Tellus Caelum was a massive city. It sprawled out for kilometers in all directions, and there appeared to be little rhyme or reason in the construction of its structures. Numerous styles of architecture mixed together to create a smorgasbord of styles. Gleaming towers stood next to squat homes, cathedrals sat beside bars. It was a liberal mess. The city was like a maze. There were so many twists and turns that only the people who’d lived there their whole lives could navigate it.
The cobblestone streets were filled with pedestrians, thousands of people walking along the walkways while carriages and carts moved down the road. They looked through store windows, chatted with each other in front of restaurants, and gossiped while standing before street signs and vendors.
Jacob strode alongside Fellis and Enyo. Both of them looked quite out of place amongst the crowd, with their pale skin and unusual hair and eye color. Most people in this city had fair to dark skin, and their hair was either brown or blond, while their eyes of the standard range of colors for humans.
It might have also had something to do with their ensemble. Enyo was wearing leather pants that hugged her hips, a white skirt with cuts on either side to allow for freedom of movement, black knee-length boots, and a brown leather corset over a sleeveless red shirt. Her daggers were strapped to the small of her back.
Meanwhile, Fellis was decked out in what looked more like the bondage outfit of a fetishist. Her cleavage was exposed by the V-cut that went all the way down to her navel, and she was wearing black heeled boots. Her taste in fashion was similar to many other dark clanswomen that he’d met. It made him wonder if all women of the Dark Clan enjoyed outfits like this.
Enyo must be a black sheep of the clan.
It was fortunate there were so many people. The crowd kept others from getting a really good look at them.
Leading them through the streets, he sought a place where they could rest. It wasn’t quite late, but it was definitely getting to the point where he wanted to at least rent out a room.
There were several taverns and inns, but from just a glance inside of them, he could tell that most were filled to capacity. It took them nearly twenty minutes to find a tavern where they could rest their weary legs in.
The Boar’s Head was an older tavern. Despite that, the exterior had a well-maintained appearance. The walls were made of brick, and a glass window allowed people a glimpse inside. Red tiles made up the roof, which was shaped like a spiral instead of the standard triangle shapes he usually found on buildings.
He, Enyo, and Fellis entered through a red doorway, stepping into a well-lit room with numerous tables and booths. Most of the tables were already occupied. Jacob pushed his way through the crowd, his leather boots thudding along the wooden floor as he wove between tables. Several men catcalled when they saw Enyo and Fellis. The catcalls died off, however, when Fellis sent them a glare that promised death. Jacob smiled when several men who’d been eying Enyo with lust in their eyes suddenly paled.
Serves them right.
There was an empty booth near the back. He slid into one side of the booth. Fellis sat on the other, while Enyo slid in on his side. The warmth from Enyo’s thighs made him aware of her proximity.
Fellis ordered an ale from the bar wench, a young woman with red hair, green eyes, and a false smile. Jacob and Enyo ordered a water. Neither of them liked to drink, and both of them remembered what happened the last time they drank.
“How much further is Alysium?” asked Fellis.
“It’s about one month’s travel from here,” Jacob said. “Once we leave the city, we’ll come upon the Jovis Bridge. We’ll cross that and continue traveling until we reach Alysium.”
“I still don’t see why we can’t grab some drakes or a griffin and just fly there.” She leaned back, crossed her arms, and sighed.
“Because we don’t have enough money,” Enyo pointed out. “Also, wouldn’t flying there be more conspicuous? I mean, most people can’t afford to buy a flying mount, right? If we arrive at Alysium on a couple of drakes or a griffin, everyone is going to spot us, and then we’ll be in trouble.”
“I guess,” Fellis said.
This woman was surprisingly lazy. She didn’t like traveling on foot, often complaining about how much her feet hurt as they walked from place to place. When they slept in a tavern, she’d sprawl herself out on the bed and pass out. Her snores could also wake the dead. It was kind of like listening to a dragon snorting fire. Despite this, she was quite reliable in a fight, which he was grateful for.
Sometimes, you had to appreciate the little things.
“Fellis?” Enyo said.
Putting down her drink after taking a long gulp, Fellis looked at her charge. “Yes?”
“I was wondering… have you given any thought as to what you’re going to do once Jacob and I travel to his world?”
With a thoughtful frown, Fellis appeared to ponder the question before shrugging. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. Honestly, once you leave, I won’t have much left to live for.”
“Then why don’t you come with us?” Enyo suggested.
“Come with you?” The expression on Fellis’s face, the way her eyes had widened as if she’d never thought of Enyo’s idea before, almost made Jacob laugh. “I don’t know if that would be a good idea…”
“Why not?”
“Because we don’t even know if it’s possible for someone from this world to travel through the gate, for one,” Fellis pointed out. “Which reminds me, what do you plan on doing if it turns out that you can’t cross over?”
“I…” Enyo hesitated. “I’m not sure…”
Biting her lip, she looked at Jacob. Her gaze made him remember their conversation a few weeks ago. It also made him feel conflicted. More than anything, Jacob longed to return home. He was sick and tired of this world, which had forced him to fight for a people that he wasn’t a part of. He wanted to see his mom and dad again. He wanted his mom to hold him and his dad to take him for rides on his motorcycle. He wanted to go back to where he belonged…
… But he didn’t want to leave Enyo.
