13th District

Temptations

After the first test, Kael and Arya were allowed a few hours of free time. It was a chance to roam around the Capital before the next stage of the trials began. Arya, her eyes wide with wonder, couldn’t hide her excitement.

She took in the sparkling marble towers, the grand streets lined with intricate sculptures, and the flowing banners that hung from every building. To her, this place was a dream, something straight out of the stories they had heard back in the 7th District.

“Kael, look at this!” Arya exclaimed, tugging at his sleeve as they walked through the cobbled streets. “Can you believe this place? It’s like… magic.” Her voice was filled with awe, her gaze darting from the gleaming statues to the grand fountains that glittered under the sun.

Kael couldn’t help but glance around, but the sense of wonder that lit up Arya’s face didn’t reach him. The Capital’s beauty was undeniable, but to him, it was a reminder of everything they didn’t have—everything they would never have.

The gold-plated streetlights, the elegantly dressed people with their perfect smiles, the endless rows of shops that seemed to sell things no one in the districts could ever afford. The Capital was a prison of excess, built on the backs of people like him, like Arya. He didn’t care about luxury, not when there was a real war coming for both of them.

“Yeah, it’s… impressive,” Kael said, his voice flat. “But remember why we’re here, Arya. This is just a distraction. It doesn’t change anything.”

She shot him a playful look, her lips curling into a smile. “I know, Kael, I’m just enjoying it. I won’t forget what’s at stake.” But the gleam in her eyes betrayed her words; she was living in the moment.

As they continued through the streets, Kael’s gaze swept the crowd, instinctively wary of his surroundings. His eyes locked onto a figure ahead, a young woman standing by a stall selling expensive silk garments. She had long dark hair that shimmered in the sunlight, and her posture radiated an air of confidence. As Kael and Arya approached, the woman’s sharp eyes flicked to him, and she gave him a knowing smile.

“Well, well,” the woman said, her voice low but smooth. “The Ryden siblings, I presume? I’m surprised they even let you two wander around. Aren’t you supposed to be under heavy training?”

Kael stiffened, his hand instinctively moving to his side. His eyes narrowed, and he slowed his pace, unsure what to make of her. She looked young, maybe a few years older than Arya, but there was something about her—something calculating in her gaze.

“Who are you?” Kael asked bluntly, his tone defensive.

The woman chuckled softly, stepping closer. “Lirien,” she said, her lips curving into a smile that was both charming and dangerous. “From the 3rd District. But you can call me Lirien.”

Arya, ever the friendly one, didn’t seem as wary. “It’s nice to meet you, Lirien,” she said, her voice warm. “You’re from the 3rd District? I’ve heard it’s not as harsh there. It must be a little different from the 7th.”

Lirien’s eyes flicked to Arya before returning to Kael. “Yes, different. We don’t have the luxury you’re seeing here,” she said, gesturing to the Capital around them. “But there’s something you might not know about this place. The Capital is hiding more than just wealth, you know. There are… things people don’t talk about. Things that most of you aren’t even aware of.”

Kael felt his instincts flare. He didn’t trust her. He had no reason to, and something about her words felt off—like she was testing them, prodding them to see how they’d react. “What are you talking about?” Kael’s tone was sharp, and Arya glanced at him, sensing the change in his demeanor.

Lirien’s smile deepened, and she lowered her voice to a whisper, though there was no one nearby to overhear. “The 13th District,” she said, her words almost a hiss, “the one that doesn’t exist. The one erased from history. There are secrets here. Dark ones. Things you’ve never been told.”

Kael’s heart skipped a beat. The 13th District. He’d heard whispers in the dark corners of the 7th, rumors that no one dared to speak aloud. It was a district that had vanished, as if it had never existed, swallowed by the very fabric of the nation’s history.

Most people dismissed it as nonsense—just another conspiracy theory meant to distract the desperate. But something about the way Lirien said it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

“What do you know about it?” Kael asked, his voice low. He wasn’t sure why he was even entertaining the question, but the way she spoke about it… it piqued his curiosity, despite himself.

Lirien’s eyes flicked between them before she leaned in closer. “More than I should, I’m afraid. But don’t worry, the truth is a dangerous thing in Eridyon. You wouldn’t want to get too close to it. Trust me, it’s better to stay focused on the trials. If you’re lucky, you might just make it out alive. But,” she added, her lips curling into an enigmatic smile, “you’ll never escape the Capital’s grip. Not really.”

Before Kael could respond, Lirien straightened up, her expression once again shifting to something far more casual and carefree. “Anyway, I’ll leave you two to enjoy your time here. Just be careful. The Capital has a way of making you forget who you really are.”

With that, she turned and melted into the crowd, leaving Kael and Arya standing there, both unsettled in different ways. Arya was still beaming at the opulence around them, but Kael’s mind was racing. The 13th District? What did Lirien know about it? Why would she bring it up now?

“Kael, what was that all about?” Arya asked, her voice full of curiosity. “Who was she?”

Kael shook his head, trying to mask his unease. “I don’t know, Arya. But I don’t trust her. Stay alert.”

Arya nodded, her enthusiasm momentarily subdued. She could tell something had shifted in Kael, but she didn’t press him for details. Instead, she offered him a reassuring smile, the same one she always gave him when she knew he was upset but didn’t want to talk about it.

“Alright,” she said, her voice light once again, “Let’s keep exploring. We might as well enjoy this while we can, right?”

Kael forced a smile, though his thoughts were far from the Capital’s lavish streets. Something wasn’t right, and the closer they got to the trials, the more dangerous the game seemed. But for now, all he could do was protect Arya. And that meant keeping his eyes wide open.