As the squad picked up the pace once again, they suddenly veered off course. The young man simply followed. The brown-bearded man strode towards a sewer cover, and as he removed it, he flashed a smile at the young man and gestured toward a rusty ladder.

"Time to climb down" he declared.

The young man was taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure. After all that had transpired up until now, exploring the sewers should be no different than a stroll.

Descending, the young man found himself in a dark tunnel illuminated only by the faint light filtering through the open cover. A foul stench assailed his nostrils, and as soon as the last member descended, the light vanished, heightening his other senses. Hissing, chirping, squeaking, and chattering sounds echoed around him as the young man suddenly felt something brushing against his hand.

"Put this over your eyes," a deep voice resonated.

"Don't worry, I already can't see s***," the young man almost blurted in response.

As he wrapped the cloth over his eyes, he felt someone guiding his hand with familiarity through the sewer system.

In the grim darkness, amidst the eerie silence filled with unsettling noises, and despite his dire situation, the young man finally found himself free from constant stimulation. He seized the opportunity to think clearly.

All that had unfolded in the past two hours seemed like a surreal dream. The skirmishes and strange encounters flashed before him. He then recalled the images of his unfamiliar surroundings and the foreign body he was inhabiting, prompting him to question in confusion, "What am I doing here?" This was a question he should have posed long ago, yet he didn't, not out of indifference but due to the overwhelming nature of his successive encounters and observations. He quickly yearned for his former life of luxury and stability, worrying over his loved ones and feeling anxious for their safety. Memories of his mundane existence flooded his mind as he lay in bed, fretting over his responsibilities. Suddenly, the sound of heavy rumbling and a distant yet familiar scream jolted him from his reverie, reminding him of the nature of his situation. He woke up from his stupor and started considering the threats posed by his current predicament. Understanding the necessity of gathering more information, he resolved to gain a deeper understanding of his circumstances.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"That wall..." the young man finally spoke.

"How was such a thing built?" he interrogated.

"That's one of the walls built by the apostles of the divine," the mysterious blonde woman answered.

The young man was ready to press further, but as if reading his thoughts, she continued.

"They are the servants of the protectors of humanity, the divine gods that intervened when the apocalypse befell the world. This is common knowledge that has been passed on for a few hundred years within the walls," the woman explained.

The young man understood that his lack of knowledge revealed another abnormality about him. But at this point, he was ready to take that risk. He needed to understand the world surrounding him.

"Divine gods?" the young man pressed.

"There are four major divine gods worshiped across the four known human settlements: the lord of greed, the lord of power, the lord of choice, and the lord of fate," the elder responded.

Suddenly, everyone stopped moving as the young man heard the sound of an iron gate opening. Once they moved again, the sound of an iron gate closing quickly resounded as distant whispers reached the young man's ears. As they turned and advanced, a distant sound grew louder with each step: shouts and laughter, arguments and vulgar cursing, and the sound of vendors promoting their merchandise.

The young man instinctively reached out his hand to remove the blindfold, and as he did, nobody stopped him. A hand suddenly reached out to him and gave him another fabric.

"Wear this," it ordered.

And the young man obeyed. It was a cloak similar to the one they wore; it helped cover his features.

As the group climbed up another rusty ladder, the young man found himself in an alley. Around him, the squad members hid their features using the cloak, and as he looked beyond the alley, a heartwarming scene revealed itself.