Extra's Fate
Chapter 57: Leden [ I ]

Chapter 57: Leden [ I ]

The next morning came earlier than expected.

I barely managed to sleep during the night.

The fact that I was just hours away from one of the major events kept me restless. I woke up in the middle of the night, my heart pounding.

I couldn’t go back to sleep. My mind raced with thoughts of what was coming. The gloves on my hands felt heavy, even though they were weightless.

I tossed and turned for a while.

The white ceiling above me offered no answers.

Finally, I gave up. I rolled off the bed, my body stiff from the fight and the crafting.

The dorm was dark, the moonlight barely creeping through the window.

I grabbed my boots, slipped them on, and headed out. Being up so early, I decided to go to the meeting place a bit earlier than planned.

The air outside was crisp. My breath fogged in front of me as I walked.

The cobblestone path crunched under my feet. The campus was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. I reached the meeting spot, a small courtyard with a few benches, and sat down.

I cocked my head and looked at the darkening sky. It wasn’t dawn yet. The stars were still out, faint against the deep blue. I leaned back, the cold wood of the bench biting into my spine.

Time passed slowly.

I flexed my hands, feeling the Meteoric Gloves shift against my skin. They were smooth, cool and perfect.

I still couldn’t believe I’d made them. Four million gold sounded like a fortune, but for an artifact like this, it was nothing.

"..."

Soon enough, people began to gather.

Shadows moved in the dim light as students trickled in. Their voices were low, sleepy murmurs filling the air.

I stayed quiet, watching them.

It didn’t take long until most of us were here.

Then Professor Z arrived.

"Everyone’s here."

He said. His voice was gruff.

"Let’s move."

We had to board a bus. It was an old thing, creaky and worn, parked just outside the courtyard. I shuffled along with the others, my boots dragging a little. Then came the catch, we were forced to sit near our teammates, for whatever reason.

I frowned. My teammate was Aveline.

I found my assigned seat near the back.

I was about to sit when I felt a hand curl around my shoulder.

Confused, I turned around.

Aveline stood just a few feet away. Her dark hair caught the faint light.

"Can I sit near the window?"

She asked. Her voice was soft but firm.

I looked at her for a second.

The princess. Her presence was overwhelming, even now. I nodded and moved to the side, letting her pass.

As she walked by, I caught a scent of flowers, something light and sweet. It lingered for a moment, but I said nothing. She slid into the window seat and I took the one beside her.

The bus rumbled to life.

The seats creaked as everyone settled in. I stared ahead, my hands resting on my knees. The gloves glinted faintly in the dim light. Aveline sat quietly beside me, looking out the window. Her bow rested against her leg, its string taut. We didn’t talk much. After a while, she glanced at me.

"Nice gloves."

She said.

I blinked.

"Thanks."

That was it for a while. The trip itself was uneventful.

The bus rattled along, the road stretching out endlessly. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a bit. Exhaustion tugged at me, but sleep wouldn’t come. Aveline stayed silent, her gaze fixed outside. The hum of the engine filled the space between us.

Hours passed. My legs cramped from sitting so long.

Then, suddenly, the bus stopped. The jolt snapped me awake. I rubbed my eyes and glanced around. We’d arrived. People started standing, grabbing their gear. I followed suit, stretching as I stood. Aveline slid out first and I trailed behind her.

Exiting the bus, I stepped onto soft earth.

I rubbed my eyes again, blinking against the faint light.

"...!"

For a second, I froze.

Before us stood a massive wall made of nature. Massive trees towered hundreds of meters into the sky. Their trunks were thick, gnarled and ancient. Branches twisted together, forming an impenetrable barrier. The wall stretched to both sides, disappearing into the distance.

"Elves..."

I muttered under my breath.

The air smelled of moss and wood.

A faint mist clung to the ground.

The others murmured around me, their voices hushed.

I glanced at Aveline.

She stood still, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the trees. Her hand rested lightly on her bow.

Professor Z was ahead of us.

