After the competition, Arix and Elena went straight to celebrate their win and had some of the most expensive wine in the tavern. Their celebration lasted a long time. It was already dark outside, so they went out of the tavern and started walking in no particular direction.

  They had no destination in mind either, they didn't plan to go home just yet. It was already past eleven, stars were shining and it was getting foggy all around. The signs of the first snow this year were already in the air.

  They were walking through the market where every shop was already closed. Everyone already went home and there was silence along the road, except for both of their voices of course.

  “Saline's Tavern has the best wine in the town.” Elena said, slurring her words. One hand rested on Arix's shoulder and the other hung loosely at her side. Arix held her hand on his shoulder, while the other one was around her waist to support her.

  “I Couldn’t argue with that.”Arix said while looking forward on the path.

  “Have you heard the rumour?" Elena said, her eyes closing and she was leaning more on Arix.

  “What rumor?” Arix replied. He looked sideways at her. Her face was glowing in the moonlight. Her long black hair was swaying in the air.

  Elena grew quiet as she became sleepy. Arix didn’t wake her up and let her rest her head on his shoulder as they both kept walking.

  “One day, I will definitely tell her.” Arix said to himself.

  As they were walking forward, Arix noticed that Tarin, Jace and Lyra were walking toward him. He never saw them all together and was surprised by it.

  As they moved closer Tarin spoke first “What are you two doing at this hour here?”

  “Just heading home now. What about you guys? I didn't know you three were close before.” Arix replied, He noticed Lyra was staring at Elena since they got here.

  “We are heading to Vaelor’s house, to ask about everything he knows about the mainland. So we can be prepared. Not that I’m afraid of some monsters or anything,” Jace said, his chin slightly raised.

  “Is she dead?” Lyra said. She was leaning toward Elena a little. Everyone looked at her and a long silence followed. Lyra looked at everyone one by one and said “It’s a joke guys” while smiling with her eyes closed.

  “Please don’t speak again.” Jace said after another long silence.

  “She drank a bit too much,” Arix replied, turning sideways to look at her. Elena was fast asleep by now.

  “Join us. You should know as much as you can before we depart.” Tarin said, looking at Arix.

  “You’re right. Let’s go,” Arix said. He lifted Elena onto his shoulders, and they all walked toward Vaelor’s house.

  “Please open the door sir.” Lyra shouted while banging on the door of Vaelor’s house. The area was quiet. Vaelor lived alone on a small mountain outside of the town.

  “I hope he isn't asleep—” Jace was about to finish when they heard the door creak.

  It opened and Vaelor was poking his head out the door with a lantern in his hand and said “What do you need?”

  “We want to talk to you sir.” Lyra said, her hands folded behind her back.

  “Come in.” Vaelor said and opened the door for them.They all entered his house, and noticed it only had one room. A small chair in one corner, a small wooden bed and a table in the middle of the room. Vaelor placed his lantern on the table and told everyone to sit.

  Arix lowered Elena from his shoulder and laid her on the bed, then sat with everyone else around the table.

  Vaelor was also sitting with them, he said “So what did you want to ask?”

  Lyra said “We want to know more about the mainland.”

  Tarin added “What type of things did you witness there? We want to leave as prepared as we can.”

  “And is the rumour true? Did you see some creature that can fly?” Jace asked, leaning forward on the table toward Vaelor who was sitting in front of him.

  “What do you mean creatures that can fly? You mean flying through the air?” Arix asked Jace.

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  “Yes. I overheard people talking in the market the other day. They were talking about some creatures that can fly.” Jace said, turning his eyes to Arix.

  Vaelor, staring at Jace, replied “Yes, he is telling the truth. There are only humans on our Island. But on the mainland, there are many other creatures like — birds that can fly. and animals like cows that give a liquid called milk, which we drink. There are also many smaller creatures that we ate during our expedition.” He turned his eyes to the lantern that sat in the middle of the table.

  “Creatures that you ate? Ew, that’s gross.” Lyra said while her eyes narrowed in disgust and her nose wrinkled.

  “Yes, to survive, you have to eat other creatures. It was common in the mainland. We even saw creatures eating other creatures there as well.” Vaelor replied, his jaw tightened and his fingers curled.

  Arix looked at Tarin and Jace, Tarin had no reaction and Jace looked like he was excited to eat something like this. Arix turned to Vaelor and said “Are you serious, or are you just making these up?”

  “Why will I make this up?” Vaelor looked at Arix and said this with a loud voice. He paused for a while and said again but this time in a low voice “These all are harmless creatures but not every creature was like these. I also saw creatures which were about twice our height, who enjoyed eating us humans.”

  Everyone fell silent and looked at each other. Lyra swallowed hard and asked, “Enjoyed eating humans?”

  “Yes. I saw my group member die in front of my eyes.” Vaelor said, looking at the flames of the lantern as his eyes widened.

  “So how are we supposed to kill them?” Tarin asked Vaelor. His hands were folded and he was looking straight at Vaelor.

  Vaelor stayed silent. Jace closed his eyes and folded his arm and said smiling “Don’t worry Tarin, I will save you from these monsters.”

