A knock was heard on the door of Lady Pristil’s residence. It was soft; not that of a Guardsman’s. Visitors were uncommon, but she had no fear in opening it to see just who had managed to make their way past the legions of trained guards that stood before her humble home.

  A diminutive messenger was on the other side, his hat in his hands as he stood trembling between two armed men, their pikes at the ready.

  “Yes?” she greeted him. “What brings you all the way down here?”

  “Lady Pristil? Tethis Pristil? My goodness… My apologies, ma’am. I wasn’t sure that you actually existed. I only heard about you this very day.”

  “What is it, messenger?”

  “Lady Pristil… I bring news. This happened just hours ago, and I was sent straight to you by order of Senator Luna. Thus far, I believe that she and I are the only two people who know of the news I am about to share… Pristil, forgive me, I don’t know how this will come to you, but your uncle… He seems to have died. We’re unsure of the circumstances, but he was at the old citadel in the Red Caspianti sea citadel when it collapsed, and we have been unable to locate him since.”

  “I see.”

  “Lady Pristil… Is it true that Lontonkon had a half-sister? And that you’re her…”

  “Yes. It is. Tell me, messenger, have you come here to tell me that I am to take the throne?”

  “Y-yes… Luna seemed insistent that you take it before a regent is appointed and the process may become… ‘muddied,’ as she put it.”

  A guard prodded him, “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

  “I have an official statement from Ms. Luna herself. And surely you have the means to confirm the king’s death from down here.”

  “What he says is likely true,” Pristil replied. “If my uncle is truly dead… then Aurra has just been made a better place. We must have Flentek assure the senate that my uncle has no other heirs. I am not unready to take the throne, but it may be sometime before I reveal myself to the public.”

  “Yes, understandable, given the… current circumstances. Ms. Luna already had your family line triple checked before sending me down here.”

  “You are dismissed, messenger.”

  “Very well, my lady.”

  With that, the messenger bowed his head and departed the cavernous chamber that held Pristil’s house.

  “Guards, call an assembly of all available City A personnel and officers in the grand under chamber. We have no time to waste in adjusting Aurra to this sudden change. I will speak with them in three hours.”

  “Right away, Lady Pristil,” both guards replied and headed off.

  Tethis Pristil went to her bedroom, breathed, and absorbed the facts she had just learned. She looked over at her dresser, to the picture of her mother, who Lontonkon had killed when Tethis was just a child.

  She would likely never know whether or not her vile uncle had knowledge of her existence, but now, it hardly mattered. She had to take control of Aurra before news of its former ruler’s death reached the public. So few knew of Pristil that if another were elected before she could take the throne, she might not even have the power to contest it.

  An hour later, there was another knock. She had a good idea of just who was visiting her this time, and she simply called for them to enter. In came the lively, youthful Irietté Stolpin, a friend and personal advisor.

  “Lady Pristil!” she called out with a stutter in her voice. “Tethis, where are you?”

  Pristil stepped back out into her living area, now dressed as a proper Aurrian queen. Upon seeing her in the elegant silver gown for the first time, Irietté adjusted her glasses and nearly winced at the sight. They had known each other since they were children, and this was the first time her friend looked the part of royalty.

  “Tethis… You must already know…”

  “A messenger dropped by an hour ago,” Pristil sighed. “Where have you been?”

  “I was in a senate session. Flentek really seemed on edge all throughout. It’s true that Lontonkon rarely attended meetings recently, but something was different about today… And then rumors began circulating, right in the middle of the session, and then the entire thing was adjourned. Everyone scuttled for the exit after that. By now, City A might be in the midst of early panic. Do you think we’re safe for the time being?”

  “We’re two miles under the City in the most secured compound of all Aurra. I do believe safety is of no concern, Irietté. But if we don’t act quickly, my position could be usurped—and that would be the least of our troubles. Aurra certainly does not need further instability right now.”

  “Of course, I would guess that there are many people who won’t be thrilled to know that someone who shares Lontonkon’s blood is…”

  “His name should be stricken from the records if it were possible. I’m not my uncle. I will never do a fraction of the things he did.”

  “Of course not.”

