This is a reupload from my old account! Refurbished and at a higher resolution.



As the night falls upon the abandoned stone towers of South Crossworth, some swear they see beasts roaming the walls, watching from their perches. Some think they're the guardians of the towers, however others believe they're the last remnants of the lost souls who tried braving the withering structures. Whatever they are, they seem content being locked behind the gates.

Once a year One Brave Explorer, whether an expert cave diver or an amateur vlogger comes to investigate what lay behind the intricately carved cobble. They arrive with full confidence, ready to take on the world. They aren't afraid of the horror stories about people being crushed beneath falling stone pillars or falling themselves into the caves below. "I'll just take more care than those fools!" they say.

They make their way inside, weather from the caves below, or perhaps there's a little gap around a corner. No one has the key to the gates. Upon seeing what's inside, they realise it is nothing like the horror stories they've heard so many times before, but instead stone so gorgeously well kept it sparkles in what little sunlight peeks its way through. Perfectly stable Arches, of which turn out to be bridges as they climb, spanning between towers like a web. It feels so much bigger and grander than you could have ever imagined an old decrepit collection of stone stakes in the ground being. You can't help but simply stare in awe at the intricate carvings in the walls depicting great battles between hunters and the creatures they hunted. Massive wingspans are shown wiping out crowds, horns shining in the sun as arrows fail to properly hit their target.

You stand there for ages.

It's gotten much later than you were planning on staying, as you can see from the sudden darkness. Your lamps are greatly appreciated. That wasn't your thoughts you think, nor did your comrade say anything, if you brought one that is. There shouldn't be anyone else here, right? You turn to face this stranger only to find nobody there. Whispers about a guest begin to flood the room you're in, as you panic and attempt to descend. But there's no stairs leading down anymore. So, you try carefully speed-walking across one of the archways. But around the middle, it stops. It's dead silent. No more whispers. You can hear the blood flowing in your head as it produces that all too familiar ringing. you look up.

You've never seen so many stars. Being cooped up in the city really has made you dense. Such a small apartment, compressing your body into a dense, soft little ball. But now you're in the open. The air is fresh and plentiful. You've never seen so many stars before. And the moon... It's incredible how shy the moon is in the city but now, it's on full display bigger and brighter than ever before. It's beautiful. Your eyes have never been so relaxed staring at something this long before. It's breathtaking. And for a moment you believe that may be literal as you don't seem to be inhaling anymore. But that's not an issue. Your body is perfectly relaxed, so it can't be. I could be up here forever... Well not literally. Just a phrase to emphasize how much you enjoy this view. I may as well find a way back now... But I can't seem to move... No, I don't want to move. I just want to stay here. Maybe, since this place is so much more pristine than I thought, I could live here! I could find a nice little room to set up my things, and grow a little garden... The soil here does seem to be rather good for that. I could get supplies from the town. Oh, of course I would take care of the place. Maybe make it even better than it is... now... No. It's perfect as is. Although there are a few areas that need some patching up. Well, no time like the present! Maybe you should wait until tomorrow night though. You wouldn't want the local humans to see you like that, now do you? They can be rather sensitive.