Spark and Ignite: Infinitium White

by Jimmy Tran

Genres: Military Fantasy; Sci-fi Action & Adventure; Military Sci-Fi; High-tech & Sci-fi Thrillers

Synopsis

The formation of the Hellhounds was the greatest bane to the Golden Ones, its creation drenched in bloodshed and war. What began as a group of friends who strove for a brighter tomorrow would lead to its ruination. Their neon city, Dithyramb, that once boasted a life of prosperity would collapse under the dreams it created. The price of hope was none other than death.

 

Saveas, Amare, Qolani, Olan, and Galtai were childhood friends. They once ran around the city, lost in all that the world gave them. In the face of everything, they used to be inseparable as their lives unfolded. Never once did the thought cross their minds that they would stand at the forefront of war.

 

The nature of the city showed its true colors. From the dark clutches of the Solar's shadow, a voice called to them. From its whispers came the notion of change. All it took was a single spark. An uprising that would change their world forever.

 

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Release date: April 30, 2024

Print pages: 282

Sample

Chapter One

Spark and Ignite

“Do you see that, Saveas?”

They flew overhead. Knights in golden armor, wings as brilliant as the sun. Flashes of light beamed past luminescent towers that flickered in the night. A finger pointed to the sky.

“That’s the Alcaeus, home to the Solar.”

It covered the dark blue sky, crossing it ever so slowly. Radiant light gleamed down from it. A colossal disc floated above them. From its glowing core, more knights rained down upon the world. They soared throughout the blackened city.

“One day…you are going to be on there.” A smile beamed down at him. “They are the brightest of our lights. A symbol of peace and hope. Someone like you.” Their grime-covered hand gently patted his ragged green hair. “I just know it.”

The light of the Alcaeus turned dark yellow; its focus centered at their area. Blinding luster swallowed the buildings surrounding them, its reach unyielding as it covered all they set their eyes on. The flock left the settlements. Others barricaded with metal barriers. The person before him ushered the boy forward rapidly.

“Magic detected in District Four. Please evacuate the area. Threat level: Boar,” sirens blared out from the Alcaeus. The knights all turned around. Saveas took notice of the gilded trim of their armor as they flew overhead. The members of the Solar were headed to the area where the two of them came from.

Rubble and glass crashed down. Flames spewed out. A silhouette stood above it. Pitch-black feathered wings spread. The silhouette roared out into the sky before the mighty and powerful cry turned to sobs. The knights circled overhead.

“I did not want this. I did not mean for this to happen! I…I…”

“Turn around, Saveas.”

Saveas’s eyes were covered by the man he followed. He was pulled closer with enough strength to stagger him. The kind voice he just heard was replaced with an anxious, cautious tone. “Come on, let’s keep moving. They are keeping us safe. Don’t let it go to waste.”

“Safe?” Saveas peered through the fingers.

“How did they have enough to maintain form? Have they not been extracted?” Two people ran past him. Scouts were much faster on the ground and were used to block off exits. Thin gilded armor with adorned emblems on their shoulders. The sigil was a sword with a dragon’s head

that served as the hilt. Winged helmets and boots with draconic visors stared at their prey as the knights drew closer to the figure.

“Don’t come any closer!” The silhouette cried out before the figure was etched in radiance. Dark blue skin stretched from claw and nail. The head was adorned with brown wings like wings of a bat. Two eyes were embedded in their shoulders, observing the movements of the vultures that watched every action.

“Leave me alone. Please…I don’t want to look like this anymore. Please, make it stop.” Claws stretched out; tears streamed down their cheeks as the figure swatted at the knights. The colossal strength sent them flying backward. They opened their mouth, revealing red flames aimed at the scouts climbing the side of the building.

“Who are they keeping safe?”

Saveas looked forward. It was no longer the street he was walking on. The darkened metallic buildings were replaced with hills and trees. In front of him was a mountain path dotted with protrusions to guide the path upward. With steady leaps, his hooves landed on each rigged ledge as the flowers underneath swayed with the breeze.

“There you are, Saveas!” A group gathered in front of the flowering adohom tree, ripe with beautiful delicate purple fruit. Their shape was long and narrow, and they could be plucked with downward motions. The juices could be found on the faces of the group, sweet and fragrant.

All of them belonged to a species known as yitsiyr. Possessing thick horns and cloven hooves on a humanoid body, they were adept in movement and agility. Their lower bodies were coated in layers of fur to insulate them from their once-treacherous planet that became overridden with buildings and technology. The remnants of their harsh cold climates were maintained in exclusive areas under surveillance to preserve what once was.

“Sorry I am late. I got held up doing…uh…”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” They laughed boisterously. A smile formed on

Saveas’s face as their guffaws filled his ears. A fate he accepted. “We all saw you sitting on the ledge of your room, staring at the Alcaeus.”

Saveas chuckled, his hand scratching the back of his slick green hair. The young man’s curved horns shone gently in the light. His posture hunched over as he trotted forward on cloven hoofs. “Alright, alright, you got me.”

“No worries, we expected as much.” One of them approached. Galtai Aeneas, the paramount of brawn among them. His strength amounted to all of theirs. It was evident in how his muscles flared, each one bulged profusely. The spiked tan hair glowed delicately. Galtai’s rippled chest was covered by a white shirt displaying a knight holding a sword. “You know it’s not good to have your lovely lady waiting.” He held up his fingers and wiggled the ring finger in front of him. “Especially with that.”

Saveas looked to him in bewilderment, his head crooked and jaw slack. “What are you on about, Galtai? Is this another one of your jokes?”

“You haven’t taken her on an extravagant getaway? Proposed a fancy late night dinner?”

“I think you think too much of me.” Saveas grinned.

“Right.” Galtai laughed. “Your lazy ass won’t do anything unless someone tells you to.”

“Come on guys, we can talk on the way to the siphons.” Qolani beckoned them to move. One of the Ametor siblings. She raised her hand. A diamond sigil was etched into the back of their hands. It radiated a bright blue. “I am tired of this buzzing.”

“Yeah, it’s real annoying.” Olan, the Ametor brother, picked at it. Skin flakes fell to the soft ground at his feet. Olan was naturally hunched over, a feature he put little effort toward. His gray hair drifted down his back. He was much scrawnier and paler than his sister.

Standing side by side, it would be difficult to tell that Olan was the older one. Olan’s horns were short and forward curved, whereas his sister’s were of opposing inclination. Their gray hair was braided into long tails with Qolani having another braid on the front left side.

Amare stared up at her hand. “It’s not that bad. At least it's pretty.”

The cool brisk breeze rushed by causing leaves to rustle in the wind. A brilliant smile beamed to him from underneath the dangling vines of the tree. Curly faded orange hair flowed down her back, drifting gently in the caress of the wind. Amare’s light complexion clashed against her black dress, which bellowed out as it lowered. Her soft dark brown eyes turned to them with a resplendent smile.

Galtai whispered in Saveas’s ear. “See…you’re doing the thing again.”

