Chapter 51 – The City in the Clouds
**Chapter 51 – The City in the Clouds**
**[CAPITAL ELLIS – MAIN GATE ]**
The massive black iron gate, engraved with sacred symbols, **opened** silently — each half weighing literal tons yet sliding smoothly thanks to magical counterweights, as if they were feathers floating, revealing the Golden Bridge stretching a full two kilometers over the Mirror Lake, whose surface remained absolutely **still** even under the morning breeze that fluttered the flags atop the capital's towers.
**Julia** crossed first — her boots making a rhythmic sound against the polished marble veined with real gold, backpack adjusted on her shoulders carrying provisions for a week, sword at her waist swaying slightly with each step, eyes fixed straight ahead, avoiding looking down at the water below that reflected the sky with such disturbing fidelity it created the illusion of walking through **emptiness** between two identical heavens.
**San** followed three steps behind — breathing shallow and slightly irregular despite his efforts to control it, hands gripping his own backpack straps with unnecessary force, jaw clenched as he watched the **trio** marching ten meters ahead with the posture of people who already considered the territory theirs.
**Jessica** beside San — posture straight even under the weight of her gear, eyes occasionally drifting to examine the bridge's architectural structure as if calculating construction costs and structural efficiency, her neutral, analytical expression masking concern about regulations already being broken before they had even properly departed.
---
**Ahead** — **Garrett** led with heavy, deliberately loud steps, his sky-blue armor gleaming in the morning sun yet marked by scratches and dark stains that had never fully come out, axe on his back swaying hypnotically, head occasionally turning to check whether the trio was following properly, like a shepherd watching reluctant sheep.
**Cassandra** to his left — staff striking the marble every third step, creating an irritating and intentional rhythm, her robe fluttering and revealing silver runes embroidered along the hem, each one representing a memory she preferred to forget yet kept as reminder, penance, or warning, lips curved in a small, cruel smile.
**Marcus** to his right — silent as always, heavy armor clanking with every movement but his expression remaining utterly **blank**, as though his mind were in another place or time entirely, hand resting casually on the handle of his axe even with no visible threat present.
---
When they fully crossed the bridge and passed through the outer gate, officially leaving Capital Ellis behind — **Julia** quickened her pace to reach conversational distance with San and Jessica, lowering her voice to a level that wouldn't carry to the trio ahead:
"We're going to have to **behave** properly during this mission." Firm but tired tone. "And we're going to be **patient** even when provoked. They are now our official evaluators appointed by the Cardinals. Any insubordination will be reported directly and will result in… permanent consequences for our careers."
She took a deep breath:
"So no matter what they say or do… we **control** ourselves. Understood?"
San opened his mouth — a protest forming.
Julia looked **directly** into his eyes — her expression saying: *Please. Don't make this harder.*
San **closed** his mouth — nodding reluctantly.
---
Garrett, without fully turning his head but clearly hearing through enhanced hearing or simply guessing the likely content of the conversation:
"Very **good** that you know you must obey us without question!" Voice loud, deliberately projected. "Because if you don't… well…" low, unpleasant chuckle "…you already know what happens to **disobedient** rookies under our supervision, don't you?"
**Cassandra** and **Marcus** laughed — hers sharp and cruel, his deep and devoid of real humor, the mechanical sound of someone who forgot how to laugh genuinely long ago.
---
**San** felt something **boiling** in his chest — pure, unfiltered rage rising in his throat, hands **clenching** into fists so tight his nails dug into unprotected palms, breathing noticeably faster.
"I don't know how much **longer** I can stand these… these…" he whispered through gritted teeth, not finishing the sentence because the appropriate words were too violent to speak even in a low voice.
Julia placed her hand **gently** on his shoulder — not squeezing, just a comforting presence:
"Hold on." Simple. "For me. For us. Just… hold on."
San looked at her — saw the deep exhaustion in her eyes that wasn't purely physical.
He **nodded** — not truly agreeing, but accepting for her sake.