  “I’ve called for an emergency meeting that will convene in two hours. We’ve got a speech to write, Irietté. I could certainly use your help.”

  “As your advisor and friend, I’ll be glad to assist you.”

  “Advisor and friend… Up until now, you’ve really only been one of those things. But you’re far more qualified than I am to become Aurra’s ruler. You’ve been out there, you know people. These blood traditions…”

  “I think you’ll do a fine job. I’ll be at your side the entire time.”

  “But you’re an ancient. You’ve traced your past lives back to the seventh generation. You’ve worked with over a dozen Aurrian rulers. How could I possibly live up to your expectations?”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I always set the bar low for politicians, Tethis. You might find it easy to impress me.”

  “Yes, yes…” Pristil laughed flatly. “But take my first speech to the public, for example. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Well, I’m here now, and we’ve got two hours. You don’t need to tell them much. Just let them know who you are and do your best to assure them of your leadership, especially in these times.”

  “But there are so many problems to address… The dimensional sealing, the increase in haze and loss of sunlight. The rebellion…”

  “People aren’t expecting solutions on your first day.”

  “Speaking of the rebellion… Is it true… Is it true that Milla Nolland is part of it?”

  “We know she’s connected. How involved is still an unknown at this point—although, word is that she was on the island with the king…”

  “Does that… pain you?”

  “Queen Seriph was a friend. I was honored to work with her during her short reign. And if her personality hasn’t changed all that much, then I believe that she still believes she’s doing what is right for Aurra.”

  “I know almost nothing of this rebellion. I know of the destruction that they’ve caused, the harm that they’ve done to Aurra, but…”

  “If I could make a recommendation? You should not paint the rebels as evil, or misguided as Lontonkon did. While many disagree with what they have done, most can associate at least partly with their motives.”

  “Yes, and with Rivia leading the movement… He’s a public hero, isn’t he? He will make them more difficult to combat. I can and will change Aurra, but we cannot allow them to lead the way. It is too dangerous.”

  “We need your unifying but single voice.”

  “Can we both sympathize with the rebels, yet do what we can to end their movement? Many Aurrians will die in the coming years. It is too easy in Aurra to lose a single City and have millions killed overnight.”

  “Consider that a case you can make against the movement. We need the public’s support more than ever. It can’t sway to the other side.”

  Pristil sat down at her desk, where a pen and paper were waiting. Being in isolation with only minimal updates on the world above, she had many more questions to ask as she started on her speech.

  “What have you heard from the pretorians?”

  “There are only two left, with Sir Viveri having disappeared. And to my knowledge, we have yet to hear from Drides or Trinqit. This is… suspicious. They haven’t even contacted the capital with news of what happened. If they were loyal to Lontonkon, or if Drides is simply using the opportunity, the pretorians may split from Aurrian royalty.”

  “Then Drides should be found and brought in for questioning.”

  “He is very dangerous. No one has ever dared such a thing; to act against the lead pretorian. But many of us consider him a rogue, and have always disagreed with the king’s appointment of him.”

  “Do you think he knows about me?”

  “It’s certainly possible. But he wouldn’t have learned of you from the king, who we know never had any knowledge of you.”

  “So there’s a chance that even the Guard itself could split in two, if there are enough people out of power that would follow Drides instead.”

  “I’m… I’m afraid that’s a possibility, yes.”

  “And the Administration… As you know, I am more in touch with them than I am the rest of Aurra, given that I’ve been living down here since I was born. And from what I’ve heard, they’ve decided not to touch the suppression machinery. They’re leaving it encased in rock.”

  “Why? Why would they do that? They could give our politicians and our officers back their providence. The war would end. The assassination attempts would stop. Stability could return, and—”

  “I realize all of this, but no one hunts down Administrative staff. There is no fighting down here. And they are disconnected from the surface world. They know that the war will end eventually, and that things will return to normal. They don’t fear the war, because they know that at least it’s all taking place under a set of laws that still exist… That they enforce.”

  “What are you saying, Tethis?”

  Pristil turned in her chair and spoke bluntly, “They fear that they may have dissidents of their own. It is a time of rebellion, Irietté, and now the Administration can’t even see itself as safe.”

