In the heart of a wintry landscape, nestled among a blanket of snowflakes, lay a sprawling city, a marvel of architectural grandeur and seemingly religious devotion. The silhouette of towering spires and buttresses pierced the sky, casting long shadows upon the pristine white ground below. The air was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of burning hearths and the distant echo of hymns sung in reverence to the divine.
The city was encased within stone walls, weathered by the passage of time yet standing as a testament to the resilience of its inhabitants. Turrets adorned with gargoyles stood sentinel at regular intervals, their menacing visages carved in intricate detail, seemingly watching over the city with an otherworldly gaze.
Beyond the walls, the city was a labyrinthine maze of narrow cobblestone streets and winding alleyways, lined with timber-framed buildings adorned with elaborate carvings and colorful tapestries fluttering in the icy breeze. The rooftops were dusted with a powdery layer of snow, glistening like diamonds in the soft light of the winter sun.
At the heart of the city rose the majestic cathedral, a towering colossus of stone and stained glass that dominated the skyline. Its spires reached towards the heavens, crowned with intricate filigree and adorned with statues of saints and gods. The façade was a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, intricately carved with scenes from religious lore and adorned with statues of the pantheon of gods worshipped by the city's devout inhabitants.
As you ventured deeper into the city, you would pass by a multitude of chapels and shrines, each one dedicated to a different deity of the pantheon. Some were small and humble, little more than stone alcoves tucked away in quiet corners, while others were grand and opulent, their interiors ablaze with the flickering light of countless candles and the scent of incense hanging heavy in the air.
Statues of gods and goddesses stood sentinel in every square and plaza, their faces weathered by centuries of exposure to the elements, yet still retaining an aura of timeless majesty. Some were carved from marble or alabaster, their features frozen in expressions of divine benevolence or stern judgment, while others were cast in bronze, their outstretched arms offering blessings to those who passed by.
Despite the chill in the air, the city bustled with life and activity. Merchants hawked their wares in bustling market squares, their voices mingling with the laughter of children playing in the snow-covered streets. Priests in heavy robes wandered the winding alleys, offering blessings to those in need and dispensing words of wisdom to the faithful.
"Whoa, it's been so long since I've been here," Fiona couldn't help but look at the city in wonder as she walked with Professor Eugene and Victoria. "Emberreach sure has changed," the girl commented, her tone excited as her eyes swept over a statue of the moon Goddess.
"It's impressive," Victoria spoke as her eyes glazed over a large cathedral. "Though it is smaller than the capital city back home, it certainly houses many more places of worship to the gods. Everywhere one looks, there is a statue of a god or goddess."
"Indeed," Fiona agreed. "Verdantis as a whole seems way more religious than Galadriel. Though they seem to favor some gods above others."
"It is only natural," Professor Eugene stated. "The history of the gods differs nation from nation, in some nations gods are painted in a different light making some more favorable than others."
"Makes it all the more amazing that Octavia is highly praised all over the world," Victoria mused. Hearing the name of the magic goddess just now reminded Fiona of something.
"Mikoto, I am still worried about him," she stated with a frown. "We've waited at Briarwick for a few hours yet he still has not shown up."
"Honestly Fiona, this is not helping your case," Victoria stated with a forced sigh, causing Fiona to look at her confused. "You are like a worried wife," she chuckled.
"Nonsense!" Fiona blurted out, causing some passersby to throw her glances. Growing more embarrassed, she still sought to defend herself. "I am merely worried about a friend, that is all!"
"Sure," Victoria teased further with a grin. Fiona was about to retort, but Professor Eugene spoke up.
"As a student, Mikoto does take priority, however for now we have to trust in his prowess," he started. "But this situation has escalated, which is why we are here."
"Indeed, this is our best bet," Victoria spoke as she lowered her tone. "If there is even the slightest chance that the cultists plan to use a sacrificial ritual to resurrect a dragon, then we would need support from the knights in Emberreach."
