Chapter 59: Anomaly

Toren Daen

I didn't know what to expect when I stepped through the portal. I was feeling off-kilter from the can of coffee, each step taken robotically. I tried to maintain a mask of confidence, but my thoughts were spiraling out of control.

And so it was that when I stepped through the portal, I wasn't paying enough attention. I bumped straight into Jared's broad back, stumbling as his bulk offset mine. I shook my head, desperately pulling myself back to the present.

"Sorry about that," I said to Jared. "I wasn't paying atte–"

Jared's look of shock stripped me of that forced calm. He was staring at the zone ahead of us, his jaw slack. In fact, Alandra and Darrin were much the same.

Why?

I found the answer for myself a moment later. Stretching in front of us was a road, leading straight toward two portals not a hundred feet from us. Except the roads were paved in familiar asphalt, with white lines painted in the middle to delineate lanes. The asphalt road stretched beyond the portals into infinity, an expanse of rolling hills and grass as far as the eye could see. A few trees dotted the endless hills like a child adding tiny dots of trees to a painting. Unlit streetlamps loomed over empty sidewalks.

But the true difference was along the sides of the road. Strange structures grew from the ground, blocky and misshapen things resembling buildings. They looked like someone attempted to draw houses and shops from memory, the fudged lines and blurred paint marking where their recollections failed. They looked wrong, a twisted and divergent display of architecture. Walls were too high or bent in almost cartoonish displays that defied physics.

The colors hurt to look at: browns, yellows, purples, greens, and a dozen other horrid mixes meshing together like someone stuck them in a blender and threw the contents on every surface.

But I stared for an entirely different reason than the ascenders. For all the strange colors, physics-defying walls, and strange roads, I could recognize parts of these buildings. It was an attempt at imitating 21st-century architecture, the wall paneling and shingled roofs familiar to my mind.

What is happening? I thought to myself, my eyes darting across the zone. There were no monsters that I could sense. Is this some sort of illusion? A twisted reflection of my mind?

I remembered the ruin Arthur reached where an entire illusion overlaid the djinn crystal's room, hiding the place in plain sight. Was this similar?

"Okay, keep close," Darrin said, stepping forward. There was a sun in the sky, but it didn't beat down on us relentlessly as the last zone had. "This zone is odd, but we haven't been attacked yet. Keep an eye out for traps or beasts."

I swallowed, taking a shaky step forward. The group began to move down the asphalt road, Alandra sending baffled looks all around us. "I've never seen a zone where there were buildings," she said breathily. "I've heard of them, though. They almost always have relics!"

"Keep together," Darrin scolded as Alandra looked longingly toward one of the buildings. "We'll explore these buildings one by one. The exit portal is close by, but that shouldn't let us be complacent."

The group shuffled toward the first house on the right. The similarities to the architecture of my previous life were starkly apparent, even if they looked painted on. My heart beat in my chest as the lead striker of the Unblooded party approached the door, settling a hand onto the knob. Darrin's turned the handle of the door, pushing it open.

It was empty. The entire inside was a large open space, white walls reflecting the light perfectly. No shadows were cast from any point, adding a feeling of standing in an endless rush of white.

It was as if once the door opened, the illusion dropped. The facade of modern buildings was only skin deep, melting away the moment you peeked under the surface.

"Nothing?!" Alandra cried, darting in and looking about. She crossed from one end of the room to the other, trying to see if there was some sort of hidden compartment. She cast her sentry spell, but it only pointed toward the portal outside. "Vritra's horns!" she cursed.

Jared's hand clenched around the hammer on his belt, his one eye tracking around the room. Once Alandra came back, her shoulders slumping from the possibility of a relic becoming slimmer, we went to check the other buildings.

Darrin himself did a circuit of the rooms, trying to see if there was some sort of hidden switch or alcove. There was nothing.

I was increasingly on edge, the hairs on my arms standing on end. It felt like we were being watched, but nothing jumped out at us. The insides of every single house were stark white boxy spaces, empty of any rooms or decorations. There were no relics, no accolades, and seemingly no purpose at all for these rooms to exist.

We stepped back into the street. There was no wind running through this zone. The leaves on the trees were deathly still, contributing to the overarching feeling of uneasiness coursing through this little slice of reality.

The Relictombs were reacting to Lady Dawn's djinn blood, I was certain. But this was beyond even my expectations. I was expecting stronger monsters, amped up beyond what our party could handle. Or maybe we'd be thrown into a place like the mirror room as Arthur was, except with me lacking an affinity for aether, we would all be eternally trapped.

But instead, I was faced with a corrupt rendition of a slice of my previous life. Arthur never experienced anything like this, so why was I?

At first, I thought frantically of how this might expose my secret, or maybe prove dangerous to the Unblooded party. But the longer I stayed in this zone, the more it forced me to think of bygone days on my computer, spending hours at a time working toward my degree. It brought to the fore my old road trips across the country with my family, whom I would never see again. This was a sideways reflection of Earth, painted through refracting mirrors a dozen times over. 