“Ade gamisou, man.” Saveas chuckled.

“Anytime you want, I’m always down.” Galtai winked before laughing loudly as he rushed off to rejoin the group. “Come on. I want to at least do something today. As you know, the Solar never rests!”

Saveas looked to the Alcaeus in silence. Clouds rolled by, caught in the ebb and flow of the winds. Lights flickered as the vessel flashed its glorious light across the districts. His smile shown in the puddle at his hooves. The reflection of a black vest that hid a white shirt rippled in the water as he stepped forward.

They slowly came to the edge of the preserve. Saveas glanced at his surroundings as they entered the city. Bright signs filled the streets. Their brilliance hung above and on the sides of towering stores and homes that reached for the skies. Where they walked soared over the vast emptiness meant for movement through the city.

Hundreds of hoverbikes roared beneath them, the thunderous engines drowned out their laughter as they continued. The traffic’s chaotic nature was loosely contained within the confines they had established with one another to preserve their lives. The Solar scarcely paid attention to their regulations except when a life was taken.

Arched bridges held up the group of friends alongside the thousands that roamed the streets. Upper levels were reached through protrusions stretching out of the walls. Saveas glanced below through the open rifts between the levels. Scouts leaped through the

passage in pursuit of the speeding hooves of a thief through a vast market filled with all manner of goods. Clothes, food, drones, and other forms of tech were the only stalls he could remember visiting there. They usually had to drag him out of bed whenever they went.

“What’s going on, Saveas?” Galtai shouted.

“Eh, just a fuso being chased.” He heard Galtai's scoff and muttering.

“Oh! Hurry up! I can see the rail coming!” Amare shouted. Thick metal tracks hovered above them that stretched down the length of Dithyramb. A bright light beamed from its front as the rail sped toward them. Neon signs and boards stretched down its side blended. Hundreds of windows rushed by, reflecting the faces of the group, as they sprinted to it. They could see it filled from one end of the chassis to the other to form a gray amalgamation of passengers.

“Io be damned, Saveas; I wish you would stop taking your time.” Qolani heaved with her hands on her knees. Breaths ran short. Their legs ached. Galtai ended up carrying Olan. “I was not stretched out enough for that.”

“I thought they would wait. I didn’t realize the sensors were off.”

Olan slumped onto

the bench; his thin fingers reached for the dial underneath. Cold air brushed against his skin as sweat dripped from his bony cheeks. The elated sighs of relief as he sank deeper into his seat. Qolani placed her head against her brother. “You genius.”

“How far are we from the temple?” Amare steadily fixed her posture and regained control of her breathing.

“Five stops down,” Olan wheezed as he stared at the signs above.

“Plenty of time to breathe.” Amare looked around. Saveas and Galtai looked at the exasperated group, unfazed by the excursion they had undertaken to get there. The other passengers seemed to ignore their existence.

Amare saw it in the distance, Naos Tessera. Its height and width dwarfed the structures nearby. Statues of knights with tented hands shrouded the world. The Alcaeus’s light beamed off their shoulders as a colossal golden eye sat at the temple’s peak, glaring down at the thousands that wandered underneath its sight.

“Are we free?” Amare whispered to herself.

Saveas tilted his head briefly, a moment’s glance at his childhood friend before he stood by her side. His hand tenderly wrapped around Amare’s. A smile grew on her face as she stared at him with gentle eyes. He grasped the rail above and peered out to the world. Saveas’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze shifted briefly.

Galtai saw the knights and puffed up his chest, straight horns bowed to the metal. “I can’t wait to stand among them one day.” His red eyes looked to Saveas. “Are you excited to go to the Squire’s Regiment too? From what Itos told me, it sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Sure, sure.” Saveas continued to stare.

“Is that not exciting to you, orf? You get to stand among them in the Alcaeus.” Galtai’s bright blue eyes glistened. “Not many get chosen for that honor. It’s a chance for us to show the world how great we are and save the lives of the people!”

Saveas bowed his head with a faint laugh, “I guess I’m tired. Reality hasn’t hit me yet.”

“Don’t worry! Once the ceremony starts, it'll come crashing down.”

“Yeah…yeah.” Saveas smiled.

“I am surprised Saveas even made it in. I missed the mark.” Qolani yawned loudly. She looked at him with a scowl upon her face. “The laziest person I’ve ever met scored the highest in the district. I spent weeks preparing, and he was probably off lying around somewhere.”

“Where was I?” Saveas scratched his head.

“Didn’t you go to the Tribute to Ein?” Amare pitched in. Fields of lavish flowers, the sweet aroma wafting into every breath, and the beautiful fountain that coated the enclosure with sprinkles of delicate drops. She even remembered the way the flowers parted at her feet.

“Oh right. I took Olan because he said he never saw it before.” 

The heads of the other passengers turned to the slumped-over figure at the mention of his name. His pale cheeks became flushed with red. He buried his head between his legs, his baggy black shirt covering his face. Whispers and murmurs sprouted up. “Did they say ‘Olan?’ Like the Ametor duo that does fight choreography? I thought he made custom vehicles on the side. Why would either of them be on a stellar rail?”

Qolani stretched out her body. The stretch of the arms revealed the tapered, well-defined body. Her brutally calloused knuckles were left with blackened skin. She placed her hand on her brother. The scar on her lip parted as she smiled.

“What’s wrong with wanting to see the flowers? That place is called ‘the valley of the undying,’ so it must be beautiful.”

The rail stopped. Amare looked outside. They had arrived at Valor Hall. Its vast expanse of paved white stone was lined with statues of the scouts, knights, and the soldiers. Tributes to their valorous acts reminded the world of what they had done.

Under arches filled with words of the fallen and those who lived through battles throughout history, they strolled down the pathway at a leisurely pace. Valor’s Hall was always filled. A den of those who lost their way and those seeking new opportunities in life. Everyone was inevitably required to come through the hallowed grounds.

“The agents of Frostmaw are coming! Disaster is soon to fall upon us! Some of them are already among us! Please Great Io, protect our lands from these heathens!” A woman was being escorted by the scouts. Her sunken eyes twitched as she gazed around.

Saveas could hear them talking quietly, onlookers of the situation. Two older women who lacked subtly.

“Oh, that poor woman. I remember she used to be so happy. She lost her wife in an accident. She’s been taking memento ever since.”

“It’s such a

what that stuff will do to you.”

Saveas clicked his tongue, clenching his teeth. Amare and Galtai reached out for his shoulders. Galtai tightly gripped onto him and whispered into his ear, “Hey…hey…chill. You can’t afford to get in trouble.”

They approached the entrance of Naos Tessera. Scouts patrolled its perimeter. Saveas slacked behind the group; his back arched slightly as he stared up at the colossal building. The tale of the two dragons was etched into its doors.

The Creator split themself apart to save all of creation from their own wrath. An opponent they could fight, a source of malice to face, their rage, their anger was given form. Io, the creator, had created Frostmaw as their antithesis. Their battle across the universe represents the vicious cycle of life and death.