"This could be a nationwide atrocity," Fiona frowned with a worried tone. "With the help of the knights, we could cover a lot more ground in the outskirts. Lucinda, Agatha, and Mirabella will not be enough."
"Indeed, if only Agatha had complete mastery of her Creation Magic," Victoria mused, "we'd have no problem scouting all over Verdantis."
"Even if she did, she would need a monstrous mana pool to cover all of Verdantis," Fiona stated. She opened her mouth to continue, but her eyes perked up as she took note of something.
"We have arrived at the knights' headquarters," Professor Eugene stated.
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It was like standing in the vast expanse of an interstellar void, where the fabric of space itself seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. Above him, a breathtaking panorama unfolded as countless stars dotted the canvas that was the cosmos, their brilliance casting a gentle glow on the surrounding darkness. Galaxies, like distant islands in an ocean of infinity, swirled and danced in mesmerizing patterns.
In the midst of this, a solitary moon hung suspended, its surface bathed in the soft luminescence of distant suns. This moon, larger than any one would have ever seen, dominated the skyline with its majestic presence. Its craggy surface was etched with scars. From afar, it appeared as a luminous pearl, casting a silvery hue on the landscape below.
The sheer vastness of space, the infinite beauty of the stars and galaxies, would fill one with a profound sense of humility and insignificance.
The silence of space enveloped him like a comforting blanket, broken only by the faint whispers of distant stars and the gentle hum of cosmic energies.
"The hell?" Despite the vastness of this grand and mythical cosmic place, those were the only words uttered by Mikoto Yukio. Had the absurdness of being seemingly torn from his current reality settled in? Yes, it had.
When that Chaosmaw had made an appearance, Mikoto had already prepared a spell to finish off both it and Amaury. But he was so rudely interrupted.
He was torn away and placed in this absurd mash of cosmic wonder. Galaxies and stars, along with an enormous moon. The word 'absurd' did not begin to explain this place. And everything had happened so very swiftly that he did not even have the time to react.
"Mine apologies, spawn of Octavia," a soothing voice filled his ears, he turned around to face the source. 'Ethereal' was the first word that came to mind when he glanced at the woman. Her hair was long and smooth, a pale blue in color. She had gleaming dark blue eyes that seemed to hide untold knowledge. She was unparalleled beauty, thin but lushful lips, and a set of eyes that could captivate anyone. Her attire was much more plain, a simple white dress that tightly hugged her body showing off all her curves and an ethereal white veil on her head. "I hope thy journey here was of no trouble," she continued.
Mikoto narrowed his eyes at the woman. "Who are you?" Suspicious would not begin to describe his state, he was more tense than suspicious at the moment. Since coming to this world, he had not met a single person with a mana quantity even half as much as his. But this woman's mana was absurd, it was almost scary. Furthermore, it stretched endlessly, he was not even able to perceive most of it.
"I am Rheya," she introduced, placing a hand on her chest. "I am known as the Goddess of the moon. It is mine pleasure."
"A God?" Mikoto questioned, his confusion only growing further. As far as he was aware, interactions with Gods were almost non-existent. ("What would one even want with me... could she know?")
"I doth know about thy situation," she suddenly spoke.
"You can read my mind? Fantastic," he scoffed. Though he could not complain, he doubted a goddess cared about the nature of privacy.
"I meant no offense," she spoke, her tone still so soothing yet blank at the same time. "I shall refrain if it is something thou doth not fancy I shall stop."
"Appreciate it," he dryly responded, there was probably not the right way to talk to a god. "But I am guessing you wanted something of me."
"I've had mine eye on thou since first thou crossed into this star." She stated. "I watched thy actions closely and I was easily able to determine that thou could be of help. I've more sway in Verdantis so I could only summon thou hither now."
"Help?" Mikoto interrupted, his tone still confused. "With what?"
"I want thou to collect something for me," she started. "And I want thou to dispatch someone."