---
They walked for **three hours** along a packed dirt road that wound between hills covered in emerald-green grass dotted with yellow and white wildflowers swaying in the constant breeze, the sun rising gradually until the air reached a pleasant temperature, occasionally passing travelers who gave the clearly identifiable Church knights a wide berth.
---
When the sun reached its **zenith** — Garrett stopped abruptly without warning.
He turned **left** — where a barely visible secondary trail branched off the main road into a dense forest of ancient oaks.
"We're taking **this** path." Not a request. An order.
---
**Julia** blinked — processing for a second before responding:
"According to the official map provided by the Cardinals…" She pulled a folded parchment from the side pocket of her backpack, partially unrolling it "…the **other** road we are currently following is the designated direct route toward the Kingdom of Killvis where the village of Kend is located."
She looked at the secondary trail:
"That detour isn't marked on the official map and appears to lead in a **completely different** direction, possibly south-southwest instead of the necessary northeast."
---
Garrett **turned** — his expression instantly shifting from indifference to something **dangerous**, eyes narrowing, the scar on his upper lip twisting his smile into a threatening sneer:
"Are you, by any chance," voice low, controlled, more menacing than a shout "…**disobeying** my direct order, rookie?"
He took a step forward — deliberately invading her personal space.
"Because if you are questioning the competence of a **veteran** knight with ten years of active service based on a piece of **outdated paper** made by bureaucrats who've never set foot outside their luxurious capital…" he paused, letting the threat hang "…then we're going to have a **serious** problem that I will report as blatant insubordination."
---
Julia felt her **muscles** tense — combat instincts activating, hand moving **imperceptibly** closer to the hilt of her sword.
Flash image — The Maestro, empty eyes, *"The weak die"*—
She took a deep breath — dispelling the memory, forcing her muscles to relax.
*Not worth it.*
*Control.*
*The mission is more important than pride.*
Teeth **grinding** audibly, then:
"No, sir." Voice forced into neutrality. "I apologize for my **impertinent** and unnecessary comment. We will follow your lead without further questions."
She bowed her head — five degrees, the minimum technically appropriate reverence.
---
Garrett **smiled** — cruel satisfaction:
"**That's** how I like it. Obedient. Submissive. As a rookie should be."
He turned — marching onto the secondary trail without checking if they followed.
Cassandra and Marcus **followed** automatically.
---
Julia remained **motionless** for three seconds — processing the humiliation, swallowing the rage.
Then she began walking — following.
San and Jessica **followed** in tense silence.
---
The trail into the forest was **narrow** — low branches forcing the group to duck their heads occasionally, exposed roots creating obstacles they had to navigate carefully, sunlight filtered through dense foliage creating dancing patterns of shadow and light on the ground covered by a thick layer of dead leaves that muffled their footsteps.
After **twenty minutes** — the trail opened into a small clearing hidden among dense thorn bushes that formed an almost **impenetrable** natural wall except for the single entrance they had passed through.
And in the **center** of the clearing — impossible to ignore, completely dominating the space — a **crystal**.
---
The **Teleportation Crystal** floated three meters above the ground — not suspended by any visible support but levitating through ancient magic woven into its very molecular structure, an irregular hexagonal shape two meters tall and one meter wide, its surface **glowing** with pulsing silver-blue light that varied in intensity like a heartbeat, emitting a constant **low** sound that resonated in the bones of anyone nearby, creating an uncomfortable but not painful vibration.
**Below** the floating crystal — a perfect circle of flat stones arranged in a complex geometric pattern, each stone engraved with **teleportation runes** in an arcane language no living person could read fluently, but which mages learned to interpret functionally; the runes **glowing** in sync with the pulses of the crystal above.
---
**Julia** stopped at the edge of the clearing — eyes slightly **widening**:
"Isn't this one of the **restricted Teleportation Zones**? And isn't that one of the **Teleportation Crystals** whose use is strictly regulated by direct cardinal decree?"
