[Argha, Svetograd]
Amidst the ceaseless murmur of traffic, the golden rays of dawn emerged through the gaps in the clouds, heralding the end of a splendid day. In Svetograd, a city at the heart of Argha, the atmosphere was tinged with joyful anticipation.
Where the city seemed to meet the horizon, winding alleys stretched out into a composition of mysterious passages, creating an imperceptible boundary between the city's enclosure and the unknown. These shadowy nooks seemed to be a metaphor for society, both open and closed, a play of shadows and lights revealing the complexity of this metropolis.
In stark contrast to its larger sister, the capital of Argha, Svetograd basked in the gentle rays of spring, far removed from the blanket of snow and the biting cold of the north. Here, it seemed as though nature had reversed the roles, for the city nestled near lush forests and sparkling lakes, hallmarks of spring's renewal. These natural treasures stood like a bastion against the rugged mountains to the north of Argha, affording Svetograd a haven of tranquility and gentleness.
The facades of buildings and city walls proudly displayed propaganda posters against a vibrant red backdrop. They exalted the figure of Milityasha Karpeva, akin to banners of allegiance. Against a red and golden background, the President of Argha was depicted as a heroic figure. Her gaze rose to the sky on the left, where military planes sliced through the azure in precise choreography. Her posture was regal, with her left hand over her heart, while her right hand lightly touched her left temple in a gesture reminiscent of the Arghatian military salute.
In the background, a Starry Spiral shone brightly with a golden glow, floating majestically in the sky. Illuminated by this light, silhouettes of soldiers and workers marched resolutely toward a promising future.
The slogan on the poster was simple yet impactful: "WITH MILITYASHA, TOWARDS A RADIANT FUTURE!" At the bottom of the poster, a more discreet phrase underscored Argha's communist ideology: "Sharing, Patriotism, Militarism: Our Path!"
The citizens of Svetograd took the time to pay their respects to these propaganda images, expressing their allegiance with signs of affection. What was most confounding was the apparent contradiction between this authoritarian regime and the absence of signs of oppression among the inhabitants.
In the heart of the city center, Argha's opulence was expressed through the dazzling quality of the buildings and skyscrapers that stood as contemporary sentinels around an imposing statue of Milityasha Karpeva. This effigy depicted her kneeling, offering a helping hand to children in the process of rising. The children's faces radiated confidence and relief, while Milityasha, serene, exerted all her efforts to support them.
Beside this monumental sculpture, Argha's flag fluttered with palpable pride. A simplified yellow dragon icon stood out against an intense red background, topped with three stars matching the hue of this mythical creature. The dragon's flanks were framed by delicately drawn bare branches, and at the extremities, laurel leaves marked the flag's boundaries, symbolizing unwavering victory.
Despite the serene facade that reigned supreme on the surface of this authoritarian city, the shadows stealthily lurking at every turn actually concealed far darker mysteries... Once plunged back into the heart of the winding alleys at the city's edges, the shrill echoes of a woman's screams managed to pierce from the depths of this urban maze.
"Help!" she screamed repeatedly.
Far from view and surveillance cameras, the source of the screams was a half-naked woman on the ground. Her wide-open mouth revealed her terror at a stranger who wanted only one thing: to enjoy her body.
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!
"And why would I do that?! You're too beautiful, you might as well please me! Ahah!"
The man's hands moved considerably closer to the frightened woman's bra. But they were stopped by the voice of a teenage girl echoing from the heavens:
"Hey, you there! What are you going to do to that woman?!"
Her voice emerged like a muffled gasp, as if trying to pierce a mysterious veil. Yet the cause of this strangeness remained elusive. Intrigued, the man turned his eyes to the sky, where dark clouds stretched out, providing a theatrical backdrop. A woman hovered, cloaked in a red cape that billowed like a banner in the wind. A mask with two horns subtly concealed her face.
"What the hell?! What the hell?!"
Beneath his red cape, a white jumpsuit dressed in golden lines and covered with black gloves that reached his elbows. Short blond hair fluttered in the wind, and her figure stood calmly in the air as if nothing had happened. Her gaze, though absent due to her mask, still managed to pierce the man's.
"I... I..."
Suddenly, the air became oppressive for the man, as if it weighed on his shoulders.
This presence... it's inhuman! How can she wield such power over me?!
"What were you planning to do to that woman?!"
The man hesitated, seeming to think of an alternative way to lie to her.
"ANSWER ME!"
