Chapter 53: 54. To Divas Pass

The last settlement that separated them from Divas Pass was a place called Divas Gate. A very small settlement that sat at the mouth of a vast valley that linked with Brandar. It was the only avenue into and out of Brandar from Grandis, save for the northern sea.

Frost checked her map for the second time since arriving in this world. She was under the assumption that the map only appeared when trying to access the Hyperlink Network. It was as easy as simply invoking the map to appear. It also didn’t help that the first time the map appeared was when she invoked the Hyperlink, rather than the map itself.

Still, it did not excuse her from attempting to check it earlier.

As expected, the map revealed what she had already seen. Divas Gate was only just ahead, and they were posed to reach it by noon. Because they approached it at an angle, the mountain directly before them obscured much of Divas Gate.

On one side they had the mountain, and on the other was a small woodland. Between the trees she caught the glimmers of a sea, and beyond were the ruined archipelagoes that once belonged to the old city of Atlas. In the center of it all, directly beneath the Nexus, was the rebuilt city of Atlas, where pale, monolithic spires rose as if pushing the Nexus into the air.

The caravans trailed smoothly on a dirt path. It was wide enough for up to ten caravans to move side by side, but they remained in a column of two. Most of those that were inoculated had already woken up and expressed feeling ‘refreshed’.

Their levels had climbed up very slightly. It seemed like the unnamed blue Serum strengthened them somehow. Probably to prepare them for Atelier acquisition.

Frost didn’t know what to make of the Ateliers anymore. In one hand they offered the slaves here a new chance at life, but in the other she could not trust them wholeheartedly.

Assuming they had good intentions would be a mistake, much like the one she had made with the Wandering Healer and the Wayfarer.

They were far from the kind of people she imagined them to be. The way Via and the slaves spoke of them was always full of vigor and inspiration; but in retrospect she realized that there were indeed hints to their true nature.

She recalled when one asked if she was going to ‘execute’ them. That should have been a red flag. Though that didn’t change the fact that they did offer a hand to those in need, however sinister it was.

In the end, the administration of Serum S was a decision made by the discretion of the slaves… who were already broken people.

150 were killed out of the 300 slaves they found. Like a walking plague doctor in disguise. Wingless Doves… Nav.

“Wingless Dove is the name given to the Wandering Healers only. All else is unknown about them, including the Wayfarers.”

On Earth doves were a symbol of peace and innocence. Hope even. ‘Wingless’ kind of twists the meaning. Now that I realize it, names really do mean everything.”

“Indeed they do. Much like why you called me Nav, short for Navigate.”

Yep. Then there’s me. Frost. What do you think my name means?

“The freezing of material –”

Ok, I didn’t mean it literally. Haaah.

“Look! It’s the sea! The Nexus and the cities!” Alice exclaimed, pointing out into the vast world beyond as soon as the trees parted ways.

“Brandar! The giant cities!”

“It’s massive! Are we really going to be allowed to live there!?”

“There’s a giant love heart as well!”

“Atlas is soooo huge!”

Most of the voices came from the slaves. That was not to say that the Adventurers in the other caravans didn’t have their own moment of splendor.

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They could see it all clearly now. All eyes instantly fell onto the spectacular world beyond. Awe sparkled in their eyes as hope filled their hearts. Even the horses had to slow down, their heads turned to the benevolent sights.

Atlas was a city plunged beneath the Nexus. The lights emanating from those structures warded off the darkness like a second sun, appearing like countless stars under the darkness of the Nexus.

Frost internally described everything she saw to Nav, allowing her mental companion to absorb these sights that it could not perceive. She stroked Jury’s head, which laid on her lap right next to the cat-girl’s. Both were still fast asleep, and she wished that these two were at least able to witness the scenery.

And speaking of her lap, she now wore black pants to match with her coat, as well as a simple shirt underneath. It was a shame that there was nothing of value in Little Tais. Additionally, Frost brought along spare clothes for Jury of various sizes. She didn’t know what the woman’s size was exactly. If they didn’t fit, she could always donate them to the others.

“The Nex Megalopolis. Atlas is the biggest city in Elysia, but the Megalopolis has the highest population to density count by far. So… I guess that makes it the ‘biggest’ city?” Calfasio spoke somewhat longingly of the place. “It’s where people want to go. And where its own people aspire to get into the cities. That’s why, I have one of these.”

He flashed a golden ticket, causing Hellen to hum pleasantly in response.

“You’ve received an invitation into the City of Diamonds? No wonder you’re in a hurry to see your daughter~”

“It’s our ticket to a better life. But anywhere’s better than Grandis.” Calfasio clutched the object, as well as the polaroid hidden in another pocket.

Snap.

Our Happiest Moments snapped another photo.

It had been doing this for some time now. The whereabouts of these photos was lost to her, and the reason why it took these photos in the first place was just as mysterious. What she did know however, was that its polaroid gave this cat-eared girl hope to conquer Serum S.

So perhaps it was trying to give them hope? She didn’t know. It didn’t have a voice either to drop hints.

“I agree~ But there’s hardly a place better than within the cities.” Hellen added. “Brandar is a unique place. I have a store outside of the City of Hearts~ It’s manned by my nephew. Oh, I wonder how they’re doing now.”

Seeing the spanning cityscape caused them to reminisce. The 5 cities that surrounded the Nexus stretched as far as the eye could see. From what Nav told her, 4 of the cities spanned from one end of Brandar to the other, and the 5^th city, the City of Strings, was located in Emvita.

There were two reasons as to why the cities were built in such close proximity. The first was the threat of the Dungeons, and the second and more important reason was to protect the Nexus.

The Dozen Winged Bird was not something any Beholder was capable of defeating. They were lucky the Corrupted only destroyed Paradise.

The Nex Megalopolis served as a defensive barrier that combined the forces of many Ateliers in the case of another Paradise Lost event. It was a city built out of necessity, and not so much from the kindness of the Ateliers.

It was built only 15 years ago, after all.

“Quick question! Why can’t we swim over to Brandar or Atlas?” Alice asked the one question that plagued the mind of many of the slaves… and even Frost.

“You can’t swim in these waters. You’ll sink straight to the bottom of the sea. Also! Don’t try to fly over the cities or the outskirts! You can get into trouble for it.” Via stated.

“Caldera Industries can manipulate gravity to their whims. It is likely that the bottom of this sea is laced with gravity-altering objects. Paradise Lost was a call to arms for all Ateliers. An arms race took place in the last 15 years and saw the need for these measures. Just in case.”

Paradise Lost… I wonder how something like the Dozen Winged Bird came to be.

“At your rate of understanding, it is just a matter of time before we figure things out.”

Let’s hope so.