Sherazade

My head spun thinking about Cassie. Her breathing was still weak. I had heard that the monsters of the Abyss could restore life force, mend broken flesh, and bring back those on the brink of death. But it wasn't that simple. A witch couldn't choose which creature they spoke to; the Abyss decided for you. The monsters on the third floor were more powerful, their abilities bordering on the miraculous. Perhaps, just perhaps, one of them could save Cassie.

"There were records of this…" I clung to that thought like a burning nail. Centuries ago, a Ranker-level witch, her body ravaged by a deadly disease, had contacted an inhabitant of the third floor. The creature had healed her, stitching her flesh and soul with power that defied logic. But the price… The chronicles weren't clear, but the words "irreparable sacrifice" echoed in my mind.

I looked at Cassie's ring, resting in my palm. Five stellar cores glowed within, pulsing with a faint light. They were valuable, yes, but would the creatures of the Abyss accept them? I had no idea. And that wasn't the only problem. I was a level 1 witch, a beginner who had barely touched the secrets of the Abyss. The third floor, with its nightmare creatures, was as far from my reach as the stars. To contact those entities, the price would be… unimaginable.

—Damn it… what a headache —I muttered with regret.

The capital stretched before my eyes like an overwhelming architectural immensity, encircled by a wall whose magnitude defied even my capacity for spatial calculation.

Sherazade stood as an impregnable fortress, protected by an imposing alloy wall of extraordinary strength, a dizzyingly deep moat, and numerous high-caliber turrets strategically positioned to create a lethal dome of aerial suppression. Theoretically, not even fourth-evolution creatures could penetrate its multilayered defenses, a feat of military engineering I couldn't help but admire from my perspective.

Had I known my role would be that of a decoy, infiltrating alone into the heart of enemy territory, I would never have agreed to come here. The mission seemed, at the very least, as unattainable as trying to touch the stars with bare hands. It seemed unlikely that events would unfold as explained.

The problem lay in my insufficient level. And what was even more problematic: no team with a shred of tactical sense would allow a novice witch to join their ranks when they already had several experienced and battle-tested mages.

—Help us and let us focus on the main mission. We'll protect you from immediate danger. Understood? —Mica had declared with a conviction that now seemed suspicious to me.

—Sure —I had replied.

Considering that most Illuminated began their journey as mere assistants regardless of their rank, Mica's words had seemed very considerate. It wasn't just about assessing my combat skills but about participating in various missions and adventures to gain practical knowledge and invaluable life experience.

I observed my surroundings, enveloped by the night that had draped the city in its starry cloak. Yet, the faint glow of magical streetlights kept the darkness at bay with silent technological efficiency. I was positioned in the heart of a cobblestone street, where irregular bricks and stones revealed centuries of urban planning and construction effort. I approached a nearby building and, leaning my back against a solid stone pillar, slid to the ground. A sigh escaped my lips, laden with exhaustion that weighed as heavily on my body as on my analytical mind.

The streets were divided into lanes that ensured optimal traffic flow, while elevated sidewalks, protected by discreet metal railings, offered safe refuge for pedestrians. I vividly recalled my initial arrival in Sherazade, remembering the plazas I had explored with scientific fascination, especially the majestic Central Plaza. During daylight hours, that place buzzed with contagious commercial energy: stalls overflowing with fresh vegetables, exotic imported spices, and local artisanal products that formed a sensory kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and intoxicating aromas.

—Come try our delicious grilled fish, freshly caught!

—Hot and fresh oyster soup! Enjoy it in the morning and feel revitalized all day!

The vendors, with warm voices and refined persuasive techniques, offered deals that seemed genuinely irresistible, while older women, with commercial cunning honed by decades of experience, haggled without yielding an inch. Amid the diverse crowd, young people succumbed to the tempting aroma of grilled meat skewers, their juices sizzling on contact with the fire, promising a gastronomic delight that melted perfectly in the mouth. Some paused to carefully compare before making purchases. Others waved their hands with visible impatience, as they hadn't yet secured a job for that particular day.

From my privileged perspective, Sherazade unfolded like a living, pulsating urban canvas. Compared to Danafor, the underground city where the guild resonated amid oppressive shadows, this capital shone with a symphony of urban perfection that dazzled all the senses. The ochre stone buildings aligned in harmonious rows, the main avenues gleamed impeccably, and social life buzzed with energy in every corner: citizens absorbed in their routine daily tasks, a constant murmur of economic and social activity.

My curious mind speculated about the possibilities: what unimaginable technological treasures might the local specialty shops hold? What engineering marvels could master blacksmiths create in their smoky forges? The majestic and enigmatic religious temples also sparked my investigative interest.

It was hard to fathom that a devastating war was being waged somewhere geographically, such was the peaceful vitality that permeated the urban air. Fortified castles, watchtowers, and military barracks—fantastical structures absent in Danafor—drew my curious gaze.

Then, I recalled with particular clarity the transcendental moment when I first looked up at the sky.

—Sun… Sun! —I had shouted excitedly at the enormous orange-yellow sphere of fire majestically suspended in the infinite sky.