Chapter 611: Memories of Dawn and Dusk

Chapter 611: Memories of Dawn and Dusk

Vanna trailed behind the colossal figure, her heart gripped by both wonder and uncertainty. Every step she took caused her boots to sink into the deep, golden sand that seemed to stretch into infinity. Sandstorms twirled and danced in the far-off distance, merging the line between the vast desert floor and the expansive sky above. Once prominent city ruins, constructed from sharp, obsidian-like stones, had now become obscured, hidden behind the curtain of moving sand. By the time she thought to glance over her shoulder, they were swallowed by the desert, becoming a mere memory.

The once dim light gradually grew brighter, signaling days progression, even though the sun remained conspicuously absent. The desert, in response, began to radiate an increasing warmth.

Reacting to the sweltering heat, Vanna, with a deliberate motion of her hand, called forth a massive sword intricately crafted from shimmering ice. This majestic weapon, a gift from the Storm Goddess she venerated, was her shield against the deserts harshness. She couldnt help but let her gaze wander to the vast expanse above.

Dominating the heavens was a vast crimson rift. Its presence was unsettling, and Vanna couldnt shake off the feeling that the eerie, blood-red tendrils at its perimeter had grown more pronounced since she last beheld them. Although no sun graced this realm, the sky kept brightening in a bizarre, rhythmic pattern. It felt as if the very essence of sunlight had been etched into a divine cycle between the celestial and the terrestrial. It seemed that even if the sun had been erased, its legacy of light and warmth would punctually manifest in this world.

The giants gaze, which had been observing the horizon, now shifted to the frozen sword in Vannas hand.

Hed seen her brandishing the sword previously, but witnessing its magical materialization piqued his interest even further.

That blade of yours, he remarked, voice deep and resonant, its conjured from an energy foreign to this land. Truly remarkable. Its been ages since my eyes last beheld ice in these arid lands.

Vanna responded with a hint of pride, This power is a gift from the deity I serve. She commands both the storms and the oceans. This ice symbolizes the raw power of storms.

The giant pondered, A deity of the vast waters, you say? Storms and endless oceans Its strange to think of them in this barren wasteland. But I recall, eons ago, a splendid city by the sea, resplendent with immaculate white walls and myriad azure rooftops. That city, christened after a precious gem, was where the inaugural ship that dared to traverse the boundless ocean was constructed.

As Vanna absorbed the giants recounting of long-lost legends, she communicated his words to her fellow dream questers in her entourage. The deserts oppressive heat continued to intensify, leading her to break off a fragment of her icy blade. Nibbling on the cooling shard, her voice tinged with eagerness, she inquired, Then what happened?

The towering giants words held a melancholic tone as he recounted, The city, once vibrant and alive, vanished as if encased within an ethereal bubble. As time wore on and the land transformed, so many elements shifted in manners that remain beyond my grasp, he mused. His eyes, filled with eons of memories, once again settled on Vanna, especially noting the icy sword from which she had taken a bite. Is that how you typically utilize it?

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Vanna shrugged, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. It gets rather warm here, she confessed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, and Ive always had a bit of a vulnerability to extreme heat.

The giants deep chuckle echoed through the vast desert. Sensitivity to your surroundings, especially to the elements, signifies that youre still vibrantly alive. Every sensation, every discomfort, reaffirms life, he commented. His massive footsteps then ceased as he proclaimed, Weve reached our destination, wanderer.

Vannas steps faltered as she followed the trajectory of the giants gaze. Her eyes widened in sheer wonder.

Laid out before them was an awe-inspiring chasm reminiscent of a gaping wound in the very fabric of the ground. Unbeknownst to them, their journey had brought them to the very precipice of this vast abyss, a precipitous drop awaiting them just a few strides ahead.

Pushing past her initial shock, Vanna inched closer, seeking a clearer view of the sinkholes interior. The chasms walls bore a striking resemblance to molten glass, mirroring the same liquefied yet solid appearance they had observed in the city ruins earlier. The surrounding sands seemed to shy away from the sinkhole, revealing a ground fractured with countless deep crevices. The cavernous expanse was so massive it looked capable of housing a sprawling metropolis, perhaps even one as grand as the city of Pland.

Distantly, at the very heart of the chasm stood an imposing relic. What might once have been a grand tower now showcased a facade warped by the ravages of time. Encircling this skeletal remnant, traces of melted pathways and a smattering of stone structures at varying heights could barely be discerned.

The giants gaze fixated on the remnant tower at the heart of the abyss, seemingly haunted by that ancient enigma.

Vannas realization dawned.

That tower represented the last sentinel of this bygone world.

As Vanna observed the sinkhole, her azure eyes slowly expanded, a look of disbelief and awe overtaking her features.

Despite the considerable expanse that separated her from the mysterious tower, its mammoth scale was palpably evident. It loomed even taller than the magnificent towers of Pland, dwarfing even the grandeur of the city-states renowned cathedral. The very thought that this could represent a mortal being left her reeling.

Yet, as her scrutiny intensified, eerie facets began to crystallize. In the labyrinthine pattern of the tower, she believed she could discern features that mirrored mortal anatomy: the semblance of outstretched limbs, a torso that spiraled in tortured contortions, and for a fleeting heartbeat, she imagined she saw a visage a sight so haunting it sent a shiver down her very soul.

However, Vanna recognized that this could be a mere trick of her perception. From her vantage point, genuine details on the tower, if they existed, would likely elude precise observation.

Moreover, the towers severely distorted form made it challenging to ascertain its initial design.

An overwhelming cocktail of emotions swirled within Vanna. As her eyes remained fixed on this looming dark monument, a testimony to the last sentinel of a bygone era, a slew of questions gnawed at her mind. Eventually, she found her gaze drifting upwards towards the sky, now shrouded in a crimson rift, bereft of the suns comforting presence.

After an oppressive silence, perhaps hoping to escape the melancholic grip of her thoughts, she inquired, The sun did it vanish during that cataclysmic event?

The sun?

She gestured skywards, This wasnt always the celestial image. What befell the radiant sun that once graced this realm with its luminance?

Ah, the sun, the giant replied, his voice tinged with an ineffable nostalgia. He delved into the depths of his worn robes, his massive fingers delicately rummaging. A moment later, he revealed to Vanna an object that left her breathless.

The suns essence lies here, he declared softly.

Held aloft in the giants vast palm was a gleaming orb roughly the size of Vannas own hand.

It shimmered with a muted luminescence and exuded a gentle, comforting warmth. The orb seemed to float, suspended in time and space, as though it were a fragment of another world.

Its so minutely small yet emanating such deep tranquility.

It fell, the giant stated with solemn calmness, locking eyes with Vanna, And I picked it up.