49 – Acrophobia

My comment got laughs in return, and I scowled at the floating city.

I turned to Alyssa, “Didn't you say the prison was next to Paarjo?” I pointed at the thing in the sky. “That is obviously above it.”

The rock, or piece of land the city was built on was massive even from my viewpoint in the ground. White buildings could be seen on the edges, tall towers and walls for some fucking reason. As if being in the air wasn't enough to protect it.

“It is,” Alyssa nodded with a tight smile. She pointed further north, “The Endless Pit is over there, not actually below Paarjo but next to it.”

I sighed and raised my arms in exasperation.

“You won't even notice the trip,” Yolin tried consoling me.

“Trip?!” I gaped at her. “We're not teleporting or something fantastic like that? Oh, kill me right now!”

“Teleporting?” Lapia blurted with a snort of amusement.

I glared at her.

“Teleportation is extremely dangerous. Especially if it's not a skill like shift,” the Wizard explained, not giving to my annoyed glare.

I sighed, “Well, I'll give you a few Elixirs you can give the King and then we move further North.”

“Natasha,” Yolin shook her head. “You were personally invited by the Prince. If you send someone with a possible solution, it can be seen as you not giving a shit about the issue.”

“Well, I don't!” I stubbornly insisted, crossing my arms. “Not after knowing they're a group of psychopaths with a floating city.”

Pokora burst in laughter to my right.

“Come on,” Lapia chuckled. “Don't be a child about it.”

I gasped, “A chi-? Excuse me?”

Alyssa giggled, “Just close your eyes as we go up.”

I shook my head, “I don't want to.”

“Tough luck,” Yolin declared with a serious face. “Tighten your ass, we're going up.”

I kept quiet. If I said anything, I knew something would come out that would make me regret it later. Still, I was determined to find a way to avoid going up to the city, whatever the cost.

We moved closer to the nightmare as I machinated a plan to escape the dreadful whatever that awaited me. Playing dead was plausible, but the Bond and appraisal would botch the plan. I couldn't fake a tummy ache since I could simply drink an Elixir. Fever? Same. Menstrual pains? I'm barely 2 months old, and I supposed Alyssa could see through it. All the perfectly logical options I thought of were brought down by the fact magic exists.

I wanted to curse the heavens, and that gave me an idea. So, I slowly came up with something that would convince even the Gods themselves.

The trees grew apart and the road came to an open area as our mounts continued their approach to death itself. Three roads split from the one we followed and went south, west, and north. We continued to the north, in the direction to where I assumed was right below Paarjo. I was running out of time.

I retrieved a sketchbook from my storage and removed three pages. Then wrote a few lines down on them and stored everything back to my storage.

“By the way,” I began, turning to Lapia. “I never showed you the letters I got the other day.”

She looked at me with a face full of suspicion, then gave me a small nod, “You didn't.”

“Want to see them?” I pulled out Miraztor's letter first, and sneakily added one of the pages I wrote on.

“Sure,” Lapia smiled and took the sheets of paper, then began reading.

I smirked.

“Natasha...” the Elf turned to me.

I wiped the smirk off my face and raised my eyebrows, “Something wrong?”

“What's this?” she raised an eyebrow and pointed at the extra paper.

It read: Halves don't go higher than 20 meters. Signed, Miraztor X.

I even copied his handwriting. There was no mistake in my plan.

I shrugged, “No clue, Lapia. I got another one from Nilenna, too. Here, give it a read.” I produced the letter and handed it over.

The Elf bit her lips and returned the first letter, then started reading the second one.

I passed them around, spreading the fact Halves do not go to high places. My plan was flawless.

After everyone finished reading, I pulled yet another sheet of paper from my storage. This one had a similar message but from 'Yulianna'.

“I found this in Elena's storage item,” I made it sound like I just remembered I had it. “Must have forgotten to return it. She did mention Yulianna, seems like a message or a reminder. Curious, right? Here, check it out.”

I gave it to Lapia and her face turned to a pronounced scowl.

Heh. Must be reconsidering my trip up there, I thought with a satisfied smile.

