135 - Cathia

135 - Cathia

Chapter 135

Cathia

While Asha smiled excitedly and gestured with her hands and arms toward the sky, Sylas stood silenced, staring at the vortex that appeared out of nowhere. Hed witnessed many-a-strange thing in his life here on this world, and this one might be the strangest one yet. Wiping his eyes as though there was an audience watching, he sighed and glanced at Asha suddenly.

You said you can hear the gods?

Yeah!! Isnt it amazing?!

Sure, yeah, great, he said. Can you tell them to drop us some booze? I need to get drunk. Like, right now.

Huh? Why?

That? Sylas pointed with both arms toward the vortex. What the fuck is that?

Oh, right, pulled out of her delirium over having finally begun hearing the Gods again, she looked toward the vortex and felt strange herself. I... I dont know. Maybe its, its like a hole in the world? That lets me hear the Gods again?

Maybe, I dunno, Sylas said, rubbing his chin. Id still like that booze, though. Before I walk through that, I need to at least be tipsy.

Walk through it? Asha quizzed.

"Yeah, it's obviously at least a portal of some sort," Sylas shrugged. "I mean, that's literally what you described--a hole in the world. Leading elsewhere. The question is... where? And how? And why here? And, seriously, what the fuck is going on?"

Uh... while Asha reeled in confusion, Sylas sat down by the lakeside and continued to stare at the strange sight.

Nothing changed any further--the vortex remained spinning on its axis, though otherwise unmoving, with the lake resuming its stillness, somehow, someway. It was a strange sight to behold, but it reminded Sylas of something similar hed seen before--the gaping hole in the sky. The man who came down on the chains appeared to have come out of a similar hole, though admittedly one much larger and far less friendly-looking.

A whole millennium, after all, was a long time. The sheer fact that the Kingdom actually lasted that long in and of itself was perhaps the most shocking aspect of everything, in addition to it being sustained by one, singular, continuous Royal Line of all things.

Many truths swam and swam in his head, though they were being challenged repeatedly by new findings. All else notwithstanding, at least he knew that by uncovering who Vanashi were, he was likely to uncover at least one of the big three mysteries that he formed in his head--what was the goal of the massive army of the Dead? The other two had to do with what precisely happened to the Empire, and why Valen actually got banished in the first place.

He felt that by answering those three key questions, most other mysteries will resolve themselves, though there were still some outliers--such as the Crow and the Doe--that didnt really fit into anywhere.

Half an hour and two empty bottles of wine later, the two got respectably drunk and, with somewhat shaky resolves, began ascending the stairs and walking toward the vortex.

Even if we die, it likely wont be painful, Sylas comforted her. The space will simply rip us to shreds in seconds. You wont even have time to think oh, gosh, what if I dont remember kissing Sylas?.

... I havent even thought of that! she suddenly exclaimed. What if I really dont remember it?! Wont that be awful?

Yeah, sure, but well get there again. Its not as though your feelings will change.

Yes, thats true, she nodded. Alright. Whatever happens, then.

She closed her eyes, but Sylas kept them open fully as they walked in. For a moment, the only thing he could see was darkness. The very next, after the feeling of a slight breeze edging over him, the world spun out as though he was opening a book... and he found himself lodged between two brick-laid buildings, in a small alleyway.

As soon as they could hear again, the bustle of a genuine city entered their ears. Asha opened her eyes and stared slack-jawed, once again, at where they were. Even Sylas had to pause for a moment and ensure he wasn't just dreaming this up. Walking out of the alleyway, the pair found themselves at the side of a massive, twenty-foot wide street ripe with passersby as well as merchant stalls. Surrounding the street, as well as them, were tall, grand buildings all around, each seemingly more elaborate than the last.

Excuse me, Sylas stopped one of the people passing by. Could, could you tell us where we are?

Aye? Ah, dear lad, ow drunkd you get last ight, eh? the man spoke in a thick accent, laughing after the fact. Yer at Bushaws Market. Follow north and yerll be at the Kingly Plaza.

Uh, no, no, I mean... what city? even Sylas felt somewhat embarrassed asking the question, but he had to.

Oh my! Ah, feel it on yer breath, the man laughed once again. Youre in Cathia, young lad! Beautiful capital of our grand Ethernia Kingdom!

... No, seriously, what the fuck?!