Shuffle Heroes: Voice from the Darkness

Act II

New Age

Summers passed, my body and face grew old. Otherwise, not much has changed. I had a dream. A nightmare. I was surrounded by darkness. And from it, the twisted creature from that painting on the wall stepped out. He was trying to say something. But he was too far away for me to understand. Yet too close to ignore. Every night, I had the same dream. Every night, he visited me in my sleep. It has been four years now, and every night was identical.

I have to find out who he is. Where he comes from. What he is trying to convey to me. So far, my search was unsuccessful. I've traveled the whole world, went through hundreds of libraries, but the truth remains a mystery. The quest led me here to Mirsodes. A relatively large seaport full of stench and dubious people. At least that was the case years ago, when I was last here. The Noble House Accius of Mirsodes allegedly owns a book describing creatures from other worlds. Maybe it's a red herring. Maybe it's just a bunch of fairy tales. But this is my only hope.

A big event was being held in the city. Nobody talked about anything else these last days. A giant airship was about to take off. Rather than a means of transport, it was said it will be more of a city in the clouds. When I look at those dirty sewers around, no wonder that people want to live in heaven.

The construction of the zeppelin was located far outside the city. Nobody missed the take-off ceremony. Crowds flowed through the streets. I also joined them. I needed some distraction.

Truly, it wasn't an ordinary zeppelin. As far as the eye could see, there was lying this magnificent machine. I don't understand how something like this could take off. Hundreds of cabins, houses actually, stacked next to each other. Between them, all kinds of metal bridges, propellers and balloons. Indeed, it is a marvel of engineering. Of magic.

Crowds gathered around the wooden podium. A delegation was preparing for the opening ceremony. First to speak was an elderly gentleman who was so fat that he wasn't even able to get up from his mobile mechanical chair.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome", he croaked. "Surely you all know me. For those who came from afar, my name is Ekram Accius."

That's him. This man is quite possibly the answer to my search. To my obsession.

"As a patron of this magnificent project, it is my honor to introduce to you the inventor who will relocate us to the clouds. Master Ramplpankr."

People started clapping and a slumped man with burned skin waddled to the stage. Almost all of the masters of his order were so small in stature and unhealthy in appearance. This was caused by prolonged exposure to otrium, a magical substance that drives all of their experiments.

"Yes, yes. Ahem.... To this day, there is no bigger machine than Nobu Urdo that can fly. Its deck can hold exatly twelve hundred residents plus a hundred-member crew. Once in the air, Nobu Urdo will remain forever among the clouds. It will need only occasional deliveries of fuel, food and other supplies. Ahem.... I will not delay any longer so we can move on to...."

"A new age," the chubby nobleman muttered in Ramplpankr's ear.

"Yes, yes. Ahem.... We are on the threshold of a new age. A more luxurious life than anyone ever imagined awaits us all...."

Ridiculous. Even if similar cities will flood the sky, it will only remain a privilege of the rich and noble. Others will stay in the dirt on the surface. The extraction of fuel required for the operation of these flying vehicles will destroy the earth's surface even more. The poor and underprivileged will suffer even more in the infested world of the new age.

But not me. I will gain power. I will not wallow in the dirt as the rabble, I will not run to the clouds as the nobility. I will visit another world. I have to get the book. I need to find a way to be reunited with the creature from my dreams.

After more speeches and the cutting of the red tape, the zeppelin began preparing for takeoff. Flowing crowds of passengers gradually filled the entire machine. Only Ramplpankr stayed on the stage. I heard that apparently he is afraid of heights. How ironic. On the contrary, Ekram Accius was the first on the luxury deck of his airship.

The propellers started to spin. Purple flames blazed all over the airship and filled the balloons with hot gas. The onlookers were deafened by a huge creak and, to the general applause, the construction lifted itself off the ground.

The zeppelin went over the water. The sea wasn't yet polluted enough by mining companies and the air above will be the freshest. A true paradise.

Suddenly, there was an explosion. One of the balloons burst into violet flames. The cloud city began leaning to one side and descending towards the water. Passengers ran around in confusion over bridges and screamed desperately. They had no way to save themselves. Violet fire gradually spread throughout the whole structure. Until a loud crash into the sea extinguished it. A giant wave heaved from the point of impact and after a while, the whole town disappeared under the surface.

All the people on the land remained standing in complete silence. Just Ramplpankr dispassionately took out his notebook and began to write something.

"Next time, reinforce the balloons," he mumbled to himself. "And maybe even add lifeboats.... Yes, yes. If there is some space left. Ahem...."

The crowd fell into panic.

Apparently, we will have to wait for the arrival of the new age.