In a world suspended between the skies, where the floating islands of Skyara are precariously held aloft by ancient magic, Luna Valen, a young air cargo pilot, inherits a mysterious map left by her missing father. This map, cryptic and enigmatic, seems to lead to Aetheria, a legendary station that could hold the secret to saving the floating cities, now threatened by increasingly frequent gravitational disturbances.
Determined to unravel the mystery of the map and discover the truth about her father's fate, Luna assembles an eclectic team: Dorian, a disgraced engineer with a troubled past; Mara, a former soldier haunted by the tragic mistakes of her past; and Cyrus, a brilliant but tormented hacker. Together, they embark on a perilous journey through hostile skies, where they must face aerial pirates, surveillance drones belonging to ruthless corporations, and unknown forces that guard the secrets of Aetheria.
As the team draws closer to the mythical station, they discover that the dangers are not only external. Dorian's buried secrets, Mara's painful memories, and Cyrus's unspoken ambitions threaten to tear their fragile alliance apart. Upon finally reaching Aetheria, they are confronted with a crucial choice: harness the station's immense power to stabilize the floating cities, at the risk of causing an irreversible catastrophe, or destroy what could be the only solution to their world's survival.
"She steadied her breathing and stood up. It was time to keep moving. The Tormentor would find her again, but she needed distance from what she had done.
The bargain had been struck; the curse had been placed. Her fate was sealed with every step she took towards the south."
The Kingdom of Svaleta stands on a precipice. War is on brewing in the north, with the elven Aliri Empire funding bandit raids across the border. To the south, the ancient forest of Narandir is stirring. Strange beasts are lurking, the body count is rising, and fear is spreading. The king sits in his palace demanding apathy.
In the midst of this gathering storm, Belkai Androva is smuggled across the north-eastern border. The young mage harbours a dark secret as she makes her way through the countryside, but people are starting to notice the trail of bodies left in her wake.
The world is changing, and this mysterious figure may hold the key to Svaleta's survival.
* This story will also be posted on Royal Road under the same title.