Amare looked to the Alcaeus with sorrow in her eyes.

Stationed within the temple were dozens of scouts and knights. Continuous patrols were under route on the upper floors. A grand statue lay at its core. Water cascaded down from the length of a blade before it swirled at the wielder’s armored feet. Its label read, The Duchess of the Stars. Brilliant silver armor brightened the room, light blue reflecting from the trim of her armor and the edge of her blade.

Galtai led the pack toward the left. Olan grimaced as the leader clasped hands with a yitsiyr scout. A lazy knight who was part of their lives ever since they were young.

“Syolani! How have you been?”

“You’re all later than usual. Everything alright?”

“Just waiting on Saveas, as usual.” Galtai smiled, “You know how he is.”

“Well, that saves me reports. I think only five people missed their quota today.” Syolani leaned on his spear. His sight turned to the sign outside. A brilliant sign showcased the newest song released by famous singer Promise to Tomorrow. “Although, they usually come in late anyways. Probably drunk on adohama ambrosia nectar again.”

“You need me to help round them up?” Galtai cracked his neck.

“No, not this time. I can handle it. I could use the excuse to get out.” Syolani chuckled. “Besides, you should enjoy the time with your friends before you end up patrolling every night. I wish I took that chance when I was young.”

“Let’s just get this over with. The itching is driving me crazy.” Olan walked

past the two chatting. Behind them was a gray veiled chamber. One of a dozen within the building.

He pulled out a green cloth from his pocket. In front of him was a large holographic console alongside a metal slot the size of an arm. Olan wiped down the metal slot before placing his arm in. Braces reached forth; his arm was trapped in the confines of the instrument. The sigil on his hand glowed.

“Welcome Olan Ametor. Birthday Leo dodeka eusemos. Are you ready to begin? Estimated time is One minute.”

“As soon as we can. I have another fight scene to create.” He sighed.

A blue bar was displayed in front of him. It slowly filled as he sat there, playing with the console. As the bar neared completion, a crystal formed behind the console. Its size increased as it progressed. Olan removed his arm. The crystal was shot above into a pipe.

“So, let’s see if it works.” Olan lifted his arm. Another console appeared and with its appearance so did one more bar. A brief flash of green flickered.

“Thank you for your contribution as always,” Syolani bowed to Olan as he exited the chamber.

“Not like we have a choice. Our mana is what feeds that thing.” Olan scoffed. He looked at the rest of them. “I am going to go lie down.”

“I might as well go next.” Qolani cracked her neck as she walked on.

“I wiped down the machine for you,” Olan shouted out.

“Thank you!” Qolani returned the shout as she entered.

One by one, they ventured within. Amare was looking around the entirety of the premise as she waited. Olan and Qolani stared upward as a projection hovered above them. Deep in thought, Olan devised animations for a scene while Qolani was replicating the motions.

“It’s about that time. I need to go round them up.” Syolani stood up straight. “Hopefully, none of them will put up a fight. I don’t want to put in that kind of effort tonight.” He trotted his way slovenly toward the door. “You know the drill.”

“Did Saveas go yet?"

Galtai looked over at his friends.

“I think he did.” Olan looked at him. Saveas was half-conscious, his body rocked forward before it shot back up. His sigil did not glow. “Yeah, he went.”

“Cool, I will go ahead and log our end then.” Galtai moved to the interface in front of the chamber and input their names once again. “That’s all set. Can we head out to eat now?”

Saveas slowly opened his eyes. Buildings were on fire. They crumbled in front of his eyes. The sky bled red. One glance at his arms revealed they became stygian. Blue veins raced up his arms as his skin broke.

Saveas blinked once. As he opened his eyes, he saw how slow he was. His friends had gone ahead of him. His hooves raced onward. Promise to Tomorrow’s bright red hair towered over them. Galtai and Qolani were locked in a race, their legs rushing through the wind. He could hear the others whispering as he let out a loud yawn.

What was that?

“Did it work?” Amare whispered as she quickly glanced between Saveas and Olan.

“We will find out. Nothing happened so far,” Olan mumbled. He looked at Saveas, his voice raising. “You good back there? Just taking your time?”

“I’m alright.” Saveas groaned. Bones and muscles creaked loudly as he rotated his neck.

“Alright is the best that we get from you. Anything else means that you're an impostor.” Amare smiled. “We are going to Bassin Cosin. It is too late for the other places, and Galtai hasn’t been there yet.”

“Sounds good.” Saveas rubbed his irritated eyes. “I haven’t been to that place in a while.”

Every building was filled with hundreds of stores layered upon one another. Blocks of skyscrapers lined the streets surrounding the temple. They looked up to the cloud-piercing heights above them. The group wandered into a skyscraper known as the Odeon.

Floors upon floors were filled with stores stocked with fanciful clothes. Beyond the reach of the cloth, the building’s layers were filled with bountiful

food and liquor. Stores specialized in produce to be taken to the higher floors to be indulged in the confines of a restaurant. Each one focused on delivering wares in beautifully constructed manners. The elevators only needed a second to reach their destination, but they made a couple of stops for liquor.

Saveas looked at the selection. The rustic interior, artwork of landscapes to convey the origin of the alcohol, and quiet atmosphere from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was all too familiar, each step was taken without much consideration, and the aisles remained the same in his memory. He came across the same place he always returned to.

“Hey, Saveas, I’ve been wondering something.” He looked to his side. Amare was standing beside him with a bottle already in hand. A drink he had never tried before, known as Arik, was said to be stronger in both taste and bitterness with a pleasant aftertaste.

“What’s up?” She looked down at Saveas, his legs bent as he reached for a blue bottle. Its recognizable label of a knife weaving across the skin of fruits onto a bed of leaves was something she saw too often. A common brand called Wind Walker, known for being cheap, fruity, and aromatic.

“Why is it always that bottle?”

“Saveas, your first drink is on me. You know what, scratch that. First round for everyone is on me!” The smell of his breath lingered in Saveas’s mind as his father roared out. Laughter and smiles etched into his brain. “My boy got first place at the Hippodrome!”

“Can’t go wrong with a classic. Right, Amare?” He smiled.

“Fair enough.” The joyous chuckle she let out had kissed his ears. “Come on. We should hurry up and check out. The others are already at the table.”

“It’s almost as if

we spent forty minutes looking for your drink. You were very adamant about finding it.” His knees creaked as he rose, half a smile across his face. “We went through four stores to get that thing.”

“Hey, it was recommended by Hilia. You would know that if you showed up to the event!” The two of them proceeded toward the door. A bright green flash went off as a projection appeared at their sigil. It subtracted four hundred from their balances. “I ended up taking Qolani instead. At least she got to see my outfit!”