In the two months since they had first met, Enyo had become an irreplaceable part of his life. During the days where they walked from place to place, he and Enyo would talk for hours on end. At night, they would stay up late telling each other stories. When they were battling monsters, he could always trust her to have his back. He didn’t want to part with her.
“If…” Jacob swallowed. “If it turns out that you can’t cross over, I’ll stay here.”
“Wha—you can’t!” Enyo shouted. Several people looked their way, but most went back to their drinking.
Fellis agreed before he could say anything. “If you decided not to leave just because we couldn’t, it would negate all of the effort Enyo put into helping you.”
“I guess…”
Enyo smiled as she placed her hand over his. “Thank you for saying that. It makes me really happy, but even if I can’t go with you, I would like you to at least return home. It’s where you belong.”
Liar…
He wanted to call her out because he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was lying. They’d had many conversations. Most of them revolved around Jacob’s world. She would always ask him questions about his world, about its people and the places he’d visited. The way her eyes would sparkle as he spoke, as if she was imagining what it would be like to live in his world, was a clear indicator that she wanted to go with him more than anything.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it,” Jacob said at last.
“That reminds me, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the gate key before,” Fellis said. “It’s supposed to open the gateway to another world, right? Is it just a key, or is it some kind of mystical device?”
“That’s right,” Jacob said. “We haven’t shown it to you, have we?”
Fellis shook her head. Reaching into his pouch, Jacob felt around until he’d grasped the gate key, and then pu
lled it out. Fellis studied the object, with its long handle and gem on one end, and the strange blade-like shape on the other. It didn’t look anything like a key.
“I’ve never seen writing like that before,” she murmured in reference to the archaic symbols written all over the key’s surface.
“I’ve only seen them once before,” Jacob admitted as he pocketed the key. “It was the day the White Council summoned me to this world. The writing was on the circle that I found myself standing in when I was summoned to Avant Heim.”
“Hmm…”
“I have a question,” Durandal suddenly spoke up.
“What is it?” asked Jacob.
“If it turns out that Enyo and Fellis aren’t able to travel to your world, does that mean I won’t be able to either?”
No one had an answer to that.
It was still too early for them to fall asleep, and Enyo professed that she really wanted to see more of the city. They rented out a room. Once the barkeep had given them the key, they traveled outside to do some exploring.
The day was spent wandering the city. Enyo looked through almost every store they came across, her eyes glittering like a child who’d been told that every day was her birthday. They checked out shops, bought treats at street vendors, and enjoyed the many sights.
Tellus Caelum was an artisan city, meaning it was home to many artists, including architects. This was, in fact, part of the reason the city’s architecture was so mixed. There were numerous architects hoping to make their mark on the world, and this city was their testing ground.
Aside from architects, there were also painters, sculptors, musicians, and playwrights. As they wandered the street, he, Enyo, and Fellis saw numerous shows being put on; people played music, painters were drawing portraits, and there was even a sculptor working on a statue in the middle of a street.
Enyo gazed at it all. Her head twisted and turned as if she were trying to take in everything at once. The smile on her face lightened his heart.
Time passed, and midday became evening. Jacob, Enyo, and Fellis traveled back to The Boar’s Head, passing through the bar and heading up the stairs, where several doors sat. Their room was the last door on the right. It was a basic room with two beds and a small bath. They needed to call the bar wench to draw the bath for them. Jacob took his last. The water was freezing, but he didn’t mind.
Later that night, as the moon waxed across the sky, Jacob drifted into a light sleep. He was in his own bed while Enyo and Fellis shared one. A cool breeze blew in through the open window. Jacob, who never slept with covers on because he could get tangled in them if he moved too quickly, shivered as goosebumps broke out on his skin.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Footsteps made him twitch. They were soft, nearly silent. Had his sleep been any deeper, he would have never heard them.
An assassin?
Jacob had been attacked by assassins many times in the past—too many times to count. It wouldn’t have surprised him if this person was an assassin. However, just who they were there to assassinate was another matter entirely.
Enyo? No, the only people who employ assassins are the Dark Clan and the dregs of human society.
The Dark Clan was trying to get Enyo to return. They wouldn’t assassinate her. On the other hand, humans barely knew that she existed. Those who did recognized her as a thief, so they would want to capture her alive to interrogate her.
They could be after Fellis.
It was a strong possibility, given that Fellis was now a traitor to the Dark Council. Killing her would also mean one less person protecting Enyo. That would make it easier for the last two champions of the Dark Council to kidnap her, but…
What is that rustling noise?
The noise coming from the assailant made it sound like they were rustling around their bags. That was… odd. They didn’t have anything of value there, except for…
Shit!
Jacob leapt to his feet, and, using the bed as a springboard, he tried to kick the thief.
Unfortunately, they must have heard him. The thief ducked low. Jacob sailed by, twirling around until his feet touched the wall. Then he bent his leg and launched himself at the thief again.
