[Day 90 of the Calamity Calendar]
With the quiet fall of Tsaral, the first calamity came to a close.
The southern region received the hero upon his departure from the collapsing Ice castle. They roared with waves of victorious cries. Following a large celebration, the southern region began its great campaign to restore the Hellion Empire to an even greater level than before, something stronger, more united, something ready to face the following Calamities.
Unlike the southern region, the Western region fell quiet. With the fall of the Ice Dragon, they received a brief moment of respite, but the damage was already done. They had suffered many casualties, losing a great deal of their population. Their recovery would be long and hard, a fitting outcome for the rumoured men of the 'land of death'.
The central region's silence was second only to the eastern region's self-exile.
As for the North.
The northern regions celebrated not only the successful defence of the city, but also the great power displayed by the heavens chosen. This wave of unmatched enthusiasm only served as a stark contrast to the sudden panic that washed the city upon Dorothy Quellas disappearance.
* * *
Following the fall of the Ice Castle, the world celebrated the end of the first calamity.
The continent could now begin its long period of recovery.
The first thing that had to be addressed was the mass food shortages that reached across the continent. The low temperatures had reaped the lives of a large portion of the continent's wildlife, leaving food supplies in urgent need.
The second thing that quickly became a problem was the large-scale flooding around the continent. After the snow began to melt, especially in the west, the ice and snow transformed into a flood. Farmland was changed into swampland, homes had been washed away beneath the water, and public roads were wiped off the map.
In addition to the lack of food and mass flooding, there was also the problem of the ice demons. Unlike the snow elementals, the ice demons did not disappear after the calamity ended.
Organizations like the Adventurers Guild and the Mercenary Alliance organized small teams to hunt down and clean up the remaining ice demons. This worked on the surface, but the unseen and cunning nature of the ice demons made it difficult to exterminate them all.
From time to time, there would be reports of villages suddenly disappearing overnight. When investigated, this was discovered to be the work of ice demons lurking in the area.
This cleanup will take a very long time and require many hands.
Overall, the aftereffects of the calamity were devastating to the common people. Entire ecological chains were destroyed, many populated places had been left devastated, and countless mutated species that mixed the properties of ice and snow had started to appear where they shouldn't have, like a corruption or an echo, not allowing the continent to forget the disaster.
* * *
Southern region, City of Llynun.
Rotell stood among the wreckage. Teams of Imperial soldiers were frantically running around, cleaning up the residual damage done to the city after the earthquake. When the Ice Titan fell, its fall reverberated throughout the city.
She was followed by two maids and one knight.
She listened to reports and complaints, suggestions and denunciations. She was given damage reports and salvation suggestions. She quickly understood that this period of recovery was not going to be easy.
She passed through the destruction, walking down the devastated streets.
Eventually, she found herself at the melted laboratory where the Sun Spear had been fired.
This area was once a restricted laboratory that held the highest level of secrecy in the Empire. Now it had transformed into a molten pit of slag and steam, its mere existence becoming a radioactive hazard, constantly emitting an uncontrollable and incomprehensible radiance like the sun. This would require many magical restrictions and long-term maintenance to prevent this contamination from spreading.
Rotell continued, this time walking up to the city walls.
She stood atop the city wall, overlooking the devastation left behind after the great battle.
Her gaze passed by the devastated landscape and fields of iron and blood.
She sighed.
Just looking at that massive mountain of ice gave her a headache. She understood that in the coming weeks, the ice mountain would melt, creating a massive flood around the capital. Perhaps it was time to build a moat.
Although the devastation was no less than the work needed to repair it, it could have been far worse.
Rotell held a letter in her hand, her hair fluttering in the wind.
This letter was marked with the seal of the Sky Tower, inviting people from all around the continent to gather together in a 'Grand Gathering' that would celebrate the successful defense of the first calamity.
* * *
Northern Region, Sevensen.
