Chapter 7. A Strange and Unique Place

'What the hell is this place?' Vaelros thought to himself.

He got a throbbing headache just from looking at everything. It was if his head had moving beats that gave him pain wherever his eyes glanced. 

In all his years as a citizen and as a General in Livingrings, this is the first time he entered the Floating Orb.

He glanced at all his comrades and they were clearly feeling the same as he was. Some were even reeling as if they were getting nausea but were trying to hold on.

A lot had their mouths agape in awe and shock at this mysterious structure and arrangement of things.

It was as if everything here was unreal, except they were truly here.

Compared to these, the second layers of the Auroras were more organized.

Here, some seas were floating and merging constantly while their own inhabitants inside lived in peace. There was also a river of magma under these flowing to some ruined cities.

There were mountains lined up with what looked like different minerals of some kind. 

It was hard to look around and not get confused.

There were also unusual living plants and creatures inside, mixed with experimental objects and infrastructures that rotated and twisted everywhere or flew around causing explosions.

"Are these the products of your experiments?" King Thalorin asked the two Rune Masters, surprised by the extent of 'disorder' in this place.

It was a kingdom on its own — vast, teeming with life, and unique.

Just as King Thalorin spoke, huge animals passed by in another direction and huge birds they had never seen before flew by them.

Some animals even had ancient plants growing on their backs.

The waters near them also flowed in twisting forms – some floating went inside circular twisting castles or towers with translucent forms. 

In another area, fruits flowed like rivers and juices filled the lakes.

There were also flying objects they had never seen before aside from birds.

The visitors looked around and could not grasp why this place was like this.

Perhaps, they would never understand even if they try to do so their whole lives.

This place was not something they could explain and understand with normal logic and reasoning.

They could only conclude everything was due to magic.

.

"My king, these have existed here for thousands of years, though some were created recently." 

Dunesther replied hastily while looking for any signs of a Divine Archmage.

The king and the others looked around again, puzzled about what's inside all these creations.

King Thalorin and these people were the few ones who had seen it aside from the wizards.

Vaelros was silent in thought while looking around. 

'So this is it. We didn't even know something like this actually existed in our skies. 

If not because of this, I may have died someday, not even knowing these existed. 

But, damn! How messy!'

And Vaelros was not the only one who thought this.

After all, the Floating Orb was not visible to them outside. It was as if it was never here.

Who would have thought it actually a space this vast and filled with all sorts of things just above them?

"We patrol around the skies almost fifty times a day, but we're never obstructed by anything. Since when we-," a soldier said excitedly, but suddenly stopped talking and took a battle-ready stance when they felt something.

A sudden chill was felt by everyone.

It was like winter welcomed itself while not yet in season and creeped into their blood vessels and internal organs. 

Winter was only experienced in Livingrings when big holes appeared in the Auroras. It was quite rare. One time, after sky high-waves challenged their walls, thick snow dropped furiously and covered the whole kingdom.

'What is this?' Everyone asked in their minds except for the two Rune Masters who knew who it was.

Dunesther and Jenna were the only ones celebrating and relieved since they knew — a Divine Archmage just arrived. 

Every newcomer was stunned as a peerless tall beauty with a terrifyingly strong presence appeared out of nowhere.

All the soldiers could not help but be on edge and gripped at their weapons in case this person was a threat to King Thalorin and everyone else.

They only relaxed when they noticed King Thalorin and the Rune Masters were not on edge.

The gorgeous lady was covered in full white armored garments, and had an immense ethereal aura of coldness as if she was winter itself in humanoid form.

She looked at the two Rune Masters and at King Thalorin with her white-colored iris which buried those who dared look inside it for too long into eternal slumber.

"Why are all of you here?" 

A cold yet gentle voice inquired. The soldiers were not sure if they heard her through their ears or inside their head.

Yet, they did not dare respond or look since they felt that this being was so much more powerful than any of them here.

Even all of them acting together would not be enough to stop her if she was an enemy.

Thus, they had to thread carefully and act based on the reactions of those who seemed to know her, the two Rune Masters and King Thalorin.

"My children, they are in need of your assistance, Your Eminence," King Thalorin bowed deeply to the Divine Archmage, making the others bow and kneel on their knees.

They needed to honor and humble themselves before someone who gets a respectful deep bow from their very king.

They dared not question why their king must bow to anyone since they felt it without a word — this being was someone who held even more authority than their king.

Still, they were immensely relieved that this being was at least not an enemy. After all, if she was, all of them here might die here today.

"Ah, a Sealbearer.

You sure have grown to be a good king. 

It's like just yesterday when you're just a toddler, being carried and anointed by these very hands." 

Cera, the Divine Archmage replied in a tone and voice that bypassed the ears and spoke directly to the soul.

Author's Note:

*Cera - a Divine Archmage with higher authority than King Thalorin