Dnilpo..a place in the Slavic Reich..its buildings were built around a deep circular valley..the valley is called the Gate Of The End..but why do adults over 40 disappear?
Sophie: "Hahh."
Fiona: "Does it really have to be this way.."
Sophie: "I know you're still tired..but two weeks are enough..and we were the only available crows."
Fiona: "Ok..and why..does..Lina have to come she's new"
Lina: "Huh?"
Fiona: "I mean she's new..isn't this too much to ask?"
Sophie: "No idea."
Lina: "Hmm."
They set off on their way..
Lina: "Hmm.."
Fiona: "And Sophie..did Marcus talk to you?"
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "You should really give him a chance.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Don't look like that..I know you have interest in Schneider this time.."
Sophie: "Huh!? (turns red)..what..are you talking about."
Fiona: "You've been too quiet since he left..you're always quiet..but..now even more.."
Sophie: "Uh.."
Fiona: "Don't worry Lina won't say anything..she's a good girl."
Lina: "um..excuse me?..I'm the same age as her."
Fiona: "But you're as shy as a little girl.."
Sophie: "Have you ever been to Dnilpo?"
Fiona: "No..why?"
Sophie: "Me neither.."
Lina: "Uhm..hmm.."
Tschutt
Sophie: "We should be there soon.."
Fiona: "Hmmm..Ughh."
Lina: "huh!"
Sophie: "....woooowww.."
The tracks changed..instead of using the lower tracks they now used the upper ones and below there was nothing except a valley..
Sophie: "Creepy..a mistake..and you could fall down."
Fiona: "Stop saying that or something bad will happen."
Lina: "huh..look!"
Fiona: "Huh.."
Sophie: "ughh..that's it..Dnilpo.."
Around the valley a beautiful place..buildings and so on..
Sophie: "It looks like..this is the capital of Dnilpo..it's on a ship! That has not moved for centuries..but it floats!"
Fiona: "Huhh!"
Lina: "Ohh.."
A huge city on a ship..
Sophie: "No wonder it's called the most beautiful and unpleasant city.."
Fiona: "The valley..how deep is it.."
Sophie: "Hmm..it seems there are multiple layers..I can also see buildings all around down there in the valley.."
Fiona: "And what lives in that valley."
Passenger: "you want to know that?..they say..down there..there is a place..filled with a lot of..waste.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Hmm?..do people throw their leftovers here?"
Passenger: "Yes..but no one dares to go there..down there.."
Sophie: "Sir have you heard about the case where multiple people over 40 disappear?"
Passenger: "Of course I know that..and there is an explanation for it..from the age of 40 people must leave Dnilpo and go to the lower level.."
Sophie: "Huh?..wait why did Ms Valentine send us here then."
Fiona: "We will find that out when the time comes..since we are already here..there must be a reason."
Passenger: "Excuse me..but as I see you are from that..organization..Dark Umbrella..right?"
Sophie: "Yes.."
Fiona: "mhm."
Nazar: "My name is Nazar Kowalenko..I think I know why you were sent.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Nazar: "Yes..the forty year olds are sent down there..but..recently strange events have occurred."
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "What kind of..strange events.."
Nazar: "It was..in the middle of the night..I was walking at night and there were some others with us..and then suddenly we heard something."
Sophie: "huh?"
Fiona: "What was it?"
Nazar: "as if something opened..as if something had opened..when I and the others there looked into the valley..I do not know if the others noticed it..but I saw..how it closed again..as if..as if it were a giant eye!"
Sophie: "Huh!?"
Fiona: "A giant eye.."
Sophie: "Hmm."
Nazar: "Hmmm..have you ever heard of the eye of the abyss.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Nazar: "In a legend it is said..that in the east..there was once a mountain..this mountain had a large eye..they say it was an evil eye..the eye of the abyss..and..Dnilpo..where are we?"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "In the east.."
Nazar: "Exactly..oh by the way..yes..soldiers work from 40 down there..but normally only as mine workers..and they even returned at night..now..but..not anymore.."
Sophie: "Hmm?..so it's just normal work?"
Nazar: "It used to be..but not for about four years.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Ahhh..I understand.."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Did you forget that we traveled almost 100 years into the past through the black hole?..something like this did not exist I never visited Dnilpo..but..what I know is..before the black hole..there was no abyss or valley at all..but.."
Sophie: "A waterfall..but how can that be.."
Fiona: "Hmmm..maybe something happened..I once heard..that the water here dried up..there is no water..Dnilpo had the deepest sea in Grimmhoth it was as deep as eighteen kingdoms..now..instead of a sea a valley.."
