Keeper of the Lost Cities: War

Chapter 1

Linh Song's already natural pink cheeks were graced with a slight pink blush as she awkwardly rubbed between the ears of the small shadow dog perched on her shoulder.
Ever since she and Tam had been selected for separate assignments- he had created the creature that would be able to contact him if Linh was ever in danger.

The reason for her blushing however was because Marella kept making faces at her from across the room from her post by the door.

Something Linh admired most about Marella was her ability to keep a lighthearted personality even though they were- and all of the lost cities- currently midst a war.

Even at that point in time- the two were standing guard in front of the large golden double doors that led into the war room.

Inside- the remaining councilors Bronte, Zarina, Darek, Alina, and Clarette, alongside with acting councilors Sophie Foster and Della Vacker, and with the remaining members of the collective Juline Dizznee, Tigeran, and Fernan Babblos, were all hosting a quick meeting to discuss certain security measures with General Tam Song.

One could say- the minute Keefe disappeared from the Lost Cities- everything turned to chaos- though it was also partially due to Sophie Foster's raid on the Neverseen's storage unit.

Once Gisela couldn't locate Keefe- nor Sophie could- the Neverseen lashed out with a hard fist- utterly destroying Eternalia- Everglen- The Shores of Solace- most of Havenfield- and numerous other locations that housed members of the Black Swan- in bursts of everblaze.

It had later been discovered that Fintan had been the source of the flames- and had been using his supposed imprisonment to meet with people so he could land a spark of controlled flame on their clothes that could be implanted in their houses- and he used his training sessions with Marella Redek to do exactly that.
Given Marella went to all of the places he needed to wipe out.

The day the fire came raining down was like a scene from a nightmare, the skies gone dark with smoke with an eerie yellow glow with cinders sparking through the fog.

That was the day Edaline Ruewen died.

If Linh was being honest with herself- she had never been so terrified of Sophie until then- and ever since then Sophie has been withdrawn from the group, a little cold one might say.

Sophie, Linh, and Fitz had been on a mission, inspecting where Vespera had been spotted near the sanctuary when both Sophie and Fitz collapsed, clutching their heads.

Fitz later explained to the group that it was because they had been hit with a mental wave of thousands of people's minds screaming- even though they had been so isolated.

And given the uniqueness of Sophie's telepathy- it didn't take her long to figure out that people were dying and she couldn't help any of them.

Sophie had whispered one name almost mutely after a couple seconds- and that was Edaline.

The tear that slipped from her eye didn't even get a chance to freeze before the hopelessness and rage that mingled on her face as she let out a scream seemed to send a crack into the mountain underneath them.

That was the day Sophie accidentally tore apart a mountain with just telekinesis- breaking down every particle and shredding them apart- tossing them into the void where she teleported too.

It had looked like she was in the center of a pixilated dome- while she was gently cradling Fitz and Linh with telekinesis- parts of the mountain hovering around her as though there hadn't been any gravity weren't so lucky- and were smashed.
Granted, she passed out for a week from all the energy she used.