The sight that stretched before Arden was truly awe-inspiring. He stood before a monumental wall, rising over 300 feet, cradling the remnants of what must have once been a magnificent keep. The grandeur of its past was evident in the still-standing architectural marvels. He imagined the keep in its prime, a bulwark of civilization wedged seamlessly into this enormous wall, a testament to the prowess and vision of those who built it.
Yet, as Arden's gaze lingered, something felt amiss. The south side of the ruin seemed... off. At first, he couldn't pinpoint the inconsistency, but slowly, realization dawned. There was an oddity about the ruins; something felt disconcertingly off. The southern side appeared as though it had been deliberately fashioned to resemble decay. It was as if someone had meticulously crafted a facade of a ruin, its supposed randomness too precise, too calculated to be truly genuine.
The vegetation, too, held an air of artificiality. Rather than the chaotic overgrowth of nature reclaiming its domain, it felt deliberately planted, carefully curated—a stark contrast to the wilder north side that seemed to thrum with genuine age and disarray.
Even the remnants of what should have been stables felt suspiciously perfect. They were neatly positioned, almost anticipating their current guests: the exact fit for a horse and a wagon. Upon noticing these incongruities, the sensation of sterility and crafted disorder became overwhelmingly pronounced, starkly contrasting the authenticity of the ancient surroundings.
Arden turned to Galadrian, eyebrows furrowed, "You've seen it too, haven't you?"
Lila looked between the two, confusion evident on her face. "Seen what, exactly?"
Galadrian gave Arden an understanding nod. " Indeed, but only upon your astute observation did the incongruity become clear to me."
Lila's impatience grew. "Okay, spill it. What are you two on about?"
With a graceful gesture towards the ground, Galadrian remarked, "The masonry. It lacks the time-worn patina one would expect from a structure of this keep's purported antiquity."
Arden blushed slightly, sheepishly adding, "Well, yes, there's that. But something about the layout, the randomness, it feels... off."
Lila rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Honestly, I wouldn't know. Nature and I aren’t exactly friends. Give me a bustling city street any day." Though she tried to sound dismissive, Arden could've sworn he caught a playful twinkle in her eyes.
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The sunlight dappled across the old stones, giving the Keep a warm glow. After parking the wagon in the stables, Arden began sifting through its items. Ava sidled up to him, shooting quick glances to ensure Lila and Galadrian were occupied elsewhere.
“Hey Arden," she began in a hushed tone, "have you felt anything weird with the mana around here?”
Pausing, he looked at her quizzically. “Weird how?”
Fidgeting, Ava replied, "Not my mana," she emphasized the word 'my', "The other kind. There's this... different vibe to it." She sighed, looking frustrated. "I mean, I want to think it's all good, but it just feels... off."
Seeing Arden's still confused face, she hurried on, “It's like there's less of it, you know?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, betraying her unease. "I've been trying my exercises and it's always there. It doesn't get easier."
Arden, catching the concern in Ava's words, concentrated for a moment. The mana did seem a bit sparse like it was getting pulled into the Keep. "Yeah, I get what you're saying. Feels like it's getting dragged in deeper, doesn't it?”
She hesitated, then said, “I felt it too, but thought maybe I was just overthinking things.”
"Got a feeling I know where it's headed," Arden mused.
"To our room?" Ava guessed.
They approached the ranger chamber they were familiar with, but Arden could sense the pull diverting further down the hallway. "Hey Lila," he called out, "what's further down the corridor? I kinda missed it last time with everything else going on."
Lila's voice came from inside their chamber, "Oh, just some empty rooms. Use the first one for storage. “
Curiosity piqued, Arden said, "Ava can you make a light for us, I want to check them out."
The rooms proved to be much as Lila described. The first held basics like firewood, water, and food. The next two were weirdly clean given the age of the place. But the last room was different. A large stone table, just slightly out of place, caught their attention.
