The Sanctuary of the Forgotten

As the café door opened, the small bell hanging above chimed softly, its delicate sound spreading through the dimly lit, tranquil atmosphere of the café.

Haru stumbled inside, dragged by the strong grip on his nape. He panicked, trying to pull back, but the hand holding him only tightened its grasp. His arms flailed in the air as his feet lifted off the ground, wriggling awkwardly like a fish caught on a hook. His desperate struggle only made him look more ridiculous; he swayed back and forth, completely losing his balance. His frantic attempts to break free created such a comical scene that a sudden burst of laughter filled the air.

As the laughter continued, the man’s figure slowly became more visible under the dim lights. “You really are just as amusing as Rika described,” he said, grinning. “What an entertaining kid.”

Haru turned to him in shock. “Are you a friend of Rika?” he asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and caution. “Where is she now? Is she okay?”

The man tilted his head slightly, a small smile lingering on his lips. “She’s fine, don’t worry,” he replied, then sighed lightly. “Well, as fine as someone in her situation can be… For now, there’s no problem.”

Haru couldn’t fully grasp the meaning behind those words, but he nodded hesitantly.

The man introduced himself with a relaxed yet confident tone. “I’m Seraphis. I own this café. Rika sent me a message, saying I needed to bring you somewhere safe. That’s why you’re here. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

Haru was still overwhelmed by everything that had happened, but he instinctively felt a small sense of relief. “Ah... I’m Haru. Nice to meet you,” he said cautiously, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.

Due to the chaos outside, the café was completely empty. Silence filled the space, only interrupted by the soft glow of the dim lights reflecting on the wooden walls. The warm, rustic decor gave the place a soothing atmosphere. Haru’s gaze drifted toward the wooden staircase leading up to a mezzanine floor. A large library occupied the upper level; shelves lined with books surrounded a few tables scattered around. Yet, at that moment, there wasn’t a single soul in sight.

Seraphis gestured for him to follow. They moved past the bistro counter and through a door that led into the kitchen. At the far end of the kitchen, a hidden metal staircase was concealed behind a folding screen. Without saying a word, Seraphis started descending the spiraling steps. Haru hesitated for a moment but realized he had no other option but to follow.

At the bottom of the stairs, they entered a square-shaped chamber. Even the air here felt different, warmer and carrying a distinct scent. Without wasting any time, Seraphis strode toward a heavy, reinforced door in the corner. Next to it, a control panel was embedded in the wall. He swiftly pressed a series of digits, each press accompanied by a mechanical beep. After a few moments, the panel’s light turned green, and the door split in the middle, sliding open.

Inside, an elevator cabin awaited them. They stepped inside, and Seraphis immediately pressed the button for the -5th floor. As the elevator began its slow descent, Haru’s heart pounded. Where was he being taken? Why was there so much secrecy?

With a faint jolt, the elevator came to a stop, and as the doors slid open, they stepped into a short corridor. At the end of the passage, an arched metal door loomed ahead. Once again, Seraphis leaned toward another panel, inputting a new set of codes. A few seconds later, the door creaked open with a deep, resounding groan.

Haru’s eyes widened in astonishment. His heart raced. What he saw was nothing like what he had expected.

As I stepped inside, I was met with a massive, circular space. The structure rose like a tower, its center completely hollow. When I looked up toward the ceiling, I found only an abyss of darkness that seemed to stretch endlessly into the heights above. The architecture surrounding me bore a striking resemblance to traditional Japanese design, wooden pillars, sliding doors, and paper lanterns casting a warm glow throughout the area.

At the center of the room stood a large, round table. Its middle section was hollowed out, with chairs arranged in an inward-facing manner, forming a two-sided seating arrangement. However, the most striking thing was the sheer liveliness of the place. Children laughed and ran about, adults carried supplies, whispered amongst themselves, or burst into laughter. In one corner, elderly individuals sat quietly, engaged in soft conversations. It felt like a sanctuary in the midst of chaos.

When I looked up, I noticed staircases leading to balconies. Some of these balconies opened into rooms, suggesting that people lived here. The structure’s inner walls stretched up three levels high. On the ground floor, three large arched metal doors stood prominently. In one corner, a food stall was set up, where people gathered to collect meals and drinks, with tables and chairs arranged before it.

Seraphis led me to a table tucked away at the edge of the space and gestured for me to sit. “You must be hungry. Let’s eat something,” he said. He must have noticed the confusion on my face, as he smiled. I could see the amused glimmer in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything. But first, let’s fill our stomachs,” he added. Then, turning his head, he called out to a girl at the stall. “Arbis! Can you bring us something to eat?”

A petite girl with large, attentive eyes immediately lifted her head and looked at us. “Of course, I’ll get it ready right away,” she said before disappearing into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, everyone passing by greeted Seraphis. It was clear that people respected him, some even seemed to view him as a leader. Some nodded slightly in acknowledgment, while others whispered a few words as they passed.

Turning back to me, Seraphis asked with curiosity, “According to Rika, you’re not from around here. She mentioned you claimed to have come from another place. She also said you’ve observed some anomalies around you. Can you tell me everything in detail?”

I had no one else to trust here. Maybe these people were the only ones I had left now. I recounted everything, the events before my arrival, what had happened to me, my experiences in Ethereon, my encounter with Rika, everything I knew in as much detail as possible. Seraphis listened to me attentively, his expression serious and focused.

“I swear I’m telling the truth! I’m not crazy!” I said, almost pleading. My eyes searched his face for any trace of doubt.

Seraphis nodded slightly and smiled. “I believe you, Haru. I have no reason to doubt what you’ve said.”

Having someone believe me eased a weight off my chest. Then again, in a world like this, there wasn’t much reason for disbelief. I had already seen people walk through walls, vanish into thin air, and drag me with a single floating arm. My experiences were just as strange as everything else here.

“Then let me tell you a few things about this place,” Seraphis said, pausing briefly as if deciding where to begin. Then, fixing his gaze on me, he continued.

“You’ve probably learned by now that this is the Kingdom of Ethereon. And you’ve seen the uprising of the Voidwalkers firsthand,” he started. His tone was measured, careful. “Everyone here is what they call a Voidwalker. And this place you see here is called Solace.”

My eyes widened. My heartbeat quickened.

“Though, I should clarify that we weren’t responsible for the riot you saw earlier,” Seraphis added. “But I can’t say I blame them either.”

“This place is somewhere that neither a Silver Guardian nor the Twelve Fatekeepers can find. It’s a region that doesn’t exist in fate, a place that has been erased.”

His words slowly settled in my mind. “What does it mean to not exist in fate?” I asked.

Seraphis let out a small sigh before explaining. “This world is governed by a massive system called Orbis. This system dictates the fate of every person in Ethereon, determining their entire life from birth to death. If a deviation occurs, the system detects it and immediately corrects it. The Twelve Scribes stand at the top of this order, and their enforcers, the Fatekeepers are tasked with detecting and eliminating anomalies.”

My jaw dropped. Everything I was hearing was beyond my comprehension.