The cave was cold, damp, and smelled of mildew. Eira Solwyn adjusted the strap of her satchel, her fingers brushing against the jagged edges of the Aether Crystals she'd already collected. The faint glow of the crystals illuminated her path, casting eerie shadows on the walls. She hated this place—the way the air clung to her skin, the way the silence pressed against her ears—but she had no choice. The slums of Eclipsia didn't offer many opportunities for an 18-year-old girl aside from prostitution, especially one with a sick mother to care for.
"Eira, over here!" Sian's voice echoed through the cavern, pulling her from her thoughts. Her best friend stood a few feet away, his lanky frame silhouetted against the faint light of his lantern. He waved her over, his face lit with excitement. "You've got to see this."
Eira hurried over, her boots crunching against the gravelly floor. Sian was crouched beside a large crevice in the wall, his lantern held high. Inside the crevice was an Aether Crystal—but not like any they'd seen before. It was massive, easily the size of Eira's torso, and its glow was brighter, more intense. It pulsed faintly, as if alive.
"This… this could change everything," Sian said, his voice hushed with awe. "We could sell this and finally get your mom the medicine she needs. And we can finally have enough money to leave this place. We'll move to Aether City. I could start a trade with my skills."
Eira's heart raced. He was right. This crystal could fetch enough coins to cover the medicine and more. But it was too big, too valuable. Selling it in the slums would draw attention—dangerous attention. And the collectors in Eclipsia were brutal. They mostly cheated the people because they knew nobody would want to take the trouble of going far enough to Aether to sell it. Many of the people in Eclipsia were poor and hungry, they just needed quick coins. And the collectors took advantage of that. Eirabit her lip, weighing their options.
"We can't sell it here," she said finally. "We'll take it to Aether. The City of Light. They'll pay more for something like this."
Sian's eyes widened. "Aether? Are you serious? That place is crawling with Ashcroft's guards. If they catch us with this—"
"We don't have a choice," Eira interrupted. "We need the coins, Sian. This is our only opportunity to leave this place. Isn't that the one thing we have always dreamed of?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."
---
The journey to Aether was long and exhausting. The City of Light was a stark contrast to the slums of Eclipsia. Towering spires of glass and steel rose into the sky, their surfaces reflecting the warm glow of countless Aether Crystals. The streets were clean, the air crisp, and the people well-dressed. Eira felt out of place in her patched-up clothes, her satchel heavy with the crystal.
"Stay close," she muttered to Sian as they navigated the crowded marketplace. The air was filled with the hum of conversation, the clink of coins, and the occasional bark of a merchant hawking their wares. Eira's eyes darted around, searching for a buyer who wouldn't ask too many questions.
They didn't notice the young man until it was too late. He stepped out of a shop, his fine clothes and polished boots marking him as someone important. Eira collided with him, stumbling back. The young man scowled, brushing imaginary dust off his jacket.
"Watch where you're going, slum rat," he sneered.
Eira's temper flared. "Maybe you should watch where you're going, rich boy."
The young man's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Do I look like I care?" Eira shot back.
Sian grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Eira, let's just go."
But Eira wasn't listening; she scowled as the rich boy walked away. Her hand went to her satchel, and her blood ran cold. The crystal was gone.
"You!" she shouted, rounding on the young man. "You stole it!"
He raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely confused. "Stole what?"
"The crystal! It was in my satchel, and now it's gone!"
The young man held up his hands. "I didn't take anything. Why would I take something from a slum rat like you?"
"Then where is it?!" Eira snapped as she looked around her, tears pooling.
"Are you new here?" The young man sneered.
He continued, "This place is notoriously famous among pickpockets. They rule these streets. One of them must have picked up your crystal."
"And how do we get it back?"
Sian, ever the levelheaded one, asked.
The young man shrugged, "If you're looking for something that's gone missing, you might want to check the black market. Things that disappear have a way of winding up there."
Eira hesitated. She didn't trust him, but she didn't have any other leads. "And why should we believe you?"
He smirked. "Look at me, do I look like I would steal something as silly as an Aether Crystal. The clothes I'm wearing cost way more than ten large Aether Crystals. You can call me Res. And if you want your crystal back, you're going to need my help."
---
The black market was a labyrinth of narrow alleys and shadowy corners. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and sweat, and the people here moved with a furtive urgency. Eira kept close to Sian, her hand gripping the strap of her now empty satchel. Res led the way, his confidence unnerving.