Sophie: "And the eye?"
Fiona: "I think there is an explanation..there was once a legend of a monster that was a giant eye..but honestly I think the people here are just trying to find an explanation for the disappearance of these people.."
Sophie: "The government right?"
Fiona: "Exactly.."
Sophie: "Why would they do that?"
Fiona: "No idea..but whatever is down there seems important.."
Sophie: "Hmm..what if there is something dangerous."
Fiona: "Like what?"
Sophie: "No idea..what if this abyss..leads to a place where monsters are hunted..I heard that once.."
Fiona: "Hmm..yes..that would explain why people do not return..because they die."
Sophie: "Exactly..or."
Fiona: "Or what?"
Sophie: "Or it's all just made up stories..I mean..hey..we all once believed in the snowman and the finger licker."
Fiona: "Finger licker?..what if I tell you I once saw a snowman."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Fiona: "in my dreams."
Sophie: "Hahaha..funny.."
Sophie thought.
Sophie: "Hmmm..ughh.."
Fiona: "huh?"
Sophie: "Nemesis.."
Fiona: "What?"
Sophie: "Fiona..I got it..Nemesis..down there!"
Fiona: "Huh?..wait a moment..ugh..you could be right you are really a smart girl! That would explain why Ms Valentine sent us here..down there is a crack and the eye..was not an eye but a crack?..yes..not exactly but it makes the most sense."
Sophie: "Yes..wait a second..if people go to the toilet does it all go down there?"
Fiona: "(sweat) where did that idea come from.."
Lina: "Um..I do not understand anything."
Sophie: "Anyway I think we can figure it out later."
Meanwhile
In wars..those suffer who did not want war..and those who wanted it..are the ones who do not suffer.
Unknown child: "Hahh.."
A child who had lost her hand stared at the body of her mother..
Unknown child: ".....(tears).......hmm."
She looked around..everywhere people were saying goodbye to loved ones..but..what about the children?..some people stay silent because they are afraid..or because they think it is not their problem..but..imagine..it was your child?..or your mother..dying because of this..war..is never the solution..war..only brings more hatred and more wars..and only ensures that the nobles..get more money..
Unknown child: ".....ghhhhhh....."
the child has no hand anymore..what should she do in the future?..they took her hand?..
Unknown child: "hhmm.."
Zantanel: "Poor child."
Unknown child: "huh!"
Zantanel appeared.
Zantanel: "How dreadful..little one.."
Unknown child: "Who..are..you?"
Zantanel: "Me?..I am just an ordinary normal woman..as I see..you are an Arcanin.."
Unknown child: "Arcanin?..you mean alchemist..yes..my parents..are..I mean..were also.."
Zantanel: "Come with me child.."
Unknown child: "Huh?"
She stretched out her hand.
Zantanel: "You surely want revenge..right?..I will give you your revenge..you only have to do what I tell you.."
Unknown child: "Huhh..who are you?"
Zantanel: "Zantanel..Kafka..I will become the suffering of this world..but do not fear..I will only bring suffering to the non cursed or non mage or non alchemists..because they started these wars while we only wanted peace..they only want suffering and death!..I will give you your revenge..and make sure that in the end you will laugh at their graves!"
Unknown child: "Hahh.."
Zantanel: "or do you like these people?"
Unknown child: "....hahhh..no..I hate them!..I hate them!..they took my mother from me..they took my father from me..they took my hand from me..I want..them..to suffer too."
Zantanel: "Then come to me..child..so I will help you fulfill your wish for revenge.."
She took her hand.
Meanwhile
Sophie: "Ughh.."
Fiona: "My goodness..this city is really like a fairy tale!"
Sophie: "huhh."
Lina: "ugh.."
The houses were old fashioned..like in the 19th or 20th century..however you want to say it..this city is still beautiful..the ground is built in three layers the bottom of the ship consists of metal..in the middle..also metal..but on top where people walk..it is wood..also the ship floats..through a motor..for emergencies there are many ropes connecting the ship..and of course..on top there are several balloons that in case the ship falls would lift it up again..the balloons were three..and each was as big as five houses..
Sophie: "Ohhh.."
grrrr
Sophie: "I..am..hungry."
Fiona: "Me too.."
Lina: "Um."
Sophie: "Hmm how about..that shop over there..what do you think?"
Fiona: "Yes.."
Lina: "Hmm."
Sophie: "Come on Lina do not be shy."
She held her hand.
Sophie: "You also need to eat..you are no longer a soldier."
Fiona: "hmmm.."
Lina: "mm."
They ordered food and sat at a table..
Sophie: "Hahhh..the fresh air here is amazing."