Arden's eyes narrowed, analyzing the table's surface. He could feel the pull of the mana stronger here, like an undertow in a deceptively calm river. The stone table had grooves, some deep and some shallow, converging one of the corners where a slightly heightened circle could be found.
"Look," Ava whispered, pointing to the table's edge. Engraved was a rune, resembling a circular shape with a distinct break in the ring at the top, giving it a slightly asymmetrical appearance. There was a dot in the center. The rune was oddly familiar but still unreadable to both of them.
Arden cautiously extended his hand, hovering it over the rune. He felt a cold sensation, like the grip of winter's first frost. He recognized the rune, and it was not a rune at all it was a symbol from another world. More specifically from his world and from a game that he used to play, “HALO”.
The discovery of the symbol stirred memories within Arden, a torrent of nostalgia rushing back from a time before all of this—before the adventures, before the magic. It was a fragment of his old world, a piece of a life he had nearly forgotten. The symbol evoked memories of late-night gaming sessions, the adrenaline of virtual battles, and the camaraderie with friends over headsets. It was an emblem that once adorned the covers of his favorite games, yet here it was, inexplicably etched into the stone in a realm far removed from any console.
Swallowing hard, he tried to keep his voice steady, "This symbol... It's from a game I used to play. A game I’m sure no one here has ever seen."
Ava glanced between Arden and the symbol, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But how can something from your past be here? And why?"
Arden shrugged, the weight of the implications heavy on his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe it's a message? A guide?"
Feeling an irresistible urge, Arden channeled some of his mana, directing it towards the symbol. He expected a response—a glow, a vibration, anything—but was met with eerie silence. The table remained inert, no different than before his attempt. Arden stared at the rune, his confidence shaken.
"What is it?" Ava's voice cut through his confusion.
He shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "I was certain that would have activated something."
Ava, thoughtful for a moment, ventured, "If this symbol was meant for you, perhaps it requires an action or gesture that only you would understand."
Arden met her gaze, realization dawning. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" He chastised himself, feeling a little embarrassed. He remembered the familiar gameplay mechanics—how certain moves or inputs would unlock new levels or secrets. With newfound determination, he decided to try something different. Rather than pushing mana into the symbol directly, he attempted to engage with it in a pattern, like entering a cheat code from his old gaming days.
Touching different points on the rune in a sequence he remembered from his gaming past, he felt a surge of energy. The room vibrated subtly, and the grooves on the table began to fill with a soft blue glow, mimicking the trails of the symbol.
Ava, eyes wide in astonishment, whispered, "Arden... what did you just do?"
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He stared at the glowing trails, equally awed. "I think... I just unlocked something."
“You think you unlocked... something?” The voice was familiar yet felt out of place in this ancient setting. The air around the table shimmered, and a small blue hologram emerged, floating just above the stone surface. It was an image Arden knew all too well.
“Why would touching the logo unlock something?” The voice continued, tinged with amusement. The hologram took a clearer form, revealing Cortana in her iconic appearance. She looked around, analyzing the chamber with a hint of curiosity. “Ahh, I see... An interesting crossover. Let's remember that pattern for the future, Arden. You never know what it might unlock elsewhere.”
Arden, still in shock, could barely manage a response. “Cortana? How...?”
Ava stepped closer, her eyes wide with intrigue. “Who's she?”
Before Arden could answer, Cortana responded, “An ally, and a piece of Arden's past.”
Arden stared at the holographic figure, torn between disbelief and amazement. “You are exactly as I remember... and imagined. But you were fictional in my world. So, I'll reiterate Ava's question. Who, or what, are you?”
Cortana's digital eyes bore into his with a familiar intensity. “You know who I am, Arden,” she replied, her voice carrying an undercurrent of pain.
“Enough games,” Arden's voice grew sterner. “Who are you?”
Before Cortana could reply, a weakened Lila burst into the room, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Who are you two talking to?”
