Chapter 1: The Architect's Awakening
Cold sank into Elias Veylen's bones, sharp as a blade, a soul-deep ache beyond mere chill. He lay face-down on jagged stone, sea spray's metallic tang stinging his nose, decay's sour edge curling in the air. A gull's cry pierced the dusk, marking time's crawl, while fragmented memories roared: a PowerPoint's sterile glow, a supervisor's sneer, blueprints mocked as dreams. All that work, gone, he thought, heart pounding, hands shaky. His stained handkerchief, crumpled in his pocket, brushed his fingers, grounding him. The plaza stretched to a cliff's edge, its cracked stones pulsing with faint, glowing runes. Above, a skeletal city loomed, rusted iron and shattered stone tethered by rusted anchors, glinting in twilight's haze. A chipped bowl, abandoned on a rock, caught the fading light, its cracked edge a silent witness. Villagers' murmurs drifted from below, wary and hushed. This isn't Earth, Elias thought, despair clawing, but the runes' warmth hinted at possibility.
His worn tunic snagged on stone, shoulders aching as he pushed himself up. Runes throbbed like circuits, their heat a heartbeat under his touch. A schematic?This is my chance, he mused, heart steadying. A villager's cough broke the silence, a micro-conflict grounding the moment. The wind howled, salt stinging his face, as he traced a rune's curve, its glow a promise. My past is gone. My future… is whatever I make it. A child dropped a stick, its clatter a small jolt, easing his tension. The city above wasn't a ruin but a foundation, its anchors creaking in the breeze, whispering of ancient power.
"Well, look who woke up," a raven croaked, its obsidian feathers gleaming on a rusted anchor. Elias spun, heart lurching. "You're not a raven," he said, voice raw, stubble alien under his fingers. Who am I now?
"And you're not an architect anymore," the bird replied, its gravelly voice sarcastic. "The name's Corax. I'm your new best friend, your familiar, your guide, your witty-but-annoying companion on this little misadventure."
A high-pitched hum stabbed Elias's mind, words flashing like code. This can't be real, he thought, clutching his head, vision swimming. "What the hell is this? A system? A video game?"
[WELCOME, ARCHITECT ELIAS VEYLEN. DYNAMIC GUIDE SYSTEM (DGS) ACTIVATED. CORAX BOUND AS FAMILIAR. YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN WESTEROS. PROJECT 'AERIA' COMMENCES. SYSTEM PENDING. PLEASE COMPLETE INITIAL TASKS TO UNLOCK FULL FUNCTIONALITY.]
"Think of it as a cosmic contractor," Corax quipped, flapping to Elias's shoulder. "It's a set of tools to help you build that little utopia of yours. You know, the one they laughed you out of the city for." Memories stung: colleagues' smirks, his vertical city dismissed as fantasy. Here, it's right, Elias thought, kneeling to sketch on his handkerchief with a rock shard. The DGS hummed, a schematic flashing—plaza as foundation, city as potential.
[RESOURCE SCANNED: VALYRIAN RUNES. ARCHITECTURAL BLUEPRINTS UNLOCKED. POTENTIAL PROJECT: 'HEART OF AERIA' (CORE LIFT MECHANISM). SYSTEM PENDING.]
"See?" Corax said, ruffling feathers. "My contractor is your contractor. Don't let your earthly failures stop you from building something that'll put all their little castles to shame." Corax flew to the cliff's edge. "Speaking of futures, you'll need to look beyond this continent. There's a sunny island out there, full of secrets and… well, that's a story for another time." Maps later, Elias thought, ambition sparking as a villager spilled water from the chipped bowl, sparking a chuckle.
The cliff's descent was brutal, rocks crumbling, anchors creaking. Elias gripped woven-metal ropes, hands burning, boots slipping. Below, a village huddled, fear heavy as fog. Larra stepped forward, her tattered tunic ash-stained, shielding a boy. "Who are you? What do you want with the cursed city?"
"Elias Veylen, Architect of the Sky," he panted, offering a hand. "I'm not interested in curses. I'm here to build a safe place." Villagers whispered of sinking ships, cursed anchors. Corax cawed, "Curses? You should be more worried about your stomachs! You're skin and bones, the whole lot of you!" A laugh eased tension, a mini-payoff.
"Your words are big. Our village is small. My siblings need hope, not promises," Larra said, eyes narrowing.
"I'm not here to talk. I'm here to build," Elias replied, voice firm. "The plaza above is a defensible position, a place where no one can be found. And it's a place where you will be safe. I can offer a vision. You can offer your hands. We can build it together." She sees it, Elias thought, heart racing. Larra pointed to a seawall. "You're smart. That wall... it could hold back an army with some work."
[EMPATHY GAINED: LARRA'S TRUST. VILLAGERS' CAUTION EASED. PROJECT 'SAFE HAVEN' BEGINS. RECRUITMENT PROGRESS: 1/100.]
Never led before, Elias thought, shoulders easing. Sunset bled red, screams erupting. Bandits stormed from the forest, led by a scarred brute. "Look at this," the leader snarled, kicking a rusted anchor. "Thought we'd find ghosts, but all we got is this weirdo and a flock of rats."
"They're not rats," Elias said, heart hammering. Corax cawed, "You call yourselves bandits? My morning dump is scarier than you! You're not even a challenge, you're just… ratty."
[THREAT DETECTED: BANDITS (5). INITIATING ANOMALY SCAN.]
A red glow showed bandits' positions, some hiding to flank. "Larra, the rubble," Elias ordered. "Pile it here! Fast!" Larra rallied villagers, stones clattering. "You think a few rocks will stop us?" the leader roared, raising his rusty sword.
"My system says yes," Elias replied. "And so does the law of physics." Corax swooped, cawing, distracting them.
[BARRIER DEPLOYMENT: ACTIVATED.]
Rubble shifted, trapping bandits, one twisting an ankle, screaming. "The Freys'll hear about this!" the leader shrieked, fleeing. Freys, Elias thought, hands shaky, a hook to a larger threat. Villagers pledged loyalty, relief washing over them.
[RECRUITMENT PROGRESS: 11/100. STRENGTH GAINED: +10. SYSTEM LEVEL UP: 2. UNLOCKING NEW MODULES.]
"Your sky is mad," Larra said, smiling, hand on his shoulder. "But my siblings... and all of us... we need hope."
"Then we'll build it together," Elias replied, resolve firm. The Freys are watching, he thought, the rusted anchor creaking ominously, urging vigilance.
Love [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ]? Unlock More Chapters and Support the Story!
Dive deeper into the world of [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ] with exclusive access to 35+ chapters on my Patreon, plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $5/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [Grimm, Teen Wolf ,blacklist,Game Of Throne ,MCU and Arrowverse].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!