Dark City

Aldric was seeing familiar signs. However, there would be one that could put his doubts to rest. 

He exited the chamber that contained the undead and travelled through a deep tunnel. 

The tunnel was dark and wide with unknown horrors lurking in the shadows.

With a hand around his necklace, Aldric looked at the 3 figures in front of him. 

Hollow weathered skeletons standing there as if they were alive. They were armoured with weapons just as worn out as their bodies. 

'They are the undead I guess' 

He could not see any soul shards inside their bodies. If these were the same type of undead as he thought they were, there was no point in him fighting them. 

Beneath him in the dingy tunnel were puddles of seawater. It had a faint familiarity with Aldric. 

An ancient source of darkness was webbed within it.

He knew where he was now.

In the Catacombs.

Beneath the Dark City.

----------

It took Aldric a few hours to reach the massive chasm situated in the heart of the Catacombs.

It was here that he came across a problem.

The chasm was no less than forty meters across and stretched far into the distance to both left and right, like a dark border separating the world of the living from the world of the dead. A rickety rope bridge was drawn across it, connecting to a similar-looking tunnel at the other end of the abyssal chasm. The rope bridge looked like it was from ancient times. It was flimsy, slippery, and rotten. 

He remembered that the cohort struggled to cross it and had to resort to cutting the supports of the bridge. This was to prevent the undead from following them.

With his necklace that warded off the undead with a ghostly flame of vitality, all Aldric had to worry about was not collapsing the bridge with his weight. 

He returned his claymore to his soul sea and slowly crossed the bridge as lightly as he could. It was a slow process but Aldric was light-footed if anything.

After crossing the bridge, Aldric travelled through the catacombs looking for an exit. He was getting closer to the city.

----------

A young man with curly hair that was pristine, was walking through a desolate abandoned city. 

He was approaching a massive castle that sat on a hill.

It had taken Aldric 10 days to traverse through the city. The reason it took so long was for him to get used to the murmurings that constantly rang in his soul. 

The dark city was full of fallen-rank creatures. It seemed that the increased number of them caused the range of his flaw to increase. The closer he got to the castle the more it waned. 

The 10 days were spent meditating. Meditating to get used to being surrounded by those eldritch whispers. He knew he would be hunting often in the Dark City and so he could not afford to be distracted or debilitated.

The Dark City was a picturesque place of horror. Abandoned buildings littered the streets, all expertly designed with the best masonry. 

The city was teaming up with nightmare creatures—a plethora of different types each fighting for their survival and territories. 

Aldric had to often take longer detours to avoid pathways that screamed danger to him. He knew that it would be a matter of time until he was familiar with the layout of the city.

As he arrived closer to the gate to the castle, he could see what he could only describe as a slum.

Teaming with crudely made shelters that screamed temporary and vulnerable to Aldric.

It was a weird sight. 

The contrast between the extravagant castle and the dingy slums was jarring to see. 

Without any other thought, Aldric walked past the sore sight and walked towards the gate. 

A few passersby who lurked near the gates of the castle saw the young man enter. Constantly desiring to enter the castle themselves.

Aldric calmed his mind and approached the gate.

Two castle guards were perched in front of the gate. They were armed with memories all over them. Ready to deal with any intruders.

"What's your business stranger?" 

The guard to his left said in a hostile tone. He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.

" I want shelter inside the castle" 

Aldric spoke calmly without escalating.

"Do you have soul shards?" 

The man said with a smirk. Ready to respond if the stranger didn't have any. 

Seemingly from behind his back, Aldric showed the guards one soul shard of the awakened rank.

"Come inside, Someone will meet you."

They opened the gates and let Aldric through.

The gates were ornate but lacklustre compared to the ones Aldric found below the marble statue. 

A large hall met him as he walked forward.

The guards returned to the door behind them. It was too early in the day for the gates to be completely shut off.

In the grand hall, a small reception was situated in the centre. A wooden desk with a few people manning it. 

Aldric walked towards it with measured steps.

A young woman was writing something on paper. She looked absolutely beautiful at first glance. But the more you observed her the more something seemed off. 

She was well-fed and well-dressed. Her clothes didn't have any sign of wear on them. Physically she was fine.

Her body language was another story. 

She was jittery and shifty. 

Her eyes were constantly darting around her as if she feared for her safety at any moment. 

The most noticeable sign was her eyes. She had the eyes of complete misery. As if she gave up on life and was waiting for something. A small glimmer of hope to brighten her doorstep.

"Excuse me" The teenager spoke.

"Oh sorry sir, how can I help you?"

"I want to stay inside the Bright Castle for 1 week."

"Perfect, that will be one soul shard. What name should I put it under.?"

"Aldric."

"Do you have any preference for your living quarters?"

Aldric was alerted by the weird wording of her question. She clearly knew that it was his first time here. So why would she ask that?

"No."

"Ok, I will put you in the Tower Of Dusk. It is a very quiet living space."

Aldric simply did not care. The tower was facing the crimson spire. Aldric was already accustomed to the eerie feeling that it gave off. Compared to his flaw it was a mosquito bite.

"I'll show you to it now" 

The woman stood from her table and led Aldric through the large hall into a set of hallways.

They finally reached the room sometime later.

"Here is your room. There is a bell that is rung for all meals of the day. Water is also available in the dining hall. I hope you enjoy your stay."

With that she hurried off to return to her desk.

Aldric observed the archaic room. Simple amenities like a bed and a wardrobe he wouldn't use. There was an attached bathroom with a basin. 

He ignored the rest of the room and crashed onto the bed.

"FInally."

Removing his [Cragborne Armour] and equipping his [Silk Robes].

His eyes closed.