throughout the whole world, everyone wears a Pinpoint Tag, it looks like a dog-tag, and it stacks their Identification by letter. Next to F.N, the tag lists the bearer's family name from last to first, next to C it shows their continent of origin, and next to G and S it records their genus and species.
In the Northern Continent, FLEX Zone eight, a young warrior with twin war hammers crouched in the frostbitten training yard. On her Pinpoint Tag, the Family-Name line read "Pole, Delecroix"; the Continent line marked her as Northborn. Beneath it, Genus was listed as H. Sapien, and her species was listed as Hume.
Delecroix watched Solace leap through the arena. The blows she struck were still looping in her mind. With a roar, she swung both hammers into the training dummies, cracking wood and stone alike.
"If she can face a king," Delecroix whispered, tossing a battered shield, "then I can face my father."
Determination replaced hesitation. She packed her gear, and for the first time, she didn't flinch at the thought of confronting her family.
"Come on my little gremlins," Delecroix called, and four tiny creatures sprinted after her. One of them threw their arms out wide like airplane wings, buzzing loud as she zigzagged through the path behind Delecroix.
In the Western Continent, a queen's voice cut down the palace hall. "You need to act like a princess!"
The princess stopped. On her Pinpoint Tag, the Family Name was "Marceline, Vinella"; the Continent identified her as Westernborn; her Genus was H. Sapien; and her species was Feaxtress.
Vinella clenched her fists, and spat back, "Anything I do... is like a princess because I am one!"
That was her last straw. Without another word, she stormed down the halls, ignoring guards and servants alike. She yanked her cloak tight and strapped on her weapon belt adding a frying pan to each side. For years, she had been forced to play the perfect role, to obey every command and hide her true strength.
Watching Solace move like fear had no authority over her, cracked something open in the princess's chest. Now she was running toward the gates, ready to take control of her own life, no more waiting, no more rules.
In the Eastern Continent's shadows, a dagger wielding woman with her eyes covered whispered to herself, "I deserve people who accept me."
She twirled her blade between her fingers, testing its balance and weight, each rotation a silent promise to herself. Her Pinpoint Tag carried the name "McPheebe, Vanpree" under Family Name, Easternborn for Continent, and Genus as H. Sapien with her species labeled Thaumaturge.
For years she stayed in the shadows, avoiding notice. Solace standing up to a king in front of so many people, ignited something inside her. She took a slow step forward and raised the dagger, ready to claim her own space in a world that had always ignored her. For even in darkness, courage could spark.
Deep in the Southern Continent, a queen slammed a golden goblet onto the table.
On her Pinpoint Tag, the Family Name was "Bravada, Sunny-side"; the Continent identified her as Southernborn; her Genus was H. Sapien; and her species was Cyssan.
Years of compromise had changed nothing. Solace's fearless strikes against the king flashed in her mind. As she strapped on her sword, she rallied loyal guards.
"If she can defy authority... so can I," Sunny-side muttered.
She stormed into the streets to challenge her husband and claim the throne, turning the kingdom into a Queendom.
A guard let out a breath, "How exactly do you plan on fighting the king?"
The queen met his eyes, "At this point," she said calmly, "I'm probably just going to kiss him."
His face drained of color, he slowed behind her, eyes fixed on the back of her head. "I… wasn't expecting that."
A year before the arena, freedom had meant something very different to Solace. In the Eastern Continent she climbed until the branches shook beneath her, bare feet pressing into the bark. When she reached the top, she stretched her arms wide, letting the wind rush over her skin. She let her eyes fall shut, and started smiling.
Clouds tore across the sky, and the wind turned rough quickly. The first crack of thunder split the air so violently the branch beneath her quivered. Solace jolted upright.
"Great… perfect timing." Solace said and started climbing down the tree.
By the time her feet hit the forest floor, the sky had gone black. Rain slammed through the leaves, and lightning hit the ground again and again, always striking too close. It wasn't random or natural, it felt like the storm was trying to herd her.
The next bolt ripped through the clearing, close enough to make her density flicker on instinct. She exploded forward, each density shift snapping her into a different motion. One moment she was a blur, the next she carved a perfect right angle turn, crocs skimming over mud without sinking.
Leaves ripped from branches as she cut through the forest, weightless enough to glide, grounded enough to sprint. But the lightning adjusted every time, tagging the ground beside her with ear splitting cracks.
"SERIOUSLY?" she shouted up at the clouds. "Either hit me or shut up!"
Another blast struck close enough that the shockwave lifted her off her feet. She hit the ground hard, dirt sprayed up and her ears started ringing. The world vibrated with thunder, each crash louder than the last, drilling into her skull.
Solace crouched, pressing her palms to her ears, unable to escape the noise, unable to block it out. Then, something shifted deep inside her. Fear, frustration, and exhaustion tightening into a blade of determination. Solace rose slowly, rain streaming down her face. She looked up into the roaring sky.
"I'm not coming back," Solace said.
For a long moment, Solace stood still, breathing hard, waiting for the storm to argue. Lightning bloomed overhead. She braced for it to strike, but nothing happened, the clouds rolled back. The sky quieted and for the first time ever, Solace felt free.
She took her time with the little things most people missed. She crouched close to wildflowers to study their veins, traced the slow crawl of a beetle over a petal, and dipped her hands into streams to feel the cold water. When the day grew hot, she jumped into a lake, laughter echoing off the trees. Then she would lay out in the grass to dry, watching clouds drift past.
It wasn't about adventure or purpose, she liked having a choice. The ability to stop, to breathe, and to exist exactly as she wished. Freedom was supposed to feel like an endless, golden light, yet when the laughter faded, silence often weighed heavily.
She didn't always know what came next. Things like where she'd sleep, what she'd eat, or how to keep going when no one was left to guide her. She tried to make small routines; she'd line up rocks by size near her campfire, count her breaths when she got scared, and pretend the stars were answering when she talked.
When she managed to catch a moment that felt right like she'd done something good, something alive, she brought her thumb, middle, and pointer finger together, pressed them against her lips, and flicked her arm toward the sky. "The pinnacle kiss," she'd say softly, her own way of thanking the world for not swallowing her whole.
Solace moved quietly along the forest path, the sunlight danced across the leaves as she walked. She spotted three men up ahead, lingering close to the trail.
"Hey there," Solace said, "Lovely day for a walk, isn't it?"
The men turned toward her. The tallest of them stepped forward, smirking. Solace offered a small, polite smile, hoping to ease the tension. She kept her hands in her pockets, relaxed but her senses were alert. Something about their stance told her they weren't interested in chatting. The men exchanged glances.
The tallest man took another step forward, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, well... looks like someone's wandering alone,"
The three men stepped into her path, closing the space around her. She could feel their assumptions radiating off them.Her eyes scanned each of them, taking in their stance, and the way they moved.
"Careful, boys," Solace said, "Stand that close and I might start thinking you're looking for trouble."
Her tone alone made the first flickers of hesitation appear in their eyes. The first man lunged, trying to grab her. She twisted, using his momentum against him, and with a quick shove and a turn, sent him sprawling into the dirt.
The other two drew their weapons, she dodged a swing from one, sidestepped the other, and in a blur of movement disarmed them both before they fully realized what had happened. Within seconds, all three men were groaning on the ground, their weapons lying useless beside them.
Solace dusted her hands off as her eyes swept the forest around her. She could feel someone watching. She kept searching until she saw a pair of wide, curious eyes, barely hidden among the shadows.
Solace pointed straight ahead, "I see you too."