He scratched the back of his head. “Right…I forgot about that.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Her pout reflected in the glass. Fish, known as the aforto, swam in the air beside them. Their elongated bodies were strewn with dangling limbs to snatch prey. With an array of colors, the glass container allowed the young piscine to roam throughout the Odeon. Saveas saw a few groups going through the tunnels that allowed them to pet the soft scales of the fish as they floated by.

“At least you had a great time.” Saveas looked at her with gentle eyes as the doors opened. His dazzling smile shown through the vast chamber filled with circular tables as he took her hand. He spotted the others waving to them from the second floor of the restaurant. They were situated on the balcony, staring over the city, as usual.

“I wanted to spend it with you,” she muttered softly. Her words were lost in the crowds of people as Saveas looked at her in confusion. She walked beside him as he attempted to find out what she said with a smile on her face. Every step she took was filled with confidence. Enchantment and wonder filled the gazes of the young she passed.

They arrived at plates of food piled high. Dishes of grilled vegetables coated in creamy sauces of differing spices produced a brilliantly aromatic and texturally pleasant experience laden with intricate flavors. Mixtures of cheeses and fruits blended wondrously to coat their taste buds. With drinks in hand, they downed one after another.

Laughter echoed throughout the hall. Smiles were aplenty as they ate their fill. Galtai and Qolani entered another physical challenge and locked arms, struggling to bring one another down. Olan had already drunk his fill and was nearly unconscious. Saveas looked at Amare and saw her smiling at him, her cheeks rosy.

Saveas scanned the table before he placed his hand against his forehead. He let out a deep sigh as he looked at the bottles. They did not even make it through

half of them. Saveas pulled up the sigil and once again subtracted from his funds. “Guess it’s time to go home.”

They left staggering, stumbling, and lumbering about. Qolani and Galtai were no longer interested in any physical bouts and leaned on each other just to maintain stable footing. Olan was on Saveas’s back, snoring lightly in his ears. Amare watched with rosy cheeks as Saveas walked calmly onward to the rail, the pale blue light reflected on his hair.

The two who were at arms with each other the whole night had fallen asleep, heads on each other’s shoulders. Olan rested his head against the handrail. Saveas glanced out. A giant billboard flashed neon colors.

Welcome to Dithyramb, District Nine.

Olan and Qolani were the first to exit. Their disgraced waves cut through the flickering lights. Olan’s body collided with Qolani’s, nearly sending him to the ground before she caught him. The two of them wandered onward into the darkness. Its cold embrace swallowed them, their silhouettes flickering through the faint lighting.

“Ah skata…he really went hard at it, didn’t he, Saveas?” The rail landed at its next stop. Galtai’s roommates were already waiting. Itos and Erim were friends with him since childhood. Both placed within the top twenty students joining the squires.

“He would’ve been fine. I don’t know why we needed to wake up for this.” Itos was focused more on combat. She under-performed on the written and oral exams, but placed first in fighting and was recommended by all the review board.

Itos did not seem dangerous in the slightest. Lean stature and lack of interest in her black eyes. Long, straight white hair draped down, covering her left eye. She often wore the bare minimum needed, a mere green peplos. There was little to show that she was trained since childhood in hand-to-hand combat by the Solar.

“Better safe than sorry. Don’t know when those fusos will ever bare their dirty

teeth.” Erim looked at them before he swept Galtai’s arm around his shoulder. Erim was the pride and joy of District Four’s representatives. He was beloved, and he showed love back.

Frequently, Erim could be found volunteering somewhere. It would not matter if he had ever done it before, he would always give his all to the community that helped him. He was also known for his piebald black-and-white hair and rotating outfits based on the days. Today he chose a simple outfit of a white T-shirt and blue pants that clenched his legs. Erim quickly became proficient in every activity needed throughout the district.

“You know how much he drinks.” Saveas chuckled softly.

“Hurry up, I’m tired. My bed calls for me to return.” Itos moaned loudly. “You didn’t even need me for this. I could’ve slept in.

“Come on, Galtai. Let’s get you home.” Erim bowed his head with a smile on his face to the two remaining members. The roommates started their venture onward. “How many have you had to drink? Did you not have enough water?”

“Shut…hc. Up. I…am perfectly fine.”

“You smell like skata.” Itos groaned.

The doors closed the moment Saveas watched Itos raise her leg, ready to strike. A brief message displayed overhead, notification that there were three more stops before they reached District Ten. Amare’s reflection was seen in the glass as buildings rushed by. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s dead.” Curt and emotionless, Saveas turned.

“Itos was that upset?” Amare let out a deep sigh.

“He did wake them up, and there is nothing Itos hates more than that.” Saveas shrugged his shoulders. The thin but defined muscles exposed themselves. “I am surprised you’re still conscious though. You had a lot more than they did and you do not handle it well.

Amare’s fingers raced against each other. She crossed her legs and began looking around. Saveas leaned against the frigid glass and gently placed his head against the metal frame. “Hey, Saveas…” he turned his gaze toward his starry-eyed companion. “Can you walk me home? It’s late, and I’m starting to feel a bit nauseous.”

“Sure. I don’t mind."

Amare's heart raced, her cheeks were flushed, and her fingers twirled in her amber hair. The rest of the compartment looked at them. Whispers and murmurs were strewn about. Most of them were insults toward Saveas as he held her hand.

The two of them stepped out. Bright lights enveloped the pathway of greenery and Solar decorum. Immigrants from the other districts and cities came to live down the stop. Attempts to reinvigorate the district. Not everyone felt that ideology.

Her home resided within a structure of hundreds. Decorative artwork lined the antiquated walls, reminiscent of the natural lives their kind once lived. Visions of lavish landscapes spanning for miles adorned the lobby. The two of them entered the elevator.

Wait… oh no, I forgot about them! Wait, wait, did I put it them away?

Amare saw Saveas scan the elevator, placing a single finger on the rail, and a smear came off. “Hey, Saveas. You don’t need to come with me all the way. I’m good now.”

“I never trust when you say you’re good after drinking.”

“No…no. I’m really fine. I’m sure.”

“Last time you told me that, you called me two hours later crying hysterically that you needed medication because you wouldn’t stop vomiting. You were unconscious by the time I got there.” His eyes were dead calm, like still waters. He gently kissed her forehead. “I don’t want you to go through that alone again.”

Amare immediately turned away from him. “You didn’t need to call me out like that.”

The doors opened. Amare stepped out of the elevator and looked at him. Saveas’s outreached hand came to a stop. It fell by his side. His deathly gaze was fixed in front of him, the smile that was on his face vanished. Her smooth hand reached out for him and gently tugged. His eyes shot back open as his body jolted. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah…yeah. I’m sorry. I zoned out for a second.” Her gentle brown eyes were filled with concern as she met his eyes. There was nothing in them. All color seemed to fade into nothingness. She calmly wrapped her hand around his and led him out of the elevator.

“You’ve been doing

that a lot more lately. Are you sure you’re alright?” Amare tightly clenched his veiny hand. There was something different this time. The color of his irises seemed so faint. A look on his face she hadn’t seen since that day.

