Suddenly, the energy that had been gathering suddenly disappeared. Achylys was left feeling empty and hollow, as if a part of him had been stripped away. To be fair, a shitty part that made him feel nauseous, but a part nonetheless. He couldn't quite put his finger on what had caused this sudden shift, but he knew that something significant had just occurred.

Then, out of nowhere, he was hit with a sudden lurching sensation that threatened to knock him off his feet. It was as if the ground beneath him had shifted, leaving him struggling to regain his balance. Achylys clutched his stomach, feeling as if his intestines were being twisted and contorted by some unseen force.

It was a strange feeling, one that he had never experienced before. He was pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to hurt; not that he could feel any pain, but it didn’t itch like what he was usually used to either. It was a completely new sensation, more like a… dull and sudden throb. But he had to admit, it was a refreshing change of pace.

Achylys closed his eyes instinctively, and it seemed as if his consciousness had been ripped from his body and transported to another realm altogether. The sensation was disorienting, his stomach felt like it had turned inside out, and his head was spinning. He felt a cold breeze blow across his face, and he could hear the sound of rushing water.

As Achylys slowly opened his eyes, he realized that he was standing in a completely different place. Before him stood a magnificent water fountain, larger than any he had ever seen before in this world, which, to be fair, this was the only fountain he’d seen in this world.

It was made of a gleaming white stone that seemed to shimmer in the light. The water cascading down the fountain was crystal clear and steaming hot, its steam rising into the air and making the surroundings boil comfortably. Achylys appreciated its soothing sound, almost like a melody in the background, not to mention the live steam experience he was getting.

As he stood there, his eyes scanned the cobblestone road, trying to make sense of the new scenery around him. The stones were old and weathered, as if they had been there for centuries. The texture was rough under his feet, and the occasional weed or tuft of grass peeked through the cracks. It was as if the road was alive, constantly growing and changing.

As he looked up, he saw the wooden structures lining the perimeter of the road. They were old and sturdy, looking somewhat makeshift, honestly. The wooden beams were weathered and cracked, yet they still stood tall, as if determined to hold.

The buildings themselves were a curious mix of styles and purposes. Some appeared to be shops, with their colorful signs hanging out front. Others were homes, with haphazard wires tied in all sorts of places with laundry hanging on them. Still, others seemed to be workshops or factories, with large chimneys spewing smoke and the sound of machinery echoing through the streets.

The scent of fresh bread wafted through the air, mixing with the sounds of panicked screams and bellows. He could guess the reason why they were so panicked. It was probably the same reason why the masked man was so panicked.

The town was a truly lively place, if Achylys said so himself.

It was honestly a relatively normal place, which surprised Achylys. He’d expected something… more. You know, aliens, maybe? Tentacle creatures living in hives. It was somewhat underwhelming to see such basic wooden structures with humans entering them in droves. Because that was… normal. Where’s the spice!?

Now he was beginning to regret that he didn’t try to forcefully keep his eyes open when the teleportation happened. Who knows what he’d have seen?! What he’d have discovered?! Then again, he knew better. He had a lot of tasks to do, and he couldn’t ruin such a golden opportunity to gain information. After all, Neveah. Neveah was his main focus right now. He had to remind himself that a few times, but that didn’t change how important she was to him. However, better late than never. He could always just do it later, try to keep his eyes open while teleporting.

Achylys realized that they were part of the very first group of people teleporting in as he looked around the fountain. As soon as the next group of teleporters materialized, there was a moment of shared silence, as the new people paused for a second and admired the fountain.

This silence was broken by the hiss of steam rising from the fountain's heated water, after which all hell broke loose. As if a dam had burst, more and more people began to appear in the circles that littered the floor around the fountain.

Chaos erupted as the new arrivals stumbled out of the circles, tripping over each other in their haste to get to safety. They were shouting and screaming like madmen, their voices echoing off the surrounding buildings and making it impossible to hear anything else.

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The teleporters, much like the few citizens of the town that were still out and about, seemed focused on one thing and one thing only: getting into the nearby wooden buildings. Preferably any, but most of the teleporters seemed to have a preference for a specific wooden building with a relatively plain nameplate on top of it.

Achylys couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he read the name on the sign. Maria's Tavern, he thought to himself. Well, that's an interesting choice of a name.

