The streets bustled with chatter and music, warm sunlight casting long shadows from the ornate buildings that lined the avenue. Balconies overflowed with hanging flower baskets, vibrant blooms swaying gently in the breeze. Petals occasionally drifted down to mingle with the cobblestones, adding splashes of color to the warm, sunlit streets. Merchants called out their wares, children darted between the crowds, and the scent of jasmine, roses, and freshly baked bread mingled in the air, creating a heady, intoxicating atmosphere.
At the center of the avenue stood a young man who seemed oddly out of place. His raven-black hair clung to his forehead, slick with grime and sweat. Half of his face was hidden beneath a weathered eyepatch, and jagged scars traced cruel paths across his skin. His tattered coat hung loosely around him, marking him as someone not meant for this city of wealth and civility. Passersby cast him disdainful glances, some whispering behind hands, others simply turning away.
But the young man didn't notice. His gaze was fixed on the palm of his hand, where something gleamed faintly, a cluster of strange coins, their runes etched in patterns that seemed to pulse softly in the sunlight.
He sighed, turning the coins over in his hand. Only five left. 'I'll have to find a job.'
Kael had finally reached his destination after parting ways with Null. The journey had been uneventful, but it did little to improve his mood. Grumbling, he muttered under his breath, 'These bastards have no shame.' The entrance fees at the Oasis gates had taken eight Glims from him, more than half of what he had scavenged along the way.
It was always like this. Almost every Tier Two sanctum demanded fees to entertain or provide shelter. Those unable to pay were left to wander the ruins beyond the walls, scavenging scraps and shelter where they could. Life outside the sanctums was a constant gamble, and Kael had grown all too familiar with its bitter taste.
Sliding the remaining Glims back into his pocket, Kael muttered to himself, 'At least these things are useful.' He had long since discovered the peculiar nature of the lowest-tier coins. Glims could ease hunger or quench thirst for a short while. Not enough to replace a proper meal, but often enough to keep someone alive in a pinch.
He had heard rumors about the higher-tier coins: Seals, ranked above Glims; Suns, the next level; and the rare Imperial Crowns, the highest of them all. Each was said to possess powers far beyond mere sustenance. Of course, Kael had never seen a Seal, let alone a Crown, so he knew next to nothing about them, only that they were produced in the capital using some mysterious relic. For now, all he knew was that Glims worked, and that was enough to keep him moving.
Kael's fingers closed over the coins, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself a flicker of hope. Each Glim represented a chance small, fragile, but alive, and in a world as cruel as this, even the smallest advantage could mean the difference between survival and being forgotten in the ruins.
He had been planning to enter Oasis for a long time. His original plan was simple: find an Oathbound relic, become a Burdened, and then make his way here. But fate, or rather, the Crest on his wrist, had other plans. Kael wasn't one to dwell on setbacks; in fact, he felt oddly grateful for how things had turned out. Entering the Crown recklessly had almost gotten him killed, he frowned at the memory. 'That was indeed careless.' Yet he was still alive, armed with valuable information and a potential new ally. All things considered, things were looking good.
He walked through the streets, lost in thought, barely noticing the bustle around him. His reasons for entering the Crown were simple: he was searching for Ash's traces. She had been the only guardian Kael and the other orphans had during those hellish days. Then, one day, she vanished, leaving behind only a mysterious mark. That mark had guided him ever since.
All of his peers were dead. He alone had survived, as if fate had singled him out for a purpose he still barely understood. So he had to find her, ask the questions that burned within him, he needed to be stronger. But he had been careless, far too careless. As the old folks always said, 'knowledge is power.' And he had been powerless.
In his defense though , every day had been a battle for survival: the constant fear that one of his fellow orphans might snap, that a monster might strike from the shadows, or that starvation would claim them before anything else. There had been no time for learning and planning. Survival had been his only teacher.