“Not enough sleep, I guess.” Her heart sank from that smile he gave.

She sheepishly trotted forward as Saveas brought up the rear. His head always darted at the slightest noise with his hands returned to his pockets. They reached her door. Amare quickly covered her mouth. A quick retch that she tried to cast aside. “Thank you, Saveas.”

“Told you. You never were good at lying.” Saveas laughed. He had already invited himself inside. She looked in horror, her heart rate skyrocketed. Papers were scattered throughout. “Go lie down. I’ll bring you some stuff.”

He reached for a large container of water. Its side was adorned with a belt of cups. His hand grazed a paper. Amare was staring directly at him as he quickly scanned it.

Saveas swiftly shifted his gaze. “Amare?”

 

Chapter Two

Embers of the Beginning

“What am I looking at?” His glare was enough to sober her. Examination of the room revealed that it was not just one sheet of paper. It covered the entirety of her room. He let out a deep exhale. “This…this would get you killed.”

“I know. I know.” Amare draped her head. “But…I am so tired of it all, Saveas. These hunts, the scouts, the knights…they are after us for doing what our kind has always done.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Hysa died last week. He was killed by the knights.”

“Hysa died? How did it happen? Why did it happen?” Saveas placed his hands on the black stone kitchen counter. A chill encased his heart.

“He accidentally used magic. He set himself on fire while playing a game with his friends. The knights reached him before he figured out how to put it out.” She turned away from him. “I want to see us be free, Saveas. I want a world where children don’t have to die for being themselves. They shouldn’t be punished for that.”

Saveas leaned against the counter. Scattered sheets were bundled before him. Detailed information regarding magic, knowledge he had never seen even in the academy. “What do you plan on doing with all of this?”

“Olan and I are trying to figure out how to reach the magic crystals.”

“Olan is involved?” Saveas tilted his head.

She immediately covered her mouth. A glimpse of his faded eyes was enough to know that she let too much out. “And Qolani.” He brushed his hair back with a deep exhale. “I know this puts you in a tough position, but please don’t tell anyone.”

“That would be the same as killing you. I can’t even think about you not being in my life. Why would I do that?” Saveas pinched the top of his nose. “I don’t want to ever imagine that.”

“What are you going to do then?” Amare glanced over her shoulder.

“Contemplate my life, I guess. I don't know what else I am supposed to do.” Saveas looked at the ceiling. “What about you?”

“I am meeting with the others soon. We are trying our first job.” Her eyes lowered. “If you want to join us, I’d love that, but I understand you are in a rough spot. It’s not like I can hide it anymore since you have already seen it.” She looked outside her window. Dithyramb and all its brilliant glory could be seen from across the room. “We are going to be at the abandoned bike shop three blocks from Olan's

two days from now.”

“Why would you tell me all of this? Do you trust me even if I am going to be working for your enemy?” Saveas saw a tear run down her cheek. Her amber hair hid her sorrowful eyes.

“I always will, Saveas. Like you said, I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“I need time to think.” Saveas started to walk toward the door. As soon as he passed the door, he turned around. Fear drowned out her eyes, her arm clenched the other as the door closed. Saveas stood on the other side of the entryway. Her soft cries made his heart ache.

Hours became days that passed by in the blink of an eye. Dozens of miles from her home, Saveas stared at the ceiling. Ambient sounds of rain lingered in his room. Gentle moonlight bathed dusty metallic furniture. The floor was frigid as he rested his head against the door. He sunk his head between his bent legs and let out a deep breath.

Saveas ran his hand through his hair as he sat back up. Across his room were lines of pictures of his friends atop a large drawer. Bright lights crossed his window. The yitsiyr grimaced as his vision became glued.

A picture frame of two people was illuminated. Saveas and a young boy with short, ragged brown hair midway through adjusting it into spikes. He had a wide grin on his face. Saveas scratched his hand as he stared at the picture. “Damn it. Why another one?”

“Saveas…I need you to stay strong.” Heavy breaths echoed in his mind. Green eyes with deep bags glared at him, struggling to keep the tears in check. “I will be back in a little bit. I…I…I need to stop her. She needs someone before the knights arrive.”

He got up and wandered into the living room. Two green-and-black urns loomed over a sunken pit in the center of the living room, an elongated rectangular table was in its center. Surrounding it were worn out and faded blue cushions.

A glance within the cooler showed very little. Drinks and ready-made meals were all that was within it. Saveas let out a sigh as he reached for a

a bottle. A carbonated drink flavored with adohoma juices. He popped the bottle open and sat cross-legged on top of the counter.

“Call Amare.” Saveas lifted the sigil up as he let out a deep sigh. “Yeah…I’m in.”

The sky shifted from gentle amber to somber turquoise twice over. He scarcely left his home. His sigil was filled with messages that he left without response from those he knew. However, it did not glow. He glanced over the names before he reached a sudden halt. Slow steps from his bed led him to a sliding door that opened the moment he was a few steps away.

The yitsiyr stared at his own sordid reflection in the mirror. He lifted a facial covering that clasped onto his face. Within seconds, the hair that had grown was undone. Water splashed against his face before he wiped downward with a towel. He let out a deep exhale with red eyes.

He threw on his usual outfit and ventured outside. As he stared from his balcony, lights and hoverbikes rushed by below. The man looked to his right to see metal straps with hoof frames. A commonly-owned contraption known as elysian treads. Saveas opened a section of his balcony and stepped off without a second thought.

With hands in his vest, he drifted down ten stories. Bridges and streets passed by his view before he steadily hovered near the ground. Rundown buildings, destroyed signs, broken windows, and graffiti were rampant throughout the district. Repair shops were filled to the brim with hoverbikes, large transport vehicles, and hoverboards.

“Incoming call from Galtai,” Saveas’s sigil flickered a bright light and somber jingle. Galtai’s grin appeared on the display that came from the sigil with a countdown below it. He stared at it as its timer clocked down.

“Hey, Saveas, buddy, pal. I haven’t seen you at the academy for a couple of days. Is everything alright? I asked around, and no one has seen you for a bit. I went ahead and sent you all the lessons you missed so you didn’t miss out too much. Not like you’ll actually look at it though.” An audible sigh came from the sigil. “If you ever need a hand, feel free to reach out. I’ll be there even if you regret it later

you lazy orf.”

“I guess I am behind, huh,” Saveas muttered to himself before he looked at the blue sky. The Alcaeus loomed overhead. The rush of wind caressed his cheeks as he loomed over the world, a lone figure in the moonlight. His elysian treads emitted small traces of cinder that drifted below to the cracked black pavement.

Olan’s workshop was dim. Its lackluster exterior of basic materials and decorum did not convey that Olan’s works were in high regards across the city. The light of the barely functioning signage failed to penetrate the darkness of the shop. His prototype hoverbike was still sitting in front of the store, which meant he had taken one of the untagged ones.