Levy walked through the streets with a wide smile on her face. Her steps were long and lively, carrying the energy of a young and carefree girl.
She skipped through the streets, standing out among the panicked and uneasy crowd.
With Dorothy's disappearance, the city began a massive search for the missing hero. It was impossible for her to leave the city, therefore, she must still be within the walls.
Levy did not care, she naturally knew what had happened.
Regardless, she would not intervene.
She skipped a step, hopped on the spot, leaned forward, and looked to her left, smiling. Next to her was a strange girl with long white hair and soulless white eyes. She wore something like a nun's veil, but it hung down her back like a cape. Floating beside her were two hovering cubes, not fitting in with the era's current technology.
Strangely, despite her unique appearance, the surrounding people didn't even seem to notice her, almost like she was a ghost. And indeed, this was the 'ghost' that followed Petra out of the Void Walker ruins.
Levy grinned. "Why so glum?" Her tone was teasing.
The 'ghost', Elli, glared at her. "You know why."
Levy laughed, giving off that feeling of an inescapable friend. "Hehe! Since we're going the same way, why not go together! The more the merrier, that's what I say! Hahaha!"
Elli closed her mouth, silently following behind.
* * *
Eastern Region, Border of the Great Storm.
The man stood before the great wall of wind. Connecting the sky to the earth, the grandeur of the storm was like a heavenly hand, cutting the eastern region from the rest of the continent.
The man wore a black robe with a white inner lining.
He was silent, still, unmoving.
He stood there, quietly appreciating the sight.
The Great Storm was a magic spell that embodied the true beauty of magic. It isolated an area with far more than just simple wind.
The spell was a complex series of magic matrices and compound spell circles that reached its hand into the domains of wind, space, and time.
This wall was not just a wall. What appeared to be wind was not just wind. This was a spatial storm made obedient, a tear in the void so precise that it brought awe.
For a normal man, breaching these walls would be impossible.
But…
They say that all snakes have their ways.
The man stepped forward, a smile cracking on his face.
He closed the distance between himself and the wall in a single step. Amidst the silent whispers and voiceless echoes, he stepped into the Great Storm, disappearing into the storm.
* * *
Central Region, Sky Tower.
In the Heavenly Halls of the Sky Tower, beneath the elegantly carved ceilings and within the golden embossed walls, deep runes engraved in marble pulsed with holy light, carrying a golden spiritual energy that radiated with a silent divinity. Here, an important meeting was coming to a close.
Of the twelve seats, three were empty.
Of the nine present, each was unique.
One seat for each star, counting to twelve. Of the twelve stars, two, four, and six were absent.
The fifth star, Atom, continued to speak. "The Book of Calamity tells that the second calamity comes a year after the first. This gathering is to allow us to prepare for the next calamity!"
The man seated beneath the eighth star laughed. His white beard shook with his shoulders. "I say, old Atom, don't tell me that's all? You wouldn't have suggested this grand event for such a small reason, especially after the death of your best student! Don't tell me you want to repent, hahaha!"
"Venan! Hold your tongue! The failure of the northern expedition is not something that you should speak of so lightly! It wasn't only him who lost a protege that day!" The reprimand came from a taller woman, one with short golden hair, the tenth star.
A sneer came from the third seat. "Heh! You're just mad that the man you secretly raised as the tower keeper died!"
"You...!"
"Silence!"
A booming voice ripped through the hall, drawing all heads. He sat in the first seat, his body straight, his phoenix eyes sharp, and his temperament cold and predatory. His commanding voice carried an unquestionable authority.
In a mere moment, the room was silent.
This man held power second only to the tower master. He was feared by many, for his unseen authority had reached to unknown depths.
When he spoke, he commanded the room, becoming the unquestionable center of attention.
He spoke. "Regardless of Atom's reason, this is a good opportunity to rally the continent together. The first calamity left a deeper scar than we anticipated. We will use this opportunity to strengthen the five regions through competition."
