girl held her hand out to me. Her hair looked like curly pasta and her eyes looked happy. It was the angel that saved me. I took her hand. She led me to an invisible stairway. I saw a castle floating in the sky. Perpetual sunlight bathed the building.

“What is this place?” I asked the illuminating girl.

“The place where you should be,” she whispered.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“This is where we part ways.”

“Where does this lead? Hey, answer me!”

It took a moment before she replied, “The answer will show itself to you. Believe in what you see.”

The angel opened its soft feathers and flew away. My feet dragged themselves to ascension. Thin clouds supported the castle. A man wearing thick armor appeared before me. He held two halberds in both hands.

“Who dares enter this forbidden land?” His voice was an alto.

“The angel led me here.”

“You are not qualified to enter at this moment. Come back when the time is right.”

“Wake up!” A thin voice sounded behind the castle.

The words kept on repeating until it was in front of me. I began to choke and spat out water. I filled my lungs with air as I opened my eyes. A girl resembling the angel I saw looked worried. Her eyes looked like Girly’s. I reached to touch her face.

“My angel.”

“Hands off, you p*****t!” She slapped my hand.

“Hey, you are not the angel,” I sat up.

“And here I thought you were the devil himself. Get up!” She rolled her eyes.

“Ow, my back. Where am I?”

“You are in Outer Nephelin Escoria.”

“My name is Keith, what is yours?”

“Not interested.”

“Can you help me find my friends?”

“I can direct you to lost and found. The information booth will answer any other queries.”

“So cold,” I murmured.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. I said I would follow you.”

An angelic face with a demonic demeanor. Who is this chick? I followed her until houses created from trees took form. Everything had wooden labels from the building up to the chairs. People used leaves and tree barks to dress themselves.

“Here is the information booth. Now, leave me alone,” she turned her back to me.

“Gallia is as spicy as ever. How can I help you, sir?” A boy with rounded shoulders wearing fitted clothing asked.

“So her name is Gallia. What can you tell me about her?”

“She is indeed pretty, but don’t let looks deceive you. Have you checked your belongings, sir?”

“Hey, my ring is missing!”

“Could you describe it to me, sir?”

“It looked like emerald dazzling in the morning sun. Also, it was small and had a teardrop shape.”

“A teardrop shape, huh? That’s an odd shape for a ring. I will inform you when I have found something.”

“Can’t you arrest her? I think you know where she is headed.”

I got no answer. My eyes follow her. Something seemed odd about her. My thoughts swirled around the beautiful image that I saw earlier. Her piercing eyes could melt my heart. Her golden hair flapped like the angel’s wings.

“What am I thinking?” I shook off the thought. “Hey, what is this place?”

“This is Nephelim Escoria. The city within the trees. Would you like a tour of the town? It only costs two thousand Garnets.”

“I think I’m fine. Can you direct me to the inn?”

“Sure, take the right path. When you get to the end, turn left then up then right then down.”

“You are making me dizzy. Can I have a map instead?”

“Here,” he handed me a detailed map of Nephelim Escoria.

The map had a lot of interconnected paths. It looked like a labyrinth. If I didn’t have a map with me, it would probably take days for me to reach the inn. When I stepped foot inside a tall tree, I held out some Garnets to the innkeeper and helped myself to my room.

I stared at the ceiling for a long moment. It had a big carving of birds flying above the horizon. Light came through it, which emphasized its features. I wonder how the others are doing. Then my eyes slowly drifted to sleep.

Meanwhile, that sneaky little raccoon messed up my foot. I would kill him for sure! I chased him along the riverside. He kept making faces at me. I pushed out my claws in my attempt to reach him. Instead, I slammed upon something solid.

I groaned while I recovered myself. When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing there. That’s weird, I could have sworn something hit me. I wafted my hands in front of me, but I felt nothing. I looked up and saw something distant floating in the sky.

I waved at it. Two blinks of light returned in response. Is this an unidentified flying object? But that is impossible. Suddenly, I heard a loud splash behind me. I did not see what it was. I shrugged it off and focused on my target.

“He couldn’t have gone that far,” I scratched my head as two paths presented themselves to me.

I am sick of choosing paths. I grabbed a flat stone from the river’s edge. I marked with my claws both sides of the stone as left and right, respectively. I tossed it like a coin. Left path it is! I spun the stone across the river and it went on beyond.

“Ow! Who was that?” a small voice reacted.

I dashed out of the scene until my feet led me to some tall trees that could touch the sky. The flying thing looked like it was following me as it glided above the trees. Suddenly, it shone some light beside me.

The ground rocked from side to side. Suddenly, the light vanished to be replaced by a dark hole. I walked closer towards it. Steps made of earth and stone continued into the darkness below. I decided that it was too dark to proceed. I got to have some light source first.

That mysterious flying object tossed a ball of light, which landed on my feet. I picked it up and proceeded. As I descended, I felt icy cold stares from behind the trees. I spun my body one hundred eighty degrees, but I saw nothing.

I shrugged it off and continued down. Cold air splashed on my face. On the last step, I paused for a breath. Heavy pressure pushed against my chest. I walked the straight path until three glowing chests appeared before me.

“This could be a trap,” I cautioned myself.

A little peek wouldn’t hurt, but which one should I open first? Sigh, decisions again. I looked up and saw an inscription written on the wall. I pushed the orb towards it.

“They bear no lock or key, for they open themselves to you. Spare me a secret and I will utter mine in return,” the inscriptions read.

“Oh? You like some gossips, eh,” I snorted.

There must be a secret here somewhere. I searched around the room and saw two other pathways hidden in the dark. Winds whispered in high tune on each side. I chose the left path last time, let’s try the right.

As I ventured along the path, I stopped to look at something shining from below. It glowed golden yellow underneath the earth. A big hole was on top of it. The orb blinked slowly, prompting me to proceed. I decided to place the orb I was holding on the space given.

It fit exactly. At first, the orb produced a thick line of light, then it blossomed like a flower. A prismatic yellow cube like jelly jumped out from the earth. It ate the orb before jumping in my hands. I froze for a moment, internalizing what just happened.

I returned to the treasure chests. This time, the writings changed.

I read the inscriptions again, “As promised, I will utter my secret. From my secrets, you can only choose one. May you be delivered from greed.”

“Why do you always make me choose?” I shouted my frustration.

I took some breaths and blindly chose the middle one. I shook off my claws before punching it. It revealed a crumbling piece of paper detailing the whereabouts of a mysterious creature. The unopened chests disappeared upon receiving my reward.

Words flashed on the words again, “A forewarning: Do not heed to temptation as it leads one to ruin but follow the inner truth and the true path shall open.”

After reading the message, I got pulled out in a second by something with high velocity. The hole closed before I could even blink. I ran out of the trees until I saw the river again. I noticed that the sun slowly sunk to the horizon.

When I got back, Girly and Kun chatted around the fire. Kun hid behind Girly upon setting his eyes on me. Girly laughed at us.

“Hey, where is Keita?” I asked.

“Didn’t you encounter him?” Girly replied with another question.

“I thought he was with you.”

“He said he will wash his hands by the river, but he hasn’t returned since.”

“That’s odd. Maybe he got lost.”

“Or maybe you killed him,” Kun accused me.

“That is only a conspiracy theory.”

“Let’s eat, we will look for him in the morning,” Girly passed me a plate.