The Legend of Zelmore: Arioch's Wrath (The Extend)
A light came down on the floor of a chamber they did not know, and it grew brighter and brighter. Rachel and Nyx instantly materialized from it. The girl with the rainbow-colored hair then tipped her head to the side, scratching her head as she took in her surroundings.The observatory room is a quiet sanctuary perched far above the busy action below, with its expansive windows providing a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Ergonomic seats that offer comfort and functionality are deliberately situated to optimize the observer's perspective throughout the roomy interior.The center of the room features a sophisticated control panel, complete with numerous buttons, screens, and dials, awaiting the skilled touch of an operator. Strategically placed large windows flood the space with natural light, creating a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor surroundings.A discreet entrance nearby offers swift entry to the observatory, allowing viewers to effortlessly transition from the controlled environment of the room to the boundless beauty of the open sky. Rachel tilted her head and looked around as Nyx flew next to her."Where are we now?" She asked."This area, known as the observatory or tower room, serves the purpose of observing activities beyond the castle walls." Nyx expressed as she pointed her finger to the nearby telescope. The rainbowlass headed in the ghost's direction.As Nyx veered away, Rachel seized the telescope's end and peered through the spyglass. The device's optics revealed to her the surroundings of the castle—unexplored areas, moats, mountains, and more. A sense of wonder dropped her jaw briefly until she composed herself, scanning left and right in amazement at the scenery behind her.Her vision now sharpened. Rachel gazed at the well-known sky and observed lightning bolts zigzagging across the approaching clouds. The wind grew stronger, causing it to sway in different directions and adding to the heightened atmosphere. The air was heavy with small pieces of rocks, dust, and leaves while the molten moat seeped from below.The instrument trembled slightly in the breeze, prompting her to look upward. Rachel furrowed her brow, scratched her head, and adjusted the gadget's knobs to zoom in. With crystal clarity, she discerned a pathway diverging from the castle, leading elsewhere. Beyond the distant backdrop, a town in the far reaches captured her attention.With a head tilt, Rachel took her eye out of the telescope and looked at Nyx."That's Zelmore?" In response, Nyx nodded to the rainbowlass."Yes. Our "citizens" live within the village, where the monarch receives assistance, and...had a watchful eye." Nyx uttered as she took a small breath and blink her eyes once after looking down."So, he's like a...a...o-observer?" The rainbowlass asked after placing her hand on her chin and raising an eyebrow, looking down at the floor and shrugging her arms as she lifted them to the ghost again."In a cosmic sense, yes. The king left a profound "influence" on the fatherland before us." Nyx conveyed."What does he do?" Rachel questioned."Let's say he has made...adjustments to a system we previously lost and reconstructed it in his image. He guarantees that no one from other lands attacks the village under his watch.""How?" The girl asked as Nyx went quiet and clamped up her mouth, almost clenching her fingers into tight plans but loosened for a moment, and looked down at the window, seeing the town from below. She sighed."Allow me to demonstrate." The phantom said. With a snap of her fingers, the two left the room.Another appeared on top of a monumental grassy hill in seconds, and Rachel glanced around before quickly seeing the settlement. The phantom followed her as she turned to see.The medieval town unfurled its tapestry of contrasts. Far removed from the imposing silhouette of the distant castle, the outskirts of the settlement whispered tales of a different existence.The buildings with thatched roofs and timber frames on either side of the meandering lanes appeared to be sagging due to the passage of time. The old and shabby structures leaned on one another for support, forming an asymmetrical design that symbolized the struggle for existence. Falling paint on wooden shutters swayed in the evening breeze, groaning softly like the town's old bones.The scent of a thousand hearths filled the air, and each chimney sent a plume of smoke curving into the cool air. It smelled like a symphony of woodsmoke, roasting meat, and the earthy overtones of centuries of people walking on wet cobblestone streets.A breeze caused the canvas awnings of the market stalls lining the main square to billow. Vendors exclaimed with vigor, their merchandise arranged in a vibrant explosion of hues against the subdued townscape. Brightly colored textiles, shiny ornaments, and baskets full of fresh vegetables vied for viewers' attention among the fading façade.The same heart-shaped insignia coated the walls in some places with an "I'm watching you" term below it, and people are shivering and sweating as they see the surrounding mechs and guards patrolling the streets while others are standing vigil over the sky.Other places have youth frolicking in the arid nooks. Faint giggles contrast with the depressing mood of the community. The endless dance of tag and hide-and-seek, their games, reverberated through the cramped hallways.Castaways skittered through the darkness, constantly alert for the remnants of a hard day's work.Numerous people are engaged in typical household tasks, such as cooking meat, cleaning hallways, and arranging materials in the town. Some individuals are also harvesting fruits and vegetables from the nearby fields. Individuals strolling along the streets with carriages, wagons, and a few modern adaptations seldom seen on the roads.Occasionally, a minstrel perched on a makeshift stage strummed melancholic tunes on a lute, their voice weaving tales of love and loss that resonated with the collective melancholy of the town. The crowd swayed to the rhythm, momentarily forgetting the harsh reality that awaited them beyond the flickering glow of the tavern's lanterns.The rainbowlass stood in silence, her mouth clamped shut, in awe of the landscape surrounding her. As she looked around, she saw Nyx crossing her arms and gazing down at the grass before looking up to see Rachel walking forward.Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through the town, lifting bits of Rachel's skirt, shirt, and hair but not removing them from her body. The entire landscape is revealed before her eyes, with faint glows emanating from the lanterns and people bustling about.She parted her lips but eventually sealed them shut. Rachel clasped her hands tightly against her chest, inhaling deeply as her eyebrows furrowed. Her gaze wandered, taking in the familiar emblem on the surrounding walls, workers mending structures, castle guards stationed atop towers, and walking through the streets.Others of the locals are trying to start a fire, others are coughing while drinking, some are getting beaten up in shadowy areas as blood leaks from their faces, some are wearing filthy clothes, and some troops are picking up some people who are lying on the ground, motionless as they move the bodies to another location. Several people were afraid, and the guards watched the citizens from above.The girl did not have time to say another word before a blinding flash engulfed them and carried them back to the watchtower. She turned to face the ghost, keeping silent. Nyx cleared her throat as she flew carefully toward her."What I witnessed down there... was it meant to be his vision?" Rachel inquired with a furrowed brow. As her pupils shrank, Nyx nodded with a faint sigh."Well... I will refrain from saying too much to avoid trouble with the 'king.' Zelmore is not always like this." The phantom responded.She then raised her hand, and it began to emit a glow. A structure appeared from her hand with two long arms and hands that pressed a button on the platform. The environment around them shifted as the windows closed and the telescope twisted.The aura turned into a thick smoke that covered the ground, similar to a smoke bomb, causing Rachel to cover her face. When the smoke cleared, Rachel turned around and observed as it transformed into a radiant aura.It continued to change until it revealed a beautiful landscape with a shining sun, green hills, buildings, a neighborhood, restaurants, schools, cars passing by, a beach, a desert, a forest, and a rainbow above the town. Rachel approached it slowly and bent down, looking over it in awe as the presentation lowered. She narrowed her eyes and scratched her chin as she took the sight in."This used to be Elmore, a town with stores, buildings, schools, and events under its name. But he changed everything." Nyx explained as Rachel continued to observe the presentation, which then transitioned into a map of the town below."And the king transformed it from a town to... this," Rachel stated, gesturing towards the illusion."Indeed. Our monarch changed the rules and remade the town according to his liking, and the system we were familiar with is no longer in place." Nyx replied as Rachel looked on in curiosity.Suddenly, a particular building caught her attention, and she recognized it as a school she was familiar with. It had a tan, square building with rectangular windows, three long windows at the front, trees nearby, and three doors painted pink, blue, and orange. Above the doors were the initials "Elmore Junior High School." Rachel tilted her head to the side. She scratched her head, trying to recall something.That school. The rainbowlass thought to herself before a sense of familiarity washed over Rachel. A chill ran down her spine. She shuddered and looked up, but the memory had disappeared before she could grasp it. She shook her head and touched her crown. Nyx noticed her unease and placed a hand on her shoulder."Are you alright? Did you remember something?" Nyx asked.Rachel shook her head. "No... but it felt so... familiar. I'm not sure what it was.""Hmm. I should record that if it happens again. The fall was quite severe after all. But for now, let's continue our tour." Nyx suggested as she made the presentation disappear with a wave. She pressed the same button as before, and the windows and gadgets returned to their original positions. The two then teleported out of the area.After the teleportation, Rachel and Nyx appeared in the middle of an old library, with shelves that reached high into the sky, crammed with worn books of all shapes and sizes. The smell of musty paper and the gentle groan of wooden shelves bearing the weight of centuries' worth of information permeated the room. A ladder cast on the shelves, with wheels underneathThe library's architecture, with its soaring columns and elaborately carved arches suggesting a bygone era, emanated a timeless grandeur. Stained-glass windows let in dim ambient light that scattered hues across the dusty air. The air was calm, as though the very essence of knowledge filled the entire large room.They also saw some soldiers reading books from the tables nearby and others picking out books from the aisles. Thus, mech organized the shelves in tip-top shape, cleaned off dust, and cleansed the floors.Following a brief