The morning bells of Solis rang like golden thunder, shaking the fog from the floating city's edges. Aren Kai tightened her satchel and pushed into the crowded bridgeway, dodging merchants, sky-riders, and steam carts that hissed as they passed.
Being a courier in Solis meant two things:
You ran fast. And you didn't ask questions.
Aren was good at both.
The wind tugged at her jacket as she leapt over a loose plank, boots thudding on the wooden bridge suspended high above the clouds. The whole city floated on massive anchors of ancient metal — metal no one knew how to repair anymore. But Aren never thought too hard about that, either.
Her first delivery of the day was supposed to be simple. A sealed black case. No address. Just instructions:
"Deliver at sunrise. Give to no one else."
Aren reached the meeting point — a narrow balcony overlooking the endless blue clouds below — but no one was there. Only the bells, ringing louder now. The sun crept across the sky, painting the rails gold.
Then she heard it.
A whisper.
Faint. Breathless.
"Aren…"
She froze.
No one knew her name out here.
The case vibrated lightly against her palm. She glanced at it. The metal seams pulsed with a dim, shifting light — like something inside was moving.
"Aren…"
The whisper came again.
She took one step back.
In that same moment, a shadow fell across the balcony. A tall man in an obsidian cloak appeared at the far end, mask gleaming like polished bone.
"Courier Kai," he said. "Give me the case."
His voice was calm, too calm.
Aren tightened her grip.
"You're not my client."
"You won't have another chance," he said, stepping closer.
The case pulsed again, harder.
The wind howled. The bells roared. The masked man reached for her.
Aren did the one thing she was best at.
She ran.