Shardstorm

Abraham turned around after the Killer-Whale had completely left view. What he saw was beautiful. The Crystal Desert. It truly lived up to its name too. The 'desert' was literally made of crystals and gemstones. It had once gone by a different name in the old world. The desert used to be made of sand and was extremely dry. Very few creatures roamed the desert back then. Now? It's like a whole new world. The desert was bombarded by a perpetual storm that never ceased. Lightning always struck which occasionally broke some crystals into fine pieces. These fine pieces can be picked up by strong winds and form shardstorms. Storms that can cut and pierce even stone due to their speed and ferocity.

"Well damn, this really is quite beautiful." Abraham remarked.

"It truly is… I have only ever read about this in the libraries back in Citadel Calor."

Solara looked over at Starrk. "Is Calor the citadel Solis rules?"

Starrk's eyes gleamed. "Of course! Lady Solis herself had the citadel built to protect her people—a sanctuary of light surrounded by the world's darkness."

Abraham's eyes lit up. I mean why wouldn't they, considering just how much Starrk talks about Solis and her 'greatness'?

"We should go to Calor one day. It sounds interesting."

Starrk's eyes widened. "Absolutely Young Abraham! I could show you around the beautiful citadel. Maybe you'll even come to accept Solis' grace."

Abraham laughed awkwardly. "Ookay, I dunno about that last part but the first part for sure." He smiled but couldn't quite shake the feeling that Starrk wasn't joking.

They all laughed.

"We should get going now." Abraham then said, bringing everyone's attention back to the mission at hand.

They spent a few hours walking on the hard crystalline floor, enjoying themselves as they took in the amazing scenery.

Solara's eyes were mostly fixated on the endless storm in the skies. She focused her gaze on the lightning bolts that danced through the sky. She had once tried to manipulate bolts of lightning herself, but due to her low pulse and short-tempered nature she gave up. But maybe here—in this strange land stitched from gemstones and static—maybe here, something would change. After all, her sorcery had always thrived in fire, in heat. And what was lightning if not fire given fury?

Their walk continued for a few more hours in silence. It wasn't that the situation was awkward or that there was nothing to talk about, the trio were just stuck in their own thoughts.

The journey seemed quite peaceful. Well, peaceful to everyone but Abraham who was incredibly paranoid.

He was the first to break the silence. "Uh guys… don't you think this journey has been too peaceful and calm?"

Starrk kept his gaze ahead and placed his arms behind his head. "Young Abraham, don't you think you're being a little too paranoid?"

Abraham scowled. "I'll have you know, my gut feeling has never failed me in my twenty years of living."

Solara giggled behind him. "Sure sure buddy. But I kind of agree with him, Starrk. Don't you think it's been a little too quiet?"

Starrk sighed. "Ah fine, we'll try to get to a cave to rest and plan out our next move at."

That managed to slightly calm Abraham down. "Oh hey, Starrk. I found this under the water."

He pulled out the Medallion of The Sun from his inventory and showed him it.

"What on earth…" Starrk looked stunned.

Abraham grinned slightly. "Any idea what it is?"

Starrk cleared his throat. "Those are medallions held by the highest class of citizens within Citadel Calor."

Solara and Abraham just exchanged confused glances.

"Oh you guys have no idea." Starrk sighed. "You see, in Calor, citizens are ranked at different levels. These levels go from one to ten. Citizens with a level one medallion are just generic normal citizens. Naturally, privileges rise with the level of your citizenship. People with level ten are usually upper class businessmen or high ranking officials in Solis' palace."

Abraham blinked. "So… she basically segregates her people?"Starrk's expression tightened slightly. "It's not segregation… its structure. Calor is meant to be a beacon of order in a world scarred by chaos. The class system is just a way to maintain stability."

Abraham raised a brow. "Are all citadels like this…?"

"Of course not. Each citadel has its own unique way of life which takes influence off of their malakh."

Solara crossed her arms. "What's it like in Noctis' citadel, uh whatever it's called?"

"Noctis has no class system." He paused. "There is no order in Citadel Escuro. The people live in a perpetual night, literally and metaphorically, just as we of Calor live in a perpetual day."

Abraham then suddenly asked. "What about when Anouk was alive…? What was life like in Schrade?"

Starrk suddenly paused. "I… do not know. But considering citadels take influence from their malakhs, it must have been a truly barbaric citadel with no order at all."

Abraham didn't really buy it. Why would he buy the propaganda of the biggest Solis glazer anyways.

Solara suddenly cut in. "Uh guys… I think that's a dust no, shard storm up on the left…"

'You've got to be kidding me.'

Starrk suddenly started glowing. "Alright guys… I've got an idea but it's a bit of a gamble."