  “But… they’ve always had the vestige of stability, no matter how dramatic things may get up here on the surface. Why would that change?”

  “They’re keeping the suppression chamber sealed off for fear of greater damage; that one of their own could get inside and reverse or change even more laws. If you think about it, the loss of providence might be a conduit for war, but at least it’s natural. The Guard is fighting for its life for the first time in history, and this will only make them more human.”

  “Are you saying that the loss of providence is a… good thing?”

  “I’m only saying that we should be grateful that the damage wasn’t worse, and that we can and should make the best of this moment in Aurra’s story. This is a chance to humanize the Guard; to bring them to the level of the rest of the people. They no longer have divine protection or are above the masses. Now they are just people. Suddenly, many more can emphasize with them. So while the loss of providence can give way to war, we can use it to our own end, as well, by using it to win back the public. Understand?”

  “Y-yes… of course.”

  “And the Administration may also agree with that view. But no matter what happens, they will no doubt just sit back and watch, as usual.”

  “It sounds like we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

  “Indeed. That is what everyone needs to be told.”

  “Then I suppose that we should make a… refined, bolder speech than what is typically heard in this world.”

  Pristil stopped writing and looked down at her wrists, her skin fair but pale. “Immediately after I speak, I want to undergo the operation for my third stone. I don’t want to wait to receive my level four privileges.”

  “Of course. It’s just… I don’t believe there is a precident of a ruler having one stone in both hands. That’s a rare enough configuration, and delicate. I’m not sure where a third stone would go, to maintain balance.”

  “I’ve given thought to it, and I believe I have a solution.” Pristil turned in her chair and placed her hand on her upper sternum, where her collar bones met. “Please schedule an operation, a few hours from now.”

  “I’ll make sure that the best people perform the operation.”

  “Irietté… thank you. I am humbled to have you at my side through these times. I only ask one thing of you.”

  “Yes?”

  “I am a lonely person, having spent this life in isolation, so I’d like you to be my friend before my advisor.”

  “I have been up this point, and that will not change.”

  “Thank you. Now… help me find the right words. You always did have a thesaurus in your head,” Pristil asked with a smile.

  A curious crowd of hundreds waited with hushed murmurs inside the gray meeting chamber within a place few of them had ever been. Above them, Pristil and Irietté emerged from a modest house built for nobility, that just happened to exist in a large domed cavern, its front and back yards little more than cold bedrock and security fencing

  This had been Pristil’s home for all twenty-six of her years in this lifetime, and most had been spent alone. She had never known her father, and her mother disappeared when she was only five. She would likely never know just how or where her mother died, but the answer wouldn’t change her feelings toward her. Her mother was all she had in that small house, and after she was gone, Pristil had felt lost—up until just a few hours ago.

  For two decades, she followed her uncle as closely as possible, and vowed to never repeat the things he had done. Her challenge now was to convince the public that she loathed him just as much as many of them did, but there was one thing of his that she did possess: a strong determination.

  With her friend on one side and her large, loyal bodyguard Cadius on the other, Pristil stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the chamber. Everyone became silent and looked up. Aside from Irietté, Cadius, and some of the guards, no one here had even seen her before.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Pristil began. “I am sure that most of you have heard the whispers circulating the City. I will confirm the rumors. Ruthers Lontonkon, my uncle, died nearly six hours ago.”

  The audience broke out into a new flurry of heated murmurs.

  “We are still trying to learn the details, but it is believed his death may have something to do with experiments he was performing with the demon from C that you may have heard about recently, among other stories… Such as the deaths of several pretorians, the destruction of an entire Guard battalion sent to I, the return of an ancient City where I stood, the reasons for our sun’s decline and the dimensional changes, conspiracies involving the suppression signal, and many more. I understand how this is a time of fear for many of you. Aurra has become a hostile place over the past few months, and you want answers. And I’m afraid that I can’t provide you with many. Not yet. What I can do is assure you that hence forth, we will work together to discover the truth of these occurrences and to correct all of the damage that has been done to our world.

