Twelve years had passed since the Sky Sweeper cast its metallic shadow over the buildings and houses. The city, once a vibrant tapestry of life and noise, now resembled a sterile machine, humming with an unsettling efficiency. Towering wind turbines whirred in the distance, spewing clean energy into a city devoid of its former grit. Sleek, automated sentinels patrolled the streets, their cold, emotionless forms a constant reminder of the iron fist that gripped the city.
Beneath the veneer of progress, however, a disquiet simmered. The citizens, once diverse and expressive, moved with a practiced stoicism, their individuality subsumed under the weight of Lord Crainus's iron rule. Yet, in the labyrinthine underbelly of the city, far from the watchful gaze of the automated sentinels, a flicker of rebellion flickered.
A young woman, her features obscured by the hood of a worn robe, navigated the dimly lit tunnels. Her brown hair, usually tied back in a practical braid, was now loose and flowing, framing a face etched with determination. The worn leather satchel slung across her shoulder held her most prized possessions: a well-worn notebook filled with cryptic symbols and diagrams, and a battered compass.
This woman, cloaked in mystery, was on a mission born from whispers and forbidden knowledge. In the years since the Sky Sweeper's unveiling, she had pieced together fragments of a forgotten past, tales of a bargain struck with a demon and the price the city was paying.
Armed with a thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to break free from the oppressive regime, she sought out anyone who might hold the key to understanding demons and the magic used to imprison them. Her search had led her to the underbelly, a haven for those who dared to exist outside Crainus's rigid control.
As she rounded a corner, she found herself face-to-face with a group of rough-looking individuals. Their faces, etched with suspicion and desperation, were illuminated by the flickering light of a torch.
"Halt!" rasped a man with a thick scar running down his cheek. "Who are you, and what business do you have lurking in our shadows?"
The woman, unfazed by their hostile stance, raised a hand in a gesture of peace. "I seek knowledge," she said, her voice calm and steady, yet laced with a hint of authority. "Knowledge of a forgotten past, of things long suppressed."
The group exchanged wary glances, their hands cautiously hovering near makeshift weapons. A woman with a fierce glint in her eye stepped forward. "Forgotten things, huh? Sounds like trouble. Why should we help you?"
The cloaked woman took a deep breath. "Because," she said, her voice gaining conviction, "the fate of this city might depend on it."
The woman with the glint narrowed her eyes. "Big words for a stranger. What makes you think we trust you?"
Before the woman could respond, the situation escalated. A group of rough-looking figures emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden by hoods. They surrounded the group, weapons glinting in the dim light.
"Looks like we have some unwanted company," the scarred man muttered, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and defiance.
The cloaked woman, her heart pounding in her chest, felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins. With a swift movement, she flung her cloak back, revealing a sophisticated gauntlet made of gleaming black metal. Intricate glowing lines ran across its surface, pulsing with an inner light.
"I'm not here to cause trouble," she declared, her voice ringing with determination. "But I can help you deal with them."
As the attackers surged forward, the woman activated her gauntlet. A beam of crackling energy shot forth, disarming the first attacker with a deafening clang. Her movements were fluid and practiced, a stark contrast to the clumsy attacks of the assailants. The other members of the group, initially surprised, joined the fray, using whatever weapons they could find.
The tunnel echoed with the clang of metal and the grunts of exertion. In the heat of the battle, one of the attackers, momentarily stunned by the woman's unconventional weapon, managed to get a closer look at her gauntlet. His eyes widened in recognition.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "That technology... it's from... Lord Crainus!"
The fighting ceased abruptly as everyone stared at the woman, their faces etched with a mixture of shock and disbelief. She stood tall, her hood falling back further, revealing the determined glint in her brown eyes.
"Who are you?" the scarred man asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The woman straightened her shoulders, her gaze meeting his. She says calmly "Anabelle, daughter of Lord Crainus"
Find out what will happen in the second book...
** Hellooooo folksss hope you enjoyed this story of mine!! It's my first book, I tried to put my heart on it! Thank you everyone who's reading!
