-----(Amir POV)-----
The sound of waves crashing upon the coast greeted my ears as I stepped onto the scorching sand, heading to the planned spot where I decided to make the transfer.
Of course, my first thought was to use some forest, but then I remembered that there was a small quiet grove between the rocks in which I'd have privacy.
The spot was quite beautiful, in all honesty. It had only taken me 20 or so minutes of walking to make it here, so the sunrise was still ongoing. It painted the ocean an intense mix of red and orange, like it was on fire, yet it was still peaceful. The mossy rocks and the sound of the waves only added to the atmosphere.
It made me want to sleep and just… relax.
Sadly, that was not to be. Not today at least.
Though, I'll come here in the future. For sure.
I took a deep breath as I focused on the feeling that had been with me since I came to this world.
I'd felt it in my chest for such a long time and knew instinctively that it wasn't my Sacred Gear or my demonic power. It was a key, and ironically, it was in my heart.
The most important thing in the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise.
I just wish to be there, and poof, I guess.
"Hehe…"
I chuckled.
What the hell?
I thought this would be a lot more dramatic, but expectations are almost always wrong, so nothing else to do but go for it.
Open. Scala ad Caelum.
It felt like the air itself was vibrating as a bright golden line appeared slowly, as if drawing itself onto reality, and then…
Fwoooom
It tore open, revealing behind it a sight for the ages—what a sight it was.
Water as far as the eye could see, as if I'd been dropped into the middle of the Pacific.
But beyond that, I could spot it. Barely, but I could.
A clocktower. A massive white clocktower made of what I would guess was quartz and gold.
This was it, the city in the sky whose name literally translates to The Stairway to Heaven.
God is rolling in his grave right now.
What are the Pearly Gates compared to this?
I took a deep breath before looking back at the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea one last time.
Okay, in the words of the great Peter Parker, "That's all it is. A leap of faith."
And with that, I ran in.
-----(Switch)-----
Wind. That's all I felt.
"FUCK MEEEEEEEE!"
WHY AM I FALLING?!?!
I just ran in straight. HOW THE HELL did I end up in a freefall?!
Shit, shit, shit—
The water's getting closer. I don't want to die from a belly-flop impact and terrible diving form.
Think. What should I do? What can I do? Awaken my devil bloodline? But I don't know how! I doubt my Sacred Gear would help so what the—
Oh, wait.
I commanded within my mind for the gravity around me to drop straight to zero, and I began floating.
Right.
Master of the dimension.
Forgot about that. Somehow.
Sigh… I'll deal with my own idiocy later. Now, how to get down?
Aha!
I snapped my fingers as a figure appeared before me. The figure was tall and covered in a black robe that hid its face and entire body. Despite that, I could still make out feminine features through the thick long coat that represented the members of Organization XIII. In each of her hands were her signature weapons, Foudre, a set of four throwing knives that formed claws in each hand.
I grabbed onto her and held tight as she flashed toward the ground at high speed.
Ranked number six in the latest rendition of the Organization, she specializes in thunder and high-speed combat.
I'll make sure to observe her fighting style closely.
It only took a few seconds for us to touch down onto the ground.
She was fast. Insanely so.
Now that I think about it, at her best, Larxene is probably a Peak High-Class in terms of destructive power, but with her other attributes and abilities, she could give a Seraph a run for his money.
That thought sent an unpleasant tingle down my spine. Thank God this is just a phantom. If she's that strong, I can't imagine what Xehanort would do.
I shook my head to chase away those unpleasant theories before looking around and taking in the surroundings.
Blue as far as the eye could see. The clocktower was still in the distance, but it was like I hadn't gotten any closer at all.
Smart.
A defense mechanism that works similar to the usual fog or barrier that distorts perception, just ten times stronger because of how real it feels.
Add to that the novelty of walking on water, and someone would probably waste days just walking.
I smirked slightly as I willed for the city to appear.