  “My name is Tethis Pristil. I am next in line to the throne. My mother, Zandri Pristil, was Lontonkon’s half-sister, whose existence was kept a secret throughout her life. My own was kept an even greater one.”

  At this revelation, many in the crowd gave into outbursts of doubt and shock, some asking that the council set up investigatory commissions before things proceeded further. Pristil simply waited for calm to return.

  After several minutes, she was able to continue, “I can’t share too much today, given that the circumstances call for careful action on my ascension to the throne. I wish to join the rest of you in the capital, but I am forced to walk this path one step at a time. That said, I am ready to lead, and my reign begins today. I’ll discuss the first orders of the new rulership shortly. We live in difficult times, and there is work to be done. I can help you, but we cannot stop the rebellion and restore Aurra if we cannot unify ourselves and come to a common agreement and understanding.

  “I know many of you are fearful of the rebellion. Many of you are surprised by its size and force, that it seems to have risen from the ground overnight. We will work to end the rebellion, but preventing the change they seek is not inclusive to that goal. Aurra does need reformation, and the days of old need to be washed away if we are to adapt and survive. That said… I feel that this war will cause great collateral damage before then.

  “It may sound like only gloomy days are ahead, but you will come to know me as someone who prefers the truth over na?ve optimism. I am also fierce. I’ll never back down to this newfound aggression. I believe we can find a common ground with the rebellion, but at the same time, we will not negotiate with its leaders so long as they continue their current actions.

  “No matter how long it may last, or how bad it may get, Aurra will eventually awaken to a new dawn, and happiness, peace, and mutual respect will return to us. I ask that you all listen and work with me over the coming years, and most importantly, never, for a single moment, lose your sense of humanity. Aurrians can never lose this. Every last one of us, no matter what side we choose, is in this together. We all suffer and we all love our world.

  “With that, I must prepare for the surface. Over the next months, I hope to become closer to you, and that we can work together to find the first glint of light in dark times. I will now ask Chancellor Flentek to join me so that we can discuss the first tasks that I need all of you to attend to.”

  The crowd finished the speech with a rather somber applause. The lead voice of the senate, the elderly and respected Mr. Flentek, stepped up to the side of the balcony and addressed the crowd by first stating how excited he was to work with Pristil on forging a new beginning for Aurra.

  But she had difficulty believing in even the small amount of hope for the future that she had injected into her speech. With a heavy sigh, she looked down at the faces of the officers and senators below while Flentek explained to them the things that had to be done over the course of a year.

  “So… our work begins,” Pristil whispered to Irietté.

  “The Aurrian War… I expected it in another century or so.”

  “I’m also surprised that it’s finally happening.”

  “Inevitability is such a depressing notion, isn’t it?”

  “Do you think we’ll survive the coming years? There’s no precedent for any of the recent events, you realize.”

  “Aurra will survive, if not become recognizable.”

  “I wish my mother were here…”

  “So that she’d be up here instead of you?”

  “No. Just so that there’d be someone here to comfort me.”

  “Are you scared, Tethis? Don’t be ashamed. I think we all are.”

  Pristil said nothing else as she listened to Flentek speak and watched the reactions below. It looked like this was the first time the reality of an Aurrian conflict was truly sinking into the minds her inhabitants.

  On one side of the world, Garder was fighting alongside people that he had just met, not knowing how many friends would see the war to its end, and unsure if he’d even see Milla or the others again. On the other side, Milla had the same thoughts in a meeting with her father and those of Eden’s Burrow’s small circle of leaders. Between them were Pristil and the people that would decide just how the upcoming time would pass.

  “She sure gives speeches a lot like his,” Drides said to his contact in the branch of Aurrian royalty. “What do you think? What changes?”

  Irietté stepped out of the shadows of the hallway leading to the balcony, Flentek’s speech echoing down the long corridor.

  “William…” She looked into his one uncovered eye as he leaned against the side, his arms crossed. “I’ll keep her under control, bend her to your will if I must. I still consider her a friend, but for you…”

  “Easy, Irietté. You know my heart’s still with someone else,” he said, his hand tight on the ticking pocket watch hidden in his robe.

