🖤⚔️ CHAPTER 8 — FLOATTERIA: THE FLOATING VILLAGE ON MOONSHADOW LAKE 🌊🏞️🏘️✨
On a crisp yet refreshing morning, the air carried the scent of wet earth after last night's tremor. A messenger from Miner Depths sprinted through the tunnels that pierced the rocky mountains ⛰️🏃♂️💨. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes burned with urgency. He brought shocking news: the village of Miner Depths had been buried under landslides from last night's quake.
"Good thing we decided to stay in Stonebrook," Erik said, exhaling with relief 😮💨. "Otherwise, we might have been trapped there…"
Arden gazed toward the rocky slopes, his mind racing to plan their next steps.
"We need to leave Stonebrook immediately. Keep these gold coins safe—they might come in handy later," he said, carefully placing the 22 gold coins they had earned with so much effort 💰🪙.
Rocky, the massive stone golem, simply nodded, preparing his broad back to carry their supplies.
They descended the rugged mountains, following a crystal-clear river flowing from the high slopes. The water was cold and pure, reflecting the morning sunlight filtering through the rocky gaps 🏞️💦. Occasionally, they passed a few scattered homes, each encounter a gentle reminder of the simple, peaceful lives humans once led.
Their journey was long. Aetheria, the legendary city above the clouds, remained hundreds of thousands of kilometers in the sky ☁️🏰✨. The vast distance made their hearts race, but their determination to reach the city of the gods only grew stronger. Erik stared at the horizon, his eyes fixed on the Astrales Mountains, now small and far behind them ⛰️👀.
After several days tracing the river through valleys and thinning pine forests, they arrived at a vast lake shimmering under the morning sun 🌞🌊. In the center of the lake floated a village, its houses gently swaying with the water's rhythm. The village seemed magical, hovering above the water, with wooden bridges connecting each small home. Its name: Floatteria 🏘️✨.
They stared in awe.
"It's… like a city on the water," Arden whispered, eyes shining at the wonder before him.
Rocky nodded, his broad back steady with their supplies, while Erik readied his Gewehr-43, wary of any hidden dangers in the water or lurking in the morning mist 🪨🔫.
Crossing the wooden bridges toward Floatteria, they felt a strange yet comforting sensation, as if the village itself were alive and welcoming them 🌊🌅. The fresh water mingled with the scent of wet wood and floating flowers. The calls of water birds echoed, adding to the serene atmosphere, a stark contrast to the dangers and long journey they had endured 💦.
Floatteria was more than just a village—it was a haven. A place to rest, recover, and prepare for the next steps toward Aetheria. Though the journey ahead remained long and perilous, for the moment, they could enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the floating village.