Chapter 7: City
As we ventured further from the main streets, the stark contrast between the two worlds became increasingly apparent. The grand, opulent buildings gave way to dilapidated houses, their facades crumbling and paint peeling. The streets narrowed, becoming a labyrinth of tight alleyways that seemed to close in on us with each step.
The air grew thick with the stench of poverty and despair. Garbage littered the ground, and the people we passed looked haggard and worn, their eyes filled with a mixture of suspicion and desperation. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as we navigated through this unfamiliar territory.
September led the way, his steps confident and purposeful. He seemed to know these streets like the back of his hand, navigating the twists and turns with ease. I, on the other hand, felt lost and out of place, my senses overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells of this strange new world.
Finally, we emerged onto a wider street, but it was a far cry from the grandeur of the main thoroughfares. The road was dirty and unkempt, lined with ramshackle buildings and populated by a motley assortment of individuals. They huddled in doorways and alleys, their eyes darting about warily as we passed.
"Welcome home, March," September said with a wry smile, noticing my astonishment at the stark differences between the two worlds.
I couldn't help but stare, my mind struggling to reconcile the beauty and opulence of the city center with the squalor and despair that surrounded us now. It was as if we had crossed an invisible boundary, stepping from one reality into another.
Questions raced through my mind. Why had September brought me here? What secrets did this place hold? And how did it fit into the puzzle of my past?
But before I could voice any of these thoughts, September was already moving forward, beckoning me to follow. I had no choice but to trust him, to believe that he knew what he was doing and that he would guide me through this unfamiliar landscape.
As we moved through the street, I struggled to keep up with September's brisk pace. His long strides and quick steps felt like a marathon to my weary legs, still recovering from our recent ordeals. We navigated the narrow, winding paths, our eyes darting left and right, always on the lookout for potential threats.
The further we ventured, the more guards we noticed. They seemed to be everywhere, their presence a constant reminder of the danger we faced. September gestured for us to slow down, to adopt a calm and casual demeanor as we passed by. I tried my best to comply, but my heart raced with every step.
And then I saw her.
Amidst a group of civilians being questioned by the guards, a woman stood out like a beacon in the night. Her purple eyes, as vivid as amethysts, seemed to bore into the very soul of those she interrogated. Raven-black hair cascaded down her back, a stark contrast to her porcelain skin that seemed to glow in the dim light of the street.
As I laid eyes upon her, a sense of familiarity washed over me. I knew her, even if my fractured memories couldn't quite place the details. But one thing was certain: she was dangerous. Every fiber of my being screamed caution, urging me to keep my distance.
Her gaze was fierce and unyielding, a testament to her strong will and determination. I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of being on the receiving end of that glare. It was clear that she was not someone to be trifled with.
September must have sensed my unease, for he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, urging me forward. We continued on our path, doing our best to blend in with the crowd and avoid drawing attention to ourselves.
"Hey you!" The scream pierced through the din of the crowded street, and I felt my blood run cold. I knew that voice. It belonged to the purple-eyed guard, the one who had sent shivers down my spine just moments ago.
September cursed under his breath. "Damn it! Now we need to go!" He grabbed my arm, and we broke into a run, weaving through the throngs of people.
"Stop! You there!" the girl screamed again, her voice growing closer with each passing second. But the people in this part of the city, they hated the guards and the Emperor's regime. They began to rally around us, forming a human barrier between us and our pursuers.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw the crowd surging forward, blocking the path of the guards who were desperately trying to catch up to us. Shouts and curses filled the air as the two groups clashed, the sound of fists meeting flesh and bodies hitting the ground.
We ran, our feet pounding against the uneven cobblestones, our hearts racing in our chests. The people of the slums, they were on our side, fighting for us, risking their own safety to protect us from the guards.
As we put more distance between ourselves and the chaos erupting behind us, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards these strangers who had chosen to stand up for us. They didn't know who we were or why we were running, but they had made a choice to help us, to fight against the oppression of the Emperor's regime.
