Aeternum

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King's Folly: Chapter 5.5

For those who don't know, King's Folly is @Aeoliae's daily writing project that you should go read right now if you haven't already. Each chapter so far has been posted as a status update on their profile. This is chapter 5.5, a little kind of interlude from yours truly to help showcase some different parts of the worldbuilding, while also helping me improve and be more comfortable sharing my terrible writing. To those who read this: thank you!

...

It was a terrible day to watch the world end.

Well, that's a little melodramatic. I'd come up to this little viewpoint to see the supposedly amazing view – and then BAM! A giant wave out of nowhere, scooping up the city before settling down into a calm expanse of water where the city had been. The blood red of the sky suddenly seemed poetic, almost, as I stand there blinking. Am I dreaming? Did I accidentally take drugs again? I reach up and pinch the back of my neck.

Nope. This actually happened.

While I try to figure out what in the gods happened, the skies shift suddenly. Hail pours down, a startling difference from the idyllic view that I'd been looking at just moments ago. I cover my head against the furious hail, a clear sign that the gods aren't happy.

Yeah, I wouldn't be happy either if an entire city got swept away in an instant.

I shake my head, deciding that I should head back to the town before the weather gets any worse. I pinch the back of my neck again to double-check that I'm not dreaming, before gathering the few items I had brought with me up here.

The path is narrow, but I still run as fast as I can without tripping over something. I'm one of the only travelers staying in this town tonight, despite the location being popular for those travelling on the King's Road. But with the king's recent... outbursts, people don't really wanna go to the king's city. Over the past few days, I'd seen a lot of people going the other way, towards the western kingdom.

I don't blame them. The central kingdom has been in shambles recently. Supposedly, the king called his closest friend, the King's Advisor, as a traitor. I don't know if the rumors are true, but I guess I'll find out when I get there. This little town is only a day or two away from the king's city by foot.

Finally, I arrive at the town. Already, I can see the blazing flame of the bonfire, and a line of townsfolk tossing offerings to the flames. I've always found it interesting how different people's ideas are for how to appease the gods. Where I'm from, we don't care that much. The gods will quiet down eventually. The best we can do is just wait out the storm.

I tear my thoughts away from home, deciding that after a long day, I should get some sleep. In the dimming light, I spot the sign for the inn. Usually, the inn would be full of travelers and traders heading to the king's city in hopes of new opportunities, but tonight, the inn is silent. The innkeeper, who's already back from the bonfire, greets me with a nod as I slip through the doorway. He doesn't say anything as I head straight up the stairs to my room, unlock the door, and step inside.

After everything that's happened today, I suddenly feel exhausted. I tell myself that I can think about the world ending tomorrow, so I lie down and close my eyes.

May as well get some sleep while I still can.

I exist here once again (for probably a limited duration)