
Aira and Lila carefully approached the building. The large hall on the ground floor probably was a marvelous place ages ago. It was still breathtaking, but in a very different way. Vines and trees sprouted from everywhere, breaking what one day was a perfectly flat surface of the floor. Early spring flowers caught the light sprouting from cracks in the walls and from the windows that had lost their glazing during centuries of decay.
Carefully exploring the inner halls, the two women searched for a way to get higher. It wasn't an easy task; many of the metal beams were eaten away with rust, and ceilings caved in. Compared to the state of the ancient facility they spent so many weeks in, it was a complete mess.
"I thought these buildings would be more intact," said Aira. "From the outside it looked like they should have survived the centuries much better. But it's completely rotten inside!"
"Yeah, now I'm wondering if we're just chasing shadows trying to find a way up," said Lila. "And even if we do, isn't it smarter to shadowfoot it back down and keep moving? Your senses might be enough of a guide, don't you think?"
"We can," confirmed Aira. "But I'd prefer to have a visual confirmation of our goal."
So, they continued their search until they found an intact staircase. The mere existence of so many staircases that led up to the next floors was mindboggling. Still, when they discussed it, Aira and Lila had to agree that it was only reasonable. The footprint of this building was the same as that of a whole neighborhood in Mountain View.
The interior of that stone box with steps was dark, the air stale and heavy with dust. It was almost like its enclosed frame allowed the staircase to withstand the abuse of time much better compared to the other parts of the building. So, after a brief hesitation, they decided to give it a try.
Aira led the way, and her enhanced agility allowed her to navigate around the obstacles with grace. Lila followed closely, her eyes darting around as she stayed vigilant for any signs of danger. From time to time, they had to offer each other help in overcoming some hurdles, and overall, the progress was not very fast.
As they ascended the building, Aira and Lila found more remnants of the old world—rusted and rotten tables covered in dust, small parts of unknown broken devices, and scattered papers. In a way, it reminded them of their abandoned base. Still, all the evidence of the ancient grandeur seemed to be even less usable and recognizable here.
Still, the whole scene was a haunting testimony to a once-thriving civilization that was now reduced to ruins. Each floor they ascended added to the eeriness. The silence was broken only by the occasional creak of the ancient structure and rare whispers of the radio when Aira wanted to say something.
"Can you imagine what sort of calamity could have ended a civilization that magnificent and powerful?" asked Aira. "Erasing so much power and knowledge?"
"By the roots, all we've got are the old legends," said Lila. "And every one of them points a finger at the undead. Supposedly, they chased humans out of the old cities, took over the heartwood of civilization, and, well, the war didn't leave much standing. Guess we've been weather-beaten ever since."
"But who has started the war?" asked Aira. "With that attitude, I experienced from some of your fellow humans… If the same level of hate was present then, those hundreds of years ago, I could easily see either side starting the conflict."
"Look, all I've got is what the so-called wise ones handed down," said Lila. "The Elders, the ranger trainers—it's their story, not mine. You know I started picking at their tales long before I met you. And yeah, this whole history smells more tangled than a bramble patch. But where else do I go for answers?"
Lila stomped her foot and walked away from Aira, not responding to her transmissions.
By that moment, Lila was visibly disturbed. Switching sides and blaming everything on humans was a hard shift to make. Even if she wasn't happy with myths and histories she and other humans were made to believe.
But then, even after the recent unpleasant encounters with the rangers, it wasn't an easy task to cut her ties with humanity completely. Or at least with that aggressive part of humanity that didn't want to get to the real reasons that brought the old civilization to the Fall.
And it wasn't impossible to know if there were any other human factions out there, with differing attitudes. The ones who were more open-minded.
They continued their endless climb, each step echoing in the hollow halls. They had to switch staircases occasionally because of more obstructions and cave-ins. Luckily, the building was large enough to give them ample choice. Even considering the level of decay due to the centuries of the building being open to the elements. But once again, they were awestruck by its sprawl.
With all that choice, though, they had to clear up some debris more than once, losing valuable hours of daylight. But now, they were invested. There were too many floors left behind, and still quite a few levels to climb. At least with Aira's boosted stats, they were able to power through these obstacles much faster than a group of ordinary humans would do.