But even as we ran, I couldn't shake the image of those purple eyes from my mind. They haunted me, stirring up memories that danced just beyond the edge of my consciousness. I knew her, but I couldn't remember how or why. All I knew was that she was dangerous, and that we needed to put as much distance between us and her as possible.
September led the way, his strides long and purposeful, his eyes scanning the streets ahead for any signs of trouble. We darted down narrow alleyways and through abandoned buildings, using every trick we knew to evade our pursuers.
Behind us, the sounds of fighting grew fainter, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to press in on us from all sides. We were alone now, two fugitives on the run, with nothing but our wits and our determination to keep us going.
As we stepped through the doorway, I found myself in a small, dimly lit garden surrounded by crumbling houses. The air was heavy with the scent of decay and neglect, a stark contrast to the bustling streets we had just left behind. September led the way, navigating the narrow paths with a sense of familiarity that suggested he had been here many times before.
We approached a house on the left, its walls covered in a thick layer of grime and its windows boarded up. September pushed open the cellar door, and we descended into the darkness below. The stairs creaked beneath our feet, and the musty smell of old wood and damp earth filled my nostrils.
At the bottom of the stairs, September waved his hand, and a hidden door in the wall swung open, revealing a narrow corridor. I followed him inside, my heart pounding in my chest as we made our way through the dimly lit passage. Questions raced through my mind, but I remained silent, trusting that September knew what he was doing.
Finally, we emerged into a small room, its walls lined with shelves and its floor covered in a threadbare carpet. To my surprise, the others were already there, waiting for us with expressions of impatience and concern.
"Where were you been guys?" August demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.
September offered a guilty smile. "Sorry, made some side quests," he said, his tone light and apologetic.
January stood up from his chair, his face set in a determined expression. "Okay, let's get home. And then talk," he said, his voice brooking no argument.
He approached the wall and pointed his hand towards it. Suddenly, the ring on his finger disintegrated, and the dust from it swirled towards the wall, creating a shimmering portal. I stared in awe, my mind struggling to comprehend the magic that had just taken place before my eyes.
As I stepped into the shimmering portal, a wave of unease washed over me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something about the swirling vortex felt familiar, like a distant memory that danced just beyond the edges of my consciousness.
One by one, we entered the portal, and I found myself in the middle of the group. The moment I stood up inside the shimmering gateway, a strange sensation overtook me. It felt as though my body was being compressed and decompressed, over and over again, like a piece of clay being molded by invisible hands.
The feeling was unsettling, and I couldn't shake the notion that I had experienced this before. Fragmented memories flashed through my mind, snippets of past journeys through similar portals, each one accompanied by the same sense of discomfort and unease.
As we emerged on the other side, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I stumbled slightly, trying to regain my balance. But the moment I took in my surroundings, the dizziness evaporated, replaced by a sense of awe and wonder.
We found ourselves standing in a luxurious hall, its walls adorned with an array of stunning paintings that seemed to come to life before my eyes. The soft carpet beneath my feet felt like a gentle caress, a stark contrast to the hard, uneven streets we had just left behind.
It was almost like stepping into a royal palace, a world away from the grime and decay of the slums. I couldn't help but marvel at the opulence that surrounded us, my eyes drinking in every detail, from the intricate patterns on the walls to the glittering chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.
Behind us, January raised his hand towards the wall where the portal had been, and I watched in amazement as the gateway disintegrated, the shimmering dust swirling through the air before settling onto his finger, reforming into the ring that had created the portal in the first place.
"Okay, let's talk with Assassin and get this done," January said, his voice firm and resolute. He turned to me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I felt a surge of gratitude for his support.
"Then let's talk all day and night. We missed you.. really," he added, a sad smile playing across his lips. With that, he turned and strode forward, the others falling into step behind him.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone