The scenery outside the balcony stretched into the vastness of a beautiful night sky. The moon hung high, surrounded by shimmering stars that gradually disappeared into the horizon. But to Kai, this sight no longer held any wonder after seeing it so often on Earth and in this Realm. Yet tonight, his heart was gripped by a deep sense of dread and unease. Southward, reality itself seemed to tremble and distort, a strange phenomenon he had been observing for days. Now, seeing it up close in vivid details made his mind tingle, startled by the sight of distorted reality.
Like a glitching image or a shaking reflection in the mirror, further Southwards was behaving really oddly.
"That's... the Boundary?"
Garba, standing beside him, nodded gravely. "Yes... that's the barrier. It separates our dimension from the others and holds the Realms apart. Everyone fears crossing it, even me. Because what lies beyond is basically the unknown, and people fear the unknown more than anything. Crossing it is as good as signing your death warrant, lad. You'd have to be insane to go beyond it."
Kai's gaze shifted from the strange, rippling distortion far away. "But didn't the Players cross Realms? Didn't they bring back knowledge of what's beyond? Surely, they explored further than this."
Garba sighed deeply, his aged eyes narrowing. "They did, on the Northern side, where they first emerged. But what you're looking at now, lad, is the Southern Boundary. The Players moved onwards, braving unknown dimensions to the South... and they never returned. Over the years, some crazy souls tried following in their footsteps, hoping to map what's beyond. None of them ever came back."
Kaiser's expression turned somber as he looked at the Boundary where another dimension lays beyond, so did the possibilities of other students and teachers being there. He had no strong attachments to them except his two friends, but they were his fellow students he often saw and some teachers that taught him daily. However, the revelation that no one returned from the South implies danger, grave enough to not let who entered return back.
As if sensing his mood, Garba continued, his voice growing even more somber. "The Northern side isn't much better. It's known as a danger zone, and they weren't kidding when they called it that."
Kai's eyes shifted toward Garba. "What about the East and West? Are any of those Boundaries safe to cross?"
Garba shook his head slowly, the faintest trace of pity in his voice. "I'm afraid not. The Green Land is boxed in by danger zones on all sides. That's been our curse for ages. But... life here is good enough. Safer than most, at least. However, my dreams of becoming an adventurer will never be fulfilled in this place. What a pity."
He gave a dry laugh, tinged with regret. "I know what you're thinking. I keep blabbering on about adventure, yet I'm too scared to even approach the Boundary. And you're right—it terrifies me. But all dangers do. And at my age, I've come to accept that death is just around the corner. If I were younger... maybe I'd have crossed one of the Boundaries like those dead fools, rather than rotting here."
He paused, silence fell on them. After a while, he added. "Well, aren't you brats going to ask why? Go on—ask."
Kai had a strange expression, so did Cia as they flatly asked. "Why?" in unison.
Garba sighed, his earlier light-heartedness fading into something more solemn. "My family had served as Wardens of the Boundary for years. Unfortunately, in my generation, our bloodline dwindled due to continuous misfortunes. Eventually, I was left as the only one to carry the tradition after my father's death. The other members either left or died, unwilling to continue on the tradition. Leaving me as the sole inheritor, and preventing me from risking my life out there. Who would stop fools like you lots from the Boundary if I'm gone?..."
His words trailed off as he fell into a moment of reflection. After that, the old man kept talking, weaving together bits of knowledge, stories, and personal ramblings. Kai and the others listened, absorbing the wealth of information that broadened their understanding of the Realm they now found themselves in.
Eventually, Garba led them to the second-highest floor of the tower, which is his own room. Scratching his head as though realizing he had forgotten something. "Ah, right... guests, guests. Haha, almost forgot. How does my personal chamber look, quite spacious, right?"
'Why not just admit you misled us.' Kai smirked Internally, seeing through the old man's cheap cover.
Garba mumbled to himself before leading them back downstairs and showing them separate rooms for the night.
However, Cia declined the offer. "I appreciate your consideration Mr. Garba, but I prefer staying with them in a room." she insisted, her tone resolute.
Ariella silently nodded in agreement.
Truth be told, none of them trusted Garba entirely. Though he seemed genuine and kind, they couldn't shake the suspicion that he might have ulterior motives for he is basically a stranger they just meet. So, they tacitly decided to stay together as a precaution. However, Kai can't help but feel strange.
The old man gave Kai a knowing look and led them into the biggest room he could offer, which isn't that big. Then whispered at Kai, "don't dirty the bed" Before leaving them alone to rest. Making his eyes widened, his lips stiffed.
The room was modest in size with a bed sizable enough to accommodate two people.
'Oh, gods. Why does that old hag have to remind me of my manliness?!'
Since Ariella arrived in his care, he had been trying to forget an issue every man had - Carnal desire. As a growing young man, of course he had such desires. Ariella's innocence coupled with her flawless visage only made it worse. Fortunately, he learned to fear the gods by then, and Ariella is one. Followed by extreme violence that erased unnecessary thoughts in his mind - battle with the bandits, dealing with Zara and devastating their lair. Their journey in the forest was always tense, knowing that dangers might sprout at any corner.
However, now, they're in a comfy embrace of a solid structure away from harm. A real bed made them comfortable after days in the wilderness. So did their mind. With the danger away and being reminded by the old man of his discarded thoughts.
Alone with two beauties in a single room, he found himself troubled. Cia is blind, while Ariella is innocent and childish despite being a goddess, she poses no harm. Each one was a vulnerable target taunting his temptations. The single bed didn't help either, it only made his mind go wild. Added the distress of the earlier revelations driving his mind to search for solace, distraction in pleasure.
Putting down the heavy bag in a corner, Kaiser massaged his shoulder and lay on the floor.
'Resist your temptations bastard, it will be the death of you!' His aware of what uncontrolled temptations may bring. It would bring short joy, in exchange for long term issues. He didn't want to harm Ariella and Cia for his own stupidity. Still, the dirty thoughts won't go away.
So, Kai let his thoughts drift away into the startling memories of things he had heard earlier, diving into their dept to form various speculations such as, did the Players come from the same timeline? What are their abilities? How powerful are they to brave multiple dimensions in Shattered Realms? Are there more safe zones besides Green Land where people live? What does the Grand Ship the Players board look like? What's out there? How are the other students doing, especially the Elites? Are they managing well?
The Elites were really capable students possessing sharp minds and physicality. Take Gabriel for example, his a socially intellectual person that also knew boxing which helped him pass the trials against the bandits. However, his excellence falls short against Elite students. Kai wouldn't be surprised if they already awakened their abilities and was progressing on their own goals in other Realms.
However, amidst his pondering, Ariella crawled into his hands. Sticking her head in his warm chest in seek of snuggling like a pet to her master. Disturbing Kai. Although, her trust in Kai was unrivaled for he is basically the only one that stayed by her side, caring for her and protecting her from malicious individuals. It only increases when he saves her from the scary bandits. That trust, though, made her express more on Kaiser. Especially at night when there's no pillow around, Ariella would use his body more than Cia's. In his understanding, she's like a child in a seducing young lady's body. Careless and brimming with innocence that begged to be loved. However, this is the first time she got this intimate with him.
'I really can't understand how gods think... Oh, yeah, she's probably just a kid, huh.'
His twisted temptations are beginning to gawn on him again, but all thoughts were tossed out as realization dawned on him.
His eyes widened.
'Wait... If the Transmigrators/Players exists here long ago... Then... why did the Gods say it's her fault?!'