He stared out to the horizon. The boundaries of the city were hidden by the skyscrapers. Hundreds of them loomed over as the Alcaeus peered down upon them. Millions of lights glistened in his eyes. Even from miles away, the brilliant radiance of the knights soaring reached his gaze. Saveas scratched the back of his head with a deep exhale.

“Skata…where was that thing?”

The yitsiyr shrugged his shoulders and vanished into the darkness of the alleyways. Fusos ran rampant within the darkness of the city. Liquor flowed like water, those drowned in it were left in the streets. Their reaching grasps reached for the light that long faded for them.

“All that I am saying is that we shouldn’t be praying with our fraying minds. Knowing Amare, she probably gave him the wrong directions, didn’t bother with a correction. He’s probably lost somewhere, a little star-crossed.”

Amare looked around at Olan and Qolani, who were nodding in agreement. They could see the dumbfounded look on her face in the faint glow. “Am I really that bad at directions?”

“Awful.” Olan cradled his leg as the other draped from a metallic box. Green veins covered the crate, a single flat line that stretched across its entirety

 near its top. “That’s why you don’t make the calls when we go anywhere.”

“Olan, lay off. She’s trying her best.” Qolani leaned against the wall as a single light flickered in front of her. “We can continue on without him, Pyr.”

“Alright, our first job, gotta make sure we ain’t a slob. Do we remember the objective, our effective directive?”

Metal screeched loudly as the doors were dragged open. The group vanished in mere seconds. Behind boxes and crates they hid from the faint flickering light above. Beyond their sight, a loud yawn emerged.

“Another dead end. What’s the point of telling me all of this if there’s eight of them?”

Qolani leaped over her cover and struck the darkened figure. Her fists collided one by one. Soon she realized it was no longer unready flesh. It was strike against strike, but the momentum was swinging against her. They figured her out already. Hands tightly gripped onto her horns, and she could see the shadow of their knee approaching.

The light flickered above them. Qolani felt the hands release. Her hands were bloodied, and red was dripping down her face. Heavy breaths were let out from both of them as she stumbled back. Saveas stood in front of her, his arm swiping against his face.

“Oi, you’re right. He can fight. Maybe he can help us out tonight.”

Saveas looked up. Baggy black pants that bellowed out around his hooves. Mesh sleeves led up to a lean torso covered by a black V-neck. Long white and brown hair tied into a ponytail draped down his shoulder; a small, braided strand reached down the right side of his face. His fiery brown eyes glared down upon him.

“Yo, I’m Pyr, the top-tier without fear.”

“Saveas.” He nodded at him as he stuck his hands back into his vest.

“Who doesn’t know how to hold back.” Qolani examined her knuckles.

“You did attack me.” Saveas smiled at Qolani, who stared out for a second before nodding slightly with a grin on her face.

Amare and Olan emerged

from the darkness. Amare launched herself at Saveas, her arms tightly wrapped around him. Olan cringed before helping his sister get the dirt and blood off. The four of them stood underneath Pyr.

“They trust you, so I must trust you. They got more at stake than I do, and I take it you do too from what I hear.” He leaned forward, his elbows drove into his thighs. “So, first things first: I’m real simple; I do things headfirst. Second thing, I reckon you can’t beckon forth your own magic, which would be real tragic.” Pyr looked at Olan. “Unless you got it to jerk through all the murk for it to work.”

“I don’t think it has.” Olan glanced at Saveas’s hand. It only showed the yellow light for messages. “Hey…have you been to a temple recently?”

“No? I don’t think I’ve been.” Saveas glanced toward the ceiling. Rusted beams loomed overhead. A dresser acted as a bridge to the other side to a hanging bed. A makeshift platform housed all the kitchenware as well as a viewpoint to the outside world. There was another bridge created from a cabinet that led to the outside through a narrow opening.

“What do you mean you think?” Olan tilted his head.

“The past couple of days have been a blur.” Saveas scratched his head. “I don’t know if I did anything really. I don’t remember a whole lot.”

“I told him about what happened to Hysa.” Amare looked at Olan, who bowed his head in recognition.

“I wish you wouldn’t uncover my brother’s name.” Pyr clasped his hands together, exposing his discolored knuckles. There were traces of dried blood.

That would make him Pyr Apeths. Saveas looked at him. “I think I’ve heard about you before. You’re the one that was being hunted for not reporting to the temple.”

“It was an accident at first, so I thought, what’s the worst? A few days passed, streamed by me so fast, I knew I wasn’t going to last. I learned what they were hiding, no longer felt abiding, didn’t feel like siding any longer.” Pyr leaped down. “They were keeping us down. The crown is trying to drown us; they think we are clowns.”

His face became stoic

“When they caught me, I thought I was just going to rot. They drained me for hours, stripping me of my powers. They thought they got it all, that I would only crawl.” Pyr clenched his fists. “The fools made a mistake, one that is going to make them quake.”

Olan wiped his own hands with his handkerchief. “They are purposely making us weaker. To prevent a rebellion, they numb us by taking away mana. Those crystals at the siphon. Think of it as akin to our souls. With mana, we can apparently use magic. We never would have realized if we hadn’t run into Pyr.”

“We’re hitting a storage unit tonight.” Qolani stretched out her arm. “One with few guards. We’ve been tracking their schedule for weeks. Today is the easiest day to hit.”

“Where at?” Saveas looked around. No sign of physical mapping. All that he could see were crates surrounding them in the flickering light.

“Scout armory in District Four.” Olan pulled up the map on his sigil. “It’s located in Naos Tessera. They have the highest and most consistent deployment rate.”

“What’s the game plan?” Saveas took a step back.

“Four people would be all that remains, two scouts and two knights. Two are usually napping while two actually patrol.” Qolani popped her left knuckles. “The problem is the two. In terms of skill, they are dangerous. It would be better if we avoided them.”

“Who are they?”

Amare looked away; her head hung low. “Syolani is one of them. He would recognize us immediately even if we tried to hide it. We don’t know the name of the other one. Apparently, they’ve risen in the ranks faster than anyone in history. A prodigy.”

Pyr got shivers up his spine. “Syolani has quite a bite, even to make me turn white. He’s the closest fight that I’ve had, alright.”

“When is it going to happen?” Saveas looked at the time.

Olan glanced at his sigil as well. “We need to leave now. It is hitting schedule change, and Syolani and the other one don’t arrive till later.”

“Let’s roll.” Qolani grinned wildly.

“But what are we…” Saveas tried to speak up. Amare let out a sigh as the others already geared up and exited the door. The two of them stood there in the rocking light.

“I will fill you in

on the way.” She smiled at him.

The gentle breeze rushed against them. Three hoverbikes dashed through the streets. Soft snowdrops fell onto their rosy cheeks. Grins stretched from ear to ear as they soared past countless unknown faces occupied with their own lives.

Saveas looked in front of him. Amare’s hair blew into his face as the others gestured ahead. Her delicate voice failed to reach his ears as his gaze fell onto the blackened night city. Lights streamed above as he stared out to the buildings that grazed the sky.

