Havenreach

To those who lived in the inner city, it was humanity's last beacon of hope—a fortress built around a towering monolith that pushed back the Abyss. The nobles and merchants spoke of it as a miracle, the only place left where life could flourish.

But to Kai Venn, it was nothing more than a slow death.

The slums stretched like a festering wound around the city's towering walls. The air reeked of rot and sweat, the streets were clogged with filth, and the people—those unlucky enough to be born outside the protected inner ring—clung to life like rats in a sinking ship.

Kai knew this world well. He had never known anything else.

Survival was all that mattered. And if you weren't strong enough, you wont survive.

He sat on a crumbling rooftop with his ragtag family, watching the world below with tired but sharp eyes. It had been a good day—or as good as it got in the slums. They had managed to snatch a sack of bread and some dried meat from a careless merchant, which meant they would eat tonight.

Lory, the eldest of the group, divided the food with practiced efficiency, cutting even slices so no one got more than the other. She was seven years older than the rest, a woman hardened by years of suffering, yet she still cared for them like a mother.

"Eat slow," she said, handing Kai his portion. "We don't know when we'll get another meal."

Kai took the bread, tearing off a piece and chewing thoughtfully. "We'll find more," he said between bites. "We always do."

Lloyd snorted beside him, stuffing a piece of meat into his mouth. "Not if we get caught one day."

Rena, who sat cross-legged next to Kai, gave Lloyd a sharp glance. "Don't say things like that." Her auburn hair fell loosely over her shoulder, catching the dim light of the dying sun. "We've made it this far. We'll keep making it."

Cassie, the youngest, let out a small giggle. "Yeah, Lloyd! Don't be such a downer." She kicked her legs over the edge of the rooftop, her wild curls bouncing as she spoke. "We're the best thieves in Havenreach!"

Kai smirked, ruffling her hair. "That so? You steal one loaf of bread and suddenly you're the best?"

Cassie grinned. "Obviously!"

Lory sighed, watching them with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion. "You all act like children."

Cassie huffed. "I am a child."

Lloyd chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. How about we make things interesting?" His grin widened. "Let's play a little game. A dare."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "A dare? You sure? Last time you almost got your hand chopped off."

Lloyd's grin didn't waver. "Worth it."

Cassie clapped excitedly. "Me first! Me first!"

Lloyd stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Alright, Cassie… I dare you to steal a coin from old man Gregor's stand without getting caught."

Cassie's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Easy."

Before anyone could stop her, she vanished into the streets below, moving like a shadow between the crumbling buildings. Kai and the others watched from the rooftop, their gazes locked on her tiny figure as she darted between the crowds.

Minutes later, she returned, flipping a silver coin between her fingers. "See? Told you I'm the best."

Lory shook her head. "One day, that luck is going to run out."

Cassie just stuck her tongue out.

Rena nudged Kai. "Your turn."

Kai smirked. "Fine. I'll take my chances."

Lloyd's grin turned wicked. "Alright then, Kai. I dare you to—"

Then, he stopped.

The grin on his face faded, replaced by a slight frown.

Kai blinked. "What?"

Lloyd's eyes weren't on him anymore. They were staring toward the horizon.

Slowly, Kai followed his gaze—

And felt his stomach drop.

Far in the distance, beyond the slums, past the towering walls of Havenreach, something shifted in the sky.

It was subtle. A ripple, like a droplet disturbing the surface of a still pond.

Then another.

And another.

The clouds seemed to shudder, distorting as if something beneath them was pressing against the fabric of reality itself.

Kai's chest tightened. It was nothing. It had to be nothing.

But deep down, in the darkest part of his mind, a whisper of fear coiled around his thoughts.

Because he had heard something like this before.

Once.

Right before an entire district of the city had disappeared overnight.

Rena's voice was quiet. "Did you see that?"

Kai swallowed.

The sky was still now. Silent. Peaceful.

As if it hadn't moved at all.

He forced a smirk. "You're imagining things."

Rena didn't look convinced.

Neither did Lloyd.

Neither did Lory.

Cassie, oblivious to the tension in the air, nudged Lloyd. "Come on, what's Kai's dare?"

Lloyd hesitated for a moment, then forced a grin. "Right. A dare."

But his voice was distant. Distracted.

Kai clenched his fists.

He didn't know why, but an unease settled deep in his gut.

Something was coming.

And it wasn't nothing.

To Be Continued in Chapter 2.