Fiona: "Fresh air?..I only smell the trash bin over there."
Sophie: "(sweat)..why did you sit there then sit closer to me or Lina."
Fiona: "Ok."
She did so..
Sophie: "hahh..and what did you order?"
Fiona: "mussels with noodles and venison pieces with soup.."
Sophie: "Ohh..I see..why no beer?"
Fiona: "Beer is unhealthy..is it more unhealthy than any other drink or even worse than smoking or sex addiction.."
Sophie: "Wow..you really do not like beer.."
Fiona: "Hmmm.."
Sophie: "Ohh..I think I know why..sorry..I do not want beer..bring me a cold normal drink please."
Waitress: "Yes maam."
Sophie: "You mean Lina right?"
Fiona: "hmm?"
Sophie: "You know..when she was a soldier drunk soldiers did..you know.."
Fiona: "Yes..but it was not only with her..a guard of Mr Howgarts once tried it with me he was so drunk..but luckily I found a sharp drill..I pierced his whole stomach with it..he was still alive..but Mr Howgarts saw it and finished him..he was also damn drunk..beer and alcohol..I think people should just not do it..it smells it is unhealthy and makes people behave as if they are possessed..and you Sophie..you are a nice beautiful lady..but believe me..alcohol will completely change you..alcohol can turn a decent woman into an indecent woman.."
Sophie: "Ok..ok..I got it..I just want to forget all the stress.."
Fiona: "It will come back when the effect wears off..you stopped me from smoking I stop you from drinking.."
Sophie: "Hmmm..oh..and you Lina what did you order."
Lina: "I..uh..I..uhh..ordered noodles..with..shrimp..and..also a soup with vegetables.."
Sophie: "Ohh..ok.."
Fiona: "What about you Sophie?"
Sophie: "I just ordered curry rice..and also soup..just..the soup is herbal..sea herbs.."
Fiona: "Oh."
Lina: "hmm."
Waitress: "Here is the food.."
said the waitress and placed the food..the food looked extremely delicious..Sophie was surprised because there was also dessert.
Sophie: "Excuse me I did not order desserts."
Fiona: "Me neither."
Lina: "Me neither."
Waitress: "Oh..it is on the house..we always do that.."
Sophie: "Ohh..thank you very much."
Fiona: "Thank you very much."
Lina: "Ohh."
The waitress left..
Sophie: "The people here..are surprisingly nicer than in Titia right?"
Fiona: "Probably because Titia is ninety percent nobles..Dnilpo is eighty percent middle class.."
Sophie: "Oh.."
Lina: "Hahh.."
Fiona: "say Lina you come from Grazburg.."
Lina: "Yes."
Fiona: "Your capital is Wiensbruck right?"
Lina: "Yes.."
Sophie: "Ohh..I will definitely go there..it is so beautiful."
Fiona: "mhm.."
Sophie: "Have you been there."
Fiona: "Yes with Tom Fog..I must say it was beautiful there..so many people actually like to vacation there even Tom Fog often went there..but it is really expensive."
Sophie: "Really?"
Fiona: "Yes..with your salary you can only stay there for about eight days."
Sophie: "Whaaat?..but I get 8000 coins per month.."
Fiona: "That is not enough for more than a week.."
Lina: "Only eight thousand coins..I thought you crows get more."
Sophie: "Hmph..no..for how dangerous the job is our salary is quite shitty.."
Fiona: "Well..it depends on how much you work..since we worked so much lately we got more..but..not a big difference..but I am satisfied with the salary."
Sophie: "Hmph..I bet you would work for free."
Fiona: "I would not exaggerate..from three thousand maybe yes."
Sophie: "Oww.."
Fiona: "Now eat before it gets cold."
Sophie: "Mhm."
Meanwhile
Jack: "My goodness Ruslana..hurry up."
Ruslana: "Let me have a little fun.."
Jack: "Hahh..hey..look..is that not Dark M Umbrella clothing..are those not detectives?"
Ruslana: "Yes.."
Jack: "Look at that..hey..let us go to them.."
Ruslana: "Hehehe ok.."
Meanwhile
Sophie: "Hah I am full.."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Lina: "Huh?"
patch
Jack: "good evening morning ladies.."
Ruslana: "Hehe.."
Fiona: "hmm?"
Sophie: "..uhm..good evening morning..do we know each other?"
Jack: "Of course..we are from the Black Butterflies."
Sophie: "Ugh.."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Lina stood up but Fiona and Sophie held her hand.
Sophie: "shh."
Fiona: "Do not in front of people Lina.."
Jack: "Hehehe.."
Ruslana: "Hehahhehe."