"Ready to leave? You didn't forget anything, right?" Rem asked, fluttering beside me in the early morning light, already prepared for our next journey.
"Yeah, I've got everything." I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist, making sure it was secure. "But we should go say goodbye to the gnomes before we head out. It'd feel wrong just disappearing."
"Hah, I'll miss the squeaky voice of that gnome," Kran chimed in with a smug tone, still nestled comfortably on my shoulder.
"Hey, that's rude," Rem shot back, her wings flickering in annoyance.
Kran grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Rude, but not inaccurate, right?"
"That—!" Rem spluttered, trying to come up with a defense, but then sighed in resignation. "Okay, fine... his voice is a little funny. But still, you shouldn't say that out loud."
Kran, ever the victor in verbal skirmishes, flashed a toothy grin. "Ah, sweet victory."
With the debate settled, we made our way to the place where I had helped carry the massive log. When we arrived, the gnomes were busy at work. The same log had been carefully split into multiple pieces, each now taking the shape of something new—a spear here, a wand there, tools of fine craftsmanship that only their hands could mold from the strange material.
The leader of the group, the short-tempered gnome I had helped, walked up to us. His large hat bounced with each step as he squinted up at me.
"Ah! There you are!" he barked, though it was less angry than before. "We were starting to think you'd just up and vanished."
"Yeah, we didn't want to leave without saying goodbye," I replied, offering a slight bow. "I'm glad to see the log's being put to good use."
The gnome puffed out his chest, clearly proud of their work. "Aye! It's coming along fine. It'll be a masterpiece when it's done. Thanks to you for carrying it all the way here."
"It was nothing, really," I said modestly.
"It's always a joy when we meet folks like you!" another gnome chimed in from behind the log, waving a tiny hammer.
Rem fluttered beside me, her wings catching the sunlight. "We're leaving for a new adventure, but thank you for your hospitality. I'll miss your world."
The leader crossed his arms, a small grin forming beneath his massive nose. "Bah! You take care of yourselves, then. Don't get eaten by worms or fall into any portals you can't get out of!"
Kran snorted from my shoulder. "Careful with the squeaky voice, old man. We might actually miss it."
The gnome waved his tiny fist in the air, but there was no heat behind it. "Get out of here before I start charging you for that smart mouth!"
They didn't know about Kran up until now, but he seemed to blend in perfectly.
We all laughed, the gnomes chuckling as well, and after a few more exchanges of farewell, we made our way toward the central plaza.
---
The central square was bustling with life, a stark contrast to the quiet streets earlier. In the center, the colossal set of gates loomed, each shimmering with energy. People of various races moved in and out of the gates, but something caught my attention—almost everyone passing through the gates wore necklaces with small, glowing shards shaped like arrow tips just like the two I fought yesterday. The shards pulsed with different colors, some vibrant reds, others yellows and greens, and a few even blueish shades.
I turned to Rem, curiosity getting the better of me. "What are those necklaces everyone's wearing? They look like they're more than just jewelry."
Rem glanced around, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight of the glowing shards. "Those are Dream Shards. They're more than just trinkets; they act as keys. They synchronize with the core of the person carrying them, and the color shows how refined that person's core is. They became mandatory after the Golden Order took power and started locking worlds they considered too dangerous."
"So the colors represent strength?" I asked, now noticing the variety of hues around us. I remembered Krait and Peronii's red necklaces from earlier.
"Exactly," Rem replied. "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, Black, and White. Red's the lowest, Black and White are the highest. Just making it glow at all takes a lot of skill, so don't feel bad if yours turns out red when you get one." She grinned, trying to offer some reassurance.
(Hehehe, I can't wait to see her reaction when you actually get one.) Kran's voice echoed in my mind, amusement clear in his tone.
I smirked, knowing full well that Rem had yet to see what I could really do. Letting it unfold naturally was probably for the best.
We made our way toward one of the more distant gates. It was quieter there, with hardly anyone entering or leaving.
"You sure this is the one?" I asked, eyeing the gate skeptically. It looked somewhat abandoned compared to the others.
"Yep, this is it," Rem said confidently. "As I mentioned, the world we're heading to is uninhabited. We're only passing through because it's the quickest route to the Fallen Worldtree."
I nodded, trusting her judgment. "Well, lead the way."
Rem flashed me a determined smile and stepped through the gate, her form disappearing in a flicker of light. I followed closely behind, feeling the familiar weight of Kran perched on my shoulder.
"Here we go," I muttered under my breath, stepping into the unknown once again.
