We finally found a way down the mountain. We followed a narrow dirt road that twisted along the side. The path was steep and risky—I nearly twisted my ankle several times. But when we reached the bottom, it opened into a valley with an amazing view. Before us was a field of deep red flowers, moving gently in the wind. Soft white bushes were spread here and there among tall trees with white leaves. Bright red fruits hung from the branches, looking almost like apples. Some trees even sheltered small animals looking for food and safety. A gentle breeze blew past Kia and me, bringing the sweet scent of flowers and the sound of rustling leaves.
“Wow…”
“Stunning, is it not?” Kia said with a faint smile. “You are looking at the Plains of Gehenna. The flowers that bloom here are native to this kingdom. Some people travel across the entire world just to witness them with their own eyes.”
The view felt almost unreal, like something from a fairy tale. Part of me wanted to stay and admire it longer, but Kia told me to keep moving. The more we walked through the valley, the more I saw. Rabbit-like animals hopped through the fields while colorful birds flew high above. Sometimes, I spotted a blue flower among the red ones, though it was easy to miss. This place was just too beautiful to be real. At other times, I might have enjoyed it more. But after dying twice, seeing something this beautiful felt strange, far away, and unfair. I felt like the world was teasing me, showing how wonderful life could be even after I had lost mine. Suddenly, a strong wind blew a bunch of leaves into my face. Panicked, I swung my arms wildly to protect myself. Only after my desperate fight against the leaves did I notice Kia laughing at me.
“What’s so funny?”
“My apologies,” she responded, wiping a tear from her eye. “The way you were swinging your arms around really tickled my funny bone.”
I felt my face flush with embarrassment. Was this another way the World was punishing me? If so, it seriously needs a better sense of humor.
After that “accident”, we continued and reached a wooden bridge. Below it, a narrow stream twisted through the valley. The sound of flowing water was strangely calming, but when I looked down, I saw it wasn’t water at all. Instead of the clear blue I expected, the stream was a bright orange.
“What are you looking at?” Kia asked me.
“What is that?” I inquired, pointing down at the river.
“Oh, this is Ignis—the lifeblood of all living things,” she answered before adding, “The temperature is especially pleasant during this time of year. You should try dipping your feet in it. I promise, you will find it lovely.”
I looked at the orange stream with doubt. Even though Kia spoke calmly and reassured me, I still thought the liquid looked too much like lava to touch. So, I politely said no.
At last, we reached the huge wall surrounding Gehenna. It was very tall, about twenty meters high, made of large stone bricks. Some parts looked old and were covered in moss and vines, showing it had been there a long time. Below the wall was an archway blocked by a black metal gate. A whole group of soldiers had camped in front of it. Rows of banners and tents filled the area, with armored soldiers walking between them. They wore ivory-colored armor with gold details that shone in the setting sun. Some held swords, others spears or maces. I felt very nervous walking toward them, especially when I saw archers and ballistas on top of the wall. Seeing I was uneasy, Kia gently tapped me on the shoulder.
“Do not fret. There is nothing to worry about.”
From the corner of my eye, I noticed one of the guards hurrying his way towards us. His armor was shaped slightly differently from the rest I’d seen, but the most noticeable change was the purple cloak he wore. Once he reached us, the guard took off his helmet, revealing the face of a handsome man underneath it. His curly hair was maple brown, and his eyes were a deep green with a slight yellow tint. In each ear he wore three earrings, two silver and one gold. He didn’t resemble a fighter to me, more like some kind of model, but I guess you could say the same about Kia.
“Glad to see you return well, Lady Kia. Nevertheless, may I suggest you keep your adventures outside the city to a minimum? My men are already occupied as it is, sadly. I would greatly appreciate it if I did not have to send them searching for someone of your stature as well.”
Kia made a small bow.
“Thank you for the kind words, Captain Andromedus. However, you do not have to worry about me. I am fully capable of protecting myself—if the need ever arises.”
The captain scoffed at her confident remark.
“I am aware of that fact; however, as captain of the Tenth Brigade, it is my duty to make sure no harm will come your way.”
