Slops

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 Skyless World

Lira and Cael stood in awe as the ancient map floated above the stone pedestal, shimmering with soft blue light. The vast landscape of Aera unfolded before them — mountains, forests, deserts, oceans, all marked with ancient runes and intricate symbols. Some locations glowed faintly, and one particularly pulsed with a steady, golden rhythm.

"This map…" Cael whispered, stepping closer, "It's showing the locations of the other shards."

Lira's heart pounded. She traced her fingers carefully in the air, following the glowing points. There were five locations in total, each scattered across distant parts of the world. Yet the golden pulsing at the center drew her attention more than anything else.

"What is that?" Lira asked, pointing toward the center.

Cael frowned, studying the mark. "I don't know," he admitted. "But whatever it is, it's connected to the shards… maybe even to the source of their power."

They spent several minutes memorizing the map and discussing the possible routes. Some of the shard locations appeared in treacherous terrains — icy mountains, a vast desert, deep within a tangled forest. None of them would be easy to reach.

Suddenly, the light from the map dimmed slightly, and strange symbols began to flicker across its surface. A low hum filled the chamber.

"I think the map… it's warning us," Lira said, voice tight.

A subtle vibration ran through the floor beneath their feet. In the shadows beyond the room, a faint movement stirred — something had been awakened by the activation of the map.

Cael grabbed her arm gently. "We have to go. Now."

Lira nodded, casting one last glance at the fading image of the map. She felt a deep sense of urgency — not just to escape whatever was coming, but to start her journey to find the shards before it was too late.

Together, they hurried out of the ancient chamber, carrying with them the knowledge of forgotten paths — and the burden of a mission that would change the fate of Aera itself.

The Map of Forgotten Paths