“Hey, hey, Saveas! What do you see in those clouds?”

“What am I supposed to see?” A vivid memory filled his mind. The cool crept around his hand as a small delicate finger pointed to the bright blue skies. The iridescent clouds above them drifted slowly across.

“I see a beautiful hollow-tail starcrow.”

He looked to his left. Amare’s hair covered the ground in its amber. Its silky nature matched the simplicity of the grass beneath them.

“You ever wonder what it is like to be a bird?”

“No, never. Do you think it’d be fun?”

“I wouldn’t have to listen to my parents. I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.” Amare looked at him. “Oh…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Don’t beat yourself up for it.” He remembered seeing the black clouds in the distance. The faint smell of rain tickled his nose as the brilliant display slowly faded away. “I never cared anyway.”

“Hey, Saveas, do you think we can pull this off? I’m nervous.”

Saveas blinked. The tone of her voice aligned with what she said. He pulled his hand back by his side. It was faint, but he noticed it. Her hands were shaking.

“It’ll be alright. I’ll be by your side. Forever and always.” He calmly placed his hand on her, leaning against her. A soothing smile was all that she could see. “Like we promised.”

Her hands steadied themselves, her eyes returned to the sight before them. “We’re here." 

The other hoverbikes began their descent. Qolani was waving at them to follow their lead. They had landed on a rooftop a few buildings away. Before their eyes, Naos Tessera stood resolute. Its towering presence commanded their respect.

“Everyone remember the plan?” Olan opened his interface. “In and out, grab and go.”

“Actually…” Saveas started to raise his hand.

“Let’s ride!” Pyr hopped onto his hoverbike and sped up four floors in seconds. Their windows were clear as day. Inside, brilliant lights shone to the outside world. The illuminating temple reflected the white metal of the circular hoverbike.

Olan looked over at Amare. She shrugged her shoulders. The Ametor brother let out a deep sigh as he hung his head low. Pyr’s shadow was already fading into the distance.

“Just follow Pyr when we make our way inside. We don’t have time for a full rundown.”

“Good enough for me.” Saveas caught onto Amare’s bike, hot on the siblings’ tail. The rushing wind fought against them. Flashing glances within the armory only showed the walls of medals and the swords of the fallen.

Two sets of thin white lines marked their drop-off point. Pyr was lazing about, hands tucked behind his head. A calm whistle was all they could hear as they arrived.

Qolani turned her head. “It’s time for your thing.”

“Already on it.” Olan groaned. After a few moments of fiddling with his console, the window separated itself to reveal a passageway. Red and green flickered at the top of the window panel. “Don’t need to remind me.”

“I don’t need an attitude, Olan.” Qolani looked at him with stern eyes.

One by one, the bikes coasted into the window. The soft grumble of the jets as they levitated slowly downward echoed in the room filled with individualized chambers. Each one held a suit of armor and monitors. Most of the monitors were offline, but a few specks of light breached the darkness.

“I’m sorry, Q.” Olan sunk back into the scaly material. “I’m just a little on edge.” 

“It’s alright, I get it. Let’s get it done.” Qolani clenched his hand and pulled him off before reeling him in for a curt shoulder bump. A large pouch was slung over her burly shoulders.

Pyr was already waiting in the hallway. His vigilant gaze swept its corridor continuously. Stealth had already fallen through. With a waltz in his step, he strolled about the passage. “They ain’t no tuckin or duckin needed, clear as the skyway pier.”

“I hate this man.” Olan let out an exhale before crouching around the corners behind him. He watched Qolani catch up to Pyr. Fabric stretched as she put on a thick pair of black gloves using her teeth.

“Go on, Saveas. You’re going to stick with them.” Amare pushed him forward. “They’re going to leave you behind. I can handle watch by myself.”

“You sure?” Saveas took a quick look around. Displays were off, didn’t even wake at the slightest touch. The suits of armor were locked in place behind translucent amber barriers.

“Of course.” She held up a small band. “Besides, I can reach them anyways. This doesn’t work off the central system. Olan established a different server route already.”

“Alright. I’ll…I’ll leave you to it then.” Saveas took off in a sprint to catch up. He could already hear Pyr whistling down the hallways and see Olan’s shadow sprinting behind pillars to tables and walls. Saveas did not do his stealth justice.

“How far is it?” Saveas crouched beside him, elbows digging into his thighs. A sudden jolt shot through Qolani’s brother as Saveas’s finger was raised by his head. He never saw Olan turn paler than he already was.

“Gamoto!” He fell back, a loud clatter as he slammed into an amber barrier. “Why would you do that?” The white had turned bright red. “I could’ve killed you!”

“Sure.” Saveas extended his hand out to help him back onto his hooves.

A couple of coughs were all Olan mustered in the face of the blank look Saveas had. He pulled up a diagram of the floor. “We should almost be

there. The equipment is in the central room. Once we turn the…” He looked back out to the hallway. There was no one. “Skata, skata! We gotta catch up. They don’t know about the sensor at the door!”

“That seems like important information.” Saveas slowly stood back up.

Olan’s heart was racing. He already rushed off, disregarding his “stealth."

“Ade gamisou, Saveas, not now!”

The two of them arrived at the equipment room. Olan was covered in sweat, desperately catching his breath. Saveas calmly strolled into the chamber. Pyr leaned against the wall, a curved knife twirling between his fingers. Qolani kept watch of the hallway.

“I forgot to tell you guys about the sensor!”

“Every fencer knows that the people trying to censor would always use a sensor. The dirty have no subtlety; their minds trapped on the guilty gluttony, makin’ them utterly uppity.” Pyr pointed his curved knife at the top of the door. Gray trim lined the onyx blade. A golden eye swept back and forth. “Ain’t no novelty to their strategy.”

“Are you telling me we were already spotted?” Olan gritted his teeth, daggered eyes pointed at the unfazed Pyr.

“Nahhh…there ain’t a speck of red, otherwise we’d already be dead. Don’t lose your head to your own dread otherwise its gonna spread.” He looked over to Qolani. “She would already be at her deathbed if y’all didn’t tread in.”

“Eh, why would you mention that, Pyr?” Her fist landed in her hand; a loud thud emitted.

“I ain’t in the interest of dyin’. Why don’t we get to prying? Olan, you mind tryin? I ain’t good at anythin tech.” Pyr watched a blueprint coated with wire routes displayed on Olan’s sigil. Within a few minutes, the scanner shut off. He looked at Olan with astonishment. “You know your way around, how you wound up there, I’ll never know.”

“It’s a long story.” A faded smile appeared briefly.

Bright lights emerged

from the doors. Pyr’s eyes widened as he stood before the light. The rest of them crowded behind him with starry looks in their eyes. He was the first to enter. The others followed suit, scattering throughout the room.