  “Oh, but I have a different kind of admiration for you. In all of my years, on and off, serving Escellé… I never witnessed a miracle, until the day a soul was cleaved in two. And then what you did, fifteen years later…”

  “Yes, but you can’t even go to that kingdom now, so I’ve been thinking. What good are you to me now, exactly? What can you offer?”

  “I will be useful. You can use Pristil through me. I can still…”

  Drides smiled, barely, and handed her a stuffed folder. “You don’t need to be afraid of me. I should go, before someone sees us together.”

  “What… what should I do for now? When will you come back?”

  “When the time is right,” he said before he disappeared into the dark air. “Good luck with your war effort, but don’t expect much direct help from me. I’ll be busy setting up the pieces for the next step.”

  Irietté was then alone, with a folder full of maps, tactics, equipment and machine orders, and pretorian recruitment research papers. She wasn’t sure if they were a recipe for a mutual victory, or an arranged defeat.

  City Guide

  Heavenly Tier

  A - Sometimes even in the modern era considered a “Holy City”, A takes up most of the space on a temperate island within the Grandis subcontinent. It was founded by explorers from the west long ago and free from the conflicts within other Cities, flourished and became Aurra’s new capital. It is the smallest City, with ornate architecture with form consisting of a colorful fusion of every Earth culture, and aside from the palace, it also has famous religious and cultural landmarks, including a grand opera house and Aurra’s senate chamber. Visitor visas are restricted and only in rare circumstances are people who have lived fewer than ten lives permitted to live within its alabaster walls or walk its famed marble streets.

  B - The only other City on Grandis, which covers most of the island. It has no central cultural theme, rather incorporating the latest skyscraper designs to blend ultra-modern glass towers and light together into a skyline that looks like it belongs on Earth. It is famous for its multitude of parks, canals and water taxis, and high living standards. Despite its bold architecture and cleanliness, B, spread across a large crescent island that surrounds A, fulfills the capital’s need for fortified defense. Disguised anti-aircraft towers cover the tops of buildings, and a fifth of the citizens work for the Guard.

  C - Promoted into its place during the previous re-ranking ceremony in 1900, C became an overpopulated and dense megatropolis with tall metal towers and neon-lit streets. Located in a large, dry basin and surrounded by a wasteland of mountains and storms, C alternates between dark, rainy nights and long arid days. Despite its rough exterior, it is known for its lavish apartments, many entertainment venues, and a strong if not sometimes enigmatic scientific community. Recent rumors have come out that it may be having technical difficulties with its spiritual transfer system.

  D - The most populated Heavenly Tier City, one of the largest in Onasia, and the continent’s central transportation hub. It is a vital City that is home to Onasia’s main port of entry, on the northern coast. Modeled after the Mediterranean cities of Earth, it primarily emulates old Italy’s Tuscany, with buildings in warm neutral colors and narrow, cobblestone streets. It runs the only train to the far northern City of I, which runs beneath both earth and sea the entire distance. As the gateway City of Onasia, it is of vital importance to the stability of the continent.

  Upper Middle Tier

  E - The second-most northern City, sitting at the top of Onasia, E has a wide sunsphere and sits atop a large, metal rich island. Surrounding the City are vast quarries and mines, making it the largest exporter of non-synthesized, raw Aurrian ore and other precious metals. Closer to the City center, companies that own and sell these metals across Aurra have brought their workers and owners great wealth, which is reflected in their modern glass and steel towers. Despite the City’s latitude, its architecture takes cues from African architecture, with bold, sweeping facades.

  F - The City of history, where most buildings are at least 200 hundred years old and made of stone and brick. Among the ancient structures is Onasia’s oldest municipal building, the original palace from long ago, when F was Aurra’s capital. It now serves as one of Aurra’s largest museums, holding countless important historical artifacts, books, and scrolls. Other elements include the stone wall surrounding the original, smaller City, and Onasia’s largest military academy, on the outskirts. F has the largest independent military presence in Aurra, but has always had a contentious relationship with the Guard, and few military graduates go onto ultimately join them.