She turned to Garrett:
"According to official Church protocol established after the Valerium incident fifteen years ago, where improper use resulted in twenty-three deaths due to failed dimensional displacement… the use of teleportation crystals is **strictly prohibited** except in situations classified as critical emergencies with **prior written** cardinal authorization."
---
Garrett **laughed** — genuinely amused this time:
"Exactly correct, studious little rookie!" Mockingly praising tone. "And we're going to use it **right now** to save ourselves a tedious and unnecessary three-day walk on dusty roads when we can arrive instantly."
He crossed his arms:
"Any **problem** with that?"
---
**Jessica** stepped forward — posture rigid, voice carrying the tone of a CEO quoting a compliance manual:
"I am someone who deeply values operating within established legal structures and strict adherence to regulations regardless of personal inconvenience." She paused for emphasis. "And according to the explicit rules of the Church of Nellis as documented in operational code section seventeen paragraph forty-one… unauthorized use of teleportation crystals constitutes a class B violation punishable by a minimum three-month suspension and a maximum of permanent expulsion depending on aggravating circumstances."
She looked Garrett directly in the eye:
"Therefore I must **formally object** to this proposed course of action."
---
**Marcus** — who had remained silent for hours — finally spoke, voice rough and irritated:
"**Shut** up, corporate lunatic."
---
**Cassandra** laughed shrilly:
"Look at that! Seems the **craziest** one in the group finally decided to open that annoying mouth of hers!" Exaggeratedly surprised tone. "I thought she just mentally calculated efficiency and operating costs without any capacity for speech!"
---
Garrett stepped closer to Jessica — not physically threatening but with an intimidating presence:
"So **what** if it violates some stupid bureaucratic regulation created by paranoid old men traumatized by a single accident a decade and a half ago?" Cutting voice. "You are under our **direct supervision**. If you don't accept our orders without childish questioning… we'll give you such a devastatingly **negative** evaluation that you'll be permanently stuck at the absolute bottom of the Church hierarchy cleaning latrines for the rest of your pathetic careers."
Cruel smile:
"So choose: three days walking like fools or three seconds teleporting like **smart** people?"
---
Jessica opened her mouth — preparing to argue based on governance principles.
**Julia** gently but firmly took her hand — squeezing in silent communication: *No. Let it go.*
She looked into Jessica's eyes:
"Let's just… follow." Tired voice. "It's not worth it. Really not."
Jessica **hesitated** — every compliance instinct screaming against it.
But seeing Julia's expression — deep exhaustion, accumulated defeat — she nodded reluctantly.
---
Garrett **smiled** broadly:
"**That's** how I like it! Obedient. Submissive. Smart enough to recognize authority."
He gestured toward the crystal:
"Come **on** and touch the crystal at the same time. And don't move during the recitation or the dimensional shift might… well… permanently separate parts of you across different dimensions. I've seen it happen. Not pretty."
Low chuckle.
---
The group approached — forming a circle around the base of the engraved stones.
Hands extending — touching the cold surface of the crystal that **vibrated** intensely under contact.
**Marcus** began to recite — not in the common tongue but in the **arcane language** of impossible syllables that made throats burn just to hear, his voice gaining supernatural resonance that echoed without any clear source:
— ***"Kor'vathar mesh'kalun drai'seth… Thal'vorum karesh'nai portus'vex… Dimensional'kor TRANS'LOCATUM!"***
---
The crystal **EXPLODED** in light — not a metaphor, literally exploded in a wave of silver-blue brilliance so intense it forced everyone to **violently shut** their eyes even through closed eyelids, sudden heat washing over skin like standing next to a forge, a piercing high-pitched sound stabbing ears and making eardrums **vibrate** painfully.
A sensation of **falling** — not downward but in an **impossible** direction, as though reality folded at an angle Euclidean geometry did not allow, stomach lurching, balance completely lost.
