A core difference between the Dome and what stood outside it was the dark fog, or as known by many, the Umbral Shroud. Ancient books of the age of the Hollowing estimated it to blanket 60% of the land mass of the continent of Paradoxia, on a stretch that separated Dome's from one another, a stretch that its explorers had come to coin as the Forest of Quanta.
"But of course, that is knowledge that none in the modern age would ever be able to verify" - Atlas thought as he ran through the darkness.
Currenly, the Shroud's density was at its zenith, with not a shred of light being allowed passage; night had fallen which meant that the most cunning of monsters were awakening, some already lurking at the corners of Quanta to catch prey. Yet, he moved quickly, each step sure but silent, as if the forest itself is guiding him. The trees blured past him, shadows reaching out but never tripping his stride; he weaved through them with ease, barely needing to slow down.
Then with another long stride an opening came within the fog, light suddenly trickling in. He squinted his eyes, a faint pain crackling within his retina, like fireworks on a midsummer night. Yet he couldn't help but feel it to be pleasant, because after half a week of constant journeying through Quanta, week and a half if you added in the journey to the Dome of Nochae and time passed within it, Atlas was back home.
- I'm back... - he whispered as he basked on the comfort given by the light of the Dome of Dusk.
***
"May the light of Acacia guide you"
Atlas was now near enough to see the words carved on top of Duskae's tall metallic walls, a kind blessing to those departing the former's protection and a welcome to those re-entering it. He was certainly glad to see them.
Along the way, Atlas saw fresh skid marks in the road leading to Duskae's main gates, the mud around it freshly overturned and the grass uneven and bruised. It was clear from these that the western gate had recently seen use, a rarity in of itself. But Atlas had an idea as to what may have passed - something that could only be described as a behemoth.
Soon, after following a side road, Atlas spotted smaller gate than the main one; it was carved onto the side of the wall. A small line of people had formed in front of it, most of which noticed him coming; after noticing that it was human man and not a monster of the Shroud, they all nodded to acknowledge his presence before resuming whatever it was that they were doing.
Atlas qued up at the end of the line and listened to the conversation of the people in front of him as he waited for his turn.
- You guys managed to hunt a big one today didn't you?
- Yes, the mature Veltnyx prawling around the planes in the southwest. The bugger had been assaulting the merchants as of lately. Them from the alchemist guild will finally be able to breathe easy.
Many might have frowned on Atlas's actions, after all, he was eavesdropping on other's conversations. Yet, he could not help doing so for he was raised to be this way by a certain someone. That, and he very much enjoyed doing, not the action itself but the noise that he could hear after the enveloping stillness of Quanta.
- Hey. Have you seen it?
- Seen what?
- The Eternis.
- Are you both talking about The Roaming Realm? Goddamn! Always wondered whether they could be bigger than the Leviathans of legend. Been a while since I last saw one.
- A load of bullshit. - someone from deep within the line interjected - When did you ever have the opportunity to see one? None had the opportunity to use them, last time they were in use were some 2000 years ago.
Soon after, the people in front were called and the conversation ceased; a downer, Atlas thought because he was getting quite engrossed in their conversation.
After about 15 more minutes of waiting, it was finally his turn.
The officer in charge guided him inside and into a room, its floor, walls and ceiling a pure unblemished white.
The room was unfurnished, with nothing more than a dark metallic altar at its centre, and a glass panel on the right wall, the latter leading to a room with another officer in standby.
It was a common procedure within all Domes, a strict procedure, but something essential to keep anything unwanted from entering the Dome - even if they were clearly sleep deprived, as implied by the dark circles underneath their eyes and the intense smell of coffee sticking to their clothes.
Atlas walked towards the altar and pricked his middle finger with the small knife provided by the officer in the room with him. Subsequently, he dropped the small amount of blood pooling in his finger on the crimson gem located at centre of the altar.
*Drop*
The gem absorbed the blood then shone crimson before slowly turning a similar colour to that of the room. - Do you have any symptoms you would like us to have a look at? - The officer within the room said with a practiced tone not soon after. Atlas was now in the clear.
Atlas shook his head in denial prompting the former to answer - Then, Sir, glad to have you back with us here in one piece. May the light of Acacia guide you - after a bow, he left through the same door they had come in through.
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
- Detoxifying the room. Detoxifying the room.
The lights within the room turned green with that announcement and the air appeared to hum. A final measure, meant to destroy any unseen dangers to the human eye.
Suddenly, Atlas felt his whole body lift up, an almost weightless sensation tugging at his core. It was complimented by the subtle hum of machinery surrounding him and the steady vibration echoing in his bones. Almost as sudden as this feeling, the room was filled with a myriad lights, all of them leaking from the window located in the right hand side of the room.
Atlas moved slowly towards it and was met by a town's night skyline; the room was moving down towards it. Ancient stone buildings lined both sides of winding cobblestone streets. Tall gothic-style spires rose from each of building's red tiled roofs - they were of different forms and some were taller than others; all decorating a distant starry sky. On the distance, at the end of what appeared to be the main street, something Atlas recognised because it was much wider and more decorated than the others, was a cathedral.
As he was admiring the town's beauty through the window, a door opened in front of him, letting in a chaotic symphony of sounds and sights; the town's pulses of life.
Atlas got down from the elevator and made his way to the cathedral he had seen in the distance. He squeezed through travelers, traders and townsfolk alike, all of their footsteps blending into a rhythm of constant motion. Every now and then, a lively tune on fiddles and flutes would grace his ears, melodies drifting away in the wind from troupes of musicians playing in the bars nestled in the main street.
After a quarter of an hour of walking, he saw a statue rise from the distance, it was of a creamy colour and the golden veins running alongside its surface hinted at the precious materials it was made off. It depicted 4 different figures with eyes that seemed to contain a spark of life and wearing folds of fabric that seemed to flutter in the breeze - it was clear to anyone admiring them that the sculptor had incomparable mastery.
It wasn't Atlas's first time seeing it but even he had to stop everytime just to admire this piece of artwork.
The statues stood elevated on a platform, and engraved on the latter was a plaque that read - To the pioneers of Humanity. For those who always stood in the eye of the storm. So that some of their stories are never forgotten - "The 5 braves"