Now, things were different. He had a choice, a far less dangerous one, and the first step was simple: rest. Real rest, unlike the stolen moments he had taken throughout his life. The Tier Two sanctum's wards kept most of the monsters that roamed the ruins at bay, and the few that remained were often lost, former humans who had surrendered to madness. Higher-ranked monsters, however, never ventured into human enclaves or sanctums for unknown reasons; if they did, humanity would have long gone extinct. They were often seen near alien structures or the rifts, torn patches of reality that led to other dimensions.
The streets of Oasis opened around him in a vibrant maze. Some avenues were lined with pristine stone buildings, their facades adorned with intricate carvings and flower boxes spilling color into the sunlit streets. Others were narrow alleys of timber and plaster, crooked but filled with life. Market squares were punctuated with small fountains and mosaic pavements that caught the light like scattered gems. In the distance, a towering spire marked the city's center, crowned with a sundial gilded in brass, the city's emblem and a symbol of its resilience.
Kael walked past workshops where smiths hammered glowing metal, bakeries sending wafts of sweet and warm bread into the streets, and perfumed tea houses where patrons sipped quietly behind latticed windows.
After a while, he found a cheap alleyway inn, tucked between a tall, angular merchant's hall and a fountain that depicted a bird with outstretched wings. The inn's wooden sign creaked in the breeze, its paint faded and chipped, but the faint aroma of cooking and firewood promised a warm meal and a safe bed.
Kael pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. The interior was modest but inviting: rough-hewn tables scattered across the room, a few patrons nursing drinks and exchanging low murmurs. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread lingered in the air, blending with the faint smoke from the hearth.
He approached the innkeeper, a stout man with brown hair streaked with grey and a bushy beard that framed his round, ruddy face. The man looked up from polishing a mug, eyeing Kael with mild curiosity.
"Greetings," Kael said, his voice calm but tired. "How much for a room?"
The innkeeper scratched his beard. "Three glims for the day. You new around here?"
Kael shrugged, letting out a quiet sigh. Reluctantly, he handed over the money. "Just arrived."
The innkeeper nodded,"Since you are new let me five you some advise"
After tucking the coins into a pouch he added. "Listen, kid, don't be fooled by the name and pretty streets, Oasis, this place is dangerous, and things have been even stranger lately."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Strange?"
The innkeeper glanced around, then said in a hushed tone, "A lot of outsiders have been coming here lately. We don't usually have many outsiders, because of the remote location."
Kael nodded, looking around. "I'll be careful, thank you."
The innkeeper gestured toward a narrow staircase at the back. "Anyway, the room's up there."
Kael followed it to a small, clean room. A simple bed with a worn blanket awaited him, and a washbasin with fresh water stood in the corner. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to truly relax.
He ate the food provided, bread, stew, and a small portion of roasted meat, savoring every bite. The flavors were simple, but they felt luxurious compared to the meager rations he had scavenged in the ruins. Afterwards, he drew a basin of hot water and took a long, cleansing bath. The warmth seeped into his muscles, washing away the grime of the road and tension that had clung to him for days.
Kael collapsed onto the bed, letting himself sink into the comfort, and soon he drifted into deep sleep.
****
After a while, he woke and began planning. His main goal was still to awaken, but he had failed to find a relic. Yet now, for the first time in a long while, he had a choice. The cult that Silas and Aeris were involved with had promised to provide a relic. Kael was skeptical, of course, but if it were true, this was an incredible opportunity; they might ask for something in return, after all, they were keeping an eye on him.
'We might as well use each other,' he thought. Finding an Oathbound relic was no simple task; this was a rare advantage. However, after speaking with Null, Kael realized another complication: he needed to achieve partial resonance. How to do that remained a mystery, so the relic would have to wait. His two immediate problems were clear: achieving resonance, and, more urgently, earning money.
'Money first.' He reflected on the terrible things he had once done for money, sighing at those memories. But he was no longer that desperate kid. Now, he had an ability, one that if used wisely, could earn him enough to survive and advance his goals.
He leaned back against the bed, letting his mind map out the next moves.