The thief leapt backward as Jacob tried to land an axe kick on their cranium. Their jump took them all the way to the window sill, which they hopped onto without hesitation.
Jacob only had a short glimpse of the person. Covered from head to toe in black, he could make out nothing save for their burning amber eyes. The only thing he could see aside from that was the shape of their decidedly male figure, lithe yet masculine. The perfect physique for a thief or assassin. Grasped firmly within this person’s hand, glinting like a coruscating gem, was the gate key.
“Damn! Hold on there, you bastard!”
Jacob rushed toward the window, but it was already too late. The thief had jumped. Placing his hands on the windowsill, Jacob could only swear as he saw the person hopping from roof to roof, their figure getting smaller and smaller.
“Jacob?” Enyo with a yawn, making it clear that she’d woken up. “What’s going on? What are you doing out of bed?”
“There’s no time to explain!” Jacob turned around and rushed to grab his clothing, which he hurriedly put on, saving Durandal’s sheath for last. “Hurry up and get dressed! Someone just stole the gate key!”
“What?!” Enyo and the now wide awake Fellis shouted.
“Hurry up and get dressed!”
The two hopped out of bed, threw their clothes on, and then they were leaping out of the window in chase of the thief.
Racing ahead, Jacob looked back at the two. “I’m going on ahead! I’ll hold him off while you two catch up!”
After receiving a nod of acknowledgement, Jacob faced ahead and, channeling his energy through his legs and feet, shot forward at speeds so fast his cheeks peeled back. Tears formed in his eyes as the wind slapped his face. He didn’t even pay attention to the discomfort. The entirety of his being was focused on catching up to the thief.
The thief soon came in sight. However, their figure was blurry and indistinct, even when he drew closer. Growling, he put on more speed in his effort to catch up. As he neared them, held out his hand, channeling energy to create a glowing orb of blue light, which he launched at the thief.
They vanished right before the orb hit them.
What?!
A soft whistling from behind made his ears twitch. He turned around. There was a flash of light as something flew at him. Unsheathing Durandal in one smooth motion, he knocked the projectile aside.
There was another projectile hidden in the shadow of the first. He tried to dodge, but he was too slow, and the weapon penetrated his left bicep.
“Grk!”
Gritting his teeth, Jacob yanked the weapon out. Blood leaked down his arm, creating trails of crimson that fell onto the roof. Standing on another roof about two meters away, a lone figure clad in darkness stood. It was the thief.
How did he get behind me?
“I see you are confused,” a voice said, though it didn’t come from the thief. This voice was female.
Jacob calmed his racing heart. He couldn’t afford to lose his cool.
“Confused? Yes, I suppose you could say I’m a little confused, though that has more to do with the creepy ventriloquist voice than anything else. Wanna do me a solid and reveal yourself?”
“Oh, my. What an interesting wit. For that alone, I suppose it would behoove me to show myself to you. Very well, Boy.”
A person appeared before him, flickering in and out, as if she was made from light particles or not all there. Her body then solidified. Jacob blinked.
Her crimson tresses reminded him of a violent conflagration as they swayed in the breeze. They surrounded her pale face, complimenting her ruby red lips while contrasting with her viridian eyes. The dress that she wore was sleeveless. It was a midnight gown that trailed down to her feet, fitting her like body paint. She was lithe,
with a supple bosom, a thin waist, and shapely hips. A slit running across the left side displayed tantalizing hints of bare leg.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, hero,” she said, her eyes smiling at him. “My name is Darkness, and you’re going to be my new puppet.”
Jacob stared into Darkness’s vibrant green eyes, which held an iridescent sheen.
It was the last thing he saw before the world was consumed by darkness.
***
Enyo was gasping as she chased after Jacob. While she was in excellent shape from constant training, she didn’t have the ability to enhance her muscles like he did. Running beside her, Fellis was gasping as if she’d been running at top speed for ten days straight.
“H-how fast… is this boy?” she rasped.
To that, Enyo didn’t have an answer.
They continued running, hopping from roof to roof, until they finally caught up with Jacob. Enyo cleared the gap between buildings, landing in a crouch. She stood up, prepared to travel over to Jacob, but then she stopped.
There were two other people with him. One of them was a man covered in darkness, with amber eyes and pale skin hidden behind a mask. The other was a woman of such beauty that Enyo found herself feeling self-conscious. The woman wore a midnight dress with no sleeves and a notorious gap that traveled all the way down to her navel. Her red hair, viridian eyes, and ruby lips gave her a familiar appearance. Enyo thought she had seen her somewhere before.
“Oh, my,” the woman said. “It seems you’ve caught up with us, and so quickly, too.”
“Are you the person who stole the gate key?” Enyo demanded to know.
“No, that was not me,” the woman said. “That was my companion, Nemesis.”
Nemesis? Enyo frowned as the woman gestured to the man standing beside her. However, while all she felt was confusion, Fellis suddenly paled.
“Enyo,” she said, her voice containing a hint of warning. “Be very careful around these two. That’s Darkness and Nemesis, the last two assassins sent by the Dark Council to apprehend you.”
Journey of a Betrayed Hero- Volume 1 Page 19