His eyes then darted towards me.
“And who is this young lad walking with you, if I may ask?”
Before I could speak, Kia answered for me.
“His name is Shako,” she said before pausing. “I found him lying unconscious inside Sharp Peak and was guiding him back to town.”
“I see. I am sorry to hear that. In that case, I will not keep you waiting here any longer.”
Andromedus took us towards the gate before coming to a halt.
“OPEN THE GATE!”
With a loud racket, the metallic bars slowly rose up from the ground. Kia made another small bow to Andromedus before heading into town, with me walking close behind her.
On the other side, I saw another amazing view. The town spread out before me with busy streets and beautiful buildings. Trees were scattered around, making the place feel even more magical. Narrow streams of Ignis ran along the street edges, with rows of streetlights beside them. The buildings looked medieval, with wooden walls and slanted roofs, decorated in many ways. Their windows shone brightly, almost like crystal. The streets were very crowded. People moved from stall to stall, talking, looking at goods, or carrying baskets of food, while children ran through the crowds. Vendors called out to everyone, trying to sell their items. They sold fresh fruits, exotic foods, fancy clothes, and strange accessories. The smell of baked bread and grilled meat filled the air, making me hungry. There was a lot of noise. After being inside Sharp Peak for hours, the sound of so many people felt almost too much. But I didn't mind.
“Welcome to Gehenna!” Kia said proudly. “So, what are your first impressions?”
Kia turned around and looked at me in suspense.
“It’s beautiful!”
“Glad to hear that! Over the last few decades, Gehenna has had quite the makeover. You may not suspect it, but there was a time this town did not look as glamorous as it does today. Yet, I digress. Shall we continue?”
I got distracted almost right away. Every stall had something new and interesting that caught my attention. More than once, Kia had to grab my arm and pull me along so I wouldn’t fall behind. As we walked, she told me about her people’s customs and traditions. Elysium’s wealth came mostly from trade. Merchants traveled all over the world, making deals and building connections that helped everyone. They were so skilled that people started calling them the ‘hagglers of the world’—though today it's usually meant as an insult.
“Prosperity tends to spread wherever commerce flourishes,” she clarified.
In the end, it wasn’t very different from how things worked back on Earth. Was that just a coincidence, or was something else happening here? As we walked through the streets, I noticed people acting strangely around Kia. Many moved aside as soon as they saw her, and some kids even pointed at her excitedly. Some whispered to each other, and I saw a few people staring at me with clear suspicion.
“Uhm… Kia? Is something going on here?”
She glanced toward the crowd before shifting her gaze toward me.
“The people of Gehenna tend to be wary of outsiders. That said, you have nothing to fear.”
We eventually arrived at the town square. There, my eyes were immediately drawn towards the colossal castle sitting in the middle. Back at Sharp Peak, it’d already looked huge. Now that I was standing in front of it, I understood how big it actually was. Giant towers stood at each corner of the building. The grounds were surrounded by an iron fence, with a vast garden filled with trees, fountains, and flowerbeds, set between the fence and the main building.
“We have arrived.”
“Huh?”
Kia pointed at the castle in front of us.
“This is my home.”
For a moment, I simply stared at her. Then I stared at the castle. Then back at her. Then back at the castle. And finally, back at her. My brain struggled to process the information.
“...What?”
“This is my home,” she repeated.
It took several long seconds until the meaning of those words hit me.
“WHAT?! T-This is your home?!”
Kia covered her mouth, trying desperately to suppress a laugh.
“I apologize for keeping it from you. I was simply curious to see how you would react.”
I took another glance at the castle before slowly turning back toward her.
“Kia, who exactly are you?”
“Surely you already have an inkling regarding my identity. However, I do admit it would be ill-mannered of me not to introduce myself properly.”
She took a step backward and straightened her posture.
“Pay close attention, Shako, for I will say this only once. My name is Kia Asaria Sacramentia Unophia Diablo, daughter of His Majesty Azazel Barebaros Armus Unom Diablo III, and heir to the throne of Elysium. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”