Volume 2- The beginning of the game
Immediately, without realizing at what exact moment it happened, the four found themselves in front of two enormous trees that rose like silent guardians of the place.
Kael was the first to notice it clearly.
Just seconds ago they were walking along paths covered in leaves, surrounded by tall trees and a calm atmosphere, but now... now everything seemed different.
The air was denser, colder, as if that place had its own presence.
The trees were colossal. Their trunks were so wide that several people holding hands would be needed to surround them completely.
The bark was covered in ancient marks, deep lines and natural symbols formed by the passage of time.
They didn't seem like simple trees: they seemed ancient, wise, as if they had watched entire centuries pass without moving from there.
Between the two there were barely a few meters of distance, and that small space was enough to command respect.
Right in the middle, as if they had been carved by the gods themselves, enormous stone stairs extended.
They were wide, ancient and covered by the marks of time: deep cracks, green moss growing between the stones, and strange symbols engraved on the steps.
Some were almost erased, others remained surprisingly clear.
Kael observed them carefully, trying to give them some meaning, but he couldn't fully understand them.
Those stairs rose upward, disappearing into the mist that surrounded the top of an enormous mountain.
They couldn't see the end of the path. They only knew that it went up... and up... and up.
No one said anything at first.
There was no need.
Without a word, they began to climb.
The sound of their steps echoed, as if the mountain itself responded to every movement.
The rhythm was slow, constant. There was no hurry, but no rest either. The distant song of birds mixed with the murmur of the wind passing through the leaves, creating a soft but unsettling melody.
Each step seemed higher than the previous one.
Kael didn't take long to notice it.
His legs began to tire, and his breathing became heavier.
It was as if the path had been designed to test anyone who tried to reach the top.
Not just the body, but also the mind.
After a good while climbing in silence, Viridia stopped abruptly.
The change was so sudden that the others almost crashed into her.
Viridia turned slowly to look at the others.
Her expression was completely different from before.
She no longer had that relaxed air nor the carefree attitude with which she had been walking.
Now her face was serious. Cold.
Her gaze had a firm shine that commanded respect... and, in a certain way, fear.
—Well... it seems we're almost arriving at the elves' kingdom —she said with a firm voice—. Before I forget, I want you to respect all the rules of this place.
She made a small pause.
Her eyes went over each one present, making sure they all paid attention.
—Don't do anything crazy —she continued—. If we cause problems, we'll be considered enemies immediately. And being allied with the demon king... that would be seen as a declaration of war.
The silence that followed was heavy.
No one responded. No one asked anything.
Kael felt a knot in his stomach.
Not because he doubted Viridia, but because he understood the gravity of the situation. They weren't entering just any place.
They were entering a kingdom with its own history, its own rules... and its own pride.
Everyone nodded in silence and continued climbing the stairs.
The atmosphere had completely changed.
Kael, however, couldn't help looking around in awe.
As they climbed, the view became more and more impressive. From that height, he could see the immense forest stretching as far as the eye could see.
An endless green sea, alive, breathing under the light of the sky.
The trees were enormous, gigantic, but they had already climbed enough to see over many of them.
The forest seemed endless.
The wind hit harder up there, bringing with it a fresh and clean aroma. It was a smell different from everything Kael had known before. It wasn't just pure air... it was something more. Something that made his chest feel light.
He couldn't help feeling excited.
After a few more minutes of silence, Kael decided to speak.
—Viridia... —he said with curiosity—. You used to live in this place, right?
She didn't respond immediately.
Kael, encouraged by the simple fact of breaking the silence, continued.
—What was it like living here? Was it fun? Did you have many friends?
While speaking, he moved a little closer to her, walking by her side. His eyes shone, full of genuine interest.
Viridia took a few seconds to respond.
—Ehh... what was it like living in the elves' kingdom? —she repeated, as if she needed to organize her memories—. Well... in itself, it was fun.
For a moment, her voice sounded softer.
But then, her tone changed slightly.
—Although there were also days when it wasn't at all.
Kael noticed the change immediately. Her expression remained serious, distant, as if something heavy had awakened in her memory.
—A long time ago... —she continued—. About five hundred thousand years ago, a war happened.
Kael fell silent instantly.
—A war that left the men of the elf race almost extinct —she said—. Today, barely two percent of them remain.
The words fell heavily.
Kael hadn't expected something like that. He felt his chest tighten.
—What... what caused that war? —he asked carefully, without wanting to pressure her.
Viridia lowered her gaze a little while continuing to climb the steps.
—It was the elves' own fault —she responded—. There was a time when our race divided into two sides. One wanted to continue living with the same customs as always, in harmony with the forest. The other wanted to leave that lifestyle behind... they wanted to advance, improve, change everything.
Kael opened his eyes in surprise.
—So that means...
—That's right —she interrupted—. The war broke out. And it wasn't just the elves who suffered... the forest did too.
Her voice became harder.
—Thousands of men died. The balance of the forest was broken for a long time.
Kael swallowed.
—And who won? —he asked finally.
Viridia shook her head.
—No one won —she responded— In the end, the elf women took control. They decided to end the conflict and seek a different path.
She raised her gaze forward, toward the top of the mountain.
—They chose to advance little by little, in harmony with nature. Using technology, yes... but without damaging the forest. Very similar to how the demonic race does it now.
Kael let out a small sigh.
—So... everything was resolved?
Viridia shook her head again.
—Not entirely. Some didn't agree. Men and women left the forest, leaving everything behind.
She made a brief pause.
—Most of those who left were men. It's said that some joined with individuals from other races... and together they created an artificial island in the sky.
Kael frowned.
—In the sky?
—Yes —she nodded—. It's very hard to find. And even harder to see. They call themselves... the futuristic civilization.
Kael remained silent.
He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to react to such a big, ancient and painful story. All of that was much more complex than he had imagined.
Viridia, suddenly, jumped to the last step.
She spun on her own axis, doing a small turn, and for the first time since they began climbing, her face changed.
She smiled.
A sincere smile, full of emotion.
—Look —she said while raising her arms with joy—. Now yes... we have arrived at the city of the elves.
In front of them, the view opened completely. An enormous city rose before their eyes.
Large and elegant houses spread throughout the place, and thousands of people walked happily through the streets.
In the distance, at the back, a gigantic structure could be seen, similar to a castle, though not as imposing nor colossal.
It looked more like an enormous house, a symbol that that civilization had advanced quite a bit.
Not as much as the world Kael came from... but enough to leave him speechless.