Chapter 36 - Sun and Stars

  Digesting the food and Corvus’s warning takes Alex a bit of time. He mulls over the implications quietly while sitting back on the park-bench. When he finds his voice again, his tone is somber. “I suppose that the existence of ‘Apex wars’, as you called them, implies that even having Animus and being immortal doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe.”

  The crow bobs his head. “Just so.” Rather than flowing into a further explanation as Corvus normally would, the ancient demon just lapses into silence. The grave atmosphere the conversation had taken on lingers like a heavy cloud, dampening the momentary high from moments before.

  Undeterred by the heavy turn in the conversation, Hara munches away on what’s left of her kabob, even chewing on the wooden skewer. Then, satisfied that she’d gotten every morsel of flavor out of it she can, Hara puts her head on Alex’s lap. “More?” She asks, eyes hopeful and pleading.

  Alex chuckles and pats the hound’s head. “Sorry Hara, there’s none left. But we can get something else to eat later.” He then looks around the park, and at the two and three story buildings across the road from its secluded little nook. “Corvus, this is familiar. Like, uncannily familiar. The buildings, the roads, even the electric-lines running between the buildings. It feels like it’s part of my previous life, even though I can’t put a finger on why.”

  Corvus cocks his head to examine Alex for a moment before replying. “It is unsurprising, really. New Europa serves as a hub for this part of Hell. The likely reason it feels that way for you, is because this city rests near the center of all the Nexus Points which connect to the mortal realm you once called home. Human souls tend to have their highest concentrations here.”

  Corvus pauses for a beat before continuing. “You have an innate understanding of concepts that were so intrinsic to your life that they became part of you. Now, imagine someone who had been an architect, or an engineer, or a mason. Provide them with tools and materials and they will do what comes naturally to them. It is this inflow of talented souls that advances Hell’s technology alongside the Animus skills or magic.” Then Corvus’s tone shifts, baiting a trap that he knows Alex will dive head-first into. “What becomes most interesting is when populations from very different mortal worlds intermingle. Mixing each-other’s skills and adaptations.”

  Eyebrows climbing his forehead, Alex leans back against the bench and considers what Corvus said. “You said something before about that. About other worlds, other realities. And they’re all connected to Hell?” He asks, getting a nod of confirmation from the crow. “So there’s places in Hell that would be completely alien to me… That’s awesome.” Alex says, a grin slowly spreading across his face. The idea of a near infinite variety of places to explore appeals to him more than he’d have expected. “And what are some of the other mortal-soul people like?” He asks, curiosity piqued.

  Corvus shrugs his wings. “There are some commonalities among all beings that gain sentience. You will find that most have a distinct head and an expressive face. Many are bipedal like you, but there are just as many others that have more limbs, or fewer. In time, I have no doubt that you will meet many of them. You do not strike me as the type to sit idle, even when there is no pressure to push you forwards.”

  The conversation meanders longer as Alex just savors the chance to relax and just rest for a time. In the several hours since arriving in New Europa, the sun above hasn’t moved. The comfortable daylight seems to be permanent. That is until a sharp and clear bell-chime tolls from somewhere closer to the city’s center. As the sound reverberates in the air, the sun seems to streak across the sky lower onto the horizon. With the surrounding buildings, Alex can’t see its final position, but the sky above shifts into a gradient of oranges, purples, and deep navy blue.

  For once, the ambient light of Hell also dims, casting the city into twilight. For the first time since his arrival, Alex sees shadows cloak his environment. Light behaving as his intuition says it should. Rather than the falling darkness causing Alex unease, the familiarity of it just makes him feel a little more at home. Until he registers the impossibility of it all.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Alex jerks upright on the bench, eyes widening. A detail he’d put out of his mind on the rush into the city, in search of a way to extend his time, comes crashing back to the forefront. He stares up at the evening sky, barely able to pick out what appear like faint stars glimmering. Then he lowers his gaze, sweeping his eyes over the tops of the buildings, looking back in the direction he’d come in from. In the gloom, he can’t see the stone wall, only a darker band that fades into the darkening sky above.