He waved his hand through the air, causing the void to ripple. He pulled out a series of items from nowhere. They floated above his hand.
"We will cover a wide range of fields, rewarding the victories with whatever they need to progress in their professions. In addition, the Sky Tower will open the Poison Labyrinth Secret Realm to anyone who dares to enter. This will be an opportunity to temper themselves."
With a flick, the objects orbiting his hand disappeared, returning to the void.
He waved his hand again, stirring up the spiritual energy in the room, conjuring a three-dimensional map of the continent. Three blue marks hovered over the map.
"Our prophets have predicted these three places as the most likely place for the next calamity to begin." He pointed to the central region. "if we ignore this, then..." He pointed to the west. Where he pointed, floated the two remaining marks. "We can assume that the next calamity will begin in the western region. We will announce this during the grand gathering."
He flicked his sleeve, shattering all the magic constructs.
His voice boomed. "Dismissed!"
When he finished, the room felt a pause.
It was an absolute command, causing each seat to disappear one after another, regardless of intention.
Soon, only he and Atom remained in the hall.
He looked over, his eyes cold.
"Ask." He spat, his voice cold.
Atom lowered his head, like a disobedient child.
"Ask." He spat again, his voice far colder.
Atom took a deep breath, suddenly looking slightly more hollow. He asked. "How is Celeste's condition?"
The first seat, Sebastian, lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes. "She is stable for now, but that is not your concern. Her condition is not what matters, after all..."
His gaze sharpened. "Your unsanctioned expedition into the northern forest has caused real problems this time. I need to know what you provoked. This affliction is like nothing I've ever seen before. I suspect that it exceeds anything that exists in the current abyss. He leaned slightly closer. Although they were still far apart, Atom suddenly felt like Sebastian was looking over him, shrouding him like a shadow. "Do not forget that the church is involved in this as well, we can not avoid questions."
There was a pause.
The room fell into a long silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Atom spoke. "I showed Celeste something before the expedition. The portrait of the unnamed emperor's last beloved. Thinking back, she was probably tempted at the time, jealous of that woman's beauty... She probably had Owen do something, and got cursed." Atom clenched his fist, feeling great guilt.
Sebastian's face became serious.
"No, this is no mere curse."
"This is an abomination, an incurable union of poison and curse, one that can even devour chaos."
"I've seen the portrait that you speak of. You suspect that the woman is connected to the missing heavens chosen from the north? It is impossible."
"You were never told, but Celeste's family has a long history with the church of light."
"it is not surprising that she would lash out at that woman's lookalike. Whether it came from envy or duty, that child cannot be left alone. That is what she's thinking. You may not know, but that woman is a taboo in the church of light. She is called the Witch of Calamity, and she is an unimaginable monster.
Atom was silent.
He had heard that name before. Hidden deep within ancient texts and lost behind echoing legends, there existed a being that had no form. A black shadow, one that haunted the darkness.
This is the Witch of Calamity.
Atom asked. "Where is she now?"
Sebastian paused. For the first time, his face showed slight hesitation.
"She...
* * *
Southern region, Southern Coastline.
This was a deep trench that had been carved out of the earth. No life, no movement, just desolation, silence, and stillness. This was the brutal aftermath of the Ice Titans advance.
Arthur walked, not stopping until he reached the mountain where the Ice Castle had first appeared.
This journey took over a day.
Arthur did not know what he was looking for, only that there was something here, something important.
When he found it, he knew, without a doubt, that this was what he was looking for…
Arthur stood before a sealed door, ancient in air, unopened since the beginning of time. This was a thick black door that stood five meters tall. Its face reflected complex murals depicting countless scenes of calamities. Its obsidian skin was engraved with empty runes that remained dry, cold, and unused. This door had an 'aura', almost giving one the impression that it was beating like a heart.
There was a low thud, and the door slowly creaked open.
Arthur felt something waiting, something watching, something welcoming...
[End of Volume 2]