7 Worlds: The 4th World Vol. 1

We had arrived in an odd dimension—or perhaps this was simply outer space? It was hard to tell. The space around us was golden and white which bled off into what truly did seem like the darkness of space. Upon closer observation, I could see a massive metropolis in the distance that seemed to be emanating the strange gold and white aura around it. I was certain that the massive structure was moving through space somehow but I wasn’t sure how I could tell.

“This is the beginning of our story,” Yuenna said, with a sad smile.

“T-This is Talis isn’t it?” I asked, astonished.

Somehow, it felt eerily familiar. As we landed on it, the intricate buildings seemed to be made of a solid white marble and the ground was a strange stone construction I had never seen this vividly before. There were seven tall towers bordering the city with the center tower being the largest and most domineering of them all. It stretched an incredible distance upwards over the others which already looked to be at incredible heights themselves.

“It seems you still instinctively recognize it, interesting. Indeed, this is Talis, the city of legend,” she agreed, with a laugh that seemed depressed.

“What do you mean by that? I don’t recognize it at all,” Alden questioned with a slight head tilt, scratching his chin thoughtfully as he observed the city.

“Well, you’ve never been here so of course you wouldn’t. This is the traveling city of gods, Talis,” Yuenna explained.

“And how exactly is this part of your memory? If I understand correctly, you’re simply a quanum manifestation created within the 4th World,” Alden continued drilling for answers.

“Perhaps because I am not of the 4th World,” she said without offering further explanation.

It was obvious that Alden wanted to ask a lot more questions but luckily he thought better of it. Yuenna continued our tour, drawing us closer to the center tower, until we came across a group of gods conversing in secret. They stood in an alcove that was built atop a shimmering blue waterfall. The blue liquid projected an aura of depth as if it were part of creation itself.

“Are they really going to do it?” One god asked.

“I saw them just a moment ago heading towards the seal towers,” said another older looking god.

“What do they have to gain from doing this?” The first god asked.

“Freedom of course. Many of us are tired of remaining neutral to the worlds of those savages. And I need not mention being stuck on the same course for tens of thousands of years, as if somehow that purports peace throughout all the Worlds,” a goddess chimed in, chastising the first god.

“I disagree. I believe there is a deeper meaning to their actions and I’m certainly leaning towards the God King already being dead. If he wasn’t, how could such a thing occur?” A third god stated.

They all mumbled in thought amongst themselves for a time.

“Regardless, I don’t intend to stick my nose into it, whatever happens, happens,” a second goddess said.

With that, Yuenna directed us upwards and we flew towards the largest tower in the center of the city. It was of a purple black marble and truly stood out amongst the white city. As we approached, we could hear shouting between three gods.

“The God King is dead! Forget these ancient traditions and these pointless lives we lead. We are but figureheads constantly withholding our power from those that truly require it!” One god lectured.

“My son, we cannot act upon this, your actions are foolish and you must repent before you go too far,” an older god argued.

“Father, you’ve sat upon the God King’s throne for thousands of years as his apparent representative, but at what point have any of us been heard?! What have you done while you sat there but watch pointless wars get waged. It ends now!” The young god yelled.

Landing in a large open window, we witnessed the man holding a silver sword dripping with a blue aura. The three gods were standing in what was clearly some sort of throne room. The room was well ornamented with a large throne at the back. Behind the throne however was a massive door at least thirty meters tall.

“T-That’s…You cannot have that! Where did you get it?! TELL ME NOW SALVIR, BEFORE YOU DOOM US ALL!” The older god yelled, in shock and disgust.

The older god was tall but stalky, long white hair and beard, garbed in fine black robes. Salvir, the god holding the sword was tall and bulky, long shaggy black hair with streaks of red, tanned skin wearing a purple garb.

“I deem you a traitor, for supporting this corrupt society of so-called gods, and for that I will sink this city into the depths!” Salvir stated before lunging forward with a wide sweeping slash cleaving the old god in two.

Blood sprayed across the walls and Salvir. As the old god’s blood pooled on the ground, the massive door behind the now dead god began to open. The three of us remained silent, it was a memory after all, we could have no influence over any of the events taking place. Slowly Salvir walked inside the door, the room on the other side of the massive door was bathed in a vile, sinister aura. Salvir thrust the sword deep into the pillar inside where the aura originated. The ground shook violently as the entire city came to a stop and started descending rapidly downwards.

“An excellent decision,” the other god said, his voice seemed familiar but I was having difficulty placing it. “All we need now is to wait. Once you acclimate with the pillar you’ll have full control over Talis as your father once did,” he continued, he had white hair, tan skin and purple eyes, just like the Veytru tribe—who on earth is that?

“Hold on to my hands tightly,” Yuenna said, grasping our hands tight as, suddenly, reality began to shift.

“What’s going on now?” I asked, alarmed.

The city began plummeting downwards but as it did the space around it began to warp into translucent colours and shapes. Yet, the distortions brought forth coherent images as well, images of other worlds and civilizations. As I stared, I could almost feel my soul pulling away towards one of the other worlds. I began to feel nauseous as slowly I began to get a clearer picture of each world we passed. One world stuck with me particularly strongly, a world full of humanoid-dragons and vast oceans. And then, suddenly, we struck the ground—hard.

Despite falling through dimensions, through an atmosphere and crashing into a planet, Talis was as pristine as it had been when we had first arrived. The same could not be said for the ground beneath the massive city. Without a doubt, any life on this planet would suffer from the devastating impact the city had made.

“How in the world…?” I questioned in awe.

“The city is said to have been made of the God King himself who was supposedly indestructible,” Yuenna answered plainly. “This is unfortunately where my memory ends of this event. With the falling of the city, the power it once provided us vanished and we were left with just enough to sustain ourselves,” Yuenna said, gripping our hands tightly.

“So...You’re a god then. What are you a god of?” Alden inquired, attempting to distract from the horrid event and memory.

“I am…Or, perhaps, I was the god of knowledge and insight. Perhaps you may understand how lacking memory of these events can have a particularly negative effect on me,” Yuenna said solemnly. “I reside in the 4th World, much like Balfrus resides in his own dimensional space, in order to maintain my existence. The 3rd World does not have the required capacity for gods to sustain their power. Should we enter, we would not be much more powerful than yourselves,” Yuenna explained, as if predicting our next question.

“So why show us this at all?” Alden asked.“I don’t quite see the value in it.”

“Eventually you will, especially you Cian. Do not forget what you saw today. It is imperative you remember all of it and more,” she responded, cryptically.

I nodded in understanding as my gaze fell upon the fallen city of Talis. My heart ached over the images that had just finished playing before me and I thought that just maybe the souls of Khasar and Yasvei inside of me were feeling the same way.

“Now then, it’s time for you to leave, but first I must speak with Alden in private,” Yuenna said, and without a glance she shoved me backwards.

My vision blurred into a misty haze and took some effort to shake off. It took only a moment to realize I was back in the 3rd World.

“That little…Whatever,” I grumbled, throwing my blanket off.