THE ASCENSION EVENT

" A silent ode to dreams we hold so fast, in every longing, where future casts a freedom that's never outdone... "

He opened his eyes slowly, waking up from a Nightmare.

A lone horse-drawn carriage traveled through a dark forest at night. The old carriage driver sat at the front, guiding the horses along the narrow path. Inside the carriage, a small lamp cast a warm glow, making the vehicle look like a firefly drifting through the shadows. Inside, a mysterious man sat quietly, his presence both calm and imposing.

The old driver sensed something amiss and abruptly halted the horses. From the shadows of the trees, a group of masked bandits emerged, pistols in hand. They surrounded the carriage, trapping it. Despite the tension, the old man tried to calm the horses.

The bandit leader called out, "Come on out, nice and slow!" The old man complied, stepping out with his hands raised, but the mysterious man remained inside, unmoved and silent.

The bandits exchanged uncertain glances as they waited for the mysterious man to comply. Growing impatient, the bandit leader threatened, "Don't make us come in there after you." The mysterious man stepped out of the carriage into the dim moonlight, his hands visible and empty. His gaze was steady and commanding. The leader shouted, " what's your name? you look so familiar! "

"Victor Thorne," he stated simply, A man who's 27 years old and have a black short hair, piercing blue eyes, and a clean-shaven face. 6'1 height and a fit body. He was well-dressed in a classic, stylish suit. bandit leader hesitated, then ordered his men to search the carriage. As the bandits rummaged through the carriage, one of them suddenly froze.

" Wait is there a chance that this could be the same Victor Thorne—the infamous soldier !" he whispered urgently. " I thought he was dead ". Fear rippled through the group as they exchanged nervous glances and lowered their weapons. The bandit leader, visibly nervous. ordered them to fall back. " No wonder why he's looks so familiar but I don't know if it's really him, but i can't see any fear nor aggression in that Man's face and that's somehow very unsettling for me. We don't want to cause any extra trouble either. We'll catch another one boys! "

The bandits retreated into the forest, leaving the carriage unharmed. Victor stood calmly, watching them vanish into the night. The old carriage driver chuckled wickedly in relief. "Well, that was something," he said, shaking his head.

Victor, however, felt a pang of sadness at the fear in their eyes. He sighed and asked the old man, "Are you alright?"

The old man nodded, still grinning. " Oh I've seen worse, Mr. Thorne Let's continue the journey—we're almost there."

Victor nodded, and the carriage creaked back into motion, its wheels crunching over the forest path as they continued their journey through the night.

The carriage continued its journey through the forest, the rhythmic sound of the wheels and the gentle sway of the vehicle creating a serene atmosphere. The old driver glanced over his shoulder at Victor, a curious glint in his eye.

"You knew who I was all along, didn't you?" Victor asked, breaking the silence.

The old man chuckled softly. "Of course I did. Hard to forget a man like you, Mr Thorne. Your name carries weight around these parts."

Victor sighed, looking out at the darkened forest. "And yet, it seems all it carries now is fear."

The old man nodded thoughtfully. "Fear, respect sometimes they're the same thing. But tell me, why did you leave it all behind? A soldier of your caliber doesn't just walk away."

Victor's expression softened, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "I'm tired from of that life, it doesn't make any more sense to me. God showed me there was more to life than mindlessly following orders and shedding blood. Now I seek a chance to atone for my past."

The old man considered this, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding. "Redemption is a noble quest, lad. Not an easy one, but noble. We're all looking for something to give us peace."

Victor nodded, appreciating the old man's words. "Indeed. And perhaps, on this journey, I might find what I'm looking for."

The old man smiled, turning his attention back to the road. "Well, we're almost there. Mr Thorne."

The carriage approached the city gates, the journey's end finally in sight. The city was shrouded in darkness and an eerie, luminous mist that swirled around the towering walls. The mist had a strange, almost otherworldly blue hue, casting an ethereal glow over everything it touched.

Massive lights on the gate walls pierced through the mist, illuminating the path ahead with a ghostly atmosphere. The gates themselves loomed large and imposing, their heavy ironwork etched with beautiful designs that seemed to shift and shimmer in the dim light.

Victor Thorne peered out of the carriage window, taking in the haunting beauty of the scene before him. The old driver guided the horses closer, the sound of their hooves muffled by the thick mist.

"We've arrived," the old man announced, his voice carrying a note of anticipation.

As the carriage stopped, Victor Thorne stepped out into the misty air. He adjusted his long, tailored coat with polished brass buttons and intricate stitching. His snug waistcoat and crisp, high-collared shirt complemented his tapered trousers and leather boots.

He reached into his pocket, briefly checking his brass-rimmed pocket watch. The clink of Cogs in his satchel reminded him of the journey's cost. He pulled out a small leather bag filled with coins and handed it to the old man.

"Here, 50 Silver Cogs," Thorne said, his voice steady and sincere.

The old man looked at the bag, eyes widening in surprise. "This is too much, sir," he said, attempting to return the bag. "I can't accept this."

Thorne gently pushed the bag back towards him. "The extra is a token of my gratitude. Given the dangers we've faced tonight—bandits and... other threats as well —it's well deserved."

