"Are you certain I can't persuade the two of you to go back home without going to the city?" King Eranar stood with them on the outskirts of the decrepit city.

Kaidan and Zerua stared out over the ruins, startled by the lack of life visible there and by the utter stillness surrounding even its borders. The braves shuffled behind them, muttering among themselves and looking back the way they'd come. Eranar waited for them, fiddling with the hem of his fringed belt.

Returning his attention to the sweating king, Kaidan shook his head. "We won't go back." He hefted the journal the king had returned to him. "We've got to know whether this is the truth."

The king cleared his throat. "The city—It is dangerous. Most never return. Tebhor—" Eranar gnawed on his finger nails. "He is not entirely right in the head, as you saw?"

Kaidan nodded with a frown. Where is he going with this?

"Tebhor entered this place looking for the truth and returned to us like he now is. He never fully recovered, and he still has moments of temporary insanity." The king swallowed, glancing into the depths of the tangled vines and towering trees woven throughout the ruins' edges. "Please. Don't do this."

Shaking his head, Kaidan turned to face the border of Ashkarith. He swallowed hard, noting the darkness filling the trees and billowing out into the surrounding jungle. The sunlight seemed to shy away from the trees and stones here, leaving the ruins in shadow and gloom. "We have to go."

Zerua pressed closer to him, wrapping her arms around his bicep. He laid a hand on her forearm, forcing his lips into a confident smile. "We'll be fine, Eranar. And if we aren't, we'll perish doing what's right."

Eranar stepped back, biting his lip. "You two are either the bravest or the dumbest people I know. But if you ever return, you'll be welcomed back into Faeridhia with open arms. I will pray for your return."

The couple smiled at him more genuinely this time. Zerua's voice cut through the uncomfortable silence. "Your graciousness and kindness is appreciated, Sire. We will find the truth and return, as my husband says."

The king bowed to her. "May the gods smile on that wish, my lady."

Zerua returned the customary bow, bending low at the waist. "And on yours, Sire."

"This is farewell then to the both of you." King Eranar motioned one of the braves forward.

The brave's gaze flitted to the dark ruins a few feet away, but he came forward as instructed and extended a small pot to the king. The king took the pot and nodded to the brave. Opening it, he dipped his fingers into the red-clay interior. When he pulled his fingers out, they were coated in a viscous blue gel. He crossed the distance between himself and the couple, lifting his fingers. "This is the blessing we bestow upon all those who find favor in our kingdom." He traced his blue-coated fingers over Kaidan's forehead, bowing his head and murmuring some words in the Faelkish language.

Kaidan shifted, listening to the incantation. The blue gel turned blazing hot and then chillingly cold against his forehead, and he sucked in a breath of surprise, squeezing Zerua's hand tightly. Then the liquid went back to the same sticky, lukewarm state it had held when Eranar first applied it. The king turned to Zerua and traced the same pattern against her forehead.

She also gasped when the temperature change came, clinging to his arm and digging her nails into his skin. He gritted his teeth against the pain. Then she relaxed. The two of them stared at Eranar in confusion. The king smiled at them before closing his eyes and intoning the remainder of the blessing. "May this blessing of the gods follow you and protect you from harm. Fare you well and gods speed to you."

Then the king turned and walked past his braves, disappearing back into the jungle. The braves followed him without a word, leaving the two standing on the borders of Ashkarith. The unnatural stillness settled over them, suffocating them with the silence. For a long moment, neither spoke. They remained where they were, staring after the group which was no longer visible through the jungle's undergrowth.

When no one returned, Kaidan shook off the heaviness sitting in his stomach and turned to Zerua. "Well, it's just us now like before." He hitched the pack on his back into a more comfortable position. "Shall we?"

She released his arm and stared at the darkness, which undulated between the trees as though it was a living creature. He bit his lip, staring at it too. Perhaps it was a living manifestation of some evil waiting for them in the ruins. He straightened, looping his thumbs through the straps of his pack. "I'm sure it isn't as bad as it seems." He took a deep breath and plunged forward.

Zerua followed then, still remaining silent. The two of them strained to catch the least noise of a bird tweeting or anything else moving through the underbrush, but nothing met their listening ears. Even their own footsteps brushed over the ground without a sound. Kaidan gulped. What an eerie place. How is it even possible for someplace like this to exist? There was only one answer: magic. Specifically, it was the work of someone with considerable strength. To work a spell that could keep the jungle from entirely reclaiming this place and could remove all sound would require considerable strength.

As they passed through the band of trees, the shadows began to thin. Moments after the shadows began thinning, the two of them burst out into the ruins of the city proper. Kaidan stopped short, staring at the sight before them. Zerua bumped into him with a gasp.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The city stretched out below them, resting in a sunken circle miles wide. A small dirt path led down into the ruin and wound through the outer ring of broken-down houses, tapering off before it hit the city proper. A green pallor hung over everything, and vines cascaded down the sloping sides of the wall of earth circling the city. Some of the buildings were still standing in mostly whole condition, and on a hill at the center of the city stood a sprawling castle. It brooded atop the hill, pulsating with the green light that was washing over the rest of the city.

Kaidan shivered, a chill skittering through him. Zerua peered at the city over his shoulder, pressing close to him, and he knew she felt the ominous atmosphere too. He bit his lip. "We've come this far," he murmured.

She nodded.

He examined the path down to the city. It looked sturdy, though it was rocky and dangerously narrow. "We'll just go carefully. One step at a time, right?"

Zerua hummed in response, but fear coated the usually happy sound.

