CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50 – THE HAND OF REALMS (PART 1)

Chapter 50 – The Hand of Realms (Part 1)

A man stepped out of the car, his figure tall, composed, and wrapped in an outfit identical to the conductor’s. The moment his polished shoes touched the ground, the chaotic noise of the city seemed to vanish.

Each footstep echoed with an unnatural clarity, as if the world itself hushed to acknowledge his presence.

Zane immediately locked eyes with the man. What he saw sent a chill crawling up his spine. That same hollowness. That same eerie lack of emotion behind the smile.

It was just like the conductor.

No... It was exactly like the conductor.

The resemblance wasn’t in face or form—it was something deeper. An aura. An absence. Zane’s mind reeled with unease.

"Welcome, dear candidates." The man bowed slightly. "I am your escort, assigned by the Delegation. We are honored to receive you today. Now, if you would, please place your luggage in the vehicle. We will be leaving immediately."

His voice was calm, refined—yet disturbingly hollow. A fleeting glance swept over the trio before he turned away, his posture perfectly upright.

Zane didn’t move. He just stared at the man, trying to put the pieces together.

’Same exact look. Same exact tone. Same everything... This is no coincidence,’ he thought, his brows furrowing. ’Something about them is completely off. No one is that emotionless—not naturally.’

Elizabeth’s warning echoed in the back of his mind. Her unease about the conductor. Her claim that he wasn’t human.

’Are these people even real?’

Still, he didn’t speak. Instead, he and the others followed orders, placing their bags in the trunk before slipping into the car. It was spacious—far too spacious. The interior was polished leather and silver paneling, more luxurious than anything Zane had ever sat in.

Emilio plopped down across from them with a huff, his arms crossed as he stared out the tinted window. Zane and Elizabeth sat on the other side, keeping some distance.

The car pulled away smoothly, gliding through the bustling streets of the Gate Capital. Lights flashed across their windows. Neon signs and massive holo-screens danced on the walls of looming skyscrapers.

Zane leaned against the door, watching it all pass with thoughtful silence, his mind running a hundred miles an hour.

Beside him, Elizabeth seemed distracted by the view, peeking out with wide-eyed wonder like a tourist seeing a city for the first time.

It wasn’t long before the car came to a smooth stop in front of an immense building—one of the largest in the entire area. It stretched into the night sky like a tower from another age, its mirrored surface reflecting the stars and the glowing Gate far in the distance.

’That’s... a hotel?’ Zane blinked. ’This place looks like a damn palace.’

The trio got out, collecting their bags. Zane tilted his head upward, trying to estimate how many floors the place had. He lost count halfway.

’We’re staying here? Who the hell’s funding all this?’ His eyes narrowed. ’Better not be me. I couldn’t afford a drink here, let alone a room.’

Their escort gave them quick instructions—no smile, no change in expression.

"Show your identification to the front desk. Your rooms have already been prepared. You’ll be granted access immediately."

Zane raised a brow, but complied. Sure enough, the moment they presented their IDs, the receptionist—dressed in formal white with a golden badge—handed over three key cards without question.

"Your rooms are ready. Enjoy your stay, candidates," she said, voice robotic in tone.

’Our names were pre-registered. This whole thing was planned out to the last detail...’ Zane’s unease grew.

As they stepped aside, he turned to Elizabeth.

"What room did you get?"

"U-Uh... 235."

Zane looked down at his own card. "456."

Her face dropped slightly. "We’re on different floors..."

Seeing her nervous glance, Zane gave a small nod of reassurance.

"No need to worry," he said. "Just stay in your room for the night. Lock the door. If they’re advising us to rest, then tomorrow’s probably going to be intense. We’ll need every ounce of energy."

She clutched her card tightly and gave a faint smile. "Mm... okay."

After a quick farewell, they split up. Zane headed to one of the top floors, his thoughts thick with everything that had happened.

The corridor outside his room was silent—eerily so. The air smelled like lavender and ozone, and the walls gleamed with faint golden light. When he unlocked the door and stepped inside, even he had to stop and stare.

It was massive.

Wider than any apartment he’d ever lived in. The living area opened to an expansive lounge, complete with a dining table, a separate study room, and a ceiling that rose like a dome of stars.

There was a personal spa. A small indoor pool. And a bed that could probably fit four people.

"...I’ve been to more luxurious places in the past few days than in my entire life," Zane muttered, glancing around. He felt oddly disconnected, like he was floating through a dream.

Eventually, he made his way to the bed and collapsed onto it, arms spread wide.

"Sigh... What a long day..."

The soft hum of the city below was barely audible at this height. The ceiling above him felt miles away.

"But I made it. Somehow."

He stared up blankly. His thoughts were heavy. In just a few days, everything had changed. He’d stepped into a new world, one layer at a time. New rules. New people. New dangers. The test... the monsters... the system...

It was overwhelming.

But it was also... empowering.

For once, he wasn’t clawing his way toward a distant dream. For once, the path was real. Solid. Within reach.

’It’s all mine to lose now, huh?’

He clenched his fist tightly, feeling the familiar weight of resolve settle in his chest.

’You worked for this, Zane. You bled for this. Don’t screw it up now.’

After that, he showered and changed into more comfortable clothes, slipping under the sheets. Exhaustion claimed him quickly.

But sleep brought no peace.

***

The nightmare returned.

The same house. The same voices. The same... events.

"AAAGHH!!"

Zane shot upright, gasping, drenched in sweat. His chest rose and fell as he clutched the sheets tightly.

"Hah... damn it..." He wiped his face, blinking into the darkness.

The room was pitch-black, save for a faint blue light seeping from the curtains. Time hadn’t passed much. Maybe an hour or two.

’That one was... worse than usual.’

His heart refused to calm down. No matter how many times he tried to close his eyes again, the images kept returning. The shadows. The screams. The pain.

After tossing and turning for half an hour, he finally gave up and swung his legs off the bed.

’I need some air.’

Throwing on a hoodie, he grabbed his key card and slipped out of the room. The hallways were mostly empty, with the occasional staff member quietly doing their rounds.

Zane made his way to the lobby, passing through the quiet reception area, and stepped outside into the back terrace.

What greeted him was a vast garden glowing under the moonlight. A pool shimmered under soft blue lighting, and trees rustled quietly in the breeze. The air was cold and crisp, tinged with the scent of blooming flowers.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, letting it wash over him.

’Peaceful...’

But then—he froze.

A sound drifted through the night air.

Faint. Gentle. Beautiful.

A lullaby so mesmerizing, it immediately swayed his very soul and pulled him in before he could even understand what was happening.

Slow, melancholic... hauntingly sweet.

It wrapped around him like silk, pulling at something deep in his chest.

Zane turned, his eyes scanning the garden.

Someone was there.

And they were playing a song that made the whole world go still.