Charter 25: On The Other Side

Calcium opened her eyes – there was nothing around.

It was as if she was suspended in a black space dotted with blue lights. Stars? No… They moved, forming new patterns, forming ancient writings that she couldn't read.

And then the voice of the system spoke again.

[You have entered a Lost Passage.]

[Use the power of History to find a way.]

Calcium frowned: – The power of History…

She opened her hand, focusing on her tattoo.

The light became brighter. The pattern began to change, the lines intertwined, forming into something new. All of a sudden…

An image flashed right in front of her—a vague silhouette of a city buried under snow. Calcium froze.

El Mora.

That was the way to go.But at the same moment, something trembled in the darkness.

Immediately, something huge burst out of the abyss.

–Well, it's started...– muttered Calcium, clenching her fists.

The darkness stirred.

Something huge, unknown, as if the night itself had taken shape, burst out of the void. It had no clear outline, just slimy, stretching tentacles that shimmered blue, as if absorbing the light around them.

Calcium froze.

"Damn it."

The giant shadow unfolded, and a mask appeared among its swarming forms –smooth, eyeless, with a dark crack extending from the left edge to the chin.

And then the voice of the system spoke again.

[Attention! ]

[Obstacle: Guardian of the Abyss.

[Recommendation: Use the power of History or run.]

Calcium clenched her teeth.

"Escape? And where to? Into the void?"

The guardian began to move. His tentacles stretched out, surrounding her, slowly, unhurriedly, as if examining prey. A feeling of anxiety flared up inside Calcium.

She didn't know what kind of creature it was. She didn't know how dangerous it was. But one thing was clear – it wouldn't just let her through. Calcium took a deep breath and opened her hand.

"The power of History, right? Well, let's see what you can do."

Her tattoo flashed with a bright blue light, the patterns on her skin swirled again. At the same moment, a tablet appeared in front of her.

Empty.

Calcium frowned, "I need a story."…

The guardian moved again, its tentacles darting forward.

Calcium remembered the image of El Mora, an ancient city buried under snow.She grabbed the tablet with both hands and wove this image into it.

The light flashed with a dazzling radiance.The guard froze.Then... he retreated.

Calcium breathed heavily as she watched the tentacles dissolve into the darkness and the cracked mask slowly disappear.She passed the test.

And at the same moment…The blue lights formed a portal.

– Well, finally. Calcium muttered and stepped forward.

As soon as Calcium took a step forward, the space shook.

A gust of icy wind hit his face, a sharp contrast to the blank emptiness of the Abyss. For a moment, she felt disoriented, as if her body had been torn apart and then put back together.

And then... her feet touched the ground again.

But it wasn't snow.

Calcium raised her head sharply. The city of El Mora stretched before her.

Buried under the snow... but not dead.

The high walls of black stone are covered with frost, weak light flickers in the windows of the houses, and there is a heavy tension in the air, as before a storm.But the main thing was something else.

Calcium wasn't alone.Lian was standing a few steps away from her.

He looked like he'd been yanked straight out of a nightmare—disheveled hair, clothes covered in frost crystals, but the look in his eyes.

He was full of rage: – Where have you been?!

Calcium blinked: – What?

Lian stepped forward and abruptly grabbed her by the shoulders.

–You're gone! – She disappeared right in front of my eyes! I've been trying to find you, but…

He paused, gritting his teeth.

Calcium felt the weight of his emotions.

–How long has it been? – She asked cautiously.

Lian clenched his fists: – Five o'clock.

She went cold.

–But it was only a few minutes for me...

Calcium exhaled slowly: –Lian... I need to tell you what I've learned.

But before she could say a word, the air burst into icy flames.And footsteps were heard in the depths of the streets.

Someone was... walking towards them.

The steps were measured and calm. There was no rush, just confidence. Calcium tensed, noticing out of the corner of her eye how Lian was reaching for the dagger.

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows. A tall silhouette in a dark raincoat, with a hood hiding his face. But even through the fabric there was a cold blue light – eyes? An artifact?

– You are the troublemakers of El Mora.

The voice was flat, emotionless, but there was a metallic tinge in it, as if something artificial was speaking, not living flesh.

Calcium exchanged a quick glance with Lian.

–And who are you?– She asked cautiously.

The stranger took another step forward, and in the faint light of the lanterns it became visible: his face was covered with a metal mask, smooth, without a single feature.

– I am the Guardian of the Threshold.

Calcium clenched her teeth.

–That's great. Another problem.

Lian, judging by his look, was thinking the same thing.

–What do you want? –He frowned.

The mask tilted slightly. The city.

There was silence for a moment. Calcium felt that this Guardian was not just a messenger. Energy swirled around him, but... not alive.

"Magic? Or something else?"

– What if we refuse? –She asked, tilting her head.

The answer was simple: – Then El Mora will bury you under the snow.

The wind howled, and signs carved directly into the ice flashed on the streets. The city... came alive.

The markings in the ice glowed pale blue, like hidden arteries running through ancient magic. Calcium tensed, feeling the air become denser, as if the city itself was watching her.

Lian cursed softly, his fingers tightening on the hilt of the dagger.

–What do you mean? – Calcium asked, without taking her eyes off the Guardian mask.

He bowed his head, and then slowly extended his hand.

– The city remembers. The city is waiting. The city requires... history.

Calcium went cold.

"Stories?"

Something clicked inside, as if the mechanism in her head had just realized the hidden meaning. Her profession. Her system. Her tattoo, which allowed her to record the fate of people.

El Mora knew.

–And what do you want from me?– She asked cautiously.

The Guardian bowed his head, his glowing eyes brightened.

– Tell the city a story... or become a part of it.

The wind blew, the snow billowed up, and a shadow ran across the walls.

And then the voice of the system rang out in Calcium's head.

[Special assignment: Ghost Town.]

[Condition: Restore the history of El Mora, uncover her secret.]

[Reward: ???]

Calcium froze after reading the message.

And then... she smiled: – I can do that.

Calcium took a step forward, letting the wind blow cold on her face. The Guardian did not move, his glowing eyes continued to stare intently.

Lian gently touched her elbow, saying in a barely audible voice:

–Are you sure? It could be a trap.

Calcium nodded: – Sure, but we don't have a choice either. If El Mora wants a story... then I'll have to find it.

She looked at her tattoo – the pattern glowed with a soft blue light, obeying an invisible call.

"The city is coming to life... but what does it remember?"

She closed her eyes, concentrating. At the same moment, her consciousness wavered, and blurred images began to appear in front of her inner vision.

"I see…"

The shadows of the past scattered, leaving pieces of memories in front of her. Tall towers buried in the snow. People in furs hurrying through narrow streets. A girl with long silver hair holding a... tablet?

of Calcium abruptly opened her eyes.

– I saw her. Someone who knew something.

The Guardian nodded slowly, his voice sounding like the echo of ancient walls:

– Find her... Her name is forgotten, but the city remembers the way.

And at the same moment, a new symbol lit up in front of Calcium, leading deep into the streets.

Lian exhaled heavily.

–You won't change your mind, will you?

Calcium chuckled.

–Of course not. Let's go.

And they stepped deep into the ghost town.

//To be continued, please like and save.