His voice rippled through space like a wave, sending waves of force over the man's body and producing a sharp fall. However, he refused to surrender to her oppressive influence and began to look for a way to escape. And so, a smile curved his mouth as he warped something in the shadows with his hand.
Eh eh... You're not going to be so smart with that... cheeky little brat!
From his pocket, he pulled out a pistol with a violet aura, occasionally turning red. He pointed his sights at the teenager, and smiled even wider.
"That'll teach you to mind your own business! You bitch!"
In the darkness of the alley, the man opened fire on the young girl. A bullet, radiating a reddish glow, cut through the air and should have pierced her abdomen. Yet, against all odds, she remained suspended in mid-air, as if she were made of indestructible metal.
"What?! But how?!"
The man, still stunned by the surprise, watched the young girl extend her hand. He felt deep within himself a terrible danger emanating from her. An uncommon force was palpable, as if she were filled with great power.
[Astral Magic: Ascension]
A new kind of magic? I've never heard of this on the internet!
Suddenly, the man's body began to float within a violet magical circle surrounding him.
"Hey! What are you doing to me?!"
"Shut up and die, scum. Dogs like you from the junkyard don't deserve to live."
However, the man still held his pistol in hand. He smiled and used it again against her, firing bursts of violet bullets. This time, though, the bullets were immediately sucked into the magical circle, which continued to lift him higher into the skies.
"Answer me. Have you ever wanted to reach the stars?"
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"Once upon a time, a young girl aspired to become a cosmologist. She gazed at the stars with admiration from her garden, losing track of time. Their beauty revived her heart with an undeniable sense of joy, as if they were infinite. However, one day, this dream was shattered in a wave of sadness as vast as the sea, due to the impulses of men..."
"You're completely crazy!"
After some time, the man reached the stratosphere. His heart raced at the thought of dying from lack of oxygen.
If she continues, I'm going to die!
Up there, the man gazed at the vastness of the city of Svetograd, which radiated all its magnificence around a lake and a few forests. He could see airplanes lighting up the sky, tearing through the serenity of the clouds. No matter what he did, the magical circle continued to elevate him even higher into the sky. At this rate, he would soon reach space.
Turning back toward the young girl, she continued to stare at the man despite the mask that prevented him from physically seeing her. Her arm extended toward the man, a halo of stardust illuminated around him, like shimmering colors floating in the night. Then, the cluster of light converged into a single point and joined her hand.
"Do you know why you're going to die? Because you let the sorry excuse for your reproductive organ do the thinking for your tiny brain."
In an epic scene, a dazzling violet beam suddenly tore open the heavens, cutting through the darkness with its brilliant presence. Like a cosmic lightning bolt, its majestic path pierced the atmosphere, bathing the city in its shimmering light. A celestial rumble accompanied its advance, like the roar of a primal force unleashed.
This surge of energy, of unparalleled power, quickly reached the man who stood there, frozen in terror. In an instant, he was reduced to fragments, annihilated by the impetuous wave that raged in a matter of precious seconds.
Back in Svetograd, the teenager glanced at her clenched fist.
Damn it... I should have been more careful. I'm going to be hunted by WADI now... I used unlicensed magic. This sucks!
Though these thoughts were true, and her heart screamed of injustice, she decided to set aside that detail for a moment and approached the woman. Stepping onto the ground, she gently picked up the woman's jacket to return it to her with compassion.
"Here you go, ma'am."
The woman refused the gesture, stepping back with her feet. She was no longer afraid of the man but of the teenager who stood before her like a demon ready to strike at any moment.
"What's wrong? I saved you, didn't I?"
"Don't come any closer!"
"What? But..."
"You brutally killed that man!"
"He was about to assault you!"
"But you didn't have to kill him like that! Argha's justice would have done its job!"
"So, what should I have done?! Should I have let him escape?"
"You should have held him until I called the police!"
"But he was a rapist! The police would have released him anyway!"
"How do you know? Argha's justice is very severe; he would have been sentenced to life in prison!"
The teenager lowered her head, gripping the woman's jacket firmly in her hands.
"I know more than you think. You don't know anything about me, so stop bothering me with your shallow morality."
"You wanted to play the superhero like Rahman, didn't you?"
"Oh, Rahman... I can't wait for the day his costume falls off!"
"You're cruel!"
"Do you think so?"
In a deafening echo, their conversation was interrupted by approaching police sirens.
Here come the cops...
The teenager took flight once more, tossing the woman's jacket near her, and soared back into the sky to avoid any contact with the law enforcement.