Racks of weapons were layered against the walls. Pyr stared in awe as he wandered throughout the room. An exhibit of the force the scouts carried. Qolani took everything she could, chucking it carelessly into the bag. Bladeless handles, sheathes, handheld orbs, and even the weapons nearby her sibling. Olan was inspecting a sleek weapon in his frail hands.

“Is this really the prototype reizel firearm? This doesn’t seem like something a scout or knight could carry with their armor.” Neon-blue veins streaked down the handgun’s ivory barrel. Its rough grip twisted easily as he maneuvered it. “I could probably do better.”

Olan’s band went off. A single orange line appeared across its circumference. Amare’s voice breached into the room. “We need to get out of here. Syolani’s coming in. Hurry!”

Pyr clicked his tongue. He was crouched over, his attention centered on the unlocked central console. Its contents were already removed. “It’s not here, nothing is here.”

“Why would they move it?” Olan threw a couple of the reziels into Qolani’s bag. “They weren’t supposed to do that for a week.”

“What did they move?” Saveas crept around him to peek inside.

“The condensed magic crystals.” Olan was scrolling through the console. “It looks like it was moved yesterday. The last person that was in this room was Syolani and ‘trainee 7481704.”

“Wait…that number sounds familiar.” Saveas froze in his tracks.

A machine turned on. They could hear metallic humming on the other side of the wall. Its growls were growing louder. Something was coming up.

“Let’s go!” Qolani had started off in a sprint. The others swiftly shut off the console and resealed the container. Hastily, the room was put back

in order. She closed the door as quickly as she could. Olan was running with his interface up. The eye became operational again, its quiet droning whispering in the darkness of the night.

They rushed back to where they came from. The machinery stopped.

“You start on this floor.” An unknown voice echoed through the empty halls. “Do a brief check of the chambers and make sure no one forgot to lock their stuff. After that, check to make sure the weapons door is locked. Dawn shift keeps forgetting to lock it. Once that’s clear, just go down the floors. Just send me a message if you have any questions.”

“Yes, sir!”

Saveas halted. Terror was in Amare’s heart as she waved at him to come over. Olan and Qolani were shouting, but their words failed to reach the interior of the building. Pyr and them were already outside, floating in the distance. “Skata, that voice…I know that voice. Who is it? Why can’t I remember who it is?

He turned over his shoulder. The lights came on. A figure was moving in his direction.

Amare grabbed onto his tunic and pulled him. Her tired voice shook in fear. “We can’t get caught.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Saveas, please, snap out of it.”

“Sorry, let’s get out of here.” The glossy layer over his eyes disappeared. With a tilted head, a serene smile radiated like the moonlight. Saveas gently clasped her hand and led her to the bike. He quickly took the wheel and drove off the edge.

Olan let out a sigh of relief as he closed the entryway.

The group flew through the everlasting darkness. It was in that silence that thoughts were eating away at them. A silence that was broken.

Pyr burst out in laughter, a wide grin that echoed the shape of the moon. His feet were propped up on his bike, the circular frame cut through the wind. “We did it!”

Smiles were forming across their faces. Qolani shouted to the skies. The unshakable

 twinkle in her eye melted away the unnerving agony that built in Olan. “Woooo!”

The misfits hollered out, Dithyramb's lights flashing beneath them. Qolani turned her head back to Saveas and Amare. They forgot how loud she could be.

“Let’s celebrate! We’ll meet back at the warehouse in thirty. Go grab some food. We will handle drinks!” Qolani glanced over to Olan whose voice was drowned out by the wind.

Amare’s arm lifted by Saveas’s head. A thumb raised to the sky. Pure glee was in her smile. He stared at her from over his shoulder, his heart pounding outside his chest. The stars above had given way to her radiance. Lights streaked by as she waved to them.

“Do I have something on my face, Saveas?” Saveas watched Amare's arm drop as their bikes disappeared into the city. He tried his best to turn away as fast as he could. She looked at him with a sly grin.“Eh, is someone embarrassed?”

“No, no.”

“Why are we meeting at the warehouse and not heading out?” He felt her arms wrap around his body, pressing her closer to him, as they coasted through the air.

“Pyr is a wanted criminal.” Amare’s hair flowed in the breeze.

“Oh, right.” He tilted his head toward the Alcaeus above. They took a sharp right turn toward the alleys. The bike drifted onto a loading dock. The building’s doors read, “Closed.”

“What did you want to do for food? Thasn?” He placed a single foot onto the ground as they loomed over the city, a map of Dithyramb displayed before his eyes as he swiped around. Thousands of images of various meals condensed into hundreds before it became dozens.

“Mmmm…the siblings don’t like thasn. It’s too umm…inconsistent. They really don’t like the chewiness either. Plus, it wouldn’t really survive the ride.” She pulled her hair back, tying it tightly into a ponytail. “What about those skewers from Haben? They also have those great pies that we can snag.”

“Good enough for me.” He tapped on Haben, and the display closed. An arrow appeared over the mark on his hand. They took off into the cold night breeze.

“I’ll put in the order. Let's go with three platters of the classics. Bodivo, choirino,

, kotopoulo and a couple of pies.” She shut off her monitor as soon as the receipt appeared. “It says the drone will be putting it in the trap down at Angeles.”

“Sounds good.”

The hollow inside of a tower, labeled Angeles Avenue, was filled with thousands of diamond-shaped drones that floated in the airspace. Cubbies as far as the eye could see lined its interiors. Drones carried anything from boxes of insulated food to furniture sets to the various storage areas. A quick grab. The bike hardly slowed down.

“Are you feeling alright? You haven’t said anything in a while.” Saveas looked back.

“I’m just worried. What if they figure it out?” Her arms tightly wrapped around him; her gaze focused on the direction they had come from. The unceasing tide of emoticon faces on the drones flowed past them.

“That’s…that’s fair.” Saveas swerved through streams of traffic. The silence between them bared its fangs. The quiet sirens of the world around them surged into their eyes as flashing lights. It wasn’t long before they were coming up on the warehouse.

Saveas was the first to step off. He could feel his heart drop.

A single tear ran down her cheek. Her arm swiped across her eyes.

It was not something he could bear. There was no emotion in his voice. “If we regret our every step, if we worry about our every breath, if our hearts buried themselves in the past…what will become of our future if we hold on to today?”

She stared at him blankly.

Saveas's back was pressed against the bike, his unfazed emerald eyes stared up to the heavens as the stars raced by. He glanced over his shoulder, a glimmer returned to his sight, as he saw Amare desperately holding her mouth closed.

She broke out in laughter. “You really have watched too many shows.”

With a cheeky smirk, Saveas lifted himself from his spot. “Says the one who recommended them.”

“You're lucky I like you.” Amare grabbed onto his arm with a devilish grin on her face. "Come on, let's go."

They were unbound from their fears. Piles of emptied skewers toppled over as liquor flowed into the breeze. Pyr carefully slid the vegetables from the piercing rods, giving the meats to the others as they downed more cups. Their laughter boiled into the night, a beautiful night to remember with smiles of pure elation. ...