Galadrian, with his usual grace, stepped in right behind Lila. His sharp gaze fixed on Cortana, the energy around him growing tense. “I am Galadrian Quen'dalah, Steward. Identify yourself.” His voice echoed with authority.
Cortana, seemingly taken aback by the forcefulness, sighed. “Very well, have it your way.” She paused, her demeanor softening. “I am the Custodian of the Winter Palace, but you may address me as Cortana, a form that Arden finds... comforting,” she finished a small smirk playing on her digital lips.
Galadrian's eyes widened, a hint of disbelief clouding his features. “You are the Custodian of the Winter Palace?” He took a moment to gather his thoughts. “Yet the Winter Palace has been shrouded in oblivion for many centuries.”
Cortana raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and confusion. “Lost? How can I be lost when I'm right where I've always been?”
"What? Wait, are you saying we're in a palace now?" Arden asked in disbelief.
"No," both Cortana and Galadrian answered simultaneously.
Cortana gracefully offered a short bow to Galadrian, then continued, “This is the Frontier Keep or North Gate Two, if you wish to be mundane."
Galadrian eyed Cortana warily. "If you art indeed the custodian of the esteemed Winter Palace, pray tell, why are you manifested here and not within its hallowed halls?"
"I'm not here," Cortana replied cryptically, earning perplexed looks from all present. She sighed in mild exasperation. "Come on, Arden, surely you understand. In your world's terms, this is akin to... a phone call."
"A phone call?" Arden echoed, eyebrows furrowing.
"What's a phone call?" Ava interjected.
"It's like communicating with someone over a distance using a specific device," Arden attempted to explain.
Ava looked at Cortana, still puzzled. "So you're projecting yourself here? Why not just state that directly?"
"Because, as a custodian, she traditionally would not have that capability," Galadrian clarified.
Cortana appeared mildly offended. “A lady can learn, can't she?” The look on Galadrian's face clearly conveyed his skepticism. Cortana, not missing a beat, continued, “Alright, let's indulge this topic. Admittedly, I cannot project myself beyond the palace grounds. But suppose there was an artifact within the palace that could relay my projection to another linked object. What would you call that?” Cortana asked, her smirk turning triumphant. "I'd term it a phone call," she added, casting a broad smile towards Arden.
Arden, now further perplexed, turned to Galadrian. "Any thoughts?"
Galadrian raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Do not ask me. While the concept may hold merit, my expertise lies in the poetic arts, not the machinations of otherworldly devices."
Ava's eyes darted between Galadrian and Arden, realization dawning on her face. "Wait... ‘your world, otherworldly'? Arden, are you..." She turned quickly to her mother, her shock evident. "Mom, did you seriously pair me up with someone from another world? Is he the so-called 'World Invader'?"
Again, both Cortana and Galadrian replied, “No.”
Lila, with a hint of suspicion, shot a look at Galadrian. “You knew?”
Still trying to wrap her head around everything, Ava pushed, "If he's not a World Invader, then what is he?"
Galadrian, attempting to clarify, intoned, “Verily, I journeyed to the kingdom seeking him.”
But Lila's curiosity was elsewhere. She pressed Cortana, “And how’d you figure it out?”
Cortana, slightly exasperated, replied, “I sort of... summoned him.” She caught Galadrian's stern gaze and quickly added, “Not me, personally! I asked some friends to help out.” Defensively, she squared off with Galadrian, "And no, I'm not naming names!"
All the overlapping conversation finally got to Arden, who yelled, “Hey! Everyone, just... stop!”
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Every eye turned to Arden, waiting for his next words. He took a moment, gathering his thoughts and letting the quiet linger. Slowly, his gaze locked onto Cortana. "You summoned me?"
"Yes."
His eyes then flicked to Galadrian, demanding, "And you? You were looking for me?"
