An over-average city in the kingdom of Planta, Astreal. It was considered a luxury to live in such a place, towering castles of houses conjoined together,a wall surrounding the city, spanning thousands of thousands of kilometers.
A flowing river of fresh drinking water runs through the centre of the city, and a great tree of nutrients in the middle, the bottom part being split in two for the glorious river. Only tens of roots holding its enormous stature.
The tree aided nutrients to any plants whose roots it grazed. This would be a small enhancement for most but this tree in particular was massive, towering over the rest of the city. It was 1000 metres tall at the very least!
What an amazing place, who wouldn't want to live there? No one.. Except one who already did.
A young, brown skinned boy. Short brown hair, faint brown eyes and dark indents underneath those emotionless eyes, Mio.
He was wearing a dark brown jacket over his plain white shirt. He had shorts on, light brown, with a pair of black and brown sandals, a weird combination in this weather, it was winter after all. He had just finished getting ready to go outside.
Looking out the window beside his bed, he sees a repetitious, red and brown blur of towering houses. His house was not on the ground. Astreal was known for the high structures of houses, they called them apartment buildings, something unlike any other city did.
Turning his head slightly, he sees a tree. It was hovering over him, making the seemingly giant apartment building seem small.
The only reason Mio had even bothered to grace the damned thing with his gaze was because its shadow was heavily obstructing his view of the dreadful city. Mio frowned. He was living the life that most could only dream of, why was he so ungrateful?
The room was small and square. Turning in the complete opposite direction, he walks past his bed, night table, dresser, and dining table. He looked at all of these. Just one of these basic necessities would cost a fortune in astreal, why? Mio didn't know.
Along with this astreal had something that no other cities had, excluding Beru of the kingdom of planta and Tershea 'The Kingdom Of Gold', Taxes.
If you wanted to buy any official items, there would be a 50% tax. This money would go to the government, with 10% of it going to farming, 20% to the military, and 15% to the people and development of the city. 1% of it goes to the leaders of Astreal, the other 4% to the leaders of the kingdom along with the kingdom's guardians.
***
As he leaves, he passes many rooms. These rooms were exactly like his. Situated side by side, row by row. Soon he reaches a staircase.
He descends. He was on the 17th floor of the expansive building. So it took him quite a while to reach the bottom.
After descending, he arrives at a small gated exit. Opening the gate, he exits the building. Instantly, a raging Forgotten Sun assaults his dimmed, accustomed, eyes. But only through the large cracks of leaves between the roaring tree. Walking through the large city, he heads west. Towards the city's holy church.
***
Long ago, about 800 years ago. A young woman arose from the darkness. She was a light to those who followed her, and a nightmare to those who defied her. This outstanding fact was solidified because of one thing, her strange ability. At first she was seen as a witch. But after proving her innocence through the rigged systems of the world, she was forgiven.
Her innocence was also aided by the nature of her strange abilities. She had the capability to heal all those who were injured. It didn't matter the injury, the sickness, or illness.
In the nearing months after being free from subjugation of persecution, the woman, Marly, became more of a symbol of peace than a witch of destruction. She healed all those who were in pain, contained that pain, and released it on those who caused pain.
Her influence travelled from each continent to the next. Starting from the central continent, moving to the western, eastern, southern, northern, even the fishers of the abyssal continent heard of the news. It was also rumored that her influence traveled past the Old World, entering the New and beyond.
Eventually at the early age of 28, she passed away.
It was because of a perilous venture into the abyssal continent. Even a seemingly goddess like her couldn't handle the roaming dangers of the dreadful area.
After her death, many things affected the world, new and old alike.
Many monsters emerged, carrying with them many powerful attributes for humans to use. The holy church emerged in honor of the woman. And most importantly, the blessing's of Marly. To be born with an ability of unnatural power, but of course power isn't free. With it comes a perilous flaw, which, most of the time, only you have the ability of guessing the nature of.
