Chapter 14:Wooden Walls
Well, that was an unexpected turn of events. Practically all major cities had been expanded and fortified after the cataclysm. At this point, there were at least a few hundred such cities across the world. The chances of meeting someone from a neighboring city in Ether—let alone from the exact same one—were close to zero.
Selene couldn't help but feel excited. The mysterious man who had saved her life—Peter—was from the very same city as her. From the beginning of their journey together, he had given the impression of someone experienced and composed. Despite his quiet nature, there was something about him that made her feel like he was ready for anything. And the thought of unraveling the mystery surrounding him filled her with anticipation.
Yet, the more she learned about him, the more she became painfully aware of how utterly unprepared she was to survive in Ether. Her art studies were completely useless in this world. Her knowledge of Ether was barely above what they had taught in dull school courses, and her physical condition… she hated to admit it, but it was pathetic. At her age, very few people still found themselves thrown into Ether by fate, and because of that, she had neglected any form of physical exercise.
Meanwhile, Peter was her complete opposite. He was athletic, moved with precision, and made decisions with the certainty of someone who had been trained to survive. He knew how to pick and set up a camp, had extensive knowledge of survival skills, and, most likely, a deep understanding of Ether's geography. He was skilled enough with a sword to take down multiple opponents at once, and his discipline—something ingrained in him by his service in the special forces—was evident in every action he took.
It was almost laughable how different their levels of preparedness were.
A lesser person might have let that fact crush their morale, but Selene refused to. There was no point in comparing herself to a former special forces soldier. That was a losing battle. Her only goal now was to push herself and not slow them down.
***
Despite the unexpected revelation that they were from the same city, Peter remained unfazed. Time was up. Their fifteen-minute rest had passed, and he ordered them to move.
Selene groaned inwardly but forced herself to stand. Her muscles protested as she massaged her aching legs, but she had no choice. She slung her bag over her shoulder and began following Peter, who was already heading south.
For a while, she tried to distract herself by observing the strange landscape around her. Ether was nothing like Earth. The gnarled, thorn-covered shrubs looked like twisted, skeletal hands reaching for the sky. Their bark was an eerie blend of brown and violet, while their leaves shimmered between shades of green and crimson. Even the trees looked unnatural—towering, with trunks streaked with pale purple veins, as if something alive pulsed beneath the surface. The air was thick, carrying a scent that was both earthy and strangely sweet, like overripe fruit left too long in the sun.
Selene might have appreciated the alien beauty of it all if not for the pain slowly creeping through her body.
Her legs burned. Her shoulders ached from the weight of her bag. Every step sent sharp jolts of exhaustion through her muscles, but she clenched her teeth and pressed on. She refused to complain.
Peter, as always, noticed.
Without a word, he slowed his pace again.
For a split second, she thought she saw him roll his eyes in irritation, but when she looked again, his expression was as unreadable as ever.
'I must be imagining things,' she thought, relieved.
She adjusted to the slower pace, grateful for the unspoken reprieve, and kept moving.
For the next half-hour, she pushed through the pain, focusing only on placing one foot in front of the other. But exhaustion was a cruel enemy, and eventually, her body reached its limit.
Her vision blurred, and her steps became unsteady. The world tilted.
She took one more shaky step—then her knees buckled.
The impact sent a jolt through her already aching limbs, and she gasped as she collapsed onto the ground, panting.
Peter didn't say a word.
He barely even glanced at her before shifting his gaze toward the horizon.
Selene forced herself to breathe through the pain, wiping the sweat from her forehead. It took her a moment to realize that something had caught his attention. Despite her exhaustion, curiosity sparked in her chest.
She followed his gaze.
And then—at the very end of the path—she saw it.
A wooden palisade, stretching across her entire field of view.
It stood tall and imposing, its jagged logs forming a barrier that seemed both ancient and unyielding. Whether it signified safety or danger, she had no idea.
But one thing was certain.
They had arrived somewhere.