Chapter 12 First contact

As I neared the city gates, a throng of people began to materialize from the shifting shadows. They were a motley collection of individuals, their bodies draped in primitive fur wraps, their skin painted by the elements. Their attire seemed an echo of a bygone era, the rustic simplicity a stark contrast to the sophisticated city that lay just beyond the gates.

With a growing sense of anticipation, I approached a man standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He was a solid figure, his frame draped in a worn fur cloak, his face weathered by the harsh climate. His eyes, glazed and distant, held an air of otherworldliness, as if he were entranced. I felt an unsettling knot of tension twist in my stomach, but I pushed it aside, stepping closer.

"Hello," I called out, my voice a rusty croak. The man didn't react, his gaze fixed on the city beyond. I tried again, louder this time, but my words seemed to fall into a void. His lack of response sent a chill down my spine, the silence a cold reminder of the alienation I had felt throughout my journey.

The crowd around me, seemingly oblivious to my presence, moved like sleepwalkers, their gazes fixed on the radiant city beyond. They moved with a uniform rhythm, their faces devoid of expression. My attempts at interaction were met with silence. Words, gestures, all fell on deaf ears, as if the people were encased in a bubble, detached from reality.

Yet, despite their unnerving state, there was a certain allure about them. They moved with a grace that was captivating, their bodies swaying in a dance that seemed choreographed by an unseen hand. The light from the city bathed them in an ethereal glow, their eyes reflecting the radiant luminosity. It was a sight to behold, a surreal tableau of light and shadow.

Feeling a sense of unease creep over me, I turned my gaze towards the city, its radiant light drawing me in like a beacon. The towering walls loomed ahead, a formidable barrier separating me from the secrets that lay within. Yet, the entrancing glow promised a solace, a warmth that was enticing.

As the light washed over me, erasing the lingering sense of disquiet, I felt a pull. My journey had led me here, to the brink of the unknown, to a city that promised answers. The eerie silence of the crowd, their trance-like state, it all seemed to fade away, replaced by the intoxicating lure of the city. I was ready. Ready to step into the light, to uncover the mysteries that lay beyond the city walls.

The city's ethereal light bathed me in a soothing warmth, caressing my senses with an ineffable sweetness. It was as if the radiance had a life of its own, pulsating with a rhythm that echoed the beat of my heart. The allure of the light was hypnotic, its soft glow enticing me into its embrace. My mind started to drift, lulled by the gentle cadence of the shimmering illumination. My thoughts began to scatter, like leaves in the wind, pulled in by the mesmerizing power of the light.

Reality started to blur around the edges, the world taking on a dream-like quality. The crowd around me moved in slow motion, their forms blurring into wisps of shadow and light. Their rhythmic movements resonated with the pulsating light, creating a symphony of motion and luminosity that was both enchanting and disorienting. My body swayed, my senses drowned in the spectacle unfolding before me.

In this trance-like state, my fears and anxieties started to melt away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace. The dissonance that had plagued me throughout my journey seemed to dissolve, replaced by an inexplicable harmony. I was becoming one with the light, my mind surrendering to its soothing melody. I could feel the rhythms of the city seeping into my consciousness, whispering tales of forgotten epochs and hidden truths.

In the midst of this mesmerizing reverie, a distant noise stirred me. The colossal gates of the city were creaking open, their massive frames groaning under their own weight. The crowd around me stirred, their collective gasp echoing in the stillness. As the gates swung open, a blinding light flooded from the city, bathing the crowd in its brilliance.

Before my vision was completely swallowed by the light, two silhouettes emerged from the city's interior. They were tall, almost towering, their forms humanoid but their stature far exceeding any human's. They stood at least nine feet tall, their silhouettes carved against the radiant backdrop of the city. As my consciousness succumbed to the entrancing light, the sight of these beings was the last thing I perceived. They stood as heralds of the city, their shadowy figures etched onto the canvas of my fading awareness, before everything went dark.