He stood near the wall, speaking to a hooded figure. The figure was tall and slim, their face hidden in shadow. A long cloak draped over their shoulders, blending with the mist. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Their voices were low, carried away by the breeze.

The figure turned suddenly.

Their heads tilted and I felt their gaze sweep over us. It was sharp, piercing, like they could see right through me. My stomach tightened. They scanned the group, their hood shifting slightly. Then they nodded once, a small, deliberate movement. They turned back to the wall.

Professor Z stepped back.

"Get ready."

He called to us.

"We’re going in."

The hooded figure raised a hand.

Their sleeve fell back, revealing pale, slender fingers. They pressed their palm against the bark of the nearest tree.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the ground trembled. A low groan echoed through the air, like the trees themselves were waking up. The wall shuddered. Branches twisted and parted, slowly opening a gap.

Light spilled through, a soft, golden glow.

It wasn’t sunlight. It was something else, something warm and alive. The gap widened, revealing a path beyond. The figure lowered their hand and stepped aside.

Professor Z waved us forward.

"Let’s move."

He said.

We started walking.

I stayed near Aveline, my eyes darting around. The air grew warmer as we passed through the opening. The trees loomed over us, their leaves rustling faintly. The path was narrow, lined with roots and vines. My boots sank slightly into the mossy ground.

Aveline walked ahead of me.

Her steps were light, silent.

I flexed my hands again, feeling the gloves. Whatever was coming, I’d need them. This was no ordinary trip. I knew the story. The elves, the forest, the danger ahead, it was all starting. My heart thudded in my chest.

The group spread out a little.

Whispers floated through the air. I kept my focus on the path. The golden light grew brighter, guiding us deeper. The wall of trees closed behind us with another groan, sealing us in. There was no turning back now.

I glanced at Aveline.

She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed ahead.

Her calm was unshakable, as always. I took a deep breath and kept moving. The forest swallowed us whole.

We walked for a while.

The air grew thick, heavy with the scent of earth and sap. My legs ached, but I pushed on.

The path widened. The trees thinned slightly, and the golden light grew stronger. Up ahead, I saw shapes, tall, elegant figures moving between the trunks.

Elves.

Their voices drifted towards us. Professor Z stopped, raising a hand to halt us.

"Wait here."

He said.

He walked forward, approaching the figures.

The hooded one from before joined him. I squinted, trying to see more. The elves were graceful, their movements fluid.

One stepped forward, their silver hair glinting in the light. They spoke to Professor Z, their voice too quiet to hear.

I shifted my weight, glancing at Aveline. She watched them too, her expression unreadable.

"What do you think?"

I asked, keeping my voice low.

She didn’t look at me.

"We’ll find out soon."

She said.

I nodded. Fair enough.

The professor turned back to us.

"They’ve agreed."

He said.

"We’re going deeper."

The elves stepped aside, gesturing for us to follow. I took another breath and moved forward, Aveline at my side.

The elves led us onward, their cloaks whispering against the mossy ground.

The golden light intensified, casting long shadows behind us as we walked.

The path stretched further into the forest and the towering trees began to shift. Their branches arched overhead, weaving together like a natural canopy. My boots pressed into the soft earth, the scent of sap and leaves growing stronger with every step.

The path curved gently, and then the trees parted.

Before us sprawled what looked like a city, but nothing like any city I’d ever seen.

Massive trees, wider than the bus we’d ridden in, rose hundreds of meters into the sky. Their trunks were gnarled and thick, etched with patterns that might’ve been natural or carved by hand, I couldn’t tell.

High above, platforms and walkways stretched between them, woven from vines and branches. Treehouses clung to the trunks, their walls made of living wood, pulsing faintly with that same golden glow we’d seen earlier. Roofs of moss and leaves shimmered as if dusted with starlight.

Elves moved everywhere, some walked the ground below, their long robes trailing behind them, while others crossed the swaying bridges above.

A few leaned out from the treehouses, their sharp eyes catching the light as they watched us. Their hair ranged from silver to pale gold, flowing like water even in the still air.

Everything about this place felt fluid, alive, as if the city itself breathed.

We were at Leden.

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