Marly, or formally known as Saint Marly, was then turned into the most powerful being to ever cross the old world. Not because of the ability that she possessed, because now there were much greater powers, roaming the earth. But rather, her un-counterable influence.
***
Walking through the city, Mio sees many different types of buildings, but it mostly consists of an endless amount of apartment buildings.
All coated red, side by side. Row by row. Of course there were some exceptions, such as markets, libraries, and various accessories of land. These included fountains, statues, and monuments in respect of past heroes.
Looking past the building, to the north, he saw farm land. Beyond the city there were an endless amount of them. Right in front of the towering wall, they lay.
With four pathways cut between the green abyss. North , south , east, west. These were both the only exits and entrances to the city.
Moving ahead he passed over a bridge, this bridge went over the large river that passed through the city.
The river was about 20-metres wide, and had many narrow bridges hovering over its surface. But of course not enough to hinder its beauty. Several fish swam through the river, along with various water dispensers. These dispensers were installed with filters, making the water arguably safe to drink.
Exiting the bridge, he lands off the wood, unto concrete.
He still had kilometres to cross. Of course he had already walked for a long time, so it wasn't too troublesome.
***
After a few more hours, MIo reached a fence. It reached to about his waist, clearly not meant to keep people out. Opening the gate at the front, he enters.
Inside, directly in front of him stood a beautiful fountain, beside, at both ends, stood an endless embrace of fruit, bush and green, all carefully kept, some bushes even being sculpted to represent people of power.
Behind the fountain was a stone sculpture. The statue was holding a book in one hand, and a cross on the other. The hand with the cross was being held to the sky. The statue was only wearing a robe, leaving her with naked feet. It was a statue in remembrance of Saint Marly.
Passing by the fountain and statue, Mio saw a colonnade. Inside was a massive double door, painted red, green, with pictures of angels among other creatures.
As Mio stood in front of the doorway, it suddenly opened.
Inside the cathedral-like building, lay a multitude of seats. Beyond those seats was an altar. Behind the altar, was a door. As Mio entered, a young man came from the door. He had short brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a simple white tunic.
As he came out Mio headed forward. His mother had sent him here. Although it was quite strange that she herself was absent.
Walking up the steps of the stairs, he arrives upon the altar. There, behind the man he got a sneak of what was in the room. But nothing caught his interest as much as the red painted bed that was on the side of the tiny room.
This room was said to be holy, holy enough that only 3 people are allowed in. The priest, his wife, and the young man that was smiling at him.
The man led him into the room, there he saw the red-painted bed with clearer sight. The bed seemed strange, its red cover seemed off….. Somehow.
Beside the bed, there was a night stand. The night stand had a peculiar device situated on it.
'A Testerty?'
A Testerty was a device used to find those who possessed a Blessing Of Marly. It resembled a colourful orb, seemingly made of some type of Monster soul.
Not that he necessarily knew much about monster souls, they were forbidden from learning it. The church forbids them.
When touched, if it glowed blue, it was positive. If it didn't glow, You didn't possess one. As he remembered this, the silent man finally spoke.
"Place your hand on the Testerty please."
Mio looked at him with an appalled expression. Not only were these devices extremely expensive, but they were supposed to only be used on royalty. Although, interest overtook suspicion.
As he placed his hand on the device. As he felt the warmth of the miraculous device, it started to glow. Its light illuminated the room.
But Mio did not have time to celebrate, as right as it happened, he felt sleepy. Extremely sleepy.
As he fell the young man smiled.
And then everything went black.
Looking out the window beside his bed, he sees a repetitious, red and brown blur of towering houses. His house was not on the ground. Astreal was known for the high structures of houses, they called them apartment buildings, something unlike any other city did.
Turning his head slightly, he sees a tree. It was hovering over him, making the seemingly giant apartment building seem small. The only reason Mio had even bothered to grace the damned thing with his gaze was because its shadow was heavily obstructing his view of the dreadful city…..