  Breathless, Alex mutters the truth of it. “The sky isn’t real.” Piecing it together, Alex sits silent for a few moments. Thinking back on their path towards the city, Alex had been traveling downwards fairly consistently. ‘Down’ doesn’t really mean much when gravity is subjective, but all the same, the direction doesn’t change. Mentally mapping it out, Alex tries to envision the layout of the territories he’d passed through. No matter how he tries to justify it, they’re easily a mile or more further ‘down’ than when he’d been in Last-Stop. A sky with a horizon shouldn’t be possible.

  Corvus hops from his perch on the back of the bench to land on Alex’s thigh, breaking Alex’s concentration. “Oh, the sky is real. The sun and stars, less so.” The crow explains. “This chamber is absolutely massive. In verticality alone, it spans further upwards than the entirety of our journey to reach the city, if we had traveled in a straight line. In diameter, it is roughly a third of that span.”

  Alex is taken aback at the sheer scope of the space. “And the city takes up most of the space?”

  “Correct.” Corvus answers, and is about to say more when they’re interrupted by someone shining a light into the park. The source of light appears to be a hand lamp with a shroud that directs the light into a cone. While not bright enough to be blinding, it still obscures Alex’s ability to see the figure holding it.

  “Ho,” Comes a gruff voice from the silhouette, “Those critters there yours, boy?” The figure asks as Alex attempts to get a view of the one holding the lamp.

  Shielding his eyes a bit, Alex nods. “Uh, they’re with me. They’re not ‘mine’, really, but we’re travelling together.” The lamp lowers, giving Alex a chance to see the person holding it. Another human, barrel-chested and thick around the middle, wearing what’s obviously a uniform.

  “Ah, good then. I wasn’t fancying having to deal with wild beasts sneaking in at sundown.” From all appearances, the man looks to be police, or a guard. And as Alex assesses the man, he does the same to Alex. “You’re welcome to stay in the park here as long as ya like, but don’t try to sleep here. That’ll net you a fine. If you need a spot to bed down, there’s a hostel about three blocks atta-way.” The officer gestures with the lantern along one side of the road. “Think they charge a coin a night. Anyway, good-evening to ya.” And without waiting for Alex to respond, the man turns and starts to walk off.

  “Uh, thanks for the advice!” Alex calls out, seeing the man lift a hand to wave without turning back. “Well. If it’s going to get darker, I suppose having a place to sleep wouldn’t be a bad call.” Alex says, looking between Hara and Corvus. “Hopefully they don’t charge a coin for each of us.”

  Just as the officer had said, Alex and the others find the hostel easily. The building isn’t in the best condition, the bricks showing obvious wear and the door appears to have been the target of abuse in the past. But all the same, the soft light coming from inside is inviting, and Alex pushes open the door to step inside.

  The foyer is a cramped little space, barely large enough for Alex and Hara to stand side-by-side. To one side of the room, a grizzled old woman leans over a counter to inspect her new guests. “Clean cot, fresh sheets, and a privacy curtain, a coin a night. Private room, three coins.” She says in a dry, rehearsed tone.

  Alex has to pause, caught a touch off-guard by the bluntness. Then he looks down at Hara. The hound looks back up at him and lets out a canine yawn. “Hara fine sleep on ground.” She announces easily.

  Fishing a single coin from his pocket, he offers it to the woman. “Just one cot please.” He says, watching as the coin disappears into the woman’s hand. She reaches under the counter and pulls on some mechanism, unlatching the inner door.

  “Pick any spot ya like. Be out before mid-day bell or you’re paying for the next night too.” She waves Alex and company into the inner chamber. Alex thanks her and steps into the hostel’s main room.

  Alex isn’t sure what he expected. But what he finds are rows of cots, each with a pillow and sheets folded atop. Some already have the hanging curtains pulled closed, others have figures sitting on the bunks, reading or tending to little personal chores. But there’s plenty of open spaces, and Alex has no trouble finding one a bit away from the other occupants.

  After spreading out the sheet and settling onto the cot, Alex draws the curtain around the bunk. He’d intended to sit up for at least a bit and talk more with Corvus about the city, but he made one crucial mistake. He let his head touch the pillow.