Abysse, the fortress of the abyss
Wayfarer II
- The fortress of Abysse -
After escaping from the Hardi royal capital, Yaena and her companions discovered a new civilization using technology unknown to them. Forced to do so, they had no choice but to follow the men who had captured them.
After many adventures and faced with the unknown threats of these lands, Yaena and her group joined the forces of the city of Lyon. There, they battled the fearsome invasion of formerly human creatures that threatened to lay waste to the rest of society.
In the face of danger, many men succumbed to the fighting. Pushed to their very limits, the resistance succeeded in repelling the hordes that swept through the city led by a formidable Behemoth, at the cost of many citizens lives.
The men weren't the only ones to lose loved ones. Keyn, Yaena's beloved, also fell in battle. The pain was all the more intense when, betrayed, she was captured for a second time by the men who presented themselves as her allies.
Aboard a demonic-looking train, the horizon lightened to reveal the destination of this unusual convoy. Abysse, bastion and capital of the human empire.
Chapter I Abysse, the fortress of the abyss
Only a few days had passed since the siege of the city of Lyon. The rail convoy under Finn’s command had left the high plains of the Valkyries for a more rugged region. The hills bathed in the rising sun, replacing the monotony of green meadows. The train’s demonic frame spun between rocky peaks, at one with the rocky terrain that stretched as far as the eye could see. The steady rolling of the carriage wheels was suddenly disrupted by the metallic sliding of a door, right in the middle of the convoy.
« We’ve just entered Abyssal territory, » exclaimed a tall mustachiod man in uniform, stationed at the entrance to the den. « The imperial capital, Abysse, is not far away. Commander Finn would like you to take advantage of the short respite you still have to prepare yourselves. »
This injunction roused the two prisoners from their slumber, revealing links of chains under the piles of blankets, on which faint yellowish lights danced. Long blond hair revealed itself in the morning light, followed by an angelic face with fine features. The man hiccupped as he met the odd-eyed gaze of the young woman facing him. Emerald and azure blue eyes stared back at him intensely. He lost himself for a moment in the depths of those pupils before coming to his senses, taken aback by the second presence.
A lock of brown hair fell in front of the second woman’s large green eyes. She stood proudly, a mischievous little smile drawn across her face. Her leotard revealed harmonious curves beneath a finely drawn musculature.
« Not great...” she commented, stretching gently while watching the new host out of the corner of an eye.
He recoiled and instinctively put his hand on the weapon at his belt.
« I’m just following orders,” he stammered. « Our arrival is imminent. Be ready. »
With that, he turned back and almost tripped over the gap between the doors. His movement was accompanied by a curse and he locked the mechanism from the outside. The two women had been watching him the whole time, free of the slightest comment. The younger, blond-haired woman let out a bored sigh as the chain slowly slipped from her slender fingers. The links twisted like snakes to the ring fixed in the middle of the room.
« You should come and have a look at this, Yaena,” advised her friend, who had moved to the only opening in their mobile cell. « I think I can distinguish the famous capital we’ve been hearing about for days. I find it hard to understand why these humans are so infatuated with this cluster of dark rocks. »
Yaena skilfully straightened up, throwing her rings to one side and treading the metal plate that served as a floor with the soles of her feet. The icy ground made her shiver slightly as she approached the openwork. Her eyes quickly became accustomed to the intense sunlight, and her gaze soon wandered to the horizon.
An immense city stood at the heart of the mounds, dotted with heterogeneous peaks. Its high walls were pitch black. They would have made her pass unnoticed in the middle of the night if they didn’t contrast so sharply with the exhilarating verticality of the surroundings. She was about to agree with her friend, when a beam of orange light struck the base of the wall.
A flicker of rare intensity appeared and iridescent reflections materialized, wandering at will and setting the wall ablaze. The embers juggled from echo to echo, until the sun’s rays covered the entire wall. An explosion of color appeared from top to bottom, replacing the wall’s singular dark hue with the ardor of the blazing sun. The unhealthy atmosphere that had pervaded the city a few seconds earlier had given way to the beauty of a phoenix with enchanting feathers.
Yaena’s mouth dropped open at this extravagant sight. Her friend couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she realized she’d spoken too soon. Abysse was truly a city apart. No wonder it had become the Emperor’s home and a symbol of his Empire’s pride. It was truly a beacon of hope in a bleak landscape, a constant reminder of the dangers that haunted these lands.
The locomotive’s imposing frame spun upstream, releasing a thick cloud of smoke from its chimney. The city’s massive steel gates slowly swung inwards as it approached. The train entered between the majestic columns supporting the daring abyssal portal, suspended proudly above the track. Metal chains, bristling with slats, hung from the portcullis. The regular ripples of the links echoed the subtle tinkling of a bell. The regular swaying gave off a sinister aura. The tunnel that followed was plunged into darkness, revealing only a few glowing diodes, like eyes staring at their prey.
At the exit, a bath of light blessed the train’s structure, granting the right to contemplate Abysse’s extensive architecture, amid fields that sloped gently down from the top of the enclosure. The first houses to appear stood out by the astonishing termination of their roofs. The bluish tiles protruded well beyond the triangular roofs on either side, but gave way to a fine walnut wood structure at the front. A spiral shape was carved into the vertical disk, reminiscent of ocean waves. A lantern hung over the main beam, supported by a circular ring. A sphere levitated within it, its brilliance fading rapidly with the coming of daylight.
Young citizens wandered to and fro in the adjacent alleyways, turning only to watch with curious eyes the arrival of a new train. Its demonic appearance didn’t worry the passers-by, accustomed to its frequent passages. The youngest among them began cheering its arrival and chanting the name of its commander, Finn. This phenomenon continued until the sudden arrival of a vast expanse of water, reflected by multiple golden sparkles. The Amira River, which flowed through the entire region, pierced Abysse like a serpentine arrow. An arch rose above its waters, linking the two banks.
The locomotive began to move, letting out a shrill cry halfway along, before losing considerable speed. It was now moving at reduced speed, about to enter what looked like a railway station. A high glass ceiling opened onto a vast sky, supported on both sides by marble peristyles. With a metallic screech, the machinery came to a halt at the edge of the platforms. The last clouds of steam escaped, plunging the carriages into a fine, ghostly mist. Railway guards stood on the piers, their faces marbled. All held their rifles to their shoulders, perfectly aligned.
Soon, the carriage doors slid open, allowing the occupants to disembark in turn to carry out the checks necessary for the smooth disembarkation. Only one carriage remained condemned, under heavy guard. The men in charge of its protection exchanged a few words before standing in front of the door, waiting. The few citizens on the scene tried to peek through the few openings, but to no avail. The guards were doing a marvellous job at keeping the curious away.
A few minutes later, the stationmaster returned accompanied by an important figure, Commander Finn himself. He was dressed in his long brown coat and military beret. A single lock of his long hair fell to the side of his face. They prepared to open the last carriage still in the running, containing the sole reason they had come to Abysse. With bated breath, the cohort assimilated to its safety made their way to the steps leading to the carriage.
