In the world of Aera, the sky no longer exists. It vanished centuries ago, taking with it the warmth of the sun and the light of the moon. What remains are floating islands, drifting above an endless chasm, surrounded by a mist that devours everything that falls into it. The world beneath is forgotten—only the inhabitants of the islands survive, clinging to what little they can.

The fall of the sky brought a cataclysm that shattered the world, leaving only fragments of the past. No one truly understands what caused it, but the legends speak of an ancient power, long lost to time. Some say it was a war between gods, others claim it was a mistake made by the people themselves. All that remains are the broken pieces, scattered across the world in the form of mysterious relics, each holding untold power.

The survivors live in the shadow of the sky’s absence, their lives shaped by the struggle to survive in a world that no longer makes sense. And in the midst of it all, a young girl named Lira is about to discover that the past is not as far behind as it seems. The secrets of the sky still linger, and the forces that seek to control it will stop at nothing to claim the power it holds.

The fire crackled softly in the center of the room, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Lira sat cross-legged near the hearth, the shard resting in her open palm, its surface shimmering faintly. Across from her, Kaden leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her carefully.


"You feel it, don't you?" he asked, voice low. "The pull. The memory it carries."


Lira nodded, reluctant to admit it aloud. Ever since she had touched the shard, strange dreams and whispers had begun to creep into her mind—visions of a time she didn't recognize, of a world much different from the ruins around her.


Kaden stirred the fire with a metal rod, sending a shower of sparks into the air. "What you're feeling is the Echo of the Sundering," he said. "A memory left behind when the world broke apart."


"The Sundering?" Lira repeated, tasting the unfamiliar word.


Kaden's gaze darkened. "Long ago, Aera was whole—vibrant, alive. But something shattered it. The sky fell, the land cracked, and the old magic was torn into pieces. Those pieces became the shards. And now, they are scattered, hidden, and fought over."


Lira swallowed hard, feeling the heavy weight of history pressing down on her.


"No one knows for sure," Kaden replied. "Some say it was the gods punishing humanity. Others say it was humanity itself, greedy for power they couldn't control. But one thing is clear—the shards are the last remnants of that lost power. And those who gather them could either save what's left of Aera… or destroy it completely."


Silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackling of the flames.


Finally, Lira spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does that mean for me?"


Kaden's eyes softened slightly. "It means you have a choice. You can run, and hope the darkness never finds you. Or you can stand and fight—for Aera, for those who can't protect themselves."


Lira looked down at the shard again. The hum was stronger now, almost as if it was answering Kaden's words. Deep inside, a new resolve began to take root. She couldn't turn her back on this—not anymore.


Kaden nodded, as if he had been expecting her answer all along. "Then we must begin. You are not the only one seeking the shards, Lira. And the ones who are coming… they won't show mercy."


Outside, the storm that had been brewing for days finally broke, rain hammering against the worn stone of the refuge. But inside, by the light of the fire, a new flame had been lit—one that would not be so easily extinguished.


Chapter 5 - Echoes of the Sundering