“Boo! Boo!” Llorva hushed the fat, middle-aged man approaching them in short yet powerful strides. Unlike most toga-clad residents, he wore slightly faded clothes that showed signs of being mended several times.
“Boo!” Llorva exclaimed loudly, both thumbs facing the ground. However, the man ignored the eccentric elf, instead, his brown eyes lingering on Scott, slowly sizing up the half-human.
“Who are you, and why have you been calling me?” Heinrich stood a few feet away from the duo, his gaze alternating between the masked man and the elf who made strange faces at him. “You’re a newcomer? How odd.”
“Shut up, old man,” Llorva snapped. “The only odd thing here is you. Can’t you see we want to be left alone?”
“Please shut up,” Scott interjected, glaring at the elf.
Llorva giggled softly while grabbing Scott's arm again, placing it between her ample bosoms.
What sort of situation is this? I definitely heard him calling me, right? Heinrich silently debated whether to remain or leave.
As if sensing the man's thoughts, Scott took a step forward, gesturing toward a vacant chair. “Let’s chat over there.”
Without waiting for a response, the eldritch knight turned around, Llorva joining him. “Go away, old man,” she mouthed inaudibly toward Heinrich.
The stout man watched the duo in silence, debating whether to follow or return home. No matter how I look at it, those two will bring nothing but trouble, especially the kid with the mask. It feels like he’s going to attack me even without exuding any bloodlust. Did the rules change?
Heinrich raised his head toward the clear skies, then focused on Scott and Llorva again. This is the first time in God knows how long I haven’t heard that annoying call. At least, I should listen to what he has to say.
The man took quick and powerful strides toward Scott and Llorva, who had reached their destination. As usual, the gothic elf held on to the impassive half-human.
“Have a seat,” Scott motioned toward the vacant space.
“I’m okay as I am,” Heinrich retorted. “I would rather get this over with sooner rather than later.”
“Have it your way then,” Scott sighed before turning toward the elf. “Let go for a second; I'll be back.”
The duo locked gazes, and the yellow sign flickered in Scott’s eyes. Llorva instinctively nodded while relaxing her grip.
Scott stood up, meeting Heinrich’s curious gaze. What sinister eyes. Heinrich took a step backward, but he moved no further. Is he even human? Despite his fear, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the eldritch knight.
“Have a seat,” Scott said softly, gesturing toward the vacant chair.
“Sure, thanks,” Heinrich said before taking a seat. Like the elf, the yellow sign flickered in the man's eyes. Meanwhile, Scott remained fixed in his position, staring into the distance. These abominations are still gathering around me. Have they realized I can see them, or is the examiner onto me?
Scott observed the beings silently, displaying no reactions to their provocations. Instead, he focused on Llorva and Heinrich, who sat patiently, appearing as strangers enjoying a casual meeting in a beautiful garden.
The eldritch knight stared at his blackened fingers corrupted by tendrils. Could these things choose who can see them and when to be visible? He recalled the multi-eyed creature from the administrative building. The monstrosity only stopped moving when he faced the window but showed no reaction to the tendrils.
A slight tremor suddenly filled his ears, and he instinctively raised his head.
What the heck is that?
A bloody smear stained a section of the skies for a moment before being devoured by the azure expanse. Scott noticed several other residents in the area, and they too stared at the skies. Unlike him, they only had a passing look before moving along their way.
“Excuse me,” a voice suddenly filled Scott's ears.
He turned around but saw no one. “Did I imagine that?” Scott muttered to himself.
“Down here. I'm down here,” the voice repeated.
Scott lowered his head. What the heck is this? He noticed a bluish, gooey puddle that wasn't there initially.
“Are you the one calling me?” The voice echoed from the puddle, churning until it formed a bluish humanoid resembling Scott.
Another one? Scott suppressed his rising urge to laugh. For the first time, he was genuinely glad to have his chaos caller title.
"Have a seat over there. We have much to..." A series of footsteps interrupted Scott's words, and he turned around. What on earth? This could become a problem.
Over a hundred champions, some dressed in togas and others in shabby clothes like Heinrich, approached from afar. Several residents stopped dead in their tracks, their gazes focused on the gradually increasing procession heading to the park. Meanwhile, the slime-like humanoid sat comfortably next to Heinrich, the yellow sign flashing in its makeshift eyes.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
A loud crack echoed throughout the streets, and an indigo flare corrupted the clear skies. Time paused in its tracks. Whether it was the approaching procession, the curious residents, or Llorva, Heinrich, and the humanoid, they all assumed the same position, heads raised toward the skies like stick figures. The rushing waters and rustling leaves ceased, and the gentle winds and fragrant scents disappeared.
Meanwhile, Scott’s gaze lingered on a towering figure, so massive its head remained in the clouds, but its piercing eyes burned like meteorites through the altered skies.
“Who are you?” Scott asked, his voice clear and resolute. “Are you the examiner in charge of this trial?” he probed further.
However, silence greeted his words. Scott wasn’t perturbed, and he spoke up again. “If you’re not going to speak, then you might as well save both our time and make things normal.”
Without waiting for a response, he took gentle steps away from the bench. On his sixth step, however, the surrounding space morphed, and Enchanted Height’s bustling streets disappeared.
The eldritch knight found himself on top of fluffy, yet solid clouds stretching as far as the eyes could see. This looks like the waiting area before the judgment gate, but it feels different.