---
"This doesn't look abandoned to me," Kran remarked as soon as we stepped through the gate. His small metal voice echoed in the vast, elegant space. I found myself agreeing with him—this place was far from the desolate world we were supposed to be entering.
The gate had led us directly into a grand palace, its floors covered in intricate blue and white tiles that gleamed under soft magical lights. Above us, chandeliers floated lazily, casting warm, enchanting glows across the polished floor. The walls were lined with large, ornate portraits, each depicting regal-looking figures dressed in opulent robes, their painted eyes seeming to follow our movements as we walked.
I turned to look back, expecting to see the shimmering surface of the gate we'd just passed through. But it was gone, completely vanished.
"Rem... where's the gate?" I asked, scanning the wall that had been empty just a moment before.
Rem's face mirrored my confusion. "We were supposed to arrive at Silvershade Canyon," she muttered, looking around as if the answer to our problem would reveal itself in the lavish surroundings. "Not... here."
I raised an eyebrow. "You sure you didn't mix up the gates?"
Her wings fluttered slightly in irritation. "I'm sure," she snapped, though her usual confidence was wavering. "And the gate disappearing behind us is definitely not normal. It shouldn't have done that."
Kran let out a sarcastic chuckle from his perch on my shoulder. "Well, well. Looks like someone is playing tricks on us. Might as well enjoy the palace tour, huh?"
I sighed, shaking my head. "We're not going to figure anything out just standing here," I said. "Let's see where this place leads. Maybe we'll find someone who can tell us what happened."
With no other options presenting themselves, we ventured deeper into the palace. The air inside was cool, almost unnervingly calm. As we walked, the portraits seemed to loom over us, their eyes gleaming with a strange intensity, like silent sentinels watching our every move.
As we continued down the seemingly endless hallway, the clattering of footsteps echoed from around the corner. Before we could react, a group of servants hurried toward us. They were dressed immaculately in matching uniforms—dark blue vests over crisp white shirts, polished shoes gleaming against the tiled floor. One of them, a woman with her hair pulled tightly into a bun, spotted us and immediately brightened.
"Ah! You must be the guests we were expecting!" she exclaimed, smiling warmly. Her voice carried an air of relief, as if our presence had lifted a burden from her.
Rem and I exchanged confused glances, but before we could correct her, Kran leaned forward from my shoulder, whispering, "Just go with it. Might get some answers."
I gave the tiniest nod, and the head servant clapped her hands, summoning the others into action. "Come, follow me! Everything is ready for you. I'm sure your journey has been tiring."
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel, leading the way deeper into the palace. The other servants flanked us, their movements smooth and practiced as if they had done this routine a hundred times before.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding—" I began, but the head servant simply smiled and cut me off.
"Nonsense, my lord. We're well-prepared for your stay. It's a pleasure to have you with us," she said, clearly not interested in hearing anything else. Rem shot me a look that said, We'll play along for now.
They led us through a series of grand hallways, each more opulent than the last. Portraits of long-forgotten nobles continued to stare down at us as we passed. The servants were polite, efficient, and oddly quiet once their initial flurry of activity subsided. Despite the grandeur of the place, there was something eerie about the stillness.
Eventually, we entered a lavish sitting room. The chairs were draped in silk, and a massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting light off the polished marble floors. It was a beautiful room, but what struck me was the lack of any windows. Each wall was adorned with rich tapestries or ornate mirrors, but there was no view of the outside world.
"We'll have refreshments brought up shortly," the head servant said, gesturing for us to sit. "Is there anything else you require?"
Before I could ask anything, another servant appeared at the doorway, his hands full with a tray of small cakes and steaming tea. I ate just before leaving the inn, but looking at all that delicious food was making me hungry.
Kran, still perched on my shoulder, whispered in my ear. "Might as well enjoy this, right? I can't smell any poison in the tea, so dig in."
I shot him a glance but couldn't help but agree. We sat down, and soon the head servant was back, guiding us through what seemed like a well-practiced routine.
The hours blurred together as we were shown around the palace. Each room was more luxurious than the last—massive libraries filled with ancient books, galleries lined with art from worlds I couldn't name, dining halls big enough to host a hundred guests. Yet no matter where we went, there was no sign of the world beyond these walls. It was as if the palace existed in its own bubble, sealed off from anything outside.
As we walked, we encountered others. First, a nobleman in extravagant gold-trimmed robes who greeted us with a nod, hardly paying us any attention as he passed. Later, a group of musicians tuning their instruments for some event we weren't aware of. Everyone seemed to assume we belonged there, each treating us with a casual deference that put me on edge.