"Stay close," he said over his shoulder. "And try not to look so… slum-like."
Eira glared at him but said nothing. They passed stalls selling everything from stolen goods to Aether Crystals. The tension in the air was palpable, and Eira couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
As they turned a corner, Sian stopped abruptly. "There. That's our crystal," he said, nodding toward a stall at the end of the alley. A burly man with a scarred face was haggling with a customer, a large Aether Crystal resting on the table in front of him.
Eira's heart leapt. It really was their crystal.
"Let's go," she said, starting forward.
Res grabbed her arm. "Not so fast. You can't just walk up and demand it back. They'll never give it to someone that looks like you. These people don't play nice."
"Then what do you suggest?" Eira snapped.
Res grinned. "Leave it to me."
---
By the time they left the black market, the crystal was back in Eira's satchel, and Res had somehow talked the scarred man into handing it over without a fight. Eira didn't know whether to be impressed or suspicious. She didn't know who he was or what power he had that caused the man to hand over the crystal so easily, but she was grateful to have it back.
"Thank you," she said grudgingly as they stepped back into the streets.
Res shrugged. "Don't mention it. But if you're going to survive in Aether, you're going to need more than just luck. Keep that crystal very well or they'll take it from you again."
Eira met his gaze, her jaw set. "I don't need luck. I just need to get what I came here for and leave."
..........
The Crystal Market was a dazzling spectacle, a sprawling bazaar filled with stalls and shops that glittered with the light of countless Aether Crystals. Merchants called out to passersby, their voices blending into a cacophony of haggling and laughter. Eira tightened her grip on the satchel containing the massive crystal, her heart pounding as she and Sian navigated the bustling crowd.
"We need to find a buyer quickly," Eira muttered, her eyes scanning the stalls. "The longer we're here, the more likely we are to attract attention."
Sian nodded, his usual bravado tempered by the gravity of their situation. "Let's try that one," he said, pointing to a stall manned by a well-dressed merchant with a neatly trimmed beard.
They approached the stall, and Eira carefully pulled the crystal from her satchel. The merchant's eyes widened at the sight of it, but his expression quickly turned to suspicion.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"We found it," Eira said, her voice steady despite the knot of anxiety in her stomach. "In the caves near Eclipsia."
The merchant snorted. "Do you take me for a fool? A crystal like this doesn't just 'turn up' in the hands of slum rats. Stolen goods are bad for business. Get out of here before I call the guards."
Eira's face burned with humiliation, but she held her tongue. She grabbed the crystal and shoved it back into her satchel, pulling Sian away before he could say something they'd both regret.
They tried several more stalls, but the result was always the same. The merchants took one look at their ragged clothes and dismissed them outright, some even threatening to report them to the authorities. Eira's frustration grew with each rejection, her hope dwindling.
"This is hopeless," she muttered, leaning against a wall in a quiet corner of the market. "We'll never sell it here."
Sian opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, a voice interrupted them.
"That's quite a crystal you have there."
Eira turned to see a woman standing a few feet away. She was tall and elegant, her dark hair swept into an intricate braid. Her eyes gleamed with interest as she studied the satchel in Eira's hands.
"I couldn't help but overhear your… predicament," the woman said, her voice smooth and inviting. "I might be able to help you. My shop is just around the corner. Why don't you come with me?"
Eira hesitated, glancing at Sian. He shrugged, his expression a mix of hope and caution. They didn't have many options left.
"Alright," Eira said finally. "But we're not giving it away for cheap."
The woman smiled. "Of course not. Follow me."
---
The woman's shop was tucked away in a narrow alley, its windows obscured by heavy curtains. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense, and the walls were lined with shelves filled with strange artifacts and glowing crystals. Eira felt a pang of unease as the door closed behind them, but she pushed it aside. They needed to sell the crystal.
"Let's see it, then," the woman said, holding out her hand.
Eira hesitated for a moment before pulling the crystal from her satchel and handing it over. The woman examined it closely, her expression unreadable.
"Fascinating," she murmured. "Such a rare find. Where did you say you got it?"
"We found it in the caves in Eclipsia," Eira repeated, her tone firm.
The woman nodded, but before she could say anything else, the door burst open. Eira spun around, her heart leaping into her throat as a group of Ashcroft guards stormed into the shop. At their head was the burly man from the black market, his scarred face twisted into a sneer.
"That's them!" he barked, pointing at Eira and Sian. "Those are the thieves who stole my crystal!"