With a sound reminiscent of old machinery twisting and working, the surroundings began to change. Islands filled with white buildings of immense architectural beauty, littered with colorful windmills and each holding a small clocktower at the top, began to appear from the water one by one.
I couldn't get enough of this.
And finally, the big bang happened. The big one, the one I had in mind when I wished for this city.
The main island rose up, and at its peak stood the iconic tower that looked like a mix between an entire castle and a clock.
And all of this, was mine.
Fuck, this is insane.
I kept staring in a trance as I began walking along the dirt path surrounded by greenery that led straight to the marble fountain.
I forcefully pulled my eyes from the top of the island, glanced at the fountain, and sat on its edge, the phantom of Larxene behind me, silently watching and awaiting orders.
This is all mine. I know it'll eventually be filled with phantoms, but even in all its grandeur, it still has an air of loneliness. Just like in the games.
I sat there for the next couple of minutes, or hours, I didn't really keep track of time.
My mind went from one idea to another: how to utilize this place, the direction I should take from now on, what to train, and… how to make this place better, as crazy as that sounds.
Well, I'll contemplate later. Exploring now.
"Larxene, could you guide me to the main library please?"
The phantom stood still for a moment before nodding and walking forward.
Creepy…
I followed the puppet as it guided me through the city, climbing the marble staircases, passing by the windmills that added color to the white canvas of the island, past all these houses that looked ancient and futuristic at once.
It was when we reached the foot of the tower that defined the entire dimension that she stopped and turned to look at me.
"So it's in there. Thank you, Larxene. You may leave."
The woman nodded before vanishing, leaving only the sound of lightning in her wake, making me jump slightly.
I'm gonna have to get used to that, won't I?
I ignored my own question and approached the massive doors. They were closed, of course, and looked as if even a cannon couldn't open them. Considering the magic they probably had, I doubt even Gremory's P.O.D would be able to damage them.
I placed my hand onto them and willed them to open.
The sound of gears resounded throughout the surroundings as they began to open slowly, like a scene from a movie, or game, more accurately, here.
I walked inside, eyes darting around in wonder, and what greeted me was a lobby made of white marble and quartz with golden accents. Trees and ponds were littered in certain areas, and paintings of what looked like previous Keyblade Masters were firmly nailed into the walls next to the elevator.
I approached it and watched as its doors slid open smoothly, allowing me entry.
"Where would you like to go, sir?"
"HUH?!"
"Apologies, there is no such floor. Could you repeat the command or choose another destination?"
AN AI?!
"Are you an AI?"
"Apologies, there is no such floor. Could you repeat the command or choose another destination?"
FUCK. I almost got excited there. It's probably just voice-activated.
"Library."
"Right away, sir."
Soft elevator music began to play as I felt the cabin rise.
Well, isn't this cliché?
I chuckled quietly at the thought as I listened to the most generic elevator music ever.
It only took a few seconds before a soft bell indicated that we'd arrived.
The library was just like I remembered it from the game.
The 3D chessboard was still there, and in the middle of it stood the lone white king.
The piece that represented Sora, the protagonist.
The piece that I hope to one day become.
I approached and let my fingers glide along the windowsill and then the chessboard before settling on the piece that claimed victory in the end.
I'll keep it, as a lucky charm.
I tucked the piece into my pocket before approaching the massive bookshelves.
I willed for a book on Scala ad Caelum's geography to come to me, and as soon as the order left my mind, a thick black and silver book came flying toward me.
Time to focus. Read as much as I can and then get to training. There's no time to slack off. Food, water, anything else I need, I can will into existence within this dimension. This is my base, my fortress,
my home.
{A/N: Here's another chapter introducing Scala ad Caelum and me just trying to transmit the feelings of awe I would personally have if I saw it in real life. Next chapter is the beginning of the first training arc and the MC's growth and learning phase. Stay tuned for that. See y'all next time.
P.S: The Pic of the cover is what the City looks like.}