  G - The largest commerce and trading hub in Onasia, which connects to East Onasia with its direct connections to J, V, X, and F. An expansive City with a Scandinavian design sense, its buildings vary between clean modern structures to traditional boxy architecture painted in bold primary colors. Inner city transportation is primarily served by a complex network of electric trains. Its tallest, most iconic building has a giant clock face near its top and a gold exterior trim, and is among the tallest structures in Aurra.

  H - The highest tiered City on Mightoria, H becomes a resort getaway during the summer as visitors flock to its sweeping beaches to swim in purified, temperate shallow waters along an extensive coastal shelf. Farther away from the beaches is Aurra’s largest non-alchemagi focused institution, Aurra University, which has many classes dedicated to Earth studies. The buildings in H represent a large blend of many western Earth cities, and mirror San Francisco and Sydney more than anywhere else.

  I - The original site of the ancient City of J until it mysteriously vanished many centuries ago, I spends much of the year as a winter land, its warm lights suggestive of the many communal indoor activities that go on all day, every day. The third smallest City past A and Z, I only has a few skyscrapers, giving the Icelandic-like metropolis a stronger resemblance of a close-knit community than most Aurrian Cities. Its residences are often designed to emulate warm wooden cabins. Avalanches from nearby Mt. Ultimaeus, Aurra’s tallest mountain, periodically threaten I.

  J – The largest Aurrian City, where about 15% of all Aurrians are living at any time. This sprawling megatropolis covers a wide, flat, fertile, and temperate plain, and is seen as the “heart of Onasia and Tillethy.” Support for the Guard is down the middle, and the City has as many armories and fortifications for independent military as it does for the Guard. This melting pot is also the home of the largest alchemagi academy in the eastern hemisphere, Vidian School of Alchemagi. J mixes together a large variety of building design from nearly every Earth city.

  K – Emulating the buildings of nobles and the great arcades, museums, and theaters from Victorian era London and Paris, K is an island City with ports to the west and east, and cultural centers in the middle. It is home of the famous and lengthy Rose Street, lined with restaurants and shops. K is perhaps best defined by its famous residents, many of them in powerful political families. K has historically had a closeness with A, across the ocean, and influenced the direction of Aurra’s global government.

  L – On the east coast of Mightoria, just south of the equator, is one of the continent’s most important urban centers. Utilizing a mix of classic Arabic and German architecture, L holds Mightoria’s largest port, and is the launching point for many Guardsmen troop movements. Primarily, the City is Aurra’s trade and commerce capital. Synthids might make Aurra’s economy much smaller than Earth’s, but it does still have one to manage, and L hosts the headquarters of many banks and trading guilds.

  M – Surrounded by forests protected by its sunsphere and built near Lake Salis, M’s claim to fame is Aurra’s most famous alchemagi academy, Evirtide. Its pedigree matches A’s academy, but it educates ten times more students, many of which find work as alchemagists in the Guard or independent militaries. M has a style based off of many East Asia countries, including Japan, China, Korea, and Thailand. Evirtide itself has the appearance of a classic Japanese castle. Few of the students, however, remain in the City, and without a primary industry, M remains not quite prosperous as many outsiders would believe.

  Lower Middle Tier

  N – Sometimes known as the “completely average, middle of the road” Aurrian City, the standard model by which all others are judged, whether with a higher or lower letter grade. With some minor specialties in education, N features some lingering Roman architecture built long ago, and is still known for its rivers, aqueducts, and public baths. N is one of the ancient Cities, founded close to and shortly after D. The Astrid River cuts straight through it and is the home of many waterside restaurants and ferries that call back to the age of steamboats in America.

  O – A northern Mightoria City that is the home of Aurra’s largest scientific community, much of it serving the Guard in researching new technology. At the center of the research are methods to create new portals to Earth and improving and maintaining existing sites. O utilizes modest East Asian and American building styles, but has typically built more utilitarian buildings as it instead focuses on developing laboratories and factories.

  P – This Mightoria port City specializes in lumber, with thousands of mills and sprawling tree farms. Nearly all of the trees were imported from Earth long ago, as they are heartier than both native Aurrian variants and synthesized lumber. Many of the urban center’s shorter living towers are made of fire-resistant lumber and green roofs, giving the City a natural appearance. P has improved its standard of living so