By the moment they reached the tenth floor, exhaustion settled in, and the two women decided to make camp. Aira and Lila had spent the whole first part of the day braving through the treacherous terrain of the ancient city, and that already was a rigorous workout, not counting their slow ascent.
They chose a corner that was at least a bit protected from the wind and prepared a small resting area, setting up their makeshift sleeping quarters amid the debris. After all preparations were done, Aira and Lila sat in a wide window on the very edge of the building, enjoying a quiet meal during the sunset.
For both women, seeing windows with their sills literally at the floor level was no less astonishing than these high-rise buildings themselves.
"I just can't stop wandering about the miracles of that old civilization," sent Aira to Lila's radio. "And this building that still stands, despite its ruinous state."
"Bones and bark, it's a shame humans don't get to see marvels like this anymore," said Lila. "Maybe if we did, we'd aim higher, start digging out the roots of our old glory. But no, with the undead lurking, sightseeing isn't exactly in season."
The floor they chose for their camp wasn't high enough to see far enough to the city's center over the other buildings. Both the structures that remained standing and the rubble of the towers that had fallen in the previous years and decades were too high. But the women were awestruck by the majestic view anyway. They could trace the approximate location where they entered the city, which was already barely seen because of the distance.
"I'd never imagined structures this towering," said Lila, her voice laced with awe. "Even the fallen ones dwarf Mountain View's tallest. It's got me rethinking the old myths. Maybe they weren't as moss-brained as I thought. And, well… I've got even more doubts about what the Elders have been selling us."
"They are truly awesome, these buildings," said Aira. "There's nothing in my world to compare to this level of technology. Obviously, we are much more reliant on magic when building structures of that size. But I can understand your feelings. More often than not, legends become an instrument of control for the rulers."
"I'm starting to remember more of the stories my grandfather used to spin," said Lila. "Back then, they sounded like the ramblings of an old ranger who'd tipped his cup one too many times. But now… now they're weaving together in a way that actually clicks."
"So, maybe he was training your critical thinking?" asked Aira. "Even if you didn't understand that at the time? Preparing you for this journey even not knowing you'd have to face this quest?"
"You know, it's like you've hit the mark…" said Lila with a sigh. "I think about him a lot. His stories, the way he sparked my curiosity. Without him nudging me, I wouldn't have grown into the burr under my bosses' saddle that I was during my last days in Mountain View."
As they settled in for the night, Aira felt a distinct presence thanks to her Necrocommunion skill. She still wasn't able to interpret that signal. But at least now, she was absolutely sure they were on the brink of reaching their current goal. Probably, if they went up a few more floors, they should be able to see their destination. Allowing Aira to finally match her magical senses with the visuals.
"Got a read on anything?" Lila asked, noticing Aira's far-off look. "How far are we from the mark?"
"There is something out there," Aira answered. "The best guess is that there's truly an undead settlement at the center of this ancient city. But I can't say much; I still don't understand the full power of my new skill. And there's a lot of interference there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aira stood up from the edge as if this difference in height would allow her to overcome all the obstacles that prevented her from seeing the ancient city's central part.
Not really gaining anything by that move, she sighed, looked at Lila, and sent another voice message: "It's a more powerful presence compared to that single watcher who lingered in the shadows near the facility," she said. "But I can't say if there are ten undead there or a thousand. Nor can I decipher any additional information about these people. It just appears as a large blob of energy in my magical vision."
"Guess we'll have some answers tomorrow," said Lila, trying to sound optimistic. "Here's hoping it's not the worst legends coming to life. Dying as monster chow isn't exactly on my list of priorities."
Lila looked at Aira. She started saying something but then stopped as if unsure of her thoughts.
"I think…" Lila hesitated, words catching in her throat. "I hope they're more like you—sharp as frost—and not like the shambling horrors from the tavern tales."
"That encounter with the watcher gives me some hope," Aira said. "There is some intelligence behind their actions. And I still believe that they need something from us. Or at least from me. And if that's true, we'll be able to bargain."
Lila yawned wide. The fatigue of the day caught up with her. The contrast between the warm fire and the chilly breeze of a spring night made her even more drowsy.