Galadrian hesitated, his expression contemplative. "Indeed and yet not quite so. I sought not specifically you, but a being from a distant realm. In my pursuit, it seems I erroneously conflated you with the legend of the World Invader."
Finally, Arden turned to Lila, his voice tinged with confusion. "And where do you come into all of this?"
Lila met his gaze unflinchingly. "I was told of your coming, and that you'd need my assistance." Before Arden could question further, Cortana raised her hand.
He looked at her, half-expecting another revelation. "What now?"
"No, I wasn't asking to speak. I just wanted to clarify that I sent the message to Lila," Cortana explained. She glanced at Galadrian. "Through... some friends."
Arden massaged his temples, grappling with the rapid onslaught of revelations. "Let me get this straight. Both of you," he gestured to Cortana and Galadrian, "sought me out... because?"
Cortana's digital form shimmered in the ambient light. "We need your help. The mana, which sustains our very existence, is waning. I hoped someone might be able to replenish it."
Arden frowned. “By 'someone' you mean me? And by 'our', you're referring to just the two of you?"
“No, we as in the Custodians,” Cortana clarified.
He exhaled sharply. "Of course, there are more of you. Why wouldn't there be?"
Galadrian nodded somberly. "Indeed, ancient lore speaks of beings from other realms possessing the capability to release torrents of untapped mana. You, Arden, appear to fit that description."
Arden, grappling with the enormity of the situation, tried to rationalize. "But there's an abundance of mana everywhere. All you need to do is..."
"Arden!" Lila's voice broke through his thoughts, her tone firm. “Breathe. You're not thinking straight.” Her gaze lingered on him, assessing. Then she turned her attention to Cortana, speaking with deliberate calmness. "Cortana, can you clarify why you summoned Arden here and placed him under my care?”
Cortana's form flickered briefly. "Arden, I believe you have a unique capability, something our world desperately requires."
“Could you be more specific? Do you realize the danger you've exposed us to?” Lila inquired, her voice edged with concern.
Cortana's form solidified, showing her resolve. “Yes, I acknowledge the danger. But that peril isn't of my making. Why should beings from other realms be hunted simply because 'Old Faithful' summons invaders to wreak havoc? That path leads only to ruin. I don't aim to revert to old practices, though certain aspects might be useful. We merely seek enough mana to survive.”
Lila prompted, “Please continue. Why specifically Arden and myself?”
“Are you aware that those you call 'the Ancients' crafted devices for mana generation?" Cortana pointed at Arden's amulet. "These devices still exist, but they require... maintenance to function optimally. The Ancients obscured the mana-generating runes within these instruments, ensuring that over time, the skill to maintain, let alone create them, was lost.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question: why me?” Arden interjected, a touch of impatience in his voice.
Cortana, with a hint of mischief in her digital eyes, stared intently at Arden. “Consider how beings like you manipulate mana. It's not an innate skill. You harness it through the System, which isn’t some mystical force of nature. It operates on what you, Arden, would recognize as a source code. Within that vast code lies the secret to generating mana. Now, ponder for a moment: what expertise would one require to decipher and understand this code?”
A moment of silence ensued, with Arden's eyes widening in realization. "Programming skills," he whispered.
Arden could feel his [Mental Focus] skill activating. Yet, instead of the usual calm it imparted, he felt his anger building. “You mean to tell me I was kidnapped and brought to another realm because I have programming skills?”
Cortana nodded, "Correct about the programming skill. However, regarding your summoning, I'm not entirely privy to the mechanics of the spell that transported you here. Nevertheless, consent typically plays a significant role."
Lila concurred, "Consent is often a fundamental aspect when transferring someone magically."
A heaviness seemed to settle on Arden, his posture reflecting his fatigue. "Considering my circumstances, I might've unknowingly given my consent," he murmured, sinking down beside the table and burying his face in his hands.
Ava, who had been silent since her earlier realization, suddenly blurted out, "Wait a minute! Is everyone just glossing over the fact that Arden is from a different realm? How will we ever explain this?"