  Tarin looked sideways at Jace and said “But who will save you from me”

  “Don’t try to kill them, If you see someone like this, just run. You cannot win.” Vaelor said, interrupting them both.

  The door creaked open as a strong wind pushed it. It caught everyone’s attention, but only for a moment.

  Arix said looking at Vaelor, who was still looking at the flames “What do you mean just run. We are not going to run away. Who do you think we are? Some cowards?” Everyone turned to Vaelor.

  “No, there is a way to kill them. Most of the monsters can die with your normal weapon if you strike hard enough. But for some—” Vaelor paused and looked at Arix and continued “There is a weapon on the peak of a mountain called Everfrost. It is covered with snow all year. You can claim that weapon but there are consequences.”

  “What consequences?” Tarin asked immediately.

  “If that weapon accepts you as its master, then you can never leave it behind or be separated from it. If you do, you will die.” Vaelor said in a serious tone.

  A cold shiver ran down Lyra’s spine. She shook her head and said, “So If we drop that weapon somewhere, then we will die?”

  “Not we, you.” Vaelor turned toward Lyra, his eyes widened as he leaned slightly closer. He continued, “there can only be one master. That is the most powerful weapon that we got during our travels.”

  “But if you used that weapon how are you still alive?” Arix asked.

  “I didn't use it. Clara did. She was a member of our group. She died on the peak of Everfrost and dropped the weapon there. We didn’t pick it up again as we were trying to leave the mainland.” Vaelor answered Arix, again staring at the flames.

  There was a brief silence in the room. They can hear the wind blowing outside his room.

  “I think a storm is coming tonight.” Jace said while standing up from the table.

  “Yes, let’s go,” Arix said, standing up. He went to the bed to lift Elena onto his shoulder again.

  “No, Mother, I can't eat any more,” Elena whispered as Arix picked her up. Arix didn’t say anything and lifted her.

  Tarin was still sitting there with his eyes closed and arms folded. He said to Vaelor “So why did you leave the mainland?”

  Vaelor looked at Tarin and said in a low voice “the horror that awaits on the mainland will make even you want to run away.”

  Tarin was staring at Vaelor when Jace grabbed his hand and said “Come on, let’s go.”

  Tarin stood up, and they all stepped outside his house. “Thank you for your time, Vaelor, sir.” Lyra said while closing the door behind her.

  The wind was blowing hard. Arix could feel raindrops hitting his hands and face. “Let’s move fast, a storm is coming tonight.We don’t want to get soaked and get sick. We have to leave in two days.” Arix said, starting to walk a little faster than others

  Everyone was silent on their way home. Arix reached his home with Elena on his back. His mother was already asleep.

  Loud thunder roared in the sky as the rain began to fall on the ground. Arix went upstairs with Elena and laid her on the bed.

  He then leaned against the window and looked outside for a while. He could only hear the sound of rain and waves.

  After a while he went downstairs and fell asleep beside his mother.

  Two days later, at the island’s dock, it was finally time to depart. Arix, Elena, Tarin, Jace and Lyra were all ready to leave the Island and find a new home.

  Everyone from the Island gathered there except for Rowan. Neither he nor his father was anywhere to be seen.

  Arix’s mother was also there. Arix was standing beside her to say goodbye.

  “Eat on time and make sure you run as soon as you see any mons—” Arix interrupted her and said in a calm and gentle voice “yes yes mother. I will be safe, don't worry.”

  His mother smiled softly and held his face in both hands. She pulled him closer and gave a kiss on his forehead. “Be safe, my child. Come back as soon as possible.”

  “I will, mother.” Arix replied while smiling.

  “Let’s go, Arix.” Elena shouted, everyone was getting on the boat. Arix said “Okay, bye, Mom.” and ran toward Elena. They both got onto the boat and started paddling to get away from the harbor.

  It was a small wooden boat. It was enough to fit five people but not more than that. Everyone waved to the boat as it moved further from the Island. Arix was looking at his mother who was standing at the front, waving. He waved back to her then turned around and began paddling.

  Dark steampunk fantasy

  The world of Rohana exists beneath a barrier of luminous crosses that has enclosed humanity in a dome. Within it, people bow to Rohai and his Church of Harmony, who have divided the world into city dwellers who harness crystal technology and villagers who reject it.

  Haran Baratti fled his homeland with his infant son, Heron, and found refuge in a remote village in a neighboring country. But the sanctuary they seek does not last, and events revolving around Haran's past leave Heron alone, forcing him to return to his father's homeland. But to get there, he can only do it by obtaining a special passport, which will allow him to travel to different kingdoms.

  Having been raised in a different culture, Heron will have to navigate a world of mechanical cities powered by crystalline powers and governed by various social structures. There he'll meet allies and face dangerous foes. And those whom he encounters have secrets; some of them, if revealed to the public, may reshape the very foundations of the Rohana Federation. Will Heron, in learning those secrets, realize that maybe some of those secrets should have stayed buried?

  What to expect:

  ? Dark steampunk-inspired power fantasy with extensive world-building

  ? Magic systems where power comes at a psychological cost

  ? Visceral, well-choreographed combat sequences

  ? Mysteries that unfold across multiple volumes

  ? Steampunk aesthetics merged with elemental magic

  ? Stories where the actors are often found in morally grey areas