Star in the Streets

Star In the Streets Chapter 1 (Prologue)

The one called "The Creator" is believed to have created the world. The father of all things. During creation, the Primordial forces of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water came into existence. Next, he made mankind and gave him power over the Primordial forces. Chaos became jealous of mankind's power and tricked mankind into giving him equal control over the four forces. Then, The Creator punished mankind.

"High Born" Kylon thinks, as a customer walks past while he mops the shop floors.

"Ky, you cleaned the Flintlocks yet?" Shouted Jason.

"Soon, just let me finish the floors" Kylon responded.

"I'm headed out-back, so watch the store" says Jason.

Twelve coppers an hour for dusting and cleaning is a dream come true. Jason's my grandfather and the one-eyed bandit that owns this gun store. How an Archaean managed to open a store in High Street is a mystery to me; however, a bigger mystery is how he keeps the place from closing down. It's probably due to some nobleman favoring him. Being nobility doesn't mean owning a castle. Sure, the Dukes and the Margraves might own a castle or two, but I'll bet you one Silver you'll never find any High Lords down here, whereas, Low Lords come in all the time, like the pompous prick who just walked in. He looks like an idiot in that three-piece suit. The suit coat is undersized, his waistcoat looks like it's about to pop off thanks to his fat belly–Shit he just picked up the one of the Flintlocks.

Kylon drops his mop by the bucket and begins to move down the shop's interior. Stepping past the frontal display of double-barrelled shotguns, then sliding between glass stands of engraved pistols, eventually reach the shelves of antique Flintlocks. He subtly approaches the Nobleman.

"Hello Lord, want me to help you clean the gun?" Asks Kylon.

"Who are you?" asks the Nobleman.

"I'm the shop hand, lord" proclaims Kylon.

"Fuck off, I didn't ask for your help" states the Nobleman

Kylon steps back with fear, knowing the product of a confrontation will be worse than a complaint.

"Apologies Lord" says Kylon.

He hangs his head low as he backs away, believing he's acquired the anger of the Nobleman, then He anxiously resumes his cleaning task gripping his mops iron handle.

What a prick. Well, the day is almost done so I couldn't care less. Gramps will probably close the shop once he's back, so the lard-arse will be the last customer of the day. He's just jealous because I've got everything he doesn't. I'm tall, strong and handsome, and once I've got my horse no one will look down on me. I've been saving up to buy one for a year now. We have breeders here in Avion, so countless are found on the streets they are as common as Exa.

Exa is the greatest resource on earth. I'm no Exafician but I know the basics. Sometime in the past people found out minerals, like Coal can warm their homes, power their factories and pump their engines. Then, one-day people found out the coal in Archaea is different. It glowed gently. The saying goes "if one coal burns for one hour, an Exa-coal will burn for six hours". Exa-Coal and other Exa-sources are what power the factories and steam engines. Some of the cargo headed for the factory stop by the shop sometimes. I think Gramps is friends with one of the cart drivers, but that one-eyed bandit could be trying to do some sort of business with the driver.

Most of the world goes to Archaea to mine Exa-Sources. Here in the Eutopian kingdom, we get tonnes of the stuff. it's easy to tell us Archaeans apart from others, due to our dark skin. Sadly, most Archaeans don't like to mix with others. In Middle Street where I live, they hate the factories. they say Exa is a gift from God and the kingdom is abusing it. There's been talk about making the Nobles reduce the amount of Exa the factories consume but we all know that's never going to happen. The old families are meeting tonight to discuss it. Gramps has already tried getting me to go tonight. I told him I'd come but I lied, I've got better things to do. There's a fight tonight in Low Street and Billy Sanders is one of the fighters. Why should I care about the Exa-consumption? the Nobles aren't going to change a thing. I've got a life to live, and it starts now.