Entering The Void

As I took that final step I could feel the atmosphere shifting around me. I can't quite describe it but the air felt cooler, and I felt a little lighter like the gravity wasn't effecting me as much. I could feel the adrenaline of excitement rushing through me like a torrent of water bursting in my veins. What felt like forever actually passed in a matter of seconds before I was finally standing in The Void Realm. I was shocked by what greeted me upon entering, a village had been constructed around the gate with the lively population bustling back and forth. Endless chattering of the population was heard from every direction and as I looked around I could see shops of all kinds conducting trades with the people coming and going, some looked thrilled by their business deals, while others walked away depressed or angry that they couldn't get the deals they were hoping for. All I knew in that moment was that it was like nothing I had ever seen.

Growing up in the slums you would never see people this lively. Or this cheerful. It made me even more excited to embark on this journey, like I was getting a new lease on life. As I continued looking around I noticed even more, not everyone was so cheerful. There were adventurers returning from hunts with their wounded, trying to rush them to the infirmary. You could see gashes stretching across their bodies in all sizes from minor scrapes, to near fatal injuries showing their bones, or even limbs missing. Others were hauling their dead back in carts with sheets covering the bodies. It was a gruesome sight to take in, but growing up in the slums, you grew accustomed to seeing sights of the dead, sick, and injured. I gave a silent prayer to those lost and injured before taking my first steps beyond the gates platform.

I walked around looking at all the different shops. Weapon shops with weapons of all kinds, spears, swords, daggers, bows and arrows, halberds, axes, and even weapons I didn't recognize. Beside it was the armor shop, carrying full plate metal like the knights of old story books, light armor like leather and hide, even cloth armor. Some of it designed so intricately that it looked as if only an aristocrat could afford it, ordained with jewels and gems. There were shops selling beast materials, stones I couldn't recognize, everyday items like food and drinks, I even noticed a tavern of sorts offering drinks to weary travelers taking a rest from the hard labor of hunting. I continued walking around taking everything in when out of nowhere I heard someone yell to watch out, right before I felt the wind knocked out of me as I was tackled to the ground.

"Jeez, don't you know what watch out means?" I heard someone say. As I struggled to get back on my feet, I saw the person that slammed me to the ground, a young woman around my age with dark hair down to her shoulders. She was wearing a cloak made from a dark purple material that flowed down with a light blue embroidery, forming symbols that looked like runes, all the way down.

"Sorry, I sort of just entered the gate." I replied automatically. Wait, why am I apologizing to her, she's the one that ran into me. Despite this, I stood and offered her a hand getting back to her feet. "I'm Tatsuya, Tatsuya Daisuke."

"Thanks for the hand." She said with a slight sting in her voice as she glanced me up and down. Her voice sounded soft, not in a weak sense, but In a calming sort of way. "The names Sophia, Sophia Winters. So you're new to the The Void huh?"

I rubbed my head where it still hurt from hitting the ground and noticed there was a small amount of blood on my fingers, "Pleasure to meet you Miss Winters. Sorry it was under these circumstances, but a pleasure none the less." I smiled at her through the twinge of pain in my head.

"Please, just Sophia is fine. Here, let me see your head for a moment." She said calmly. She placed the palm of her hand gently against the spot where the pain radiated and I heard her speak as if she were chanting something I couldn't understand, almost immediately the pain vanished. "There, does that feel better?" She asked sincerely.

I reached up to feel the spot that had previously been bleeding and it was as if nothing even happened. "Much, but how did you do that?" I asked bewildered as there was no sign of any injury remaining.

"I used healing magic on you, I hope that's okay. I probably should have asked first." She said as she glanced away from me. "And um, I'm sorry about running into you, Im in a little bit of a rush." Her voice had a tone of sadness to it and a look of sorrow washed over her face for a brief moment.

Unsure if it was due to the cause of her rush, or if it was from healing me without permission, I quickly reassured her, "oh no, it's no problem at all! I should thank you for taking care of my injury like that. That was amazing!" I spoke a little fast as healing magic was new to me, I didn't even know healing magic existed in this world.

My words seemed to cheer her up a little as Sophia giggled slightly to my reaction, "it was my fault so it's only fair I make it right, but wow you really are new here if basic healing magic comes as a shock to you." She spoke as that sad look returned to her eyes.

"Yeah, I just came through the gate for the first time only moments ago. I don't mean to pry, but is everything okay? You look bothered."

The look in her eyes deepend further as she looked on the verge of tears, "no, not really. The reason for me rushing the way I was... Well you see, my father just returned from a hunt where he was severely injured..." Her voice faded a little as she struggled to get the words out. Judging by her reaction, it must have been worse than she let on.

"Can't you just heal him like you did with me?" I looked into her eyes as tears started forming at the edges, and she shook her head slowly.

"My healing isn't strong enough yet, his injuries left him unconscious and even high grade healing magic users can't seem to pull him out of it." Sophia spoke softly and I could tell by the tone in her voice that her father was probably in really bad shape.

I took her hand and squeezed slightly, "I'm truly sorry to hear that, if there's anything I can do to help..." My voice trailed off as I didn't know how someone as new as me could possibly do anything to help. Realizing her hand was still being held by mine, my face flushed and I released my grasp on her.

At that moment she did something that took me completely by surprise, she threw her arms around my and sobbed uncontrollably, the tears breaking through like a dam had burst. "I don't want my papa to die!" She wailed, the pain in her voice felt like a knife in my chest.

I comforted her until she regained most of her composure. She wiped the tears from her eyes but new ones formed almost immediately. "I'm sorry for that." Her voice full of sorrow, "I didn't mean to let my emotions get away from me in front of someone I only just met."

"Just tell me how I can help, I'm not sure I'll be of much use seeing as I don't even have a single skill or even any gear at the moment, but I'll do whatever I can." I spoke gently in an attempt to comfort her.

She shook her head slowly, "I don't know what to do, but thank you for your kindness. Im sorry but i have to be on my way, I want to see him before it's too late." Sophia said goodbye and began walking in the direction she had originally been heading.

Running to catch up to her, I asked if it would be alright if I accompanied her. "You shouldn't have to be alone in this, please, let me come with you?" I tried to sound as empathetic as I could to show her I meant those words.

"I suppose that would be okay. Thank you Tatsuya. You're very kind." And side by side we continued walking towards the infirmary where her unconscious father resided.