The City of Towers and Shadows

The elevator hummed softly as it ascended, carrying Tlandar from the underground shelter into the heart of New Asemeri. He stood near the back of the compartment, hands at his sides, watching the illuminated floor numbers climb higher.

This was it.

For the first time in his life, he would see a true city—a real, high-tech metropolis, unlike anything he had ever known.

The elevator slowed, then came to a stop. A mechanical chime sounded, and the doors slid open.

And for the first time, Tlandar stepped into the streets of New Asemeri.

The Central Plaza – A World in Motion

The sheer scale of the city made Tlandar stop in his tracks.

New Asemeri was a city of towering metal and glass, where perfectly arranged streets and angular pathways intersected beneath the glow of holographic advertisements and digital billboards.

Even the air felt different—not clean and crisp like Verdantis Nexus, but thick with the scent of metal, electricity, and the faint hum of reactor fields buried beneath the streets.

A merchant adjusting a floating holo-sign above his food stall caught sight of him and grinned.

"First time in the city?" he asked, tossing a small purple fruit in the air before catching it.

Tlandar hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

The merchant chuckled. "You look lost. Where you from?"

"Verdantis Nexus," Tlandar replied.

The merchant's smile faded slightly, his cybernetic eyes whirring softly as he scanned Tlandar's face. "Ah. One of the refugees."

Tlandar's jaw tightened. He didn't like the way that sounded.

The merchant, noticing his reaction, simply shrugged. "No offense, kid. Just… city life's different. Ain't like the open fields."

"I can see that," Tlandar muttered.

"Tell you what," the merchant said, flipping the fruit toward him. "First one's free. Consider it a 'welcome' gift."

Tlandar caught it, nodding in appreciation. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," the merchant said, returning to his work. "Just don't get lost. Lot of people in this city… not all of 'em are friendly."

Tlandar pocketed the fruit and continued on.

The Tech Bazaar – A World of Scavengers and Innovators

The Tech Bazaar was nothing like the ordered streets of the plaza.

Here, the hustle of unauthorized trade mixed with the hum of energy welders. The streets were narrower, more cluttered, filled with rogue engineers, cybernetic specialists, and off-market traders peddling everything from scrap components to stolen Velik'Ashar gear.

Tlandar passed by a small weapons stall, where a vendor displayed an illegally modified plasma rifle.

"You looking for something, kid?" a woman in grease-stained gloves and a welding visor asked as she tinkered with a Xothek drone part.

Tlandar shook his head. "Just looking."

She smirked. "Then stop staring. The more lost you look, the more likely someone's gonna sell you junk at five times the price."

"Noted," Tlandar muttered.

The mechanic eyed him critically. "Lemme guess. Shelter refugee? First time in a real city?"

"Something like that," Tlandar admitted.

She scoffed. "Then let me give you some free advice—New Asemeri's not as safe as it looks. But it's safer than anywhere else. If you got half a brain, you'll stay behind these walls."

Tlandar said nothing.

"Take care, ranch boy," she added before flipping her visor down and returning to her work.

The Holographic News Square – The Truth They Wanted You to See

Further ahead, Tlandar arrived at a massive open forum, where towering holographic screens played an endless loop of government broadcasts.

A soft electronic chime sounded as a new report appeared, accompanied by the voice of an Asemeri news anchor, carefully neutral in tone.

"Today, Governor Rasnar reaffirmed his commitment to the safety of New Asemeri, citing the continued progress of the city's energy barrier project. The Velik'Ashar remain vigilant, ensuring order in all districts."

The screens shifted to a still image of Boulderkeep Stockade, its walls standing tall against the backdrop of Val'katl's dense forests.

"In other news, military skirmishes outside of New Asemeri remain contained. There are no threats to the city. Citizens are urged to remain calm as our leadership continues to maintain stability."

Then, the screen shifted again.

A new headline appeared, overlaying a holographic map of Val'katl's landscape.

"Chieftain Ixtiel establishes a foothold in the Plains of Leipira—Val'katlan intelligence reports his forces have secured a camp across the river delta."

Tlandar felt his breath hitch.

"The delta, which runs through Val'katl and into a large interior lake near New Asemeri's shores, remains under close observation. Officials believe the conflict will not escalate beyond its current scope."

His hands clenched.

Ixtiel was getting closer.

But they called it "contained."

They made it sound like just another footnote in a long history of distant wars.

He turned away from the screen, feeling a quiet frustration settle into his chest.

He had seen what containment meant.

It meant abandonment.

The Train – A Watchful Guardian

By the time he reached the high-speed maglev train station, Tlandar was ready to return to the underground shelter.

He boarded the train, finding a seat near the window, watching as the cityscape blurred past.

He didn't notice the Salgaran woman stepping onto the train behind him.

She remained at a distance, watching.

As the train sped through the city's vast transit network, a sudden shift in movement caught her attention.

A thug moved toward Tlandar from behind, his hand drifting toward his belt—ready to steal, or worse.

Before he could react, the Salgaran woman spoke, her voice calm but firm.

"Watch yourself."

Tlandar turned just in time to see the thief's hand reaching for him.

Instinct took over.

Tlandar moved quickly, twisting away from the attack, and with a sharp, well-placed counter, knocked the assailant back.

The train lurched to a stop at the next station.

Before security forces could investigate, Tlandar stepped off, disappearing into the crowd.

The Salgaran woman followed.

As they reached an isolated street near the station, she finally spoke again—her voice strong, unmistakable.

"Stop."

Tlandar froze.

He turned slowly, finally facing the woman who had been watching him all along.