The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 62: Connected (Part 2)

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Aria Friend:

"Welcome to Elastire," I stood proudly beside the window within the palace parlour room. Arvel stepped through the door between Elastire and our apartment and for the first time since we had met the mysterious figure, was speechless. His eyes went wide not just from the sudden decadent decorations of the palace but from the city that stretched out past the window and the pure air that was graced with mana.

"I-what is all this?" he looked out the window. "Elastire? Where is Elastire? I asked for a place filled with mana, this is not what I expected. An entire city and one so large. I'm- I've been to several worlds now, but this is a first."

"Damn right it is," I smirked as the others entered behind him. Zen, Elene, Vanter, Erin, Endi and Ana. They, like me, were used to Elastire but thinking back, their reactions were very similar.

"Just how?" Arvel asked bewildered. "Where did you find this place? Is that smoke in the distance?" He turned to me, "Are people living here?"

"Ardy and I found it by accident," I replied. "We are the temporary rulers you could say. Elene is the head maid." I gestured to the women dressed in all black as she curtsied.

"Elastire," Arvel nodded. "It sounds familiar. Wait, the city destroyed by the Witch of Blood. Is this it?"

"Indeed," Elene answered. "My Lady was once referred to as the Witch of Blood. The Witch of the Void cut us from Areithia to stop the curse of blood spreading and now, Ardent has claimed the key and lordship."

"Wow," Arvel was clearly impressed. "The Ardent you know is quite something. I truly would like to speak with him."

I smiled, "It's because of him that we're all together. He set everything in motion."

"Really?" Arvel blinked and looked at the rest of us, finally hovering his eyes on me. He hadn't quite got rid of the scowl to his eyes, but it had lessened. "I thought it would be due to your presence."

"Oh no," I shook my head. "Ardent was the first to figure things out."

"What do you mean by that?" his eyes narrowed.

Vanter stepped beside me, "We can go over that once you bring Ardent back. You said you could bring back Ardent if you had enough mana. Elastire's mana quality is even greater than Areithia. Don't go back on your word."

"I would never," Arvel nodded firmly before looking back out to the city landscape. "Not a dungeon but a pocket plane. Honestly...." He raised his hands defeated. "Well, I'm here. I'll need an open space, the bigger the better. And I'll need your help." He pointed at me.

"You okay with working with me?" I folded my arms and looked back at him, matching his gaze. "I am the Witch of the End."

"Yes..., though you and her a very different or so I'm being led to believe."

"I am pretty believable," I smiled. "Also your Witch of the End sounds like a real downer."

Arvel laughed, "If you truly are Ardent's sister, then together it will guarantee that we pull him form the Void."

"Done," I nodded. "Elene, lead us to a nice place."

"Of course, Lady Aria," Elene curtsied and guided us from the parlour room.

We stepped into the hallway and headed downstairs to the central courtyard. The open space was built with a surrounding maze of flowers ever in bloom. Coloured stone tiling depicted the image of a sleeping girl and in the centre a gazebo stood to supply shade. It was the perfect place for teatime. Elene guided us past the gazebo and garden to where a stamped-out dirt field had been formed into the earth. It was where we trained quite often.