Then—
**NOTHING**.
---
**[KINGDOM OF KILLVIS – MOUNTAIN ZONE – ALTITUDE 3,200 METERS]**
The light disappeared **abruptly** — leaving only darkness behind still-closed eyelids.
Julia slowly opened her eyes — blinking against the sudden unfiltered direct sunlight.
And **saw**.
---
They stood on a rocky platform at the top of a **mountain** — not a natural mountain but a formation that appeared to have been **deliberately sculpted**, surface too flat, edges too straight, angles too precise to be the work of natural erosion.
The platform measured roughly **one hundred square meters** — enough for an identical teleportation crystal floating in the center and space around it for a group of twenty people comfortably.
The air was **cold** — temperature drastically lower than the plain they had left behind, constant wind blowing through the high altitude carrying moisture from nearby clouds, the smell of **ozone** and wet stone dominating.
---
Julia turned her head to the **right** — and her breath **stopped**.
**Mountains** — not one or two but **dozens** of them rising in an absolutely **impossible** formation, arranged in a **perfect straight line** as though a giant had deliberately placed each one in position, every mountain perfectly **identical** in height — she estimated five thousand meters, perhaps more — peaks disappearing **above** the clouds, creating the illusion of pillars holding up the sky itself, side walls far too vertical to be natural, spacing between them uniform, suggesting **purpose** rather than geological accident.
And they completely **blocked** the view of whatever existed on the other side — an impenetrable natural wall creating a physical border between regions.
---
**San** beside her followed her gaze — eyes progressively **widening**:
"These… these **shapes** of the mountains aren't something natural." Voice low, almost reverent. "Impossible. Mountains don't form in straight lines. They aren't identical. They don't… **organize** themselves. This is… this is…"
He couldn't finish — mind struggling to process the impossibility.
---
**Garrett** behind them — voice carrying something close to… respect? Reluctant admiration?:
"**Exactly** right, rookie. All of this was the work of an absurd **prodigy** from the Kingdom of Zordis that lies on the other side of these mountains."
Pause:
"His name: **Zenk**. SSS-rank Terrestrial Creation Mage. Raised this entire mountain barrier in **three days** twenty years ago during a border war to prevent Killvis's invasion. Three hundred kilometers of five-thousand-meter-high mountains."
He spat on the ground:
"Prodigy or monster. The line is thin."
---
Julia felt something **freeze** along her spine:
"In this world there are people with **that** level of power capable of doing this?" Voice trembling imperceptibly. "This is… this is something only **God** should be able to do. Create geography. Shape continents. Not… not mortals."
She looked at her own hands — trembling with so much awe — and remembered the fight she had with the Maestro and the power he had shown.
*But compared to THIS…*
The Maestro was an ant.
*We all are.*
---
**Jessica** processing the information through her usual analytical lens:
"And the last time we were on our first mission in the village of Falcus… we were at sea level. Altitude zero. Standard terrestrial surface." She looked around. "But now we're… three kilometers up? Maybe more? Rarer atmosphere, drastically reduced temperature, different air pressure…"
Calculating pause:
"Teleportation through **altitude** in addition to just lateral coordinates. Technically fascinating but also explains the historical failure rate if vertical recalibration isn't perfect. Ten meters lateral error is inconvenient. Ten meters **vertical** error is fatal."
---
Garrett began walking toward the **edge** of the platform where a strange structure became visible — an ancient **suspension bridge** held by massive chains of black iron, each link thick as a tree trunk, the wooden planks of the floor worn by decades of wind and rain but still structurally sound, swaying **slightly** in the constant wind, stretching across the void to another **distant** mountain — she estimated a kilometer and a half, perhaps more.
---
**Cassandra** looked back — cruel smile curling her lips:
"Come on, you **idiots**. We're not going to wait if you stand there admiring the scenery like lost tourists."
She looked specifically at Jessica:
"So, little **corporate smartass**? Would you rather have walked from the Kingdom of Nellis all the way up here? **Three weeks** of vertical travel climbing mountains without proper equipment?"
