Legends of the Stars

Chapter 2: Brave New World

Chapter 2

Brave New World

July 19th, 2017 AE

The young Ark Knight rode his steed across the verdant expanse. The morning sun hung over the kingdom like a silent guardian, shining bright as it rose in the distance. The cool, summer air blew through the fields and caressed the traveler's skin. And with the sky painted cerulean blue, he and the realm had fully awakened from their slumber. A new day began.

He had woken up that morning happy, even after staying in that dirty, roach-infested inn in the last town. For the last three days, he traveled across the region on this horse that he borrowed from home. While it was just as hard leaving his home and his family, he felt liberated being out in the world and on his own for the first time. Once he reached the top of the hill, he saw his destination standing tall and proud from across the valley.

As the capital of Astrelm, Newtown was a walled metropolis brimming with life. Divided into two sections, the majority of the city was within the Outer Ring between two stone walls. In the Central Ring stood the glorious Citadel, where the Royal Family lived and ruled over the kingdom for centuries. And with the most advanced technology protecting it from the Empire, Newtown was the greatest stronghold on the planet.

The Ark Knight arrived at the southern gate to the Outer Ring at around eleven o'clock. After leaving his horse at a rental station, he bought a ticket for the train that would take him to the Central Ring. Riding high above the streets, he looked out the window at the green fields stretching beyond the city boroughs. He was amazed to see a gigantic lake capturing it all in its pristine reflection. That all vanished once the train entered the pitch-black tunnel in the Central Wall. This gave him time to process what he just witnessed. Though he only saw a preview of the capital, it already seemed like paradise. But once the train emerged shot out of the darkness, he finally saw the city's true splendor.

He was in awe of the colossal skyscrapers grower ever taller. Dozens of billboards crowned these buildings, shouting their advertisements at him. The one that made him most excited greeted him with the colorful tagline:

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW!

Winding highways branched throughout the city like vines in a jungle. Fleets of cars filled these roads as they made their commute across the capital. All the wondrous sights sped past his gaze until the train reached Crown City Station in a grinding halt. His first step off the train was his first step into his new life.

The Central Ring was lined with buildings painted a rainbow of colors. Hundreds of citizens traveled throughout the streets, each of them adding to the city's exhilarating spirit. While a storm of cars crowded the roads, rows of merchants filled the sidewalks with their stands as they sold their wares. Each of their conversations powered a loud, energetic noise that echoed throughout the city. This was the voice of Newtown.

Amidst all this commotion, he didn't know where to look first. He walked down the street captivated by the liveliness of this grand city. A pilgrim in an unfamiliar land, he continued to explore until he saw a "FOR RENT" sign in front of a small, brown building. He knew this would be a good place to start.

The Ark Knight stepped inside to see what looked like a run-down shop. Many boxes and sacks filled to the brim with goods were piled up behind the counter. Their contents included a variety of foods, exotic spices, elixants, textiles, and even weapons. He could tell that all these goods belonged to a bountiful merchant.

"Hello?!" he yelled.

The next thing he heard was a thump coming from under the counter.

"Ow!"