“Natasha...” Yolin started.

I interrupted, “I know, Yolin. Such a tragedy. Can't do what my species can't do, I'm afraid.”

The group was in silence for a few seconds. Alyssa let out a sigh and scratched her chin.

I gulped as the city's shadow covered us.

“Natasha,” the Oni insisted. “Yulianna flies.”

The world shattered inside me. I was at a an absolute loss. Never had I lived through such betrayal. My own kin abandoned me in my time of need.

“Haha...” I let out a deadpan laugh. “Good one, Yolin.”

A small settlement appeared in the distance as we went down a slope. Low walls surrounded three buildings circling a large, empty space.

Death was imminent.

I gulped again and gave it another attempt, “You know, I'm not feeling the star alignment today. Tia is not in the right position, you know?” I turned around, looking for support.

Everyone was flushed and holding back laughter.

Shit! Fuck! I was getting desperate.

“The E'er is weird today. I feel like something will happen,” I continued bullshitting as my breathing and heartbeat picked up speed. “Wait, I feel a threat to the south. A cataclysmic event is taking place. I better go there!”

“Natasha,” Lapia managed to let out a weird voice between wanting to laugh her lungs out of her thorax and reassuring me. “Please, no more!”

We crossed the gate of the settlement and my hands squeezed Sonya's reins.

What do I do? What can I do?! I don't want to! I really don't! I desperately looked for a way out. My hands should have been sweaty, but I had no physical reaction to the fear. Danuva! Photem! Whoever! Please!

The caravan in front of us moved to the side, revealing a broad platform. It was around thirty meters wide. A dandy Tigea stood on it, a professional smile on his face. His silk clothes were pristine and fancy, and he stood straight like a rod. His black hair and ears were combed to perfection, and I noticed a silver badge on his chest.

I wanted to run away. To escape at the speed of sound for the rest of my life. Yet a stronger pull kept me from attempting any real struggle. I knew I had to go visit the King and help in whatever way I could. I was needed. Of that I was dead sure.

Still. I don't like heights. Standing above ten meters terrified me, let alone a city one kilometer up into the sky. I never once traveled by plane. I even made sure to buy tickets on the first floor of buses whenever I traveled through Europe if I wasn't riding my bike. For the short time I could freely ride it, anyway.

I retrieved my helmet and covered my face. If I was going to do it, I didn't want anyone to see my face.

The Watcher escort dismounted and approached the carts, then guided the bound people to the platform. Then the animals followed and finally a couple of Watchers helped the 'free' people out of the carts and the many crates and boxes the final cart carried.

Once they were done, a hand nudged me from the left.

I turned and found Yolin's wide smile.

“Don't worry, you have us,” her soothing voice along a gentle smile comforted me.

I gave a shaky nod in return. My breathing was all over the place and my heartbeat almost deafened my hearing.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Our mounts approached the platform and I squeezed all the holes in my body.

“Your Excellency,” the dandy Tigea gave me a respectful bow after Sonya stepped into the platform. “My name is Alastor Lafin. I'm here to welcome you to Paarjo and give you a tour around the city.”

I managed to return a shallow nod. The possibility of the man waiting my arrival for almost a month didn't even cross my mind.

My companions dismounted from the animals. Yolin walked to me and grabbed my hands, then slowly helped me down while making it look like it was an everyday thing.

Oh, this woman is the highest blessing I have received in this life, I focused on warm thoughts.

She took my hands guided me to hug her from behind.

I held on for dear life.

Lapia stood to my right, and Alyssa took my left. The Luzo's tail wrapped around my waist, giving me an extra anchor to the world.

Oh, Gods. I will slay the very cosmos for these women if necessary!

“I see the champion has returned,” he pleasantly added, giving Yolin a respectful nod. “How have you been, Six Fists of the North?”

The Oni clicked her tongue, “I'm not here to fight in the arena.”

My eyebrows almost fused with my hairline in surprise.

Alastor paused for a few seconds, then continued, “I understand. Apologies for assuming. I see you've increased your level since last time you visited Paarjo, Lady Yolin,” he let out a polite chuckle. “Pleasant surprises abound today.”