"Hey!" said Aira with a smile. "Time to go to your bedroll. You need to rest. Go! And I'll use that time for meditation. There is a lot to explore here with all my senses."
***
Despite Aira's hopes, the night passed uneventfully. She tried to focus on her most recently acquired skill during the meditation, but it didn't give any positive results. She only felt some shadowy figures and whispers, echoes of the connection she didn't yet know how to establish. And the congregation of the people at the center of this ruined city still felt like an amorphous blob, declining to give away any secrets.
At first light, after a short breakfast and a cup of energizing hot herbal tea, they resumed their ascent. The higher they climbed, the more precarious the structures around them seemed. Aira and Lila had to navigate around crumbling sections and carefully pick their way through debris. Some of the neighboring buildings had collapsed over the centuries, leaving behind skeletal remains of their former grandeur or even just heaps of rubble and debris. But still, there were few of the high-rises remaining in the vicinity.
As they came closer and closer to the upper floors, the morning light streamed through broken windows, illuminating the cityscape beyond. Aira and Lila paused to take in the view.
The Old City spread out before them, a vast expanse of ancient rubble with only a tiny fraction of buildings looming like rotten teeth over the overgrown streets. Still, closer to the city center, a gathering of structures seemed to remain in a better condition than many others around them.
"By the roots, this is beyond belief," Lila murmured, awe in her voice. "Can you even fathom how many people lived here? The scale of it—it's like staring into a forest of stone and human fates."
Aira nodded, equally stunned by the sight. "It's like looking at a skeleton of an ancient civilization," she said. "So much history, so many stories lost to time."
"Do you think the undead have their wits about them?" asked Lila. "We've been drilled since childhood to think they're mindless horrors to fear and avoid. But you had a point yesterday—the fact they sent someone to shadow us… that smells like strategy, not instinct."
"If my guess is right, they have at least some access to the System," said Aira. "Maybe even their civilization is built around it. But I don't have enough information to make a judgment yet. In the end, in my world beasts and monsters are also integrated into the System. And not all of them are at least in some measure sentient."
Finally, it became apparent that continuing the climb was unwise. The top levels of the building were as unstable as some of the nearby structures that had crumbled years or even centuries ago.
"Every step feels like pulling back the leaves on a forgotten story," said Lila. "Who knows? My ancestors might've walked these streets. Imagine the lives that once thrived here, like a forest humming with life."
"So, do you know at least anything about them?" asked Aira. "From where did they come to Mountain View?"
"Not a leaf," said Lila with a sigh. "My grandfather didn't share much about that part of the story, and I've no clue why. It's like he was holding something back, but I never had the right questions to ask."
Lila looked away, her gaze unfocused for a few seconds.
"The story of my family..." she said thoughtfully. "It's like trying to follow a trail that's half-covered in snow. Just a few hints my grandfather left behind. Look over there—see that building, a few kilometers out? It's similar in some way, with lots of mysteries and blank spots in its history. It's not tall by this city's standards, but that spire reaches right for the clouds. Was it a shrine? A marker for forgotten gods? What dreams did those who walked through its doors carry with them?"
"Dreams of reaching the heavens, perhaps," said Aira.
Lila sighed again.
"It's like my family's history," she said. "All I can do is piece it together from scraps and guesses. But the dreams they had? Those are lost to the wind."
Aira looked around pointedly and spread her hands as if to focus Lila's attention on their surroundings.
"These people, and your ancestors, most probably, they definitely wanted to get closer to the sky in these buildings," Aira said. "Which makes us climb so many stairs just to see a bit further! But then, was it some wild experiment that went wrong and created this divide in your world? Or was there some otherworldly reason for the change? In any case, the scene around us is a stark reminder of both civilization's potential and fragility."
"Just another branch to add to the pile of things to ponder when we've got a quiet moment…" said Lila with a faint smile. "If ever…"
Then, Aira probed the surrounding area with her skill again, pushing a bit more this time. She had to tap deeper into her reserves, which weren't recovering as fast as before at this distance from the ground.
Aira closed her eyes, focusing on the energy signatures to be sure she was probing in the right direction.