Each time I or Rem tried to ask something, they either didn't understand a thing or didn't hear it completely. "What kind of palace is this?" I muttered under my breath as we entered a grand ballroom. The place was immaculate, but there was something weird about it, I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, it just wasn't supposed to be like this.
Rem leaned close. "This isn't right. Positioning of silverware, the way servants treats to guests, the way this place is decorated. All of them are wrong. None of them are big details, but I can't help to notice it."
I forgot Rem was actually from a noble family. If she was saying it, it was probably correct. I nodded, keeping my voice low. "There's something off. It's like everything is waiting for something. Don't know if that makes any sense."
"I got what you mean, food is delicious but this place is just creepy." Kran voiced his opinion.
Hours passed in this strange, unbroken cycle of formalities. Afternoon tea. Small talk with courtiers. All the while, not a single soul acknowledged the possibility of an outside world. It was beginning to feel stifling. Even Kran had grown quiet, his usual snarky comments replaced by contemplative silence.
Finally, as evening set in, we were guided back toward the main hall. The head servant appeared again, her pleasant smile same as when we first saw her.
"Your rooms have been prepared for the night," she said, bowing slightly. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."
Before we could respond, a deafening crash tore through the palace, reverberating like a clap of thunder that shook the very walls. It was followed by the sound of splintering wood, sharp and violent, as though something immense had just forced its way inside.
The servants froze, their faces drained of color, eyes wide with fear as they instinctively turned toward the source of the noise. From the same direction, faint at first, the sound of countless screams began to rise—a chorus of panic that echoed ominously through the halls, sending a chill down my spine.
Kran's voice was the first to break the silence. "Well... that's not good."
Rem's wings fluttered with nervous energy, her voice uncertain. "What now?"
"Something just broke in," I said, already stepping forward. "And it might be our way out."
Without another word, we began moving swiftly toward the source of the chaos, weaving through the labyrinthine hallways. As we advanced, the once pristine palace around us began to change in unsettling ways. The elegant portraits that had adorned the walls, once of noble figures and serene landscapes, were now different. Every single painting now depicted the same young girl, her face innocent but painting getting more and more damaged with each step we took. The further we went, the more blood-splattered and burned the portraits became. Her wide, childlike eyes seemed to stay same, even when the canvas itself marred with dark stains as if they were bleeding.
The floor beneath us, once a polished marble, began to decay, creaking under our steps as it transformed into old, splintered wood. The walls, too, warped and twisted, their luxurious tapestries giving way to charred, rotting panels.
"What the hell is this place turning into?" Kran muttered from my shoulder.
By the time we reached the entrance, it was no longer the grand palace we had entered earlier. Instead, we found ourselves standing at the threshold of a decrepit wooden house, its walls cracked and burning. The air reeked of smoke and ash, the flames licking hungrily at the remnants of the structure. The transformation was so complete it felt like stepping into another world entirely.
At the center of the chaos stood a towering monstrosity. Its eyeless face was twisted into a grotesque smile that stretched far too wide, its mouth unnaturally long and filled with jagged, uneven teeth. Its body was hulking, with long, sinewy limbs that hung like a marionette. The thing was enormous, and as it stood in the shattered remains of the house, flames danced around it, casting long, flickering shadows that seemed alive.
But it wasn't the creature itself that was most disturbing. Before it, cowering on the ground, was the girl from the portraits. She was sobbing uncontrollably, her tiny frame dwarfed by the monstrosity looming over her. Her tears mixed with dirt and blood as she looked up at the creature with pure terror in her eyes.
I rushed forward without thinking, but before I could reach her, the girl let out a bone-chilling scream.
It wasn't just a cry of fear; it was a sound that pierced through my skull, a high-pitched wail that made the air itself vibrate. The intensity of the scream forced me to my knees, my hands flying up to cover my ears as the world around me began to shift again. I felt the floor beneath me warp and bend, as if reality was being torn apart by the sheer force of the scream. My vision blurred, the walls melting and reshaping themselves as the wooden house began to dissolve around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in the familiar hallway of the palace, as though none of it had happened. The lavish decor was back in place, the marble floor beneath my feet polished and shining, the portraits once again of serene, noble figures.
The head servant stood before me, smiling warmly as if nothing had changed.
"Ah! You must be the guests we were expecting!" she said, her tone as bright and pleasant as ever.
---