His eyes flashed with purple light and the platform shook.

I bit my tongue to avoid screaming in terror.

Don't tell me this is an elevator... Fuck this. Fuck!

I looked up and focused on the rocky underside of the Capital, trying to ignore the world around me.

That proved impossible since the man kept talking.

“Paarjo was founded seven hundred thousand years ago,” he began a lecture of sorts. “His Excellency Lumin Dakor permitted the First King, Bachat the Brave to found Lumin Kingdom on the condition of using his name as proof of rule and obeying the Protectors. Since then, the Royal Family carries his name and see to the land with exemplary responsibility.”

That's fucking old! I retorted in my mind.

I felt my stomach go up and threaten to leave my mouth as the platform raised at a steady pace.

The man, however, continued.

“The City itself was initially built on the ground, above an Ergite mine. Naturally, this was not known at first and was only found several thousands years later. After millennia of slowly exploiting the mine, however, the foundations became unstable. In response to that, the Royal Family sought advice from the Gods and were directed to Her Excellency Anna Morgh, a Wizard. Together they devised what would then become the very first artificial floating city in the world.”

“That's right,” Lapia smugly added. “Artificial.”

Don't look down, Natasha. Don't look down. It's all fake. The city is coming down.

“Correct, artificial,” the man confirmed. “The Elven Queendom of Maaruhk boasts the oldest natural floating islands in the world,” then added in a low, regretful voice. “They make sure nobody ever forgets.”

I allowed myself to chuckle, the idea of cats and foxes arguing over who has the coolest floating piece of land managed to ease my nerves.

The man continued, “Once the city took flight, however, a very unstable hole was left behind. The ruling Monarch at the time, Queen Abrielle Rodon Lumin II, was wise enough to find a quick solution. She proclaimed that those who committed crimes in Lumin Kingdom were to be sent to work the mines. The country would provide with everything they may need, excluding pay. Thus, in only five hundred years the mine was depleted. Then, her Royal Grandson renamed the hole to The Endless Pit and sought permission to hang criminals with Numbing Rope in it, which was approved by the Protectors at the time.”

Oh, that's interesting, I continued to stare at the city above.

“The Endless Pit is seventeen kilometers deep and forty kilometers at the widest. It is shaped like a drop of water which is the shape Ergite naturally follows....”

The man kept on rambling about the history of Lumin Kingdom and the intricacies of the country itself.

I heard Bonte sigh more times than I could count.

Turns out, Lumin Kingdom is not an absolute Monarchy. Unlike Earth's Monarchies, Galeia's were basically founded on a command from a Halve instead of the glorious phantom in the sky. The economic system was heavily tax-based with set prices for every product that was sold. There was no concept of free market similar to Earth's either. Every one hundred years, a revision was made to check productivity and availability of produce and resources to check market fluctuation. This is supervised by the Crown, and the many City Counsels around the country made sure there was no deviation. Otherwise the people had the irrevocable, Halve-backed right to remove whoever was poisoning the waters as Alyssa had mentioned when she superficially explained the laws to me back in Riverfield.

So ruling is not a God-given right, but a Halve-given duty. Still... why tax us more? Well, I could just ask the King or the Royal Family later.

I calmed down while focusing on the lecture Alastor was providing, which I immensely thanked. The platform moved pretty damn slowly, probably to acclimate to the height. I never had the slightest interest in learning about the subject for obvious reasons.

Still, the closer we got, the more details I saw.

The underside of the city was not actually just rock as I initially assumed. There were hanging towers, gardens, and all manner of edifices built into it.

No matter how interested I was about the architecture of a floating city, however, I looked straight up. If I saw even a glimpse of the horizon I'd have a heart attack and literally die on the spot, no doubt.

A circular hole the size of the platform was right above us, near the edge of the city where gates normally would be on a ground-level settlement.

Once the rocky material –which let out a low thrumming– covered our sight and surrounded us, I allowed myself to relax.

We had finally made our way to the Capital of Lumin Kingdom.

“I need alcohol,” I whined in a quiet voice, still staring upwards.