After we made our decision, the tension lingered in the air, heavy and oppressive, like a storm cloud on the verge of breaking. Leopold and Oswald led us forward without hesitation, moving with quick and confident strides. The throne room, with all its grandeur, now felt like a distant memory, almost like a dream dissolving into the ether. The gilded columns and luxurious tapestries had given way to rough stone walls—cold, harsh, and unyielding—as we descended deeper into the subterranean depths.
With every step, the echo of our footsteps grew deeper, more muted, as if we were leaving the world of light behind and drawing closer to something unknown. The air, once soft and laden with incense, grew dense and damp, clinging to us like the earth itself sought to pull us into its embrace.
As we descended the stone stairs and moved through winding corridors, the warmth of the upper chambers gave way to the chill of the rock surrounding us. The flickering light of the torches that lit our path cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an eerie, dreamlike atmosphere.
The scent of damp earth and moss mingled faintly with the tang of rusting metal. Everything here felt ancient, forgotten—a place untouched by human presence for what seemed like decades, or, even centuries. The silence was almost suffocating, and even the sound of our breathing felt muffled, absorbed by the endless expanse of the underground labyrinth.
At last, after what felt like an eternity, we arrived in a vast yet desolate chamber. The stone walls were draped with dark moss and bore the scars of time, as though, time had eroded what had once been a place of grandeur. The ceiling loomed high and uneven, giving the impression that the space extended endlessly into the shadows. The air was heavy with an ancient melancholy, wrapping around us like a shroud.
In the center of the room stood a stone altar, imposing in its stark simplicity. Resting upon it was a translucent sphere mounted on a pedestal of stone. Within the sphere, a crystal glowed faintly, pulsing with a soft, rhythmic light. The darkness that had cloaked the room began to retreat as a series of lights flared to life. One by one, lamps along the pillars illuminated, their golden glow casting vibrant hues onto the worn walls.
"Is this… electricity?" Carlos asked, his curious gaze fixed on the pyramid-shaped lamps that lined the pillars, as though trying to decipher the source of their power.
Oswald, standing at the forefront, seemed entirely unbothered by the sight. He puffed out his chest with quiet confidence, a faint smile playing on his lips, and replied, "These lamps are powered by light crystals. They're called luminary crystals and have the ability to store and release mana from the light element. They've been used since ancient times in many places, both as sources of illumination and to strengthen magical circles."
He glanced at Carlos with a faintly mocking smile. "Electricity, you say? What's that?" Oswald asked, his expression a mix of curiosity and confusion, as though grappling with a concept entirely alien to him.
…....
Even after Carlos explained it to him, Oswald's reaction was flat. "Never heard of it. Here, energy comes from more... natural sources, shall we say. Magic and elements, rather than wires and devices." The innocence with which he spoke about something that had revolutionized our world was almost touching. For a brief moment, I wondered what it would be like to live in a world where magic replaced the inventions we relied on.
As Oswald conversed with Carlos, my attention shifted back to the altar. Moving closer, we noticed that around the base of the translucent sphere were twelve small circles, each etched with distinct symbols. They were arranged in a precise pattern, forming what appeared to be part of an intricate magical diagram. The delicate, flawless lines seemed to hum with their own quiet power. A shiver ran down my spine. "These must be other magic circles," I thought, scrutinizing the symbols. "What effects could they have? What forces are being summoned here?"
Leopold, who had been leading us, finally turned to face the group. His expression was stern and focused, and his grave tone broke the heavy silence. "This is the place," he said, his voice echoing off the stone walls like a distant whisper. "This is where we begin."
"Begin what?" I asked, confused.
Leopold didn't hesitate, answering with a confidence that made it sound straightforward. "Simple. To safeguard your lives, we must connect you to this world. The process is necessary to ensure your bodies and souls remain bound to what we call the 'tissue' of this realm. Without it, the link that keeps you tethered between the physical and spiritual planes will break, and, as I mentioned before, your souls will follow their natural course."
The explanation didn't entirely make sense to me, so I tried to frame it in terms I could grasp. "It's like we've been disconnected from a wireless network—something like Wi-Fi in our world," I thought, "and what Leopold is trying to do is reconnect us so we can stay alive here. Otherwise, we'll be... offline."
Leopold's explanation finally began to click, but a lingering question hung in everyone's minds. Elizabeth, with her sharp analytical gaze, broke the flow of the conversation with a critical question.
"But this only applies to our souls, right?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern. "This process lets us take advantage of what this world has to offer and prevents our souls from being destroyed. But what about our bodies?"
Leopold nodded, understanding the point of her inquiry. "Precisely. The first process is essential. By synchronizing you with this world's 'tissue,' we not only strengthen the bond between your souls and the physical plane but also activate a type of protective magic. This spell will preserve your bodies, keeping them viable for a longer period. However," he continued, his tone becoming more serious, "for this connection to be true and permanent, we will require a second bond—one that functions as a 'true link' between your bodies and souls."
Leopold paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Without this process, as I mentioned before, your bodies—even if your hearts keep beating—would gradually deteriorate over time. The magic will create a fusion that will keep you intact, allowing you to live normally while remaining connected to the essence of this world."
"But…" Elizabeth began, doubt threading her voice, "this still doesn't fully answer the question of what will happen to our bodies and souls in the long term, does it?"
Leopold offered an enigmatic smile. "The rest will be explained in more detail after the first two processes. Don't worry—you won't even notice the transitions."
Before anyone could press him further, the room's doors opened silently, and King Augustus entered with an imposing presence. The atmosphere shifted immediately, and all eyes turned to him.
"Leopold, Oswald, is everything ready?" the king asked, his deep, commanding voice resonating through the chamber.
"Yes, my king," Leopold replied firmly, gesturing for us to step closer to the altar.
He pointed to the translucent sphere in the center of the room, now glowing with a vibrant intensity. The soft light pulsed rhythmically, as though mirroring the beats of our hearts. Its glow seemed to flow outward, and the very air around it hummed with an almost tangible resonance.
"Please, one at a time, place your hands on the sphere," Leopold instructed, his voice calm but laced with a subtle urgency. "Not only will this fulfill the necessary process, but it will also help us determine the best path for your development in this world."
The tension in the room was thick, pressing down on us. No one moved. It felt as if the very walls were waiting for our decision, holding their breath in anticipation.
Then Elizabeth, breaking the silence with a sharp movement, stepped forward.
"Well, since no one else is going, I'll be the first," she said with a faintly sarcastic smile, her eyes glinting with the unwavering determination that defined her. With a firm step, she approached the sphere and extended her hand toward it.