Black blood dripped from his body as Kaelan made his way through the forest. Stumbling as he went by, barely managing to keep from falling. His clothes tattered and dyed with black blood.He moved quietly through the forest, every step careful. The forest was dead quiet. His heavy steps and heavy breathing were the only sound he heard. He encountered fallen trees at irregular intervals, and large footprints he couldn’t identify.The smell of ash and burned wood lingered. Wisps of smoke curled from blackened trees. Some bent at odd angles, almost fallen down. The crystal laid on his neck like a necklace. It pulsed faintly, as if it had a heart. The warmth Kaelan felt from it put him at ease. “Ah.” Kaelan dropped down. Resting his back on a rock with tree roots around it. A soft sound made him pause. Footsteps whispered from the shadows. His eyes scanned the forest, muscles tensing. His instincts told him, ‘danger was near.’From behind a half-collapsed tree, a figure stumbled into vi

A while back. Kaelan scooped both of them up, one under each arm, and threw himself sideways. The creature’s jaws snapped shut where they had been moments earlier.Lira scream sounded, “No!”The impact sent Kaelan rolling. Pain exploded through his ribs, but he didn’t let go.“Run,” he told the children as he set them down. “Don’t look back.”They didn’t hesitate. Both ran as fast as they could.The monster roared. Kaelan turned, heart pounding.He didn’t have a weapon. It didn’t matter. He stepped forward anyway. They crystal flared, burning his chest.The ground beneath the monster cracked as Kaelan slammed his fist into its leg. A shockwave burst outward, throwing dust and debris into the air. The creature staggered, roaring in rage.Kaelan didn’t wait.He ran.Lira was already moving, eyes wide as she grabbed his arm and dragged him off the path. They dove into thick brush as the monster’s roar shook the forest.Minutes passed.Then silence.Only when the ground stopped trembling

At the gate of the upper district.“Here you go, your identity tag,” said the guard. He handed two silver plate to Kaelan and Lira. Each plate had a diamond inscribed on it. “With this you are third class citizens of the upper district.”“What if these gets misplaced?” Kaelan asked. “We just have to check our records to confirm. Don’t worry we upper district citizens are civilized.” Kaelan looked at him, then at the record book. The guard got up. “I’m sure you’ll need a place to stay, will you be renting or buying?” he asked.“Renting,” Kaelan replied. “How much is the rent?” Lira asked. “It depends on the region and the number of rooms. We have the eastern region, central region and the western region. I’ll advise you to avoid the central,” the guard said.“Why?”the guard turned to Kaelan and replied. “It’s too expensive for third class citizens and you’ll get in trouble with the rich folks. They are quite annoying.” He shook his head and continued. “The western region is the c

“Do not draw that blade.” Kaelan raised a brow at Ash. The atmosphere tense. Ash felt his hand shake. “What?” His instinct told him, if he drew the blade at best he’ll survive with heavy wounds.“What is a fiend?” Kaelan asked.“A demon human or a demon kin. They used to dwell in the demon realm but a few of them live among us,” Neritha’s voice sounded. Kaelan turned and found her and Lira before the hallway. White snow colored hair, and ocean blue eyes. She had pointed ears, though not as long as Lira’s. “He isn’t a fiend Ash, I would have sensed it,” she said. Kaelan frowned at her. ‘What is this?’ he thought. Something pulsed heavily. He held the crystal and felt it. The crystal was calm. He turned to Lira, her blond hair was perfect and her green eyes enticing, however, he didn’t feel anything. His eyes moved and fell on Neritha…“If you say so my lady,” Ash said and released his sword.Neritha turned to Kaelan. “I find it strange though. You seem not to know a lot.”“Because I

“Ash move!” Kaelan pulled Neritha and Lira into an alley as flame rushed by like a flood. The heat deadly enough to cook them. Stone cracked, the woods turned to ash and people screamed. Ash had a red glow on his body, Neritha had a white glow, Lira’s body was covered in green. While Kaelan? His body burned from the heat. “Why aren’t you using your aura?” Ash asked.“Aura? What…”The ground quaked interrupting Kaelan. A deafening roar tore through the sky. “What… what was that?” Lira’s face turned pale.A monster had descended. It true barely came to light through the smoke. Twice the height of the tallest buildings in the district. Obsidian black scales clothed its body. Each uneven and rough looking. Molten red veins glowed underneath the cracks in its hide, pulsing as it breathes. Wings wide open. Each wider than a city street. It edges tattered and lined with hooked bones. When it flexed them, the force flattened market stalls and sent rocks flying. They were far from graceful.