Creation: The Path of a God (Updated Edition)

Chapter 4 - Part 5 (Book 1 - Fantasy World)

Valessandria watched as the driver motioned the monster to move, using the reins in her hands. The beast looked at Valessandria once before it snorted and began moving forward.

Without a creak or sound other than the wheels crunching the dirt below, the carriage moved with eldritch grace.

Staring at the carriage as it passed, Valessandria couldn't understand how such a vehicle could exist. Now that she was closer, the level of phenomenal craftsmanship was astounding to behold. Not even the Student Council President rode around in a carriage of such quality.

Valessandria stood as she watched the carriage make its way deeper into the abandoned-looking village. As the carriage moved away from where she stood, eventually, it was swallowed up by the darkness of the night. With how the moonlight bounced off of it, there was a mystical feel. It was a sense that such a thing didn't belong in the world.

Turning back towards the entrance, the pyramid still blocked the sky with its large size.

"Before I head back to alert the others, I will need to confirm what that young noble said," Valessandria sighed. She looked at her horse, "Are you going to cooperate?"

The horse snorted and approached Valessandria as though apologizing for its earlier behavior.

Laughing, "I am glad that you are joining me again." Looking at the pyramid, "I do not look forward to having to walk around that massive structure."

Getting back on the horse, Valessandria signaled it to move forward. Giving the signal for a trot, she then moved to let the horse know to go into a cantor. Compared to when they first entered the village, she decided not to have her horse go into a full gallop.

Even though she had only recently met the noble, a part of her sensed that lying was unnecessary for that man. But even with the word of such a man, Valessandria felt it was her duty to see things through. The worst thing she could do was to give the all-clear signal and have the villagers return just as the Empire soldiers poured through the entrance.

As she approached the gate, Valessandria looked around to see if any village guards were stationed.

"No one," Valessandria was shocked to see that the village was defenseless.

Even if the village had no hope of defeating the Empire soldiers, there should've still been guards manning the wall.

It was then that Valessandria remembered what the guard had told her about how none of the men sent to report the situation had returned.

"Is it as simple as people abandoning their duties?" Valessandria tried to think about what could've happened to the missing guards.

The fact that so many guards were still around to direct villagers and help people with their items, knowing danger was approaching them, made Valessandra doubt that the guards would've just fled to save themselves. Though it was possible, the evidence she saw with how dirty the guards' faces were made her think otherwise.

The face of the young noble flashed through her mind before being quickly dismissed. Though the man gave Valessandria pause and a sense of dread, she didn't want to consider the possibility. On top of that, there was no reason for the noble to have a part in the disappearance of the guards.

With the guards missing, the gate was wide open, no longer protecting against the monsters that stalked the night -- let alone the Empire forces.

Seeing the door open and unguarded provided another thought which bothered her.

"If the gate was open this entire time, then where are the monsters?" Valessandria slowly scanned the surroundings as she made her way through the entrance.