June Fifteenth.

This marks our first week in the domed city, which the citizens call Geffen. Edward's book shows Geffen to be a city of mana and magecraft, and was the former headquarters of the prominent blacksmiths' guild before it moved north. The two distinct arts that revolved in these walls proved themselves worthy, as steel and mana became vital in the city's survival.

The city is at the top of a massive elevation, possibly three to four hundred feet higher than Glast Heim. The plateau wasn't indicated in the text, so I presume that the land mass arose sometime after, maybe with the Ice Age. Up until now I still wonder what really happened that caused everything to fall apart. Nevertheless, the height didn't really show itself; the inclination is remarkably low, for it ran for miles. We barely noticed the slope as we traveled. What is noticeable, however was the climate. Snowfall is seemingly present at all times, while semi-direct sunlight is drastically dim. Surely no humans could ever desire living in this harsh landscape. Yet how can this settlement still exist?

According to Romeleth, some time ago, the people created a marvel. To protect the town from attackers from its neighboring orc encampment, they started building a wall. it was the first of it's kind - a marriage of metal and magic - enclosing the city from both land and air attacks. Now, it still protects it's settlers - the mana coat retaining the heat and the thick steel repelling the harshness of the land.

I earlier mentioned in my past entry of the magic barrier's sudden increase in power. At that time the barrier reclaimed three-fourths of the water surrounding the islet where the city stood. Recently, the barrier has reached to the other side. Everyone has clearly rejoiced, and with more fish in their stomachs - for the melted ice brought schools of dead fish back to the surface - the festive mood has filled every house. Save for ours.

Merajiah is Romeleth's brother, a member of the council, and is one of the last few practitioners of magecraft in the city. As I was washing the dishes, a task I recently took to somehow repay his kindness for letting us take lodging in his house, the wizard came in for a visit and had for what I thought was just a small talk with his brother. The next moment, Romeleth called me and Edward to the discussion. Dear Rina was then informed once she arrived from studies, and after we all left the house, each of us had no idea on how to cope with the horrible truth.

So unlucky we are. 3: perfect.

It seemed ominous for Edward. The city emanates a certain majestic glow, as if the sun's rays came not from the sky, but from the earth itself. Yet the sun was nowhere, as it has always been, though the sky was different from when he and his sister entered the sanctuary. From it's former image of passive heavy clouds, it now resembled a thick violent swirl of mud and ash.

Geffen is, undoubtably, a paradise - warm and exquisite, with its white brick houses accentuated by oaken-framed windows, purple roofs and smooth cobbled roads. Beside it, alluring gardens with luscious fruits, cleanly cropped, like a gardener was on watch the whole day. It seemed like the city was from another world, leagues away from the cruel cold reality.

He could not understand why such a utopia deserved such a dark secret.

The thing that troubled Edward was the structure in the very center of the city. A huge spire, jutting out of the heavens, monolithic, it's peak overlooking the passive cityscape below. His eyes become fixed on the tip of the tower; a crystal, diamond-shaped, emitted a tainted prism of colors from four lateral points, which arched down as it spread across the skeletal dome.

Who knew that the thing that let them live will the the cause of their doom?

From across the street, in the town plaza, a small crowd gathers. A bearded man - about fifty years old - stepped up to the stage, hands on the small of his back, long coat dragging on the granite steps.

Milan DeCarlo, the council head, spoke: "I ask everyone. Calmly listen to what I have to say."

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"Geffen, under siege?"

"Yes. Soon."

"Why? how?"

The look on Merajiah's face scared me. His expression wasn't really one that was terrifying, but I knew. I knew that that was the face of someone who wished that what he was saying was false.

"Explain. What do you mean?"

The man started, then paused as he waited for Lyla to finish the dishes. He clumsily poured himself some tea, spilling some of it on the tray.

"The underground" Merajiah said. "They woke up."

Romeleth stared at his brother, wide-eyed. Merajiah caught his gaze, and nodded. He tried to resume the talk, stopping as he tried to gather his thoughts.

"Geffen has -- had an underground cave system beneath it. It housed monsters. But they were dead.. they were supposed to be dead. When we discovered the door, no one was breathing. The dome's magic didn't reach them; they froze."

"Last week," He downed his cup. "One of them got out of the door. I was the one who first saw it. It was a huge arachnid - an Argos... I killed it. The council went down again, to see why, and how.

"They're awake. We saw them, a whole colony's worth. They saw us. We ran back to the door, and sealed the door with rubble.

"That was a week ago" He repeated himself. "The barrier increased significantly since then. A lot more would have woken up by now."

I asked. The door's the only way out right? then it can be guarded.

He replied. We found them digging on the cavern walls, finding a way to the surface.

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"We advice everyone to keep together, protect yourselves, and be alert. May we all live through this predicament."

The elder's announcement ended, painting everyone's faces with surprise, disbelief, and confusion. Then slowly, seriousness engulfed everyone - possibly resignation, maybe fear - and they slowly left the plaza.

As group of them passed by where Edward stood, he heard one of them mutter:

"So, we're just gonna wait for our doom..."