The moment the system spoke, my perception shifted.
The sudden change of environment hit me like a truck, rattling my senses.
"What the hell?"
Reflected on my very eyes was the envisage of a city.
The City of Eidolenhollow.
Eidolenhollow...another strange name...
I looked around, taking in the new world around me.
Dark spires loomed high above, their jagged peaks piercing through the thick, roiling mist that veiled the sky. The air carried a heavy stillness, the kind that settled in abandoned churches and forgotten graveyards. The city was vast, sprawling in a labyrinthine maze of narrow streets and towering stonework, each building seemed to be carved with haunting precision.
The streets were paved with black cobblestone, slick with something that shimmered like oil, reflecting the eerie glow of gaslit lanterns. Ornate archways framed narrow alleyways, their depths swallowing the light like gaping maws.
Statues of robed figures stood at every major crossing, their heads bowed as if in prayer...or mourning. Some were crumbling, their faces worn away by the cruelty of time, while others looked untouched, as if, they were made recently.
The design reminded me of Gothic architecture with a touch of Renaissance grandeur.
And yet, that wasn't what caught my attention.
I gasped, my breath trembling.
"People!"
Indeed.
The street which I had suddenly found myself in was swarming with people!
They moved through the streets in droves, their elegant garments a striking contrast to the city's grim façade. Men in tailored coats and feathered hats. Women in flowing gowns with embroidered corsets. The kind of attire you'd expect at a masquerade ball, not in the middle of a city square.
They moved across the streets, some with a measured pace, some in groups, chatting amongst themselves and some in horse-drawn chariots.
"Woah..."
I stood on a sidewalk, watching the ethereal scene unfold before me.
The way they walked, the way they moved, the way they laughed, haggled and spoke just seemed odd...
But as I continued to watch them, I began to realize...
How long it had been since I've seen people.
"Haha! That's absurd!"
"But, it's true! Mother bought me a new pet! Uuu...just wait till I show you!"
"Now, now...kids, be civil."
I turned my head just as a small group passed by, comprising of a young boy, a girl, and an older woman walking between them.
I watched them for a moment, my eyes fixated on their backs before I slowly looked down.
Staring is rude...
I thought, a slight frown came to my face before I sighed and turned away.
On instinct, my hands slipped into my pockets, the fractured fabric of the Veil of the Moon clinging onto my flesh like a second skin.
I gazed around for a moment, taking in the sight of people before walking away.
...
The architecture stretched before me in jagged spirals and cruelly elegant facades, a twisted blend of Gothic severity and Renaissance splendor.
Towering spires stabbed at the ashen sky; their silhouettes fractured by elaborate flying buttresses that defied gravity. Massive stone edifices bore intricate engravings, swirling patterns that seemed almost alive under veiled radiance of the gray sky.
In a couple of moments, I had found my way to the surface of a large stone bridge, built across a wide stream that flowed with an insipid liquid littered with beautiful lilies.
HOO...FWOO...
"Just, what is this place?", I muttered as I stared ahead.
In the distance, colossal cathedrals loomed, their stained-glass windows depicting odd murals like hands reaching upward to a distant, hollow sun or the image of an ouroboros serpent.
It was quite obvious, what this place was actually.
This was the third layer of the Abyss.
The next province right after the Garden of the Forgotten.
The City of Eidolenhollow.
But at the same time...it was also not obvious as well.
It was a large, bustling city with real people, unlike the 'actors' back in the dreamscape. These people were real.
I tore my gaze away and once again looked at the people around me.
It was strange.
To be in the presence of humans once again or at least...people.
During my short exploration, I had found out that humans weren't the only ones living in this city. There were elves, dwarves, dryads and even beastfolk.
It was strange.
Deeply strange.
Forget all this...where's the Elder of this place? Am I not supposed to meet him or her or it?
With a sigh, I shook my head.
I turned my gaze towards a certain spot on the bridge where a group consisting of humans, elves and dryads chatted.
They were all females.
They were chatting, laughing – the sound delicate, almost melodic, yet something about it sent an uncomfortable prickle down my spine.
Their attire was lavish. Flowing gowns embroidered with silver threads. Corsets lined with gemstones. Some wore veil-like headdresses, obscuring portions of their faces, while others had their hair braided with strands of what looked like woven moonlight.
One of them, a lady with long platinum hair, turned slightly, revealing ears that stretched into sharp, elven points. Her eyes, glassy and inhumanly beautiful, locked onto mine.
She stared at me for a brief moment, her cherry lips parting slightly before she looked away.
My gaze lingered on her, staring at her intensely.
What rosy lips...
I feel you, but be real. You ain't bagging her.
Oh, be quiet.
I hissed, dismissing my inner voice's comment before listening in on their convo.
"…and did you hear? The Ever Gait is this very night!"
"Ahh, finally! It's been far too long since the last ball."
"Lady Lirien shall be in attendance, as well. Oh, how I envy you, dear. I heard you already have a dance partner lined up."
"Ufufu~ I do, I do~"
The way they laughed and exchanged coy glances was oddly disarming.
A ball, huh…
"Hmm..."
I brought a hand to my chin while my other fingers drummed idly against my side as I considered my next move.
Now, now...
I was never one to seek out conversation for the sake of it, but… this was an opportunity. I had questions, and they seemed like the kind of people who knew things.
Alright...
I stepped forward, approaching the group with a casual gait. I wasn't sure what my opening line would be, but meh...this kind of things solve themselves.
I see why you'll never get laid.
The women continued their conversation, their voices a soft murmur of elegance and amusement.
"…the ball is set to take place in the Grand Spire. Can you imagine? The royal orchestra, the chandeliers… it'll be divine."
"Truly."
I cleared my throat slightly,
"A ball, huh? Sounds extravagant."
Silence.
For a brief moment, the world felt as if it had paused.
The women turned their heads, their gazes landing on me with varying degrees of interest—and disinterest.
The silver-haired elf, the one who had locked eyes with me earlier, raised a delicate brow.
Her lips parted, and I braced myself for her response.
"…And?"
The single word cut through the air like a blade.
I blinked, "And… I was just curious."
The women exchanged glances. Then, as if on cue, they laughed. Not mockingly, not cruelly but with that same distant amusement you'd give a child who just said something naive.
"Curious, are you?", the elf tilted her head, her silver tresses cascading over her shoulder, "And what, pray tell, would you do at a ball?"
The way she said it, the way her voice dripped with detached amusement…
I knew what this was...
It was an L.
A clean, unchallenged L.
Uhh...
Think monkey think, no guy fumbles the bag this hard...no guy!
S-shut up! Lemme think...
My mind despite being blessed with the gift of clarity and possessing a well of knowledge, failed to provide a viable response.
Ugh whatever...
I exhaled through my nose, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
"Nothing", I muttered, turning away.
Eh?! What the-?!
I could feel their gazes linger on my back for a second longer before they lost interest. The laughter resumed, softer this time, as if I had never been there at all.
Negative one billion au-
My inner voice froze before realizing something.
Why are you smiling?!
I glanced back, just once. The elf wasn't looking at me anymore.
Or at least, she pretended not to be.
[Debuff: Rizzless is active.]
The system spoke forcing my smirk to widen.
So... you want to play chess, eh Elder?
Good.
Then I'll gladly take the first move...