chapter 3:"green ruins"
His joints ached and his muscles protested.
But he didn't care.
Opening his palm, and with a single push, the void broke. Light rippled as the window showed the outside.
His head throbbed.
He felt weak. But that didn't matter.
With that, he made himself walk towards the door. As he passed through it, he clenched his fist and made it close behind him.
Elyas stepped onto solid ground. Immediately, he lost his balance. Like a baby learning to walk all over again, he soon managed to control his weight and center of mass.
As soon as he stabilised, out of habit, he looked around.
The rays of sunshine— even heavily restricted by the giant trees looming over him, were too much for his eyes to bear.
But even as he squinted, he could still clearly see the gigantic trees and branches— covering the muddy and moist red soil, in a torn carpet of shadows.
Elyas looked at a gigantic tree next to him. It looked real. Everything was.
But he had to believe the contrary.
Elyas looked up, it was early noon. As he took in the scenery, he chose a direction based on the suns.
He stepped forward, diving into the shadows and leaves.
Towards south.
...
Birds chirped as shadows danced under the green roof of the forest. A man of average size and black hair was slashing through the few vines in his path.
"It should not be far. Brother Samuel said they detected some activity here...I'm going to call it quits if it's another false alarm!"
As the man complained to pass the time,he suddenly heard another man's voice.
"Where am I?"
The man jolted to his senses as he frantically looked around.
"Who are you? show yourself!" The man shouted, sweat covered his tanned skin. Expecting an attack at any moment, he placed his blade near his chest, ready to defend.
"... You're clearly startled, so I'm going to walk in your view with my hands up, alright?"
"..."
"Can I?" The stranger restated
"Sure, but slowly." said the man, more cautious and sceptical than ever.
The leaves rustled and gave way. From the intersection between them, came a brown haired man of average height who wore a brown vest atop a gray shirt.
Despite what his clean clothes tried to show, the man was clearly dishevelled. Long unkempt stubble, messy hair and eyes that twitched painfully at every smallest ray of light.
"no visible weapons or even light armour. His posture is firm and ready to quickly respond… Probably a newbie." After examining Elyas from afar, the man had deduced that he was not a competent dreamer.
"My name is Elyas, can I know yours?"
"...I'm Noah," Noah stated plainly. pointing his blade towards Elyas
Elyas glanced at the blade "Don't you think I could have done something already if I meant harm?"
"You're free to move," Noah said plainly, now sure of Elyas's being an incompetent fool.
As Elyas was thinking of ways to get information from the man in front of him, Noah started to walk away.
Elyas, not wanting to lose the opportunity, quickly asked "Hey, do you mind telling me which way the city of fog is?"
Noah stopped. He turned back and answered, not thinking much of it.
"The old ruins? They are on the west side of the Green sea. With your current trajectory you'll be heading towards mistwood, the opposite direction." Noah spoke with certainty as he took a look at the suns to make sure.
Elyas's throat tightened, he tried to speak but only incoherent mumbles came. After a few tries he managed:
"What do you mean by old ruins? Vernis was the only settlement in this area."
Noah's brows knitted together as he heard this. Although his thoughts created the identity of a fool for Elyas, he felt like he was finally understanding this stranger.
"It was the biggest disaster to happen to a city in the last century how do you—" Noah started to talk but as soon as he saw Elyas's face he stopped.
He was deathly pale, his pupils dilated, almost falling out.
"Hundred years…" Elyas whispered.
"Yes, it's been a century since the city has fallen." Noah said plainly as if stating a fact.
"No.." Elyas shook his head. "You're joking, yeah… It's all a joke!" His head swayed back and forth, he felt dizzy.
The world tilted as emotions he'd buried for what he thought were months clawed their way back.
He walked towards Noah "I get it! Is Ralf in on the joke too? Is he alive as well—" Elyas fell, not halfway done speaking. He had collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Noah watched everything, now, sure that he understood Elyas's situation.
'Poor guy. Must have had family there. But it's been a century since the evacuation… How is he unaware of it?' Noah was puzzled, but his mission tugged at him.
'Doesn't matter.'
With this thought Noah turned his head away from the unconscious Elyas— walking Towards the coordinates given to him.
As he walked past the unconscious man, he paused. a realisation hit him as he thought of a possibility. '...It can't be him right? but he did come from the same direction… Damn it I can't risk failing this time!'
Noah's mind raced as he paced back and forth, trying to find the best course of action.
He paused. His thoughts formed a simple but effective solution.
'I have to take care of this guy till he wakes up so I can thoroughly question him. '
He picked the fainted man by the waist and carried him away. Deep into the forest.
To the south.
…
The crickets sang a rhythmic tune. Creating the music for the dance of the fireflies, barely visible through the afterglow of the moons and the campfire.
The fog was as thick if not thicker than day. Now daring to intrude and dive into the depths of the giant forest.
The moons were bright, illuminating the canopy by casting small rainbows into the gloom. Only for them to be swallowed by the mists that closed on Noah and Elyas, creating a suffocating atmosphere.
"Hey. Hey. HEY! WAKE UP!"
After hearing these shouts Elyas jolted awake, smashing his head into a hard object.
Not minding the pain he looked around only to see Noah, lying on the ground near a campfire, covering his forehead.
Noah was about to throw profanity at him but he didn't get a chance.
"Why am I here?" Elyas said, putting his palm on his head. He still felt dizzy, even after sleeping till dark.
"That's how you thank me? The Green Sea is full of figments. You should be thankful I didn't leave you to become their food."
Noah said as he got up quickly, his face calm yet, his tone of speech betrayed him by showing his anger.
"..." Elyas lay motionless as his back faced a hollow log, he was no different than a dead body.
Noah had heard Elyas speak in his sleep.
He spoke every now and then. A few names kept coming back from time to time and with them, sweat covered his entire body.
He was suspicious of the man. After all, he was sent to look into reports regarding rogue dreamers in the Green sea. But he felt familiar with Elyas's situation. He looked at him pitifully since he had been in his place.
"...who is Michael?" Noah seized the opportunity to start questioning.
After hearing the name, Elyas's already pained expression grew grim and distant.
"..." Elyas remained silent
"...I understand your pain. But as part of the Protocol I need to know who I'm dealing with. Saving a criminal isn't something I want to be known for."
"..." Elyas remained silent
Seeing Elyas's poor state of mind brought back old memories he did not want to remember.
Noah gritted his teeth and said "Look, Elyas was it? I can see that you're clearly distraught. But regardless of your personal matters, I need to make sure you're not the criminal I'm looking for."
Elyas remained silent.
After seeing his continued silence, Noah stood up with a sigh. He walked slowly towards Elyas as he gripped his sword… and attacked.
Elyas did not react at all.
And that was all Noah wanted.
Mere inches from Elyas's neck, Noah stopped his blade and put it back in its sheath.
'This man is not a criminal…But I can't let him be. '
'...I won't let you down. ' Noah's expression was full of resolve.
He knew what he had to do. Since he was in the same situation before, but back then, he had someone to help him.
Now it was his turn.