period of confusion, Rachel observed their surroundings with admiration. Her eyes raced around the massive hall with a look of wonder. Nyx scrutinized the area while hovering close to the rainbow girl with a muted intensity. Nyx turned and spotted many books with shady details on the cover, further away from the rainbow girl. She shivered a little, exploited her magic, and pushed the books away before joining her."So many books. I assume he reads these?" Rachel asked."Indeed," Nyx responded. "Over time, the king amassed numerous books that he deemed valuable and used them to expand his knowledge. To him, a kingdom can't thrive without a keen, intellectual mind.""And how does this affect the army and the people?" The rainbow lass asked"He tends to have sharp minds security for potential threats who overcome them mentally and expect them to return their books on time. The king can't stand late textbooks or people half-attempt to read. Thus, for society to "function," he laid down regulations for many to follow, hence the village. And from what we witnessed, not everyone followed." The ghost replied."Okay..." Rachel said softly.As they explored the library, Rachel looked around, her fingers tracing the spines of books with numerous titles before putting them back. The shelves were lined with volumes on subjects ranging from ancient myths to advanced technology, forming a repository of the collective wisdom of countless civilizations.Others have criteria of mythical creatures, scientific facts, military equipment, and other prevalent things that are going on in a kingdom. The large globe slumped with chains from the high ceiling represented the library's commitment to world understanding.The globe's intricate features, including its circles and red marks, attracted attention to underappreciated regions and past civilizations that were once thriving. The rainbow lass noticed different images from each book she brought and titled her head as she saw images before putting them back. Another caught her eye, and she saw a book with shields on the cover and another with swords.She scratched her head, seeing different types of swords and shields of different shapes and sizes before placing them back."Any interest so far?" Nyx asked."So far, no. All I see are swords, shields, a few military-like stuff from the back, some about creatures, and several about historical events. I don't know what I'm looking for here." The rainbow lass responded as they continued."Okay." Nyx expressed as they teleported to another area of the castle.Rachel and Nyx had appeared in the vast hall, where they stood amid a symphony of splendor, bathed in the gentle glow of elaborately carved chandeliers that hung like celestial orbs from the tall ceiling. The walls mirrored the grandeur of a bygone period, and tapestries representing stories from mythology and the emblem.The floor was made of polished marble, bearing witness to centuries of history, and every footfall had a subdued yet majestic rhythm. Many arched windows with stained glass decorations embellish the spacious hall. These windows created alien patterns on their shining surfaces by scattering light into various colors.There were tables, plates, cups, candles, and napkins neatly arranged on each table, with a fireplace positioned at the center.Rachel scanned the hall with a mixture of amazement and wonder with Nyx at her side Her footsteps blended into the background murmur of voices that echoed down the hall, weaving a tapestry of sound that emphasized the seriousness of the situation. She stopped walking."Wow," Rachel exclaimed in amazement as her gaze swept across the surroundings."This is the great hall. Events can flourish here, including meetings, assemblies, feasts, entertainment, and etcetera. When planning events, the king is meticulous and ensures that everything happens according to schedule." Nyz responded as she flew near Rachel and turned around, showcasing the area.This space is enormous and nearly identical to the last art gallery. But, Nyx, despite the breathtaking surroundings, I have a question for you." The rainbowlass rubbed her head and said. The rainbow girl paused as she did, her eyes darting left and right as she peered down at the ground. She turned her head and noticed the ghost reducing her speed."Go on," Nyx responded as Rachel locked her hands."Well, you seem weary after referencing the king during our tour. I also can't help but receive the impression that you're worried about more than just the community. The king, after all, is... How should I put it? Um, what's the word? Rachel released her hold and scratched her chin, stuttering."Authoritative?" When the ghost inquired, Rachel looked up and gave a nod."Yes, indeed...Despite the enormous tower, the community appears highly...regulated and orderly. And the expressions on everyone's faces. Is he not worried about the people?" The phantom fell silent as the rainbow girl inquired. Nyx tightly closed her jaw.After a few seconds, Nyx stared at the ground before turning back to Rachel. Suddenly, a flash of blackness and a faint flash awakens and reverberates in her thoughts. Thunderclaps clapped loudly, casting showering down on the town, fires blazing, and screaming resounding echoes. Seconds went by, and it was gone. Nyx let out a small sigh."He has a special way of valuing people. He maintained stability and order and ensured no one got hurt while following behind. Now, allow me to show you some of its more intriguing features. Indeed, prudence is necessary." Nyx spoke as Rachel responded."Okay."Soon, the two stood together and disappeared from the great hall.
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