But it was still a reflection of Earth. This place may have been empty to Darrin, Jared, and Alandra, but I saw ghosts everywhere, just as distorted as the houses.

Why is this happening? I asked the one person I could count on. Why is it showing me this?

"It is reacting to my presence," Lady Dawn said slowly. "But the mechanism is beyond me. It is taking things from your mind; crafting things from them," she said with anger. "I cannot stop it."

That's fine, I thought back tiredly. It really wasn't, but I was helpless to change it.

Our party stepped back into the sunlight, most looking visibly dejected by the lack of relics. I turned toward the exit portal.

"I want to leave this zone," I said quietly. Darrin turned around, looking at me. He must have seen something in my eyes.

I felt small.

"Well, as far as I can tell, this zone is empty of challenges," Darrin said, taking a step toward the portals. I thanked him internally, feeling too drained to do it aloud. "I think we should head back to celebrate your successful prelim, ey Toren?"

I nodded, an imitation of a smile stretching across my face. "Yeah," I said. "It'll be good to have completed this."

Darrin looked at me with a concerned expression, but I shook my head. This wasn't something he could help with. His piercing green eyes narrowed, then he turned toward the waiting portals. One would take a person further into the Relictombs. The other would allow them to exit these pocket dimensions, winding up back in the second layer.

I still felt like I was being watched, under the scrutiny of a persistent, unrelenting force. But it wasn't hostile; not in the way I'd been watched before. Why? And could we actually exit this zone?

Jared clapped me on the back reassuringly as we stepped toward the exit portal. "Good luck on your prelim, Toren! Shame we didn't get a relic. That would've been a story to tell, aye? A relic on your prelim!"

I moved the muscles that made me smile. "Yeah, it would've been something."

As the other ascenders stepped through the exit portal, I spared one last glance at the faux street. It was messy and strange, but there was nostalgia there. I exhaled, then turned and went through the shimmering pane of purple.

I was immediately met with the familiar yet awe-inspiring expanse of the second layer of the Relictombs. The sudden burst of sound hit me like a wave.

A receptionist approached, holding a clipboard. "Congratulations on completing your ascent! May I have the party's registered name?" 

"The Unblooded is our party name. Just finished helping Toren here on his prelim," Darrin said, pointing a finger back at me.

The receptionist's smile widened a bit, though I noticed her nose crinkling as we neared. We must smell ripe. "Once I clear you for relics with an inquirer, you'll have this ascent verified and you can go to the Ascender's Association to get a badge for our new ascender," she said, holding a strange item that looked like a pocket watch.

Darrin nodded, allowing the woman to move the watch around him, clearly scanning for something. She kept a respectable distance, likely warded off by the smell. When nothing out of the ordinary appeared, she approached the rest of the party, using the watch on us as well.

"Alright, you're free to go!" The woman said, her smile just as wide. "Keep earning relics and accolades for our Sovereigns!"

Before I graced the Ascender's Association, the four of us went to a nearby washroom reserved exclusively for ascenders. Apparently, they had facilities designed to rinse the toughest of grime from your body, as entrails, viscera, and other disgusting things had a bad habit of getting ground into these fighters' clothes.

The time it took to change out of my dirty clothing also allowed me to forcefully shove down my reminiscence for my previous life. I wasn't happy in this new world, but it was my new life. I would have to cope with it.

And I have completed my first ascent, I reminded myself as I put on another shirt. I've already taken the first step in my plans, even if it appears something's gone wrong.

"And you shall only grow stronger,"  Lady Dawn added mentally. She had a sense for my emotions, and while she allowed me to my nostalgia, now that some time had passed she had taken to an odd sort of comfort. I felt her reassurance over our bond.

It didn't take long for me to get my official ascender's badge. It was a metal card with my name and birthdate on it, my mage classification, and a photo on prominent display. I thought my expression looked a little unsure in the image they had taken of me.

Eventually, the Unblooded party would be going to one of their trusted merchants who gave them honest deals on the accolades they found in the Relictombs. Once the net sum accounted for all the treasures sold, Darrin would wire exactly a fourth of the total profit over the bank system to me.

As part of his earliest bits of advice and practice, he'd had us sign a legal contract before going on our ascent regarding the distribution of accolades among party members. The striker had repeatedly reiterated that was one of the first things I should do when finding a team. If somebody could stiff you on your fair share of the loot, the odds were that they would.

"And now we go drink!" Jared said aloud, pumping a fist after we were finally out. "Come on, Toren, I know an amazing pub on Blossom Street you'll love. You've got to celebrate your prelim!"

I coughed, feeling myself flush slightly. Alandra looked at Jared as if he was some sort of bug on the pavement. "No, you are not taking Toren to that place. We're going back to the Shimmerken's Hoard. Where people are respectable." She scoffed. "Honestly, I'm surprised they even let you in there, with that mess of a beard."

