The explosion tore through the air, a deafening roar that rattled throughout the city. The Smoke and ash swirled around Eryndor. Ash and cinders rained down from the sky, clinging to his hair and skin. Eryndor checked his surroundings, the most noticeable thing being the blood-soaked cobblestone.
His ears rang, drowning out the blood-curdling screams around him. For a moment, all that could be heard was that slight humming noise. What's going on? What is that noise? He looked around, eventually looking at his arm, seeing it glow faintly, barely distinguishing it from the city lights.
"ERYNDOR!"
The voice cutting through sounded sharp and familiar. "Riven?" Eryndor looks up, looking dizzy
A pair of hands gripped his shoulders, helping Eryndor get up. "WE NEED TO MOVE!" his voice lit with urgency. "FOLLOW ME— DON'T LOOK BACK!"
The ever peaceful plaza that contained the station, once alive with shouting merchants, the chattering of families, and the smell of food carts, was now beyond recognition. Shards of glass were spread across the ground, mixing in with the crimson blood.
As for the people, some stood in shock, some screamed for loved ones, and others ran in amidst the chaos.
Eryndor looked side to side, seeing the dire situation of it all. A woman clawed at the rubble with bloodied nails, sobbing, saying what seemed like a name he couldn't hear.
While distracted, Eryndor collided with a child coated in soot. Instinctively, he reached out a hand—the boy reached back—but the press of the crowd shoved him forward, tearing the moment away. He couldn't stop. And he didn't stop. When he looked back, the child was already gone, swallowed by the chaos. Eryndor's chest clenched, the boy's expression burning into his mind with every step he took.
"DONT YOU DARE STOP ERYNDOR, YOU STOP NOW AND YOU'LL NEVER GET UP TO DO SO AGAIN!" Riven shouted.
So he ran, he ran past the dead, past the helpless. He ran till it felt like his heart would beat out of his chest, and his legs would begin to fall off.
"TURN LEFT HERE!" Riven screamed, never stopping or hesitating.
They pulled it off now!? But why!? Riven pondered.
The hunk of metal that rolled its way into the city hours ago is now beyond recognition. As they both turned the corner, Eryndor caught a glimpse of the burning train, or what was left of it.
Holy shit, they blew it sky high! All that armor and metal gone just like that!?
Riven also glanced at the train, his eyes narrowing.
So they really did it…
As they continued to run, the rustic speakers of the city screeched and crackled; the speakers that were posted around the city had come to life.
The people continued to run, some stopping, and some still screamed and sobbed in the pain inflicted on them.
A distorted voice began to speak through the speakers, their voice dark and serious.
"People of the commonwealth… you've seen the cost of silence. The way the nobles and guards treat you like you're nothing."
"That is unacceptable…"
"They keep you weak and feed you lies…"
"lies about safety, and lies about monsters"
"But I begged to differ, it's high time they begin to taste the suffering they've inflicted upon us for the countless years now…"
"We are the cinder dominion, and we will liberate this wretched world." The voice says, booming through the speakers.
The speakers crackle again, and this time they fall quiet, leaving the city in an eerie silence for just a moment.
The loud crowd, which was once in a panic, was now silent; the smoke and ash still drifted through the streets, settling onto the rubble and the citizens. Some looked towards the train ruins, still in disbelief; the mangled carriages' smoke rose in the air, its metal now like molten wax.
Riven's arm grips Eryndor's shoulder.
"Stay close, I have a feeling this isn't over yet," Rven eyes narrow, his voice sounding cold.
Eryndor nods, "Yeah, after an entrance like that, I would assume they would want something else rather than establishing themselves." He says, his heart still hammering.
The calm after the broadcast was more terrifying than the explosion itself. People began to cry, shout, and look for safety, while others looked for revenge…
"We should get going, there's a hideout I know not very far from here," Riven says, letting go of Eryndor's shoulder. He begins to move to a dark alley.
"Right," Eryndor follows Riven.
Out of the corner of Riven's eye, he sees shadows moving towards where the train was. Their movements were too precise, too quick, knowing all too well what that meant…
"The dominion is in the area," Riven remarked while turning to face Eryndor. Unslinging his makeshift harpoon.
"How do you know that?" Eryndor says, while looking towards the dead end.
"I saw them heading towards the train."
Eryndor glanced around his area, looking at every corner of the alley.
Eryndor scanned the alley as well, uneasy. If he saw them and he didn't, he must've noticed something subtle… he couldn't have missed it otherwise.
Eryndor's arm hummed again, glowing in the dark alley.
"Hey, what's going on with that arm of yours?" Riven asked before he turned to look at the decaying wall.
"I'm not s-sure myself," Eryndor said back.
Was that a person's shadow I saw earlier? It's not unlikely considering the situation. Riven takes glances at the surrounding building, sensing someone around.
Oo! Oo! I know why it's like that! A girl in a white cloak says, Standing at the entrance of the alley.
I guess it was…
-Break-
They both froze for a moment, turning to face the girl in a cloak.
I was sure we weren't being followed… beforehand, so just who is this girl?
Riven wields his makeshift harpoon, pointing it at the girl.
"Who are you?" Riven says, narrowing his eyes.
"Calm down, Riven, she's not a threat."
"You're way too naive, it amazes me."
The girl stands there, her presence contrasting with the dark smoke-streaked alley, but her eyes remain sharp and calculating.
"Not a threat, my ass," Riven says sarcastically, "she clearly had been following us for a while now."
"My, my, so you really are perceptive, Riven. I guess the rumors were true."
" You know her, Riven?" Eryndor looks at Riven for a moment.
"Not a clue in the world, although I recognize the cloak. She's part of the Dominion."
"The dominion, seriously!?"
"Hey, You… You said that you knew something about my arm, right? Well, what is it?" Eryndor says, pleading for an answer. His voice was barely audible over the crackles of fires and wails in the distance.
She tilts her head slightly, the hood of her cloak shifting, revealing a streak of ash-white hair. "That's not just any arm you know. If you haven't realized it yet, it has a special ash-core inside it which helps control the powers of any cores the user touches with it. It's a miracle that you never used it."
Riven steps in front of Eryndor. "Who are you and what do you want?" Riven expressed angrily.
"Isn't it obvious, I want none other than the kid!"
So, this arm is special? There's no way… Eryndor looks to his arm, raising it to his face in shock.
"Didn't you feel it jump when that train went ka-blam!" The girl laughed, "That was it reacting to the overwhelming force from all those core energies in the air after the blast."
The girl stepped closer, her cloak brushing against the alley walls.
"Not a step closer, or I'll shoot," his finger gripping the trigger tightly.
The girl drops her hood, looking to Riven, who shares a glance at her. "I want to help, but to do that… well, you'll need to join the Dominion!
"Like hell we will."
Eryndor grips Riven's shoulder. Riven turns his head slightly to listen to Eryndor.
"Hold on, Riven, this might not be a bad idea. They aspire to change the smolder, and so do I. On top of that, it might help me remember my past and what's become of me."
"We can't trust them, especially not after what they did today," Riven turns to look at the girl who is clearing the ash off her cloak.
"If I were you two, I would hurry up and make your choice. Some nasty fellows are about to pass by here. "
Eryndor steps back, letting go of Riven's shoulder. Riven lowers his weapon, "Fine, we'll go along with you, but only on our own terms."
"Glad it all worked out! She said with a teasing smile, "Oh! And before I forget to mention, the name's Liora, your brand new guide, but don't get too comfortable. This tour is only getting started!"