Kaidan sucked in a breath of humid, dense air. "Right then. Down that path, I suppose." He marched over to the path a few feet away. For a moment, he wrestled with his sudden desire to turn and run. His chest tightened, and his muscles tensed. We can't go back. We have to do this. He took the first step, testing the ground of the path. It held. He took another step, and it remained firm. Turning back toward Zerua, he waved to her.

She took a tentative step onto the path, biting her lip.

This is way out of our depth. She's petrified. Kaidan extended a hand to her. She took it, wrapping her slender fingers around his and squeezing them. He held her hand the rest of the way down as the two of them shuffled down the path, feeling out each step before continuing.

The entire way down, his heart thudded in his chest. He glanced over the edge, noting the long drop to the ground, and gulped. I hate heights. Why? His throat tightened. Why does there have to be a giant wall? Just—Just don't look down. He focused on Zerua's fingers clutching his, grounding himself. Behind him, he could hear her harsh breathing. He wondered why they could hear one another but nothing else. It was a strange place they'd found themselves in, he thought.

He trailed one hand along the wall of vine-covered dirt. The reassurance of the vines at his fingers began to calm him as they continued down without mishap. Before he knew it, they'd reached the bottom of the wall and were standing on the soggy ground surrounding the first set of houses. "There." He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Zerua sagged against him with a shaky laugh. "No. Better than I expected it to be."

The two of them leaned against each other, laughing together. The sound rang out across the otherwise silent city. A chilly breeze threaded its way over them, coming from somewhere deep in the city, but still no noise met them as they stopped laughing and straightened up.

"What's with this place, anyway?" Zerua tugged at the end of her braid, biting her lip.

"I don't know. But I'm fairly sure this place is spelled." Kaidan rubbed her back with an absent mind, his focus on the houses and crumbling buildings beyond.

Zerua shivered, rubbing at her bare arms. "I don't like this place, Kaidan."

"Neither do." He cracked a smile. "But hey, now we know why it's called the City of the Dead."

She whimpered and tensed against him, elbowing him in the side. "That isn't funny!"

"Sorry, sorry—" He rubbed his side with a wince. "Let's keep going."

She nodded and moved forward, walking toward the rows of houses. Kaidan hurried to catch up, his heart in his throat. This is going to end so badly, isn't it? Despite the sense that everything was about to go wrong, Kaidan continued onward.

They wove between moss and lichen covered houses with walls knocked in and roofs caving into the one-roomed buildings. The screens that had kept out the bugs at one time hung limp against the stone walls. Kaidan eyed them with a frown. How is this stuff still here? It's been nearly two millennium since this place fell. He brushed his fingers over a piece of the screen. It felt worn but in good condition. Dropping it, he continued walking, trying to ignore the strange lack of sound that filled this place.

Something green flashed between the buildings in the corner of his eye. He froze, laying a hand on Zerua's arm and looking to the place where he'd seen the streak of color. Nothing was there.

"What?" Zerua craned her neck to see what he was looking at.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Thought I saw something, but there's nothing there."

She frowned, shivering. "I don't like this place. Gives me the chills. We should hurry up and find a secure place to camp for tonight before it gets dark." She shook her head, rubbing her arms. "Even thinking about spending the night gives me the shivers."

Kaidan was inclined to agree. He forged ahead, one hand on the spell-infused rapier belted to his hip. If anything attacked them, it'd get a taste of the fire spell that ignited the blade on command. Kaidan hoped it would be enough.

They walked further into the buildings in silence. Looming up ahead, a temple perched among the houses. The roof had a massive hole in it as though something had punched through it in a siege, but the structure looked otherwise sound. Kaidan pointed to the structure, which was covered in vines like every other building. "We could stay in there."

Zerua eyed it with a sigh. "Looks safer than the houses. The door's at least functional."

Together, they approached it and clambered up the stairs. Kaidan gripped the iron ring, half afraid it would tear free of the wood. It didn't, and when he pulled at it, the door swung open on hinges that were free of creaks or noise like everything else in this strange place. He peered into the dark, dusty interior. Nothing moved.

Shoulders slumping, he walked inside and ushered Zerua in after him. She followed, latching onto his arm again with a shiver. "What is this place anyway?"

The temple was entirely devoid of furniture aside from one giant pool of water at the front of the chapel. No seats or pews lined the interior, and the only sign that worship had been conducted here was a single silver chalice lying on the ground at the base of the stone retaining wall that held the stagnant water.

Kaidan approached the still pool, his muscles quivering. Crouching down, he examined first the pool then the chalice. The pool was untouched by algae or any other grime. It moved sluggishly as though fed by some underground well, though Kaidan didn't see the source. The chalice was similarly pristine. The surface gleamed in the greenish light shining through the hole in the roof. Behind the pool lay a giant black ball, likely the culprit of the hole in the ceiling.

Behind him, Zerua let out a low whimper. He stood, still holding the chalice, and turned to see what the matter was. Her wide-eyed gaze met his, and his breath hitched in his chest when he saw what she was staring at. The chalice dropped from his unfeeling fingers as he realized what the flash of green he'd seen was.

Four shimmering green beings stood blocking the entrance, angry scowls etched onto their glowing emerald faces. Kaidan gulped, willing his legs to move or to do anything, but he remained frozen in place. "Rith's blade!" The words hissed out of him.

Zerua took one faltering step back. The spirits' gazes latched onto her, and they bared their teeth in a synchronized snarl. Then they lunged, and the world erupted into chaos.