I raised a hand. "Do I get a say in this?"

"No," both Jared and Alandra said at once.

I lowered my hand.

Though maybe getting a drink would be a good idea. It might help me loosen up a bit after the exhausting trip through the Relictombs. I had a lot of stress I was purposefully ignoring, after all, and the extra shock from the last zone still hadn't quite worn off.

Yeah, the more I thought about it, the more a couple of drinks sounded like a good idea. I hadn't had a single drop of alcohol since coming to this world. I didn't drink much even in my previous life, but it couldn't hurt to unwind a bit.

"Alright," I said, a bit of my normal confidence returning to my voice. "What do you recommend for me to drink?"

—

We stepped into the Shimmerken's Hoard not long after. Jared, Alandra, and Darrin went to the barkeeper to order me Itrian Cider. Apparently, the apple trees grown along the Silverstream River near the Truacian city had some magical properties, and the alcohol fermented from their fruit was especially potent. This was important, as mages naturally had higher toxin tolerance.

Jared felt very strongly about how his core–without his express approval–determined alcohol to be a detriment to his body.

Long story short, mages needed stronger alcohol. Especially body strengtheners, like shields and strikers.

I made it to the table Hofal had been waiting at. The man had agreed to rent a room at the Shimmerken's Hoard for when we got out of the tombs, and true to form, the man was sitting with his legs propped up, his eyes closed as he puffed on his pipe.

"Hey, Hofal," I said, causing the man's eyes to open. "I made it through alive."

"Never had any doubt," he said, peering at me.

A loud clap from the barkeeper's direction drew the attention of the room, including Hofal and me. "Attention all!" he called, deliberately making his voice heard by all of us. "We have an ascender who just completed their prelim! And they are going to celebrate! "

Jared, who was standing next to the barkeeper, had an insufferable smirk playing through his beard. Alandra looked like she had just lost a fight. Darrin winked at me.

Uh oh.

"Come on up, Toren Daen!" the barkeeper called, hoisting a keg onto the counter with mana-enhanced strength. The barrel made an audible thump as it rattled the wood counter. "Tonight, everyone drinks!" he called to the room.

All the patrons present raised a cheer, a few patting me forward. I eyed the keg apprehensively.

"I am not sure these men have your best interests at heart, Contractor," Lady Dawn warned.

I remembered my college parties. No, they certainly do not, I thought back to my bond with a slight smile. They just want the free booze.

I could understand that.

—

Itrian cider was strong. After only a few pulls, I was already feeling slightly buzzed. I eased off of it considerably after that, feeling the mana in my body reacting to a perceived toxin. The cider burned when I took a small sip from the mug, but instead of a deeper draw, I savored the warmth as it trailed down my throat.

"Did you drink often in your past life?" Lady Dawn asked over our bond. I was sitting at the bar as the keg was passed around, filling the cups of all the patrons. Even the lute player got a glass, which I knew was going to impact his playing.

The phoenix felt discomforted by the consumption of alcohol. It was something I had an easier time picking up on over our bond for some reason, a kind of intention drifting over it that was simple to decipher.

Not really, I thought back. I was feeling a bit tipsy, the pleasant buzz working through my bloodstream. Only once a month or so, and nothing this strong, I said honestly. As my enhanced metabolism worked through the alcohol, I found that I went through the stages of intoxication faster. Now, I was feeling contemplative. I don't like relying on substances, but I can see this one's advantage.

My shoulders felt looser than they had been when I first came in here. A bit of the stress bled away as the buzz dispersed it. Do you want me to not do this again?

"You are the master of your own self," Lady Dawn started. "But… it discomforts me to know you may be caught unawares. Under the effects of these drinks, your reactions slow down. Your ability to perceive threats narrows immensely. And as my own senses are only an extension of yours, my ability to protect you is impeded as well."

I swirled the cider in my mug. Around me, the men were starting to congregate and challenge each other to drinking games. I saw a man chugging his entire cup straight from the mug, before passing out nearly immediately as his head hit the hardwood table.

But he had completed whatever challenge they'd set forth. The patrons cheered, heaving a small pouch of coins right on top of the snoring man's head.

I was going to steer clear of that.

I rarely ever drink, I said, trying to reassure my bond. You don't need to worry about this much.

I could sense that my words didn't do much to quiet the phoenix's discomfort. I was about to try something else when a stranger sat near me at the bar, watching the barkeep circling around with the large keg of ale. The newcomer had no drink in his hands.

He turned an eye to me. Where Darrin's eyes were closer to forest green in color, this man's were a light teal. His hair looked like it was bleached of color, instead taking on a shade of white that almost seemed to glow. He had a goatee of a matching shade which looked like it hadn't been trimmed for a couple of days. The stranger's eyes were shadowed, but they watched me with an eerie intensity.