Chapter 13: Gods and Goddesses
As Lucen stepped beyond the gates of his home, the first thing that greeted him was the cold northern wind, carrying the faint scent of smoke and pine.
The sky above Ironhold was a pale silver, blanketed with low, drifting clouds that seemed to merge with the mountain peaks surrounding the fortress city. Snow dusted the rooftops, and smoke curled lazily from chimneys built to withstand far worse winters.
The city hidden within the tall walls was like any other city, bustling with life. Despite the cold and the threat of the monster waves, barbarian tribes, and foreign armies, the people of Ironhold felt no fear as they all believed the mighty shield of Norvaegard would protect them.
’Ironhold... the fortress city that was already destroyed before the game’s story even began.’
In his past life, it had only existed in bits of backstory and scattered flashbacks, little more than a tragic memory for a few of the characters. But here it was now, a living, breathing city under the snow.
’This world might’ve inspired the creation of the game... Maybe someone back then caught a glimpse of this world in a dream and turned it into a story.’
Wrapped in a thick coat, Lucen stepped further into the snow-laced streets of Ironhold, his eyes quietly scanning the city.
It was nothing like the cities of his old life. No high-rises nearly touching the clouds, no paved highways, or endless rush of vehicles. The streets here were uneven, built from stone and packed snow. Lanterns, not Neon lights, lined the roads.
Still, there were some similarities, like the scent of smoke in the air and the stench of the sewers.
...
Lucen wasn’t here just to admire the view. There were a few places he needed to see first. It was the temples of the deities in this world. As he was looking through his notes the other day, one of the things that can help him get stronger was the temples.