[You have arrived in the 7th realm: Illyricum.]
When we finished our descent from the 6th realm, the voice known as ‘Will of the Overseers,’ as Avery called it, resounded in my mind, and the majestic elevator could be seen rising behind us as we all walked out of it.
When we stepped on the elevator, the limbo registered the 7th realm on our Ventureseal, which shifted form, and amazingly, it did the same for her. She had a comparable Ventureseal now because the limbo had finally recognised her as a Venturer, much like fixing a glitch in a video game.
We could only see a tiny corridor ahead of us, and it appeared like we were inside a cave since there was no sun or moon, and the roof appeared to be made of glossy rock that glistened in the dark.
Davy and Cliff were excited to enter the corridor, and I could see a smile grow on their faces. "Finally, all of our efforts since diving in that lake have paid off!" Cliff yelled.
"At long last, a reprieve from all of this." Davy spoke softly, a grin growing on his face as his eyelids closed.
"What exactly do you mean?" I inquired. "So, you’ve never heard of respite zones?" Cliff spoke up.
I produced a perplexed expression while Kei sat calmly listening. "Well, my father told me about them. Every 7th realm— Davy interrupted Elsie started explaining.
"Let them see it for themselves." Davy begged.
"I see." Elsie spoke in a suspicious tone.
Another voice suddenly appeared in my mind.
Kindly proceed to respite zone 1 (City of Aurorium).
This contributed to the uncertainty caused by Davy and Cliff, so I decided to check it out for myself by entering the corridor.
As we walked through the corridor, our footsteps echoed in unison. When we finally emerged from the path, my heart skipped a beat at the sight before me. Given the treacherous nature of the previous realms, I had anticipated encountering cave monsters or deadly traps that could kill us with a single misstep. However, what lay before us was entirely unexpected.
Just as I stepped out of the corridor, I was completely taken aback by the expansive cavern before me. The roof had expanded, revealing gigantic gemstones that were embedded within it, lighting up the entire area. It was breathtaking to see such a sight, and it was clear that this was not just a mere cave.
As I looked down, I could see the main attraction—the Aurorium. The city was enormous, and the gemstones above it illuminated it, casting a beautiful and ethereal glow over everything. The scale of the city was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and I felt a sense of awe and wonder as I took it all in.
"Respite zones are essentially resting places for Venturers. They’re where Venturers from all over the world can gather, rest, and share information. These zones signal that the path ahead will be more difficult and challenging, giving venturers a chance to prepare themselves." Davy started his explanation.
He continued, "In the otherworldly labyrinth, every seventh realm is a respite zone. While there are no challenges here, there are various facilities that would be useful to every venturer. You can access the passage to the 8th realm at any time, but I wouldn’t recommend it until you’ve made use of the resources available here." He concluded.
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"So this city in front of us is one of these "respite zones?" I was curious.
"Correct. The first respite zone, Aurorium, is visible in front of you. It is a city founded by the first venturers who set foot here, and there are no dwellers." Davy smiled as he spoke.
**
As we walked through the streets of Aurorium, I was struck by the vibrant and bustling energy that filled the air. The buildings around me were made of the same glittering rock material as the roof of the cavern, and they towered high above me, their gemstone windows shining bright. The streets were busy with people from all over the limbo, and I could hear the sound of their chatter and footsteps echoing off the walls.
There were stalls selling all sorts of exotic and strange goods, their colourful wares displayed in a way that made them look almost magical. I could smell the scent of fresh baked goods and spices, and I could hear the sound of music being played on instruments I had never seen before.
"You may exchange the riches and relics you obtained from previous realms for currency, which you can then use to buy armour and weapons, as well as knowledge about the forthcoming realms." Cliff talked to us as we walked.
"But the most essential thing is that," he said, pointing to a large edifice in the city center. It was large enough to be seen from everywhere in the city. It appeared to be a fountain.
"Doesn’t that look like the ‘Nebula’?" Davy inquired.
"Most likely." Cliff answered while he turned towards me and stated, "The nebula is a gateway that binds all the realms of limbo together. You may use it to go to any of the realms you’ve already visited, as well as back to Earth."
Hearing his remarks, I felt a sense of comfort. I knew there was a route back to earth since Gary was a paladin and I met him there, and this also explained how Avery was able to set up his operations headquarters on the 2nd realm. The ability to freely wander the realms would be a tremendous asset.
**
We resumed our trip after surrendering our riches and achievements for this city’s money, ‘Aetherium,’ which were small coins that sparkled with a dull tinge of green. The jewellery I had obtained from the tarantula’s cave in the 1st realm, where Kei had saved me, proved to be valuable, as I received a large sum for it. By the time we were done, I had 34 aetherium pieces.
Our feet came to a halt as we came to a standstill in front of a structure. On the exterior of the structure, a rock etching with the words ‘The faint mice’ was produced. We happened to come across an inn on our route. This would provide us with somewhere to stay while we were here.
When we walked in, I noticed a lady at the reception desk. As we neared her, she made a bow. "Can I have five rooms, please?" I requested.
Understood. Davy interrupted the lady as she was about to finish. "Three rooms." Davy rephrased my sentence.
I looked at him, puzzled. He gave me a look that said he would explain things later, so I didn’t object.
"One Aetherium piece would get you three rooms for a week." The lady made a remark. This was reasonably priced. Once we paid, we were given the key to our rooms and shown around.
"We have something to tell you." Cliff and Davy chatted, their gazes directed towards me, Elsie, and Kei as we sat in my room.
In an instant, the atmosphere of the room transformed into a grave and solemn one. The chaotic and bustling sounds of the city outside faded away, and the world around me fell silent. All the events that had been unfolding in my life up until that moment ceased to exist as my mind cleared and my focus shifted to the present moment.
"Are you leaving for Earth?" Kei spoke from behind me, his gaze fixed on Davy and Cliff.
"Indeed. I’m afraid this is where we part ways. I recommend that you do not wait for us since I do not know how long we will be on Earth." Davy verified this.
"Don’t get the wrong impression. We owe it to our family to inform them of our exploits and that we are safe and sound." Cliff talked in hushed tones.
"I’m sure we’ll cross paths again. I have no regrets about creating a party with you." Davy spoke in a cheerful tone.
"I feel the same way, I replied.
This was not the time to be unhappy. I knew this was going to happen since everyone here has different aspirations. Not everyone aspires to be a paladin. I was convinced that Davy and Cliff would return sometime and that we would meet again.
Moreover, I knew that I needed to become stronger if I was to face the upcoming challenges in the realms that lay ahead.
My determination was unyielding, and I was resolved to stay in this place until I had honed my skills to a level that I was confident in. There was so much that I needed to accomplish, and I knew that it wouldn’t be easy. I was fully aware of the obstacles that lay ahead, but I was equally determined to overcome them.