Chapter 6:

Glass & Crystal

Lock & Key: Resonance

Once again, there was only darkness. Endless void stretching across a sea of nothing. But this time… something was different.

A faint warmth.

The sensation of waking up.

“Ugh…”

Rokuro’s eyes fluttered open, greeted not by shadows, but a blindingly clear blue sky.

This time, his back was on hard earth. He groaned and sat up, blinking as the world came into focus.

“Finally awake?”

Kagi stood nearby, arms crossed, her stoic expression untouched by the gentle breeze.

“What… Was I asleep?” Rokuro rubbed his head and dusted grass off his jacket and pants.

“Not exactly. Realm travel can knock you out for a few seconds.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have stored memories from previous Locks. Some things, I just know.”

“That’s not creepy at all,” he muttered, rising to his feet.

But as soon as he joined her at the hill’s edge, all snark died on his lips.

Below them stretched a stunning vista—rolling green fields, scattered trees, and nestled between them… a city of old stone and magic.

And at its center, towering far above everything else…

“Whoa.”

A palace made entirely of shimmering, translucent glass rose into the sky like a spear of crystal. Its towering spires caught the sunlight and scattered it in prismatic beams, blanketing the gardens below in dancing rainbows. The structure looked delicate, dreamlike—yet defiant. Unbreakable.

It didn’t belong to any one era or realm. It was fantasy, made real.

“Is that… a royal castle?” Rokuro gawked. “Made of glass?”

Kagi’s brow lifted ever so slightly. “It would appear so.”

“How the hell is that not the first thing to get shattered in a war?”

“We don’t even know if anyone lives there,” she said coolly. “But if they do, I’m sure it’s well protected.”

He grunted. “You’re not even a little impressed?”

“I said it was made of glass.”

“That wasn’t the tone of someone impressed.”

Kagi turned away, unfazed. “I don’t recall any such castle from past memories. If the previous Lock came here, this must be new.”

Rokuro squinted at the castle. “A recent build? Out of glass? How does that even work?”

“Not by normal means, that’s for sure.”

“Well… whatever.” He ruffled his hair, shaking off the awe. “Let’s just get moving. Looks like there’s people down there to ask.”

“That, I agree with.”

The two descended the hill, heading toward the city gates. The paved path made for easy walking, and with the sun climbing high, the journey didn’t take long.

But as they neared the outer wall, Rokuro slowed.

“You see that?” he said, pointing upward.

Hovering around the city was a faint, shimmering dome. Pale blue, like a veil of magic draped across the skyline.

Kagi nodded. “A barrier. Magical, most likely.”

“To protect the castle?”

“Seems logical.”

Rokuro sighed. “You know, if you ever wanted to sound more human, I wouldn’t mind.”

She didn’t reply. Just walked.

At the gates, no one stopped them. No checks, no questions. Just a couple of bored guards leaning on spears as the crowd flowed past.

“This city’s used to peace,” Kagi muttered. “They don’t check at the gates because they think the barrier does all the work.”

Inside was another story.

Stalls buzzed with noise. Merchants barked out deals. Townsfolk, travelers, and strangers of all kinds crisscrossed the market square. The fountain in the middle sparkled under the sun, and every glance toward the castle revealed another layer of surreal beauty.

Rokuro looked around, overwhelmed.

“Alright… now what?”

Kagi took a few steps ahead, eyes scanning the colorful chaos. “We blend in. Observe. Listen.”

“Blend in?” Rokuro scoffed, tugging at his purple jacket. He never did try to blend in before, as was clearly evident.

“Just don’t talk.”

He grumbled something about being fashion-forward and followed.

They weaved through the city streets—past stonework shops with floating signage, stalls selling shimmering fruits and glowing trinkets, and courtyards where children chased magically animated birds. Everywhere they looked, symbols of light and crystal gleamed prominently and in abundance. Pendants shaped like radiant diamonds. Murals of a woman cloaked in glass, hand outstretched to the sky.

Kagi paused at one such mural. Her gaze lingered on the name carved beneath it.

“Lumi… nastra?” Rokuro read, “Wait I can read it? How?”

“The powers of the Lock. The gauntlet of the gatekeeper helps as well.”

