The city of Thebes was a unique city with a unique structure, one that could hardly be replicated by other nations present in Ra’as.
However, just like several other states, it also had its own intricate set of tunnels dug at its depths, constructed during the Dark Ages to safeguard the true extent of its population from the vampires that ca regularly to collect tribute.
They were well constructed unlike the tunnels in BoneHaven that seed more like sothing hastily built, with houses built into the walls, and even the ground was paved with clean-cut stones with several other facilities in place, causing the area to look like an underground city.
It was indeed an awe-inspiring sight as Alex found himself in a portion of the tunnels after he’d left Evernight to find Elena along with Arthur.
After Arwen had inford him about what happened with Elena, he imdiately left as he held a feeling that the issue concerning the coincidence that had bothered him so far was about to be resolved.
Slightly nervous, he was also quite expectant.
And so, once he’d tracked the trace he’d left on Elena, he imdiately teleported to its location which inadvertently led to him finding the intricate city underneath a city.
"Incredible," Arthur muttered as he scrutinized the area with an intrigued look.
"The technology of the Thebeans is at a level where it should be considered impossible."
Alex nodded. "Perhaps this is the difference between a city that built itself on a Branch and one that didn’t."
And they were right in their thinking.
The technology of Thebes was comparable to what was available in the current age which ant only two things; it was either they traded with the Goddess of Automation early enough or they had created it themselves.
Naturally, considering the Goddess was a being that didn’t condone favoritism, bestowing the world with whatever technology she invented, it was hard to imagine that she had ended up favoring a particular kingdom.
This ant the rapid developnt of Thebes was a result of the God Particle they once housed.
Unfortunately, considering what Alex now knew, it was safe to assu that after it had given them so much, it ended up taking a lot as well.
Quite unfortunate but understandable.
Regardless, Alex wasn’t here to admire the innovation of Thebes though he had to admit it was incredible.
He was here to et with a certain enigmatic figure that had been troubleso to Aragon for a long ti.
As though in response to his thoughts, she appeared.
Elena walked out of one of the houses etched on the walls and followed a series of steps to stand on the platform Alex and Arthur were on.
Silence reigned for a mont as the duo regarded her with interest.
Elena didn’t et their gaze, instead, her eyes trailed the underground city with a nostalgic look on her face.
Her lips trembling, she began. "I don’t rember much but I rember there was a ti when this place... wasn’t so empty."
Alex and Arthur said nothing, the latter even going ahead to conjure a chair made from earth for himself before casually taking his seat.
It seed he was prepared to hear quite the tale.
Ignoring Arthur’s action, Elena continued. "Everything was beautiful at that ti, especially after we’d discovered the God Particle. It established paths we could have never imagined. It allowed us to create a suitable location to begin the rise of the Human Wheel yet again."
Unlike Arthur however, Alex wasn’t patient enough to listen to her ramblings, no matter how empathetic and curious he felt.
At this point, a more potent curiosity gnawed at his thoughts. "Who are you and why have you brought here?"
Elena paused, her head dropping for a mont as she seed to be pondering sothing deeply before she finally replied.
"I...I can’t rember much but I know that I am, no, I was a princess and a scholar..."
"Is that all??"
"I am not real," Elena said, turning to face Alex.
Alex raised a brow. "Oh?"
"My... real self is stuck in an alternate dinsion as a result of an accident with Ashtyx that happened several hundred years ago. She wishes to et with you."
"Why?"
"... She wants to be saved."
"And she thought I would be a good candidate to be her hero?" Alex couldn’t help but grow amused at the audacious thought.
Elena shook her head. "She... has grown weary. The constant deaths have caused her and in extension, those trapped on the other side, to wish for death...true death. Imagine being stuck in a world that doesn’t progress, unable to feel, eat, drink, sleep... watching as the outside progressed while suffering constant deaths at the hands of that man and his people."
As she spoke, Elena pointed at Arthur, earning a sigh from him.
"It’s not like I or my people enjoyed killing you.... Whatever you are." Arthur remarked.
Elena snorted. "But you did and even though I wish to have you pay for what you have done, I know that it’s pointless, so I ask for your aid."
"Alright, just out of curiosity, how do you expect to save you?" Alex inquired.
Elena glanced at him. "Ashtyx. It holds the power needed to take care of the dinsional accident my real self is embroiled in. But it’s currently in the hands of the traitor."
"Go on."
"I can’t rember much but what I do know is that the accident wasn’t natural, but orchestrated by a certain soone. I don’t know who it is but I will surely rember as long as I have ti, ti that I’ve been unable to get because of the ddling of the beasts."
Alex nodded thoughtfully, taking a mont to organize his words before he began. "So let understand this; due to being stuck in a parallel dinsion that allows you to watch the world progress without being able to interact with it, your real self learnt about while I was scoping out Thebes but was unable to reach ."
"Yes."
"And so she hatched a plan to have her... doppelganger erge in a location where my subordinate was so it would be easy to facilitate a eting and also ensure your safety."
"Indeed."
"And why she did all this was to request my aid in freeing her and her people from the unfortunate circumstances they find themselves in."
"... You are correct."
"..." Alex remained silent for a mont before bursting into laughter, his voice echoing in the dark caverns that held the remnants of what was once a great underground city.
Elena’s expression quickly distorted as she noticed that his laughter was partly in relief and also slightly mocking.
"Are my words that amusing?" Elena couldn’t help but ask in slight annoyance after watching him for a few seconds.
Alex didn’t imdiately respond, instead laughing to his satisfaction before finally deeming it appropriate to tender an answer.
"Well, you see, I was worried... worried that whatever you had for would be earth-shattering. I’ve already experienced playing in the hands of an incredibly deadly foe so I don’t plan on repeating the sa. Thankfully, my worries seem unfounded considering the naivety of your princess."
Elena paused, her expression taking on a sour tone as she replied. "Do you feel nothing?... These are fellow humans asking for your help. You are already planning on going after Ashtyx, this is..."
"None of my business." Alex curtly replied, his voice taking on a rather icy tone. "You must be mistaken about sothing, princess, the reason I saved you wasn’t because I’m so sort of hero, I did it because I need you alive to carry out the rest of my plan. The sooner you understand that, the better for us, so I would appreciate it if you don’t waste your ti with this and co with nicely. I’d rather not want you dead before I’m done with what I have planned."
Arthur couldn’t help but spare a glance at Alex’s back, quickly realizing he’d underestimated the sort of man Alex was.
anwhile, Elena stared at Alex, unable to co to terms with what she’d just heard.
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