Nerena Corvantis
Cloaked, I made my way through the ancient city. I didn't trust any of these phantom echoes after my first encounter in the jungle, so I hid in plain sight. As I moved through the streets, I finally understood why our professors had pushed us so hard in class. The city was like a kaleidoscope of history, with countless eras and stories layered together in one place.
Taking it all in, I couldn't shake the feeling that I hadn't studied or prepared nearly enough for something like this.
I scanned my surroundings and found myself at the foot of the steep staircase that climbed the entire pyramid. Now that I was closer, I could finally make out the intricate stonework that made up the monument.
At first I thought it was faint cracks in the stones, due to wear and tear, but I was wrong.
What I had mistaken for cracks were actually part of a massive mural that stretched across the entire pyramid. It depicted countless spiders working together, weaving an enormous web over the stone.
Then I turned and looked back at the merchant stalls and surrounding buildings. Faint strands of web stretched between them, hanging high above the streets, swaying gently in the wind like the tail of a kite.
While I stared at the faint webs draped over us, I overheard a group of phantom echoes having a dispute.
I crept closer.
The group of phantom echoes was dressed in golden silk robes, each with a different insignia etched into the upper-left section of their garments, signifying they had been from different clans in this era.
"The lords have been revoking access to it. Not just here, but all the other temples in Shademaul and Morphaelis territories too," one of the echoes said, pointing down the street.
My eyes followed the direction, and I saw a group of echoes dressed in plated armor guarding the entrance to a building.
The echoes carried on.
"They are now charging people to enter; I don't think that's what the pantheons intended."
What is going on here?
I headed down the street to inspect the temple.
When I got there, I saw echoes from the Era of Kingdoms, dressed in battle kilts and capes bearing their clan sigils; I even saw echoes in our modern multipurpose tech suits.
They were trying to bribe guards to let them into this hut-like building, which had six floating rocks orbiting the roof.
What is this place? Why are there no signs? No engravings? Or anything stating what it is?
"If you really want to know, I can tell you…. At a price, of course." The voice said.
"No, I'm not interested in your deal."
"You say that now. But there will come a time when you need to accept the deal. And when that day comes, I'll be waiting."
The voice faded, growing quieter until it disappeared completely.
I pray that time never comes.
I waited a few more minutes to see if more information could be siphoned from this area, but sadly none came.
Walking away, I pulled out my tablet and saw it was nearly time to meet back at our rendezvous point.
_____________________
Voen
I searched the city for more herbs and medicinal supplies to help keep my cluster healthy.
As I walked through the city, all I could hear were the loud murmurs of the echoes around me. Based on the information Nerena and Sora gave, these echoes seemed safe enough, going about normal life to remain sane.
I wanted to believe them, but every few seconds I heard several vocal inflections alter slightly. Enough to indicate a mood had fluctuated, or in this case, an echo not being able to fight off insanity.
I gotta find these herbs quick.
I closed my eyes and focused on the names of plants that would have been sold in this area. I drowned out the howling of the jungle, the static-like buzzing of insects, and the steady drip of water falling from leaves onto the hard limestone around us.
It took a few minutes, but eventually, I heard one. A phantom echo acting as a merchant, selling tea bags.
That should be good enough.
I followed the voice to its epicenter, and before long I was at the echo's stand.
There were other echoes there; they seemed to pay me no mind while I scanned the tables for anything that would catch my eye.
While I was searching, I heard other echoes heckling the merchant for a better deal. It reminded me of back home.
A frozen wasteland where it was a dog-eat-dog world. Everyone was out for themselves, seeing who could get one over on each other.
It was interesting to see how, even in a rift, people would manifest like this. It showed me that my goal to be the richest man in the world wasn't special. It was common among those whose needs weren't met. But it made me want it even more, because once it was achieved, I would never be looked down on again.
Soon, I found a couple of bowls filled with seeds. This was exactly what I needed. I scooped handfuls of them into my most valuable tool as a vitalist: the living satchel. Any seed placed inside could be cultivated, allowing it to mature within a few hours.
I looked over my shoulder to see if any echoes were watching, using the same skills I had learned back home when I used to steal food to survive.
Not a single echo was watching. I scraped handfuls of seeds into my living satchel.
Just as I swept the last bits of seeds into my satchel, I heard a couple of familiar voices.
They weren't Sora's
They weren't Nerena's.
They were voices from my past.
Voices that haunted me.
My body froze. Goosebumps spread down my neck as I realized how close they were.
They were right beside me, haggling with the merchant.
I began to walk slowly from the table.
The echoes began to flicker and shift from one form to another.
Then a couple of them turned and faced me.
It's them.
One of them gave me a sinister smile as he fully turned and took a few steps towards me.
I shuffled a foot backward.
The man had a scar etched on his cheek that I could never forget. It was the only thing, besides their voices, I remembered from that day.
"So you survived? I still couldn't believe that beast risked its life for you."
I froze. My legs felt like cement, the terror gripping my body and forcing me deeper into the wet clay beneath my feet. But deep down there was fire that sparked to life, growing, heating my body, as I clenched my fist.
"Any last words?"
As the echo walked towards me, I realized he had a symbol: three red scales on his battle fatigues.
Something I hadn't noticed before.
It was the symbol of a guild back home on the Kharadon continent.
The Crimson scale.
It was them?! They sent them?!
The poacher pulled out his harpoon and aimed it at me.
My legs still wouldn't move.
This time, I refused to close my eyes. I bit down on my lip, the taste of blood and the surge of rage keeping me grounded.
"Hey, quit wasting your time over there; we gotta make it to the Shademaul Pyramid by sundown."
The echo glowed; the light muted the poacher's features and began to morph into a new shape. It had reverted to its original state of a traveler holding a large bag.
The echo left.
I dropped to my knees, gasping for air. I couldn't believe what I had just experienced.
I guess I'll have to take out the Crimson Scale guild and build a fortune to obtain what I truly desire.