- Heaven's Last Breath -

Wandering the Palace

- Ariel -

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The Passage of the Timeless lived up to its name because there was absolutely no way of telling how long it took us to reach the other end.

But as we did, the five of us arrived at a new level of Heaven, above everything else. The air here felt thinner but was heavier in a different sense. As I looked ahead, I laid my eyes on a magnificently constructed Palace.

Made from materials I didn't even recognise, the Palace ascended into the sky. Four spiralling towers stood at the corners, a larger glass dome at the centre of everything. Beyond the castle walls, the rest of the interior could be clearly seen from the outside.

"This is it guys. Stay alert because once we step foot in there, we'll be on our own."

Aaron spoke clearly, even though his words painted a different picture. It seemed that even though we would be entering together, once we were inside, things wouldn't be so simple.

At that, the wine haired boy pushed forward with the rest of us close behind. As we drew closer to the Palace gates, they slowly opened, allowing us to enter.

I looked over to Aaron and Hurakan but it seemed like they were expecting this. The wine haired boy gave us a reassuring nod, stepping into the courtyard of the Palace. The rest of us followed but the moment I entered the Palace, I found myself alone in the courtyard.

Frantically, I looked around, searching for any sign of the others but I quickly realised I was alone. I thought back to what Aaron told us beforehand, guessing that this was what he meant by us being on our own once we entered the Palace.

I shook away my doubts, pressing forward. The courtyard was unexpectantly empty, but this was a welcome sight for me as I approached the huge main doors of the Palace.

Made from a type of lightwood I had never seen before. White steel reinforced the doors, various symbols carved into the wood. Both doors were already slightly ajar allowing me to slip inside easily.

The moment I stepped into the Palace, I was greeted by a grandiose entrance hall. In every way it made Aetherea's house look basic. From the extravagant architecture to the abstract paintings lining the walls, this was a sigh to behold.

I let out a small sigh of amazement, wandering through the hallways aimlessly. I didn't have any idea where to go but I followed my instincts, making my way through the Palace. Before long, I quickly realised that the entire place was empty, no sounds other than my own footsteps echoing around the halls.

Then the soft music of a distant piano filled the lofty hallways. Immediately, I was suspicious, but with nowhere else to go, I decided to track down whoever was playing the piano.

As I navigated through the Palace, I eventually arrived at the entrance to a smaller courtyard. Stood in the centre of the grassy floor was a small domed structure held up by several clear stone pillars.

I listened closer, seeing that the sound of the piano was coming from this structure. Carefully, I peeked my head around the corner, looking into the courtyard. I was still unsure if it was safe but my gut was telling me to just go for it.

With every step I took across the soft grass, the sound of the beautiful piano grew louder. The music filled my body with a feeling I couldn't quite describe but I felt relaxed in the presence of the mysterious musician.