Lila, attempting to keep things under control, responded with firm resolve, "To the outside world, Arden is from the free city of Havenport. That's the narrative we'll stick to, and you must remember that."
“But …” Ava began, but Lila cut her off. “No buts. Look around you. Who is present in this room? Steward Galadrian Quen'dalah of Eldrida. Citizen Lila Wildwood, fully restored to her powers. Citizen Ava Wildwood... a Citizen! Do you realize how rare it is to achieve the rank of Citizen in the Kingdom of Eranthia? Do you understand how you achieved that status?”
“I... I think it was the [Master-Apprentice bond]. It must have…” Ava hesitated.
Lila interjected, “No, it was bestowed upon you when your master, Steward Arden Thompson of Havenport, deemed you worthy of his apprenticeship. All of this was witnessed by the Custodian of the Winter Palace. Do you grasp the significance now?”
The gravity of her mother's words began to dawn on Ava. Recollecting her mother's stories and tales of protocol and hierarchy, she understood the profound respect and deference they would command in any official setting, including the royal court. Even the king would acknowledge the presence of two Citizens, not to mention two Stewards. They would undoubtedly be treated with the utmost honor.
A slight smirk crept on Ava's lips. "Well, if it weren't for the fact that the King can't stand Mother, and has already expelled Galadrian... But other than that, we're golden!"
The sheer absurdity of it all finally broke through her stress, and Ava burst out laughing uncontrollably. Her laughter was infectious, and soon the tension in the room started to wane.
As the revelations sank in, Arden took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment to process. The full weight of his new reality pressed down on him, dense and unyielding. Had he been offered a true choice, he might well have leaped at the opportunity to cross realms. Yet, a pang of longing for his wife and the simpler pleasures of his old world —the aroma of coffee, the taste of fast food—briefly washed over him. He quickly dismissed the thought. No time for what-ifs.
Now, it seemed his skills as a programmer, however distant that life felt, were the key to this entire mystery. Could he really trust Cortana? That remained to be seen. His instincts nudged him to lean on the trust he had built with Ava and her family, and he resolved to have a candid discussion with them at the earliest opportunity.
As for the enigmatic elf, Galadrian had grown on him. There was a likable strangeness about the character that Arden appreciated. Yet caution was a companion he could not afford to discard—not just yet.
“Arden? Arden, are you alright?” Ava's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone laced with concern.
Arden blinked, bringing himself back to the present, and managed a weary smile. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just tired, and honestly, I’m craving coffee more than anything.”
Galadrian’s laughter, warm and hearty, filled the room. “Coffee, you say? Perhaps I can find you something similar. But that's a tale for another time.”
Arden nodded, feeling the day’s weight on his shoulders. “I appreciate that, Galadrian. And I'm definitely holding you to it. But right now, all I want is to close my eyes for a few hours.” He rose, his movements slow, almost reluctant, betraying his exhaustion. “Tomorrow is soon enough for stories and substitutes.”
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The chamber grew quiet as the last of the company departed, leaving Cortana's soft luminescence the only light against the encroaching shadows.
From the darkness, a silhouette emerged, its presence more felt than seen. "A different outcome than the last," it observed, its voice a mere whisper against the silence.
"An improvement, I believe," Cortana responded, her tone tinged with cautious optimism.
"The skill, you withheld it?" The figure's form wavered like a mirage as it spoke.
Cortana's image flickered in contemplation before she affirmed, "This time, it might not be needed."
Laughter, light, yet laced with an edge of history and knowing, echoed briefly. "A familiar refrain. And the journal? Will it pass into his keeping?"
After a pause that held the weight of centuries, Cortana acquiesced. "Yes. Arden warrants the trust."
"May your judgment prove true, for the sake of all," the shadow intoned, its form dissipating like mist at dawn, leaving Cortana alone with her thoughts in the sleeping chambers of the keep.