Nicodemus' Mantle:
His Sin of Wrath
Chapter Two: Out Across The Green
The holographic slab hovered before me, its ethereal glow casting surreal light across the tranquil landscape. As I stared at the words suspended in the air, confusion and disbelief welled up within me. This wasn't just any afterlife; it seemed I had stumbled into a world unlike anything I had ever known.
"Dark Earth," the name echoed in my mind, conjuring images of mystery and danger. Yet, the serene beauty of the meadow around me contradicted the ominous undertones of the name. Was this place truly a game as the slab suggested? Or was it something else entirely?
Questions raced through my mind, but one thing was certain—I had to explore and understand this new reality if I ever hoped to make sense of what had happened. With cautious steps, I ventured away from the crystalline stream, my eyes scanning the horizon for signs of life or civilization.
The landscape stretched out before me in undulating waves of emerald grass and distant hills. Wispy clouds floated lazily overhead, casting fleeting shadows that danced across the ground. There was a tranquility here, a sense of isolation that both comforted and unnerved me.
As I walked, I became acutely aware of my surroundings. The air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers. It was a stark contrast to the mountain air I had inhaled before my fall, yet somehow familiar and comforting in its own way.
Lost in thought, I nearly stumbled over a small, weathered stone marker jutting out from the grass. Intrigued, I approached it, brushing away the dirt to reveal faded engravings. The symbols were unfamiliar, intricate swirls and lines that seemed to tell a story lost to time. As I traced my fingers over the markings, a faint tingling sensation rippled through me. The slab's interface had listed my attributes as if I were a character in some grand narrative. What role had I been thrust into? What challenges awaited me?
The sun began its descent toward the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape. I needed shelter for the night, a place to gather my thoughts and plan my next steps. As if in response to my unspoken need, a silhouette emerged on the horizon—a structure nestled amidst the rolling hills.
With renewed determination, I quickened my pace toward the distant building. As I drew closer, its form became clearer—a stone keep, weathered yet imposing, its battlements rising against the twilight sky. It was a beacon of civilization in this untamed wilderness, a refuge in the midst of uncertainty.
Approaching the heavy wooden gates, I hesitated for a moment before reaching out to knock. The sound echoed through the quiet evening air, resonating with a sense of anticipation. Moments passed before the gates creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in shadows.
"Welcome, traveler," a voice called out, tinged with weariness and curiosity. "You are not of this land, I can tell from your clothes."
Stepping through the gates, I found myself face to face with an elderly man, his eyes wise and weathered like the stones of the keep. He studied me intently, as if searching for answers in the depths of my gaze.
"I... I don't know how I arrived here," I began hesitantly, struggling to articulate the strangeness of my journey. "I fell from a mountain, and then..." The man nodded knowingly, his expression softening with empathy. "The mountain is a treacherous path."
His words made me frown. It was clear he didn't quite understand. "I... I don't know how I arrived here," I repeated, my voice gaining urgency. "One moment I was falling, and the next... I woke up here, in this... breathtaking landscape." The man nodded thoughtfully, his eyes searching mine as if trying to unravel a mystery. "Many have come to Dark Earth with stories as bewildering as yours," he murmured. "Come, child. We can speak more inside."
I followed him, hoping to find answers, anything of substance.
From the man, whom I learned was named Frederick, I discovered much more. Firstly, the continent I was on was called Imbressia. Secondly, the world wasn't shaped like a sphere. Instead, it was an endlessly flat plane that never reached the other side—think of a map stretched infinitely in every direction. That was how the world of Dark Earth looked. Of course, people had only explored a small, infinitesimal part of the lands due to its sheer magnitude.
Frederick was kind enough to let me rest in a spare bedroom, just for the night. And as I slowly drifted into unconsciousness, I felt something inside me begin to change.