The Arcane Guardians Chapter 79: Chapter 73: Winter Solstice

Read chapter 79 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

The trek up to the highest point in the city was silent. Felix barely noticed the landscape as he climbed up the small hill overlooking the horizon. Not like there was a horizon to begin with, anyway. The entire city was all that was left of the planet. Or rather, the entire universe. Darkness stretched beyond the clouds, leaving nary a hint of light in its infinite void. The only source of light was from the city itself, which had somehow maintained the pink glow of a setting sun, as though frozen in time. Like a minimalist painting, this city was the only thing splashed on existence’s uncaring canvas. “There.” Felix pointed at the light pink cloud in front of him. Now that he was closer to it, this ‘cloud’ did not look so wispy anymore. The skull shape appeared to be a lot more solid, almost as though it was carved out of marble instead. A wide gap stood between the cloud and the cliff’s edge. “Mind giving me a lift?” Titus said. “I can’t fly.” Felix’s psychic senses flashed. If he was sensing it correctly, the air in front of him was solid. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary.” He took a step out hesitantly, preparing to telekinetically catch himself in case his senses had somehow been fooled. He let himself fall forward. And his foot hit solid ground. The man strolled towards the cloud, casually walking over a two-kilometre drop to the oblivious city below. His companions followed suit and crossed the invisible pathway as well. Felix took one last glance at the beautiful city as he felt the familiar throbbing in his soul again. This is it. “Whoever, or whatever lies beyond this cloud is bound to be powerful, so let’s stick together, alright?” he said, glancing at his comrades nervously. They responded with a silent nod, except for Marcia who was still staring blankly into space. Poor girl, she still hasn’t gotten over it, huh? Cooling magic washed over him as he stepped into the cloud. ~ ~ ~ So much for sticking together… The moment he stepped into the cloud, Felix found himself in the middle of a haunted house all alone. He didn’t even get a chance to remind his companions to stay close. Felix sighed internally, before composing himself. At least whoever snatched him here wasn’t some melodramatic villain who enjoyed wasting his time. Floorboards creaked beneath his feet as Felix took a step forward. A faint light flickered from the side of his eye, making shadows flash around him. He ignored them. If anything tried a sneak attack, his telekinetic senses would have warned him anyway. It took Felix a while to realise he was standing in his own house, although everything seemed to have aged for hundreds of years. Wood rotted, metal stained, and walls peeled off everywhere he walked. Everywhere— Except for the front door which remained unblemished. The man reached for the doorknob hesitantly. Surely, leaving this place couldn’t be so easy, could it? “I wouldn’t, if I were you.” Felix froze, his hand millimetres away from the door handle. A corporeal figure had literally materialised out of thin air and was walking down the stairs. He turned around slowly. The psychic signature was uncannily familiar. “Not unless you want to be trapped in another domain, boy.” Pale yellow light illuminated the figure’s face as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Well… met,” Felix started. “Do I know you?” “What a curious question.” The hooded woman moved towards him without a sound. Felix shot a glance to her feet, confirming that she was indeed hovering slightly above the floor. “I am you.” She removed her hood, revealing the face of a woman who looked no older than fifty. Curly brown hair draped her shoulder without a hint of grey amongst them. Felix pursed his lips, watching her carefully. “Oh, don’t look at me like that.” The woman chuckled lightly, before prancing away to pick up a spoon. “I’m just as confused as you, can’t you tell?” Felix kept his eyes from glowing. The lady before him had a mind, that was for sure. But her mental de