WoG Chapter 60
Chapter Sixty: City of Ghosts
Ivin leads a cavalry expedition to investigate Endelêun, spurred by the Wiirê’s cryptic warnings of a “city of ghosts.” Meliu, grappling with her past use of Dark prayers and a mysterious white lion vision, joins the ride, while Kinesee defies attempts to leave her behind. The chapter unfolds through Meliu’s introspective concerns and Ivin’s cautious exploration, culminating in an eerie encounter with an empty, pristine city.
Meliu’s POV: Meliu, unsettled by the Wiirê’s claim that Endelêun is a city of ghosts, reflects on Church teachings about spectral entities—Sundered, cursed, or vengeful souls—wondering if a mass Sundering explains the phenomenon or if it’s mere superstition. Frustrated by Kinesee’s insistence on joining the expedition, she wishes for Sedut’s guidance, doubting her prayers’ efficacy against ghosts after their limited success with Dulûmbolis. Seeking clarity, Meliu confides in Shinôu, a priest scarred from the monkey battle, about her recurring vision of a white lion during her Dark prayer against the Wiirê Crone, fearing it signals madness. Shinôu reassures her, noting her lucidity contrasts with Dark-induced insanity, suggesting the lion may be a divine message. Relieved but cautious, Meliu joins Ivin’s 500-horse scouting party, opting against armor due to the ghostly threat, and observes the Wiirê’s fear as they approach Endelêun. At the city, she uses Life prayers to confirm its emptiness, staying with Kinesee as Ivin investigates, her unease growing as the Wiirê’s reverence for Ivin and Morik hints at unseen forces, solidifying her belief that Endelêun harbors no living souls.
Ivin’s POV: Ivin, reluctantly allowing Kinesee to ride despite safety concerns, leads 500 cavalry to Endelêun, intrigued by the aqueduct’s mysteriously replaced stone cover, suggesting supernatural intervention. The landscape’s beauty, with plains and mountains, contrasts with the eerie absence of life, and spotting Tomarok’s pyramid in the distance heightens his sense of destiny tied to Ulrikt’s prophecies. Approaching Endelêun’s gleaming, polished walls, Ivin finds no roads or inhabitants, only pristine streets and scattered, oddly preserved buildings. With Morik, Rendetu, and a small escort, he enters the open gate, noting the lack of tracks or wear, as if the city were untouched by time. Despite Meliu’s warning of no living presence, Ivin’s initial bravado fades as dusk approaches, prompting a retreat to camp. The Wiirê’s sudden worship, claiming he and Morik “walked through ghosts,” and the discovery that Endelêun’s gates are now closed, unsettle him. Balancing leadership with growing dread, Ivin resolves to explore further in daylight, wary of the city’s ghostly reputation and its implications for their mission against the Dark Waters Cult.
- WoG Chapter 59 — Message to the Stars
- WoG Chapter 61 — Whispering Streets
- Whispers of Ghosts — Main Chapter Listing