He couldn’t see anything in the vast nothingness and had no intention of exploring it either. He firmly believed whoever was responsible for summoning him would reveal themselves eventually.
Scott didn’t wait too long before footsteps echoed. He turned around, sighting a figure in elegant white robes. Despite his keen senses, he couldn’t make sense of their race, sex, or physique. All he saw was a silhouette in white clothes whose features were protected by a blinding crimson light.
“So, you’re the one responsible for all that commotion,” a powerful voice echoed. The figure stopped several meters from Scott, but they continued to talk. “I’m Hanzazeelem, the examiner in charge of Enchanted Heights. I will not allow you to create chaos within my paradise,” the examiner declared, unable to hide their arrogance and superiority. “I have been watching you and your companions since you arrived, and as expected, you’re indeed troublemakers. Kneel, and admit how you woke up the feline ahead of time, and I’ll consider letting you off.”
“Fuck off,” Scott retorted without delay.
Stunned silence lingered in the space; the examiner unable to comprehend what they heard.
“What rules did I break?” Scott asked, his voice as impassive as ever. “There are no rules related to people wanting to talk to me, and neither are there any rules regarding speaking to a crowd. It’s not my fault whatever you did to my companion got eradicated. Since when did a mere newcomer like me wield such power?”
The eldritch knight took a step forward as he continued, “Send me back if you have nothing else to say.”
“Impudent human!”
Lightning and thunder threatened to destroy the very fabric of time as tremors rocked the area. The crimson glow shielding the examiner had turned sapphire, and the outline of two fiery eyes formed on the silhouette. “You dare insult me?” they roared, the space trembling even further. “Do you realize who you’re talking to?”
“Well, I have no idea what you’re talking about, and as far as I’m aware, Examiners can’t randomly kill candidates so you should be mindful of that temper of yours,” Scott said, unbothered with the massive lightning bolts and thunder rippling around the turbulent space.
“If you think of me as a nuisance, then I have a solution that will work best for both of us,” Scott said with an unseen smile.
The examiner scoffed, a semblance of calm returning to the once turbulent area. “You believe yourself qualified to negotiate with me?” Hanzazeelem echoed his scorn with another derisive snort. “While I might not be able to kill you with my hands, I possess the ability to turn your existence into a living nightmare. Regardless of the trials you've endured, by the time I'm through with you, death will seem merciful.” The examiner's eyes vanished, taking the anomalies with them. “Kneel before me—now!”
Scott cackled, his laughter rapidly intensifying with each passing moment. However, Hanzazeelem didn’t speak any further. Rather, the examiner’s eyes had returned; this time, there were five of them, each searing with a brilliant light of its own.
“It seems you have made your decision; then, I will willingly oblige. You won’t have a…” a clap interrupted the examiner, and Scott laughed even harder.
“You don’t understand how big of a mistake you’re making.” Scott managed to squeeze out his words. “I gave you a godsent opportunity to rid yourself of a troublemaker like me, and all you had to do was ensure me and my companions leave as soon as possible. Such a good opportunity, yet you threaten me instead.”
This time, it was Hanzazeelem’s turn to laugh, and cracks formed all over the space. “An idiot through and through,” the examiner said, and the strange phenomenon ceased. “Congratulations, because of you, the next full moon will be more difficult. I’m sure there will be quite a few people that will have something to say about that.”
Scott nodded slowly. “Since we’re congratulating each other, I guess I should also congratulate you too. After all, you’d soon be witnessing one of the greatest shows ever.” Scott took a step forward. “And what a coincidence, it’s going to be happening during the next full moon.” The eldritch knight took another step forward before shaking his head. “It’s a shame, though. The city and her residents you hold so dear might disappear after the show.”
“Are you threatening me?” Hanzazeelem roared.
“Nope, I’m congratulating you in advance. Why would an idiot like me threaten you?” Scott giggled softly. “It must have taken a whole lot of effort to build Enchanted Heights. It’s such a shame.”
Scott stopped his advance, his gaze lingering on the mysterious examiner. “I have heard your words, and you have heard mine. If there’s nothing more to say, please send me back. For the record, I gave you a chance to keep your toys, whatever comes next has nothing to do with me, okay?”
“I have seen many champions like you over the years,” Hanzazeemlem broke the temporary silence. “They think too highly of themselves because the examiners can’t actively eliminate them without reason. Like the others before, and the more to come, I’ll be here as always, laughing as your pitiful arrogance is stripped bare by the cruel hands of reality.” Hanzazeemlem paused, and the eyes reappeared. “For you especially, I’d relish the moment when your life is being snuffed out, and bitter regret clouds those detestable eyes of yours.”
Scott chuckled again, smiling brightly behind his mask. “Thank you for bringing me here, sincerely. I’m even more confident now that I’d give you a great show, and it’s all thanks to you.”
The examiner vanished, leaving behind a fractured void. Scott's vision momentarily blurred, and in the next instant, he stood once more in the garden, where time resumed its regular flow.
The next full moon will arrive in 10 days! Entry into Enchanted Heights is now closed!
The system notification appeared in front of everyone in the mesmerizing city, and an array of different emotions flashed across the faces of the residents. Scott, however, raised his head toward the skies, laughing with wanton abandon as the yellow sign flickered on his pupils. At that same moment, and in several locations in the expansive city, the yellow sign flickered in the eyes of several residents, while the pulsating tendril embedded itself deeper into their skins.