Jessica with her face **slightly flushed** with shame admitted quietly:
"I… I am someone who follows rules no matter how… impractical they are in real application. But I recognize that in this specific case… operational efficiency may have justified… a technical violation…"
Voice trailing off until inaudible.
---
The group began **walking** onto the bridge — wooden planks creaking under collective weight, chains making sharp metallic sounds when the wind swayed them.
**San** stepped onto the first plank — and **froze**.
He looked **down** — through the gaps between the boards.
He saw only **clouds** — a thick white layer stretching infinitely below, completely hiding the ground that must be… three kilometers? Four? More?
**Dizziness** washed over him — sudden vertigo making the world **spin**, knees weakening, hands gripping the braided rope handrail so tightly the knots marked his palms.
He began walking **slowly** — each step deliberate, forced, breathing progressively faster.
Murmuring quietly, repeatedly, like a mantra:
"…You are strong. You are strong. You are strong. Don't look down. You are strong. Don't think about the fall. You are strong. You are—"
Julia, three steps behind, noticed — the way San gripped the handrail with unnecessary force, the way his steps were rigid, the way his shoulders were locked tight.
She quickened her pace until she was walking beside him:
"San?" Gentle voice. "Something wrong?"
San turned his head too quickly — trying to look confident, failing completely:
"What? No! Nothing! Absolutely nothing here is bothering me in the slightest!" Voice coming out much too high-pitched. "I'm completely… calm. Relaxed. Comfortable. Perfectly at ease walking on a suspension bridge at lethal altitude over an infinite void of clouds hiding certain death—"
He stopped — realizing he wasn't helping at all.
Julia gave a small smile — the first genuine one in days:
"It's okay to be afraid of heights, San. It's… human. Natural."
Pause.
"But we'll cross together. Step by step. Okay?"
San looked at her — something warming in his chest despite the terror.
She cares.
Even with everything that's happening.
She still cares.
He nodded — not trusting his voice.
They continued walking — the bridge swaying gently in the wind, fifteen minutes to cross a kilometer and a half of emptiness suspended only by ominously creaking chains.
Until they finally stepped onto solid ground on the other mountain.
And they saw.
Kend.
Not a village.
A city.
Sprawling across a twenty-square-kilometer mountain platform — a massive area carved flat at the top of the mountain as though a giant had sliced off the peak with a knife, leaving a smooth surface.
The architecture was… unique:
Houses built directly from the mountain stone — not bricks brought from elsewhere, but carved straight out of the living rock, walls three meters thick for insulation against cold and wind, steeply pitched roofs at forty-five-degree angles so snow and rain would slide off, covered with waterproof black slate tiles, small deep-set windows to minimize heat loss.
Narrow streets — winding in curves that followed the natural contours of the mountainous terrain instead of fighting against it, some sections becoming stairways where the slope grew too steep, widths varying from two to five meters.
And terraces — the city built in levels like a gigantic staircase, each platform five to ten meters higher than the one below, creating the visual effect of houses stacked upon each other, streets at different heights connected by stone staircases, neighborhoods that literally seemed to be climbing the mountain in successive layers.
In the distance — a massive gate of wood reinforced with black iron, ten meters high, wide enough for a carriage to pass through, flanked by fifteen-meter stone watchtowers.
And scattered throughout the city — dozens of children running and playing, holding balloons — not ordinary balloons but spheres of colored fabric inflated by contained magical flames in their cores that heated the air and made them float, children laughing as they chased balloons that escaped and were carried away by the wind, the sound of joy echoing off the stone.
Julia, San and Jessica stood frozen — eyes wide, mouths slightly open, processing the simultaneous impossibility and beauty.
Garrett turned — cruel smile, but this time carrying… pride? Genuine satisfaction?:
"Welcome—" voice projecting "—to the town of Kend, you impressionable idiots."
He paused, letting the impact sink in:
"And now… let's get to work."
**[KEND: CITY IN THE CLOUDS]**