“Huh…” Rokuro blinked a few times, “You don’t say…”

He turned his gaze back at the mural, “What even is that Luminastra? Some kind of saint?”

“A deity most likely.” Kagi murmured. “Based on the iconography, at least. People most likely worship her.”

“No kidding,” he muttered, watching a couple kneel at a street shrine, their foreheads touching a smooth crystal basin. “They’re really into this stuff.”

Kagi stepped back into motion. “It’s more than religion. It's cultural memory. Cities like this preserve stories as truth.”

Rokuro followed, still taking in the surreal blend of medieval and magical. “And here I thought I’d just see goblins and guild halls.”

One particular crowd had gathered at a plaza near the fountain, where a white-robed preacher stood atop a dais, arms raised as he spoke with theatrical reverence.

Rokuro and Kagi approached.

“Luminastra, our shining guardian, descended from the heavens when the sky was darkest! It was she who blessed this land with the Crystal Heart, the very core of our great barrier!”

A few in the crowd cheered. Others bowed their heads in silent prayer.

“She gave us the Glass Castle, forged from light itself! And it was she who sealed away the monsters beyond the veil—the foul beasts, the titans of the beyond! All this, so that we, the chosen, might live in peace!”

Rokuro leaned over to Kagi. “That mural we saw earlier. That her?”

Kagi nodded, arms crossed. “So the Glass Castle was a blessing bestowed by her…”

Rokuro looked up at it. Surely enough, if a deity presented you with this you couldn’t really stop people from worshipping her. Especially if she also kept you safe from…

“Wait what was that about… titans from the beyond?” Rokuro asked.

“Probably apex predators of this world. Maybe even the reason the barrier exists at all…”

“Come on, break it up.” A city guard clad in shiny silver armor intervened with the priest’s speech, causing the crowd to disperse in annoyance, “Take it to the sanctum, old man. You want to worship? Do it the proper way.”

“The light of Luminastra should shine everywhere, not just in gilded halls…”

The preacher didn’t fight back much, only grumbled under his breath as he went.

Before Rokuro and Kagi could leave however, the guard’s voice snapped towards them.

“You there! With the artifact!”

Rokuro turned. The city guard made his way toward them, expression sharp. The man’s eyes locked on Rokuro’s gauntlet, which glowed faintly.

“That item on your arm. Remove it. Weapons aren’t permitted in public.”

“Huh?” Rokuro blinked, raising his arm, “You mean this thing?”

“Remove it at once!” The guard rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, alarmed at the way Rokuro raised his guantlet.

Meanwhile Kagi just sighed. She could already feel the trouble brewing.

On the other hand Rokuro scoffed. He knew he couldn’t take it off, but even still, being ordered around by someone, let alone a guard? Rokuro was simply allergic to following orders.

A grin spread across his face, “Yeah, no. I don’t take orders from cosplay soldiers.”

“Cos…play?” The guard muttered, gritting his teeth, “Cease your incoherent rambling and disarm!”

“Of all the people to piss off, it just had to be a guard…” Kagi muttered. Before she could intervene however…

A sharp crackle rang out overhead. Floating crystal panels across the city shimmered to life, their glow catching every eye. A faint glow passed through the floating crystals above the plaza—not mechanical, but magical, humming with the same light as the Glass Castle.

A deep, booming voice echoed from all directions.

“Citizens of Crystalor.”

Everybody stopped what they were doing at once.

“The king…” a few muttered, bowing.

“Remain calm. A matter of national security is underway.”

All eyes turned skyward.

“Two dangerous entities have entered the city. Suspected enemies of the public. One of them is the Lock of legend, the harbringer of our destruction.”

Rokuro felt the chill run down his spine.

Harbinger of destruction? Wasn’t he a… hero?

“Their presence threatens the order gifted to us by Luminastra herself. They must be apprehended.”

Projected above them, a glowing image flickered to life: Rokuro. Kagi. Clear as day.

“Wait— That’s us! How in the blue hell—?”

“That wasn’t some sort of scrying. Someone conjured that. Which means they knew we were coming.” Kagi gritted her teeth.

“The hell does that—“

“These are the intruders. Should you see them, report their location immediately. Guards: seize them on sight. Citizens: remain vigilant. The light of Luminastra protects us all.”