Ch14: Expectations, Part One

"There are no beautiful surfaces without a terrible depth."

― Friedrich Nietzsche

Ven followed the persistent tug of the Lovecraftian Myki as he pondered its counterpart's words. He'd asked about the orb above, and the Fallasi responded, "God," before it ignored him completely.

What is that supposed to mean anyway?

Perhaps a religious symbol? Either way, the lightning-incased sphere put him on edge.

He gave up his attempts to get information from his guides and gazed about the empty roadways. As they walked through barren streets, the buildings gained height, their walls far above. It took them several minutes, but now Vendak stood before the central structure of the vast city.

A mountainous spire of coral rose into the heavens, covered in a heavily flowered plant that Ven could have sworn were cherry blossoms. No doorways or windows disrupted the face of the monument, but a series of smaller constructs surrounded the central spire. Compared to the other organic buildings, their uncovered surfaces appeared artificially designed.

Four triangular platforms, positioned in each cardinal direction, supported four identical ring-like structures. Made of a polished coral identical to the outer wall, these rings contained a far denser set of runic inscriptions. From his position at the foot of one of these pyramids, Ven could only make out a small part of the enchantments, but they were almost the most complex he'd encountered.

Only the ominous coin, and the doorway of his birthplace, were more intricately crafted. These runes were indeed layered and detailed, but the coin made them into a child's etching. Too bad the thing sets off my flight response like a mouse trapped in a room full of cats. As it was, he simply left it in his storage pouch, where it could no longer trigger his desire to flee.

The single-minded pair of guides pushed him towards the closest of these circular effigies, and Ven got a closer look at the runes inscribed onto the sturdy coral. The strange patterns they formed captured the eye.

There's something about the runes of this world...

Each time they appeared in his sight, he felt an itch. It pulled him to unlock their secrets and transform the script, bending it until it returned to the shape his heart seemed to recognize.

Shoved atop the platform, Vendak discovered that his guides had vanished, his observations of the runes disrupted by a ripple of power. The massive circular stonework emitted a pulse at his approach, a flash that called his attention. Vendak found himself illuminated as it filled with a whirlpool, silver-blue energy locked in a spiral between the stone. It spun faster and faster, and from its center, a portal began to form. Smooth as glass, the rippling window expanded. Beyond was an entirely different world.

A dream-like landscape peaked through, rose-colored skies that clashed with the air of the world. For a moment, Ven felt the light of two suns, one a familiar white, and the other a deep midnight blue. This blue star cast purple shadows across his face, and dyed the land beyond in strange, violate shadows. Smaller versions of the spired reef filled the space, a soft carpet of swaying silver grass between them. Beyond that, everything was lost to a blended light, the furthest visible distance a kaleidoscopic wall of chaos.

Yeah... I'm not going in there.

He had no idea where the other side led. Vendak was not a fool, if he entered such a thing carelessly it could be his end.

"Hey! Fish dudes! What's up with this?" he shouted, a vain attempt to recall his vanished guides.

What responded was not the quiet pair, but an irresistible suction force. He grappled with the pull, his aura locked in a silent struggle with the grip that drew him through the gateway.

As Vendak passed the thin membrane, it was as if hundreds of hands caressed his body, the touch of a lifetime of lovers crammed into a single moment. That's kind of unpleasant, like getting felt up on the train... Ven shook his body like a dog and tossed away the unsightly experience.

This place is weird...

From the other side, this world seemed to be on land, however, the waving silver grassland was covered by crystal clear waters. These waters defied nature, their impossible depths unburdened by the mighty pressure this much ocean should create.

I can barely feel the water at all, it's almost like walking through air.

This place was technically submerged, but the plant and animal life appeared more terrestrial. Small black rabbits hopped about in the grass as they nibbled on tiny purple flowers nestled within. Velvety soft fur, dusted with golden pollen, created an ethereal haze around them. Combined with their empty, white eyes, it kept Ven from reaching out to pet one.

These things look like tiny little nightmares, too children of the corn for my taste.

Huge butterflies of all colors and patterns competed with these demonic bunnies for the flowers and filled the "air" around him. They concentrated around the coral-like trees, and hovered back and forth, a dance between the many flowered plants. Some had wingspans greater than his height, with vivid eye patterns that turned the sky to faces. For a moment Ven stopped, a smile curled beneath his mask.

"Thanks, system god," Ven muttered half-heartedly.

As resentful as he was towards his systems designer, he was granted the chance to experience the impossible. While the memories of his time on Earth had become hazy, his life had been one of regret. Afraid of failure he often never attempted things he had an interest in. In the end, that life had left him hollow.

Perhaps in this life, I can find something I believe in, instead of following the dreams of others.

He put those thoughts aside for now, a refusal to let his melancholy mood ruin the beautiful vista that stood before him.

The rose-tinted sky, persistent in its color despite the blue sun, held rolling purple clouds. Tinged with highlights of red, these massive formations resembled the underside of a stormy sea and surrounded Ven's position in a vast ring.

I wonder what's inside the clouds?