KENNEN JARMEZ IS TRAPPED. A web of forgotten secrets and buried history descends upon him. With a war looming over their heads, he has to crack the mystery surrounding a particular object in his care in search of allies. After triggering a hidden sp...
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It dawned on him he's in the middle of a war when the brick building he was just passing through exploded into a shower of dust and mortar. His arms flew to his head, the fear pounding in his gut accentuated by the screams rising around him. He ran through the chaos, bumping into forms and pushing some into the way of incoming flames streaking across the sky.
Cobblestones cracked and popped from the ground, creating perfect spots to trip. He lost count of how many times he had to right himself up before he fell face-first. Alert voice called through the noise of the world crumbling, ushering the people into a place of refuge. Somewhere underground? Maybe. That's not his goal, though.
He had to make it to that alley before the timetellers strike the first hour of the third quarter. The five-hundred versallis wasn't going to last him longer than a thousand would. Gods, if the contractor pulled out because of this stupid war, he'd hunt those orange curls down until not a single one was left on this island. He needed money, and that man's foolish enough to make a deal with him.
Silver slashed from his left, and he dodged—saved only by the nimble feet he developed over the years of running away from those who wanted him dead. A colorful wing zipped past his periphery, reminding him of a nonsense painting he had an eye for once. His heart leaped to his throat. A varichria? What's the keiju doing here? Of all places?
Oh, right. This was the Human-Fairy War. There's no other reason.
He ducked under the slash that would have lopped his head off. He rolled out of the way of another blazing spell marking the end of its trajectory on the spot inches from his boots. Smoke stung his eyes, and the smell of burning stone and wood assaulted his nose. The sky vanished under spells of pink, gold, and green. Every so often, forms with skins tinged green zipped across the plumes of uprooted dust and billowing fog, pummeling unsuspecting humans or dragging them back into the chaos.
The humans retaliated in their own way. Somewhere through the haze, soldiers wearing the same armor as the people in the general's camp rushed into the fray, shouting at the top of their lungs. Some managed to skewer a winged creature or two, but most were stuck in a locked battle of blades and spells, staying on equal footing with their enemies. Metal clanged against its kind, sparks joining the fiery embers in painting the air amber.
A wet splotch rang behind him, and he turned to find a form crumpling to the ground. Glassy eyes stared up to the heavens, reaching out to a god who wouldn't save them. A gash ripped from their gut to their neck, killing them before they bleed out. Slowly, he raised his eyes to the armored fairy standing over the corpse. Hard, gem-like eyes glinted against the veil of haze. Then, it went for him. For his blood.
A curse flitted out of his lips as he turned tail and sprinted straight into the chaos. He'd lose any pursuers through this path, but that doesn't mean he's safe from harm. Something slammed from behind, and he fell forward against it. Thick, warm liquid flowed down his arms and nape. It took him a split second to realize it's blood. Buckets of it.
