The flickering shield that encapsulated the city shimmered with an ethereal glow, casting faint rays of light into the abyssal void that surrounded it. It was a sight so foreign in the Rift, where darkness reigned supreme. Kael and Varin exchanged a glance, both equally mystified by the unexpected sight before them. A city—alive, bustling, and untouched by the Abyssal corruption.
Kael's gaze wandered across the protective dome, his mind racing. How could such a place exist here? Was this a mirage, a trick of the Darkspawn to lure them in, or was there something deeper at play?
Without another word, they moved toward the barrier's edge. As they drew closer, the atmosphere changed. It wasn't just the light, but the energy itself. The oppressive weight of the Abyss—the constant gnawing sensation of corruption—seemed to lighten as they approached the city.
Varin took the lead, his steps cautious but purposeful. He extended his hand toward the shield, testing its surface, expecting resistance. Instead, his fingers slipped through effortlessly, as if passing through air.
Kael followed, stepping inside the barrier. The shift was instantaneous. It was as though they had entered another world entirely. The dark energy of the Rift vanished, replaced by a calm, serene atmosphere. The ground beneath their feet turned from cracked, desolate earth to smooth cobblestone streets. Buildings loomed on either side of the road, their windows glowing softly with lantern light. It was an uncanny resemblance to a city in Erendath, yet entirely wrong for this place.
A guard stood a few paces away, fully armored, his spear resting casually against the ground. His posture was relaxed, almost disinterested, as if seeing travelers enter from the Abyss was an everyday occurrence.
Varin, ever the cautious observer, approached the man. "What is this place?" His voice, low and steady, carried an edge of suspicion.
The guard didn't even flinch. He looked them over briefly, then smiled with practiced ease. "First time here, I take it? Welcome to Aethlar, one of the Eternal Cities of Erendath."
The word Eternal sent a shiver down Kael's spine. His thoughts immediately jumped to the Eternal Class he had unlocked not long ago. Could it be connected? His mind raced with possibilities, but he kept his face neutral, not wanting to reveal too much.
Varin's gaze sharpened. "Eternal Cities? I've traveled the continent for years, and I've never heard of such a place."
The guard's smile remained, but there was a glint of something more behind his eyes—something almost knowing. "The Eternal Cities aren't on any map, nor do they exist in the world as you know it. They only reveal themselves to those who have earned the right to find them."
Kael's thoughts churned. "Earned the right?" He didn't voice the question aloud, but the phrase lingered in his mind.
The guard continued, "If you wish to enter the city, there's an entry fee. Fifty Dark Essence per person."
Without hesitation, Kael and Varin both handed over the required Dark Essence. The guard pocketed the crystalline orbs without a word, motioning them toward a nearby archway. "You'll need to be scanned before you enter fully. Standard procedure."
They walked toward the scanning area, where another guard stood by, holding a crystalline device. The process was swift. Varin stepped forward first, standing motionless as the guard ran the scanner over him. The device remained silent, its glow unchanged. Varin passed without issue.
Kael, however, wasn't so fortunate. As the scanner hovered near him, it flared to life, glowing a deep, unsettling purple.
The guard frowned, stepping back slightly. "How long have you been outside the protective shield of the city?"
Kael hesitated. "About eight hours. Maybe longer."
Nodding, the guard retrieved a clear crystal from his pouch. It sparkled in the dim light, exuding a soft hum of power. "This will cleanse you of any abyssal corruption," he explained, holding the crystal toward Kael. "The Abyss leaves its mark on anyone exposed to it for too long."
Before Kael could respond, the crystal released a burst of light, engulfing his entire body. For a moment, Kael felt weightless, the sensation of abyssal corruption lifting from his very bones. The oppressive heaviness in his chest, which he hadn't fully realized was there, dissipated.
The clear crystal, now dark and marred, took on a form similar to a Void Crystal—its once pure surface now tainted.
"You're clear now," the guard said, pocketing the corrupted crystal. "That's what the scanners are for. Abyssal energy corrupts those exposed for too long. The city cleanses it, but we can't let anyone enter until the corruption is dealt with. It spreads too easily."
Kael flexed his fingers, feeling lighter, as if a burden had been lifted from him. He glanced at Varin, who gave him a small nod of approval.
Once inside the city, they marveled at the sight around them. The streets were bustling with people—merchants hawked their wares, children played, and guards patrolled as if this were any ordinary city. And yet, Kael could feel the underlying strangeness. This was no ordinary place. It couldn't be.
The absence of any Dark Abyss energy was palpable. The oppressive gloom of the Rift seemed a distant memory, as though they had stepped into a pocket of reality untouched by the dark forces outside. The contrast was so stark that Kael felt almost disoriented.
"I've never heard of this place," Kael muttered, turning to Varin as they strolled down one of the cobblestone streets. "Not even in stories. Have you?"
Varin's eyes flickered with uncertainty, a rare expression on his usually impassive face. "No. This place... it's new to me. A city in the Abyss? Protected? Unheard of."
Kael couldn't shake the sense that there was more to it. His mind drifted back to the word the guard had used—Eternal. He glanced at his mentor, debating whether to ask the question gnawing at him.
"Varin," Kael began, his voice careful, "what do you know about the Eternals?"
The older man's expression darkened. "The Eternals..." he murmured, as though the words were laced with hidden meaning. "Our powers—yours, mine—are tied to them. The Eternal classes, the abilities we wield, they trace back to something... ancient." He paused, looking into the distance, his mind clearly turning over memories he hadn't spoken of in a long time. "But I don't know the full extent. There are forces at play far beyond what we've been taught."
Kael swallowed the questions that threatened to spill over. Varin's cryptic response left more questions than answers, but now wasn't the time to press.
The two wandered deeper into the city, absorbing the sights and sounds around them. It was an overwhelming mixture of the familiar and the utterly foreign. People bartered for goods Kael had never seen, and the language—though Erendathian in origin—held slight dialectical shifts, as though they were in a forgotten corner of the world.
Eventually, their aimless exploration brought them to a large building near the center of the city—a grand inn with a sign that read, Void Inn. The structure was taller than most of the buildings around it, its facade sleek and dark, as if it had been carved from the very shadows themselves.
Varin motioned toward it. "We should rest. The Rift outside is unforgiving, and we'll need our strength before venturing out again."
Kael nodded in agreement, feeling the exhaustion from their earlier battles settle into his bones. They entered the inn, greeted by the warm glow of lanterns and the soft murmur of other travelers lounging in the common area.
They approached the innkeeper, a tall, gaunt man with pale skin and dark, sunken eyes. He regarded them with mild interest as they asked for rooms. With a quiet nod, he handed them a pair of keys, motioning to the stairs that led to the upper floors.
Their rooms were small but comfortable, a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the Rift outside. As Kael lay down on the bed, his thoughts still swirling with the revelations of the day, one thing lingered at the forefront of his mind.
The Eternals.
What did it all mean? And what role did he have to play in this strange, shadowed web that seemed to be unraveling before him?
Sleep did not come easily that night.