The Great Plateau, once a stable region of this realm. Now ruin came knocking on the door to the capital. Graven keep, left in the ashes of bone and stone.
Its former ruler, Aureth, the man who kept humanity in check. Overthrown and banished into the icy regions of the North. The people who remained to use the power they acquired, tore each other like dogs for control. Yet they couldn't do what a single man did: rule. Now the lands have no king, no order and no hope.
Years pass in the blink of an eye, people grow older, and so does Eve.
Standing at a modest height, her blue eyes piercing as ever, and her face filled with scars. Her once golden hair, now short, dyed, with dried blood at the ends, bandages wrapped tightly with blood cover her forearm and even her hands. She wore a black hood to conceal her identity. Beneath it, a brown chest piece reinforced with straps and buttons to hold it all in place. Her pants and boots, dulled, black and heavy. Mud sticking to her shoes like a vice. Her pants crumpled and dirty. Underneath it, Nightfall strapped to her back, the pummel poking out of the hood. Whispers can be quietly heard from her back.
She has been wandering for quite a while now. God knows for how long. Going from place to place, causing mayhem and destruction that she doesn't want. People are searching for her to claim her head to turn it in for the bounty. Because right now, she is the most wanted person in the region. "Eve, the cursed child"
On this day, June 26th. It's her birthday, she is turning 20. But she doesn't celebrate it; she hasn't had a birthday party since the passing of her mother. But that's okay, she doesn't even want to have one. She is alone: hungry, thirsty and tired.
What use is throwing a birthday party when you are on death's door? Even if she did throw one, who would've come? It's not like she has any friends. Only the ominous sword. And she doesn't think a party hat would suit it. It would probably blow the hat clean off, somehow. But it's no use to contemplate what a sword with a hat would look like. She needed to eat, now. Her stomach has been growling for a good minute. And as luck would have it, she just shook a guy of all his money a while back. Just eating would suffice for her birthday. Maybe she would even get something to drink. The possibilities are endless.
Right now, she is making her way through the streets of Scholar's Rest. The most advanced city on this planet. Scholar's working day and night to provide the world with new magic and scientific breakthroughs.
Towers of brass protrude from the ground, hundreds of feet in the air. At the end of the beams, domes of glass blacken the sky. Those are the city's main research labs. The scholars make they're way to the top using a special construction at the base. They utilize air magic to get from the ground to the dome. Its streets are filled with lamps that use fire magic to brighten the houses and roads.
The city's position is in between Graven Keep to the East. The Grand Colosseum to the West and Eclora to the South. Eve's former village, she goes there from time to time. Not doing anything particular, just watching the rotten house and leaving.
Her pace quickens
"Damn, I hate this place. Every time I come here, it feels like the streets have changed"
The sword begins to whisper.
"Oh, shut up. I'm sick of you. Always nagging me: kill him, kill her. Is death all you think about? Can't you see I'm suffering here? Ugh, just my damn luck, I'm starving and I can't find that damn inn. Where the hell is it?"
Street after street, yet no sight of the pub. Then, finally, the inn appears. Or rather, it was always there, just being rebuilt.
"That's why I couldn't find it. What a joke, the inn didn't need anything new added to it. Now it looks like a big heap of metal and wood."
She pulls four gold coins out of her hood and begins to make her way inside.
This should be enough. Hmm, what should I get? Chicken with potatoes and some wine? No, then I won't have enough for the next meal. Guess a beef stew will suffice. She thinks to herself while taking a seat.
The waitress comes and goes. Arriving fifteen minutes later with a hot, steamy bowl of stew
I always hate eating with the hood on, but what can I do? Just eat and complain.
The first bite is like heaven, not because the stew is amazing. No, quite from it, this place is renowned for its awful stew. It's only because anything tastes good when you lack basic culinary knowledge. And eat just to appease your hunger. She finishes her bowl in a matter of minutes.
Should I leave without paying? But where else can I get such cheap food? What a bummer.
With a reluctant sigh, she gets upfrom her table to pay her bill. Once she is finished, she makes her way out of the inn. She pushes the swinging door of the inn wide open and bumps headfirst into a taller man.
"Watch where you are going, asshole!" and at the same time. Her hood falls off.
"What-"
The man leans in close to her face.
"Hello there, cursed child of god."
Eve's eyes widen in shock as she prepares to draw her sword.
"I was searching for you. Not to claim your bounty, it's of no use to me. I have another purpose," He grins from one ear to another.