The man with the makeshift mask, finally seeming to come back to his senses, deftly led Achylys off the circle they had been standing on. But before they could even take a few steps, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Achylys could feel the vibrations coursing through his body, threatening to throw him off balance. Well, not really. He was pretty steady due to his level, but still. The masked man, however, also remained unfazed, as if he had anticipated this to happen.

As if in perfect synchronization with the shaking earth, a blinding blue barrier materialized overhead, stretching out as far as the eye could see. It was completely translucent, yet somehow, it had an imposing presence, a force to be reckoned with. Achylys couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over him as he gazed up at the barrier. It was somewhat cute, like a fishbowl or a giant soap bubble.

And then, the most beautiful thing Achylys had ever seen happened. Okay, maybe not the most beautiful, but it was definitely up there in the list. Top five, perhaps? Definitely top ten.

A sea of white suddenly covered the sky, and red colored dust began falling from them - all within a split second. It was a sight to behold, a spectacle that would leave even the most hardened of adventurers speechless. The falling dust was almost like a shower of crimson snowflakes, glittering in the sunlight as they cascaded down to the earth below. Achylys could feel his heart racing in his chest as he gazed up at the breathtaking scene before him.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. But then, as if by instinct, his eyes narrowed, and he focused his gaze on the white mass that was descending from the heavens. Perhaps it was due to his drive as a researcher, but Achylys couldn't help but wonder what the sea of white could possibly be.

And then, as if in answer to his unspoken question, the birds emerged from the white mass, their wings flapping furiously as they descended towards the ground. They were beautiful creatures, their snowy plumage shimmering in the light of the falling dust. Even with the immense distance in between him and the birds, probably due to his heightened senses, Achylys could clearly see the intricate patterns etched onto their wings, like delicate works of art.

But as the birds neared the ground, Achylys began to notice something strange. Their eyes, things that were supposed to be bright and sparkling with life, seemed to be glazed over with a strange milky film. It was obvious something was wrong with these birds. Perhaps these birds were sick or perhaps there was a deeper reason, but it was very very obvious these birds were not forces of beauty and good. Their descent towards the earth now seemed more like a desperate attempt at survival rather than a joyful display of beauty.

However, before he could continue observing them, the man pulled him into Maria’s Tavern. Achylys’s focus naturally shifted to the inside of the Tavern.

Despite the crowded nature of the establishment, Achylys couldn't help but be struck by the cozy atmosphere. The wooden tables were polished to a shine, their surfaces dotted with the remnants of countless meals and drinks. He could almost feel the warmth radiating from the bodies of the patrons gathered around them.

Above his head, a chandelier glinted dimly, casting a soft glow over the entire Tavern. It was an impressive piece, clearly the centerpiece of the room. Achylys couldn't help but imagine the tales of daring escapades and ancient legends that had been recounted beneath its twinkling lights over the years. I really do have an overactive imagination, hm? Achylys dryly quipped to himself. I’m a perfect fit to be a writer.

As he took in her surroundings, Achylys couldn't help but notice the winding staircases that led to a second level just below the chandelier in height. The winding stairs that led up to the second floor were sturdy and well-worn, the kind that seemed to have seen many a late-night conversation and raucous celebrations.

And yet, despite the air of revelry that seemed to almost instinctively fill the Tavern, there was a sense of dread and anxiety that currently permeated the Tavern that was vividly visible. An almost eerie kind of silence filled the Tavern, the kind of silence that accompanied death, decay and destruction.

The man's grip on Achylys's arm was firm, pulling him along with a sense of urgency that made Achylys raise his eyebrows. He was led through the crowded tavern, weaving past various groups of people, until they finally reached a half-occupied table. The man gestured for Achylys to take a seat, pushing him into one of the chairs before settling down into another himself.

The table was cluttered with half-empty mugs of ale, but Achylys barely had time to take in his surroundings before he realized that only a single empty chair remained. Three other people sat around the table, their faces shadowed by the dim light of the flickering candles that hung overhead. Achylys couldn't help but feel his gut instinct fire up at their presence.

The man who had brought him here seemed to know them all intimately, however. They greeted him with nods and grunts, but their attention was focused almost entirely on Achylys. Achylys shifted into a more comfortable position in his chair, feeling the weight of their gazes on him like a physical presence.