The old man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, accepting the bag with a humble bow.

Victor Thorne adjusted his coat, the mist swirling around him as he turned to the old man. "I suggest you stay in the city tonight. The forest is too dangerous after dark."

The old man smiled confidently, his eyes twinkling with experience. "I've been doing this job for a long time, Mr. Thorne. Trust me, I'll be fine "

"Do you know about the Ascension event happening here?" Victor asked curiously.

The old man nodded knowingly. "Of course, sir."

Thorne raised an eyebrow. "Then why aren't you interested in joining?"

The old man chuckled softly. " Well... In the end, It's all vanity, sir. Just like a hevel in the wind."

Victor Thorne couldn't help but smile at the old man's wisdom. "You're a Wise man," he remarked.

The old man shook his head, humility in his eyes. "Not as Wise as you, sir."

They exchanged a nod, understanding passing between them. "Goodbye, then," Thorne said quietly.

"Goodbye, Mr. Thorne," the old man replied. With that, the carriage rolled away, disappearing into the mist.

As Victor Thorne approached the towering gates of the city, the chilling mist swirled around him, casting an eerie light. Two government soldiers, clad in dark grey uniforms adorned with rank symbols on their left chests and a legion emblem—a dragon encircling an eye—stood guard. Their stance was steady, their eyes sharp as they scrutinized everyone who approached.

"Halt. Identification," one of the soldiers commanded, his voice firm and commanding.

Victor reached into his coat and withdrew a document, which he handed to the soldier. The soldier inspected it closely, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied the details. Recognition dawned in his eyes as he noted Victor's status as an ex-military officer.

"Mr. Thorne," the soldier acknowledged, nodding respectfully. "You may enter the city. No further questions."

Victor nodded in thanks and walked through the gates, the mist swallowing him as he entered the mysterious city.

As Victor Thorne passed through the city gates, he found himself in a place unlike any he had seen before. The city's structure was imposing, with crowded streets lined by tall, Gothic towers and factories. These buildings had a tarnished appearance, their ancient facades adorned with intricate carvings and weathered by time, giving the city an oddly haunting atmosphere. The street is filled with shops, trade market, restraunants and a lot small and big factories.

The streets were teeming with people, both city residents and outsiders like Thorne, all filled with excitement and hope. Rich and poor alike mingled together, their faces reflecting anticipation as they discussed the upcoming Ascension Event. Thorne couldn't help but notice the posters and notices plastered on almost every surface, all bearing the same face—that of a confident and stern old man, with the words "Ascension Event" prominently displayed.

Curious, Thorne paused to read one of the posters silently:

"Ascension Event - Join us for a new beginning. Only the worthy will ascend. Register now at City Hall."

The poster was adorned with intricate designs and symbols, hinting at a grand and mysterious event. Thorne's gaze shifted to the people around him, noting their whispers and hushed conversations about the event. It was then that he realized the Ascension Event was not mere rumor; it was a real and significant event for the city.

The city itself seemed to hum with an undercurrent of anticipation, its residents and visitors bustling about their daily lives with an air of quiet expectancy. Smoke billowed from the chimneys of the factories, adding to the eerie ambiance of the place. Thorne continued his walk, taking in the sights and sounds of this strange and intriguing city, his thoughts lingering on the upcoming Ascension Event and its significance.

As Victor Thorne passed through the crowded streets, he made his way towards the City Hall to register for the Ascension Event. Amid the bustling crowd, he sensed someone's eyes following him. Ignoring the sensation, he continued his walk, eventually passing by a factory where hot steam billowed out, engulfing the surrounding streets in a mist of melted iron and fire. Mesmerized by the sparks dancing within, Victor was caught off guard when a local resident suddenly pounced, snatching his large suitcase and vanishing into the mist.

" No, not the right time for this " Victor muttered in disappointment. Just then, screams erupted from behind. He turned to see three figures darting past him through the steam, clutching golden chains, money bags, and suitcases. Realization struck—this was a planned robbery, cloaked by the steam.

Before he react, they disappeared into the dense mist.

As Victor Thorne began to chase after the robbers, he suddenly noticed a shadow blitzing through the steam ahead. The sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed loudly, followed by the sight of blood drops amidst the fire sparkles in the mist. Thorne instinctively stopped and watched closely.

Amidst the chaos, he saw his suitcase flying towards him, thrown from the commotion ahead. He caught it swiftly, then sensed someone appearing behind him. It was the person whose eyes had been following him earlier.

The steam dissipated rapidly, revealing a scene of three men on the ground, bleeding and screaming in pain. Two soldiers were already running towards them to apprehend them. Thorne turned slowly and calmly, taking in the sight before him.

Thorne then saw a man taller than himself in a military uniform, his hands covered by leather gloves, with golden three star symbol on his chest and hat—the symbols of a city officer. The man's face was stern and weathered, a man in his 30s with long black hair and a small stubble beard. He cleaned the blood from his sword and sheathed it. His eyes turned towards Thorne, recognition dawning.

Before Thorne could speak, the officer said, "Well... Well..., this is quite a surprise, Mr. Thorne."

Victor Thorne felt a flicker of recognition.

TO BE CONTINUED.