Algernon Black || The Rise of a God ||

(Chapter 50) Too Young for a Name

"Loy," Selice grunted with the battle of exhaustion clawing at her. "Are we heading to that mountain?"

"Yes," Loy whistled energetically.

Selice's eyes creased so tightly together they near blending into one large eyebrow. "Tell me you're not planning for us to climb it."

"No," the prince chuckled. "We'll be crossing through the valley." He pointed to the split between the two mountains, and Selice grimaced as they walked the last few torturous miles to the opening.

The entrance was just wide enough for a horse and small cart to pass. "It's dark," Selice said, as they entered. The mountain walls boxed in the trail and went so high up they disappeared out of sight even blocking out the sun. "And cramp."

"Complaining won't make it any less so," Loy said, taking the led with a ball of magic to light the way.

"I wasn't complaining," Selice said pouting. "Not really." The further in they delved the drastically darker their surroundings grew. Selice stuck closer to Loys' side, which the young prince did not mind at all. In fact, he made sure the light he channeled wasn't so bright as to make her feel safe enough to move more than a foot away from him.

After another half hour of walking, Loy spotted a familiar glow."We're about halfway through the valley now." 

And as they rounded the last corner Selice's eyes had to unexpectedly adjust from a sudden burst of light.

The center of the valley had a flat stretch of land a mile across where a small town had started to build and glow. Houses and shops were carved into the mountainside, with overheard staircases connecting both sides. Only a few buildings on the ground looked old, but the homes carved out of an archaic mountain looked fresh and alive with the oddest light. Selice stepped closer to a lamp post with the most curious expression. A ball of magic looked trapped inside and her face twisted in confusion. Up close it didn't look so much as trapped, but as running along a circuit. The overhead staircases too seemed to be on a track of circling light as they vibrantly flickered not with flames but on and off in a scheduled pattern. Every window poured out illuminating different colors of light that looked closer to the shine magic gave off than any fire.

"What city is this, Loy?" Selice's eyes finally adjusted to see men, women, and children running overhead, in between the hanging pathways of the buildings.

"It's a city too young for a name," Loy said, smiling from Selice's awestruck gaze.

"How young?"

"Well since I first came here 7 years ago..." Loy walked to a fountain mounted directly in the center alcove. "This fountain, that inn, and that shop." Loy pointed, and Selice looked up to see one of the few aged buildings. It had two round stone pillars in front and an old glass door that read "Midway Market." Dark cherry wood framed the shop, but the illuminating colors that radiated from inside gave the old store new life. "Were the only things here." Selice was drawn into the fountain when the cascading water was not the only movement. A multitude of colors sprang out from beneath the water as it spiraled towards the center where it climbed up the carving of a man before reversing down in a change of colors. The fountain was a shrine to the god of darkness that now swirled with light.

Curiosity led Selice into the shop where it would be nothing special if it weren't for the magnificent objects displayed. Small inventions moved on their own, casting lights of color as they spun, twirled, or chased. Faint music played from a miniature piano where the keys lit up each time they were pushed down by seemingly nothing.

Loy watched Selice mull over the toy and thought to say nothing as he let her curiosity guide her to revelation. She ran a finger along her bottom lip as she always did when she was fixated on anything. She was always too lost in her mind to notice her own habits, while Loy always did.