Nicole stood at the edge of the mainland city, its grand spires and marble structures rising against the pale sky like beacons of civilization. It was hard not to feel dwarfed by the enormity of it all, the richness, the power that emanated from every inch of the stone streets. For so long, her people had lived in the shadow of this grandeur, but never had they needed it more than now. And now, she was the only one left to plead for Wallux's survival.
With every step toward the grand hall, her heart pounded, the weight of her mission hanging heavy on her shoulders. Wallux, her home, was crumbling. The forest surrounding it had withered, the rivers had dried, and the people—those who hadn't fled—were starving. The officials had sent word that Wallux was to be abandoned, that it no longer served a purpose to the mainland, and that any remaining inhabitants would need to leave or risk being caught in the razing of the land. But Nicole couldn't—wouldn't—accept that.
