In the evening, when the sun is starting to disappear. They finally reached their destination.
Kai and his companions found themselves craning their necks, gazing upward in awe at the imposing structure before them. Kai and Ariella both stood in silent wonder, their eyes locked on the ancient tower that loomed ahead, standing on a clearing. The towering silhouette seemed to pierce the sky, its presence almost unnatural amidst the thick forest. Cia, of course, could not see, but she remained attuned to every sound and sensation around her.
"It's an ancient tower..." Kai muttered under his breath, his voice laced with curiosity and confusion. "No, wait. It's more like a lighthouse. I mean, there's a bright light shining from the top."
He spoke loudly enough for Cia to hear, wanting her to grasp the situation despite her blindness. She tilted her head slightly, frowning as she processed the information.
"A lighthouse? Is there a sea ahead?" Cia asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.
Kai recalled the memory of what he saw atop a tree. And only seeing dense, seemingly endless forests that surrounded them.
"Nope, no sea... just the strange space I have been noticing lately. Trust me, it's the most bizarre thing there is."
That was the part that baffled him the most. There was no ocean or large body of water nearby—just an unbroken stretch of trees. But as they ventured closer to the light, the odd distortion in the air in distance became clearer. The space ahead, about a hundred meters away, shimmered and rippled as if the fabric of reality was bending in on itself. The sight made his stomach churn, a deep sense of unease settling over him. It's the most unbelievable sight he ever saw - a broken reality.
Yet, the rippling distortion didn't seem to pose an immediate threat. They had kept a safe distance, and so far, it hadn't drawn them in or attacked. As long as they stayed cautious, Kai reasoned, they'd be fine. Fortunately, the source of the light which is the tower wasn't too close to the anomaly, so they could investigate without getting too close to the dangerous area.
"But why would there be a lighthouse inland?" Kai wondered aloud, his brow furrowed. The idea seemed entirely out of place. Lighthouses were meant to guide ships lost at sea, shining their beams across the ocean to bring sailors safely to shore. But here, in the middle of a forest, its purpose felt wrong. Was it meant for people lost in these woods? The logic behind its existence eluded him. On Earth, there were no inland lighthouses for a reason.
Cia's brow knitted in concern as well. "I think so too. There shouldn't be a need for such a thing here."
Feeling his head ache, Kai shook his head and sighed.
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
They cautiously approached the stone tower, its age showing in the cracks and moss that covered its surface. The closer they got, the more it seemed to pulse with a strange, ancient energy, as though it had stood watch over this forest for eons.
Just as they neared the base of the tower, an unexpected voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks. It was the hoarse, gruff voice of an old man, and there was a sharp edge to it that made the hairs on the back of Kai's neck stand up.
"Stop right there, youngsters! If you come any closer, I'll kill you where you stand! Ya hear me?!"
Kai's eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice. Apparently, it came from inside the tower.
He raised his voice, trying to sound calm and non-threatening. "We're sorry for trespassing on your property sir. We don't want any trouble. It's just... me and my friends have been lost in the forest for days now. We were hoping you could help us find a nearby settlement."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the steady hum of the bright light radiating from the top of the tower. The light flickered against the backdrop of the darkening sky, casting long, eerie shadows over the trio as they stood at the entrance, waiting anxiously.
Then, Kai's beastial senses caught something—the sound of descending footsteps, each creak of the stairs inside the tower growing louder. Whoever it was, they were coming down to meet them. His muscles tensed as his eyes focused on the door.
Soon, the door creaked open, and an old man emerged, his rough voice following suit. "Youngsters these days, so damn daring. Didn't your parents teach you brats to stay the hell away from the Boundary?!"
The man stepped out, holding a lantern that cast a warm, flickering glow over the three travelers. The light illuminated his features too—a grumpy old man, weathered by time, with wild, unkempt white hair. His skin sagged with age, and his frail body, slightly hunched, moved with the stiffness of someone well beyond his prime. Despite the frailty of his form, there was a sharpness in his eyes that made it clear he had seen much in his lifetime.
He studied them carefully, his gaze sweeping over each of them, lingering on Cia's school uniform. His bushy eyebrow raised, his voice softening with curiosity.
"Hmm... You brats aren't from the village. Am I right?"
Kai nodded cautiously. "Yes, sir. We'd really appreciate it if you could give us directions."
The old man's eyes glinted with something more than mere suspicion. "Tell me honestly, did you come from another world?"
Kai hesitated for a split second, then gave a small, reluctant nod. "That's... right."
To his surprise, the old man's stern expression broke into a booming laugh, rich with amusement. "Ah, life sure is full of surprises! To think I'd live long enough to meet the beginnings of the legendary Players! What a bless this is."
Kai and the others were confused, unsure of what to make of the man's sudden change in demeanor. The air of hostility vanished almost instantly, replaced by a strange warmth.
The old man grinned, waving them inside. "It's getting dark outside. Come in, come in, lads! Make yourselves at home."
Kai hesitated, eyeing the man warily. But there was no hostility left in the old man's voice or posture, and the promise of shelter and warmth was too tempting to refuse after their long journey. With a brief nod, he accepted the offer. "Thank you."
Cia, who had been quiet until now, spoke softly. "Thank you, kind sir."
Ariella simply followed, looking inside the tower with curiosity in her eyes.
The old man chuckled, stepping aside to let them in. "Ah, don't mention it. It's an honor, really, to serve the originators of the Shattered Realms - The Players."
Kai froze, so did Cia.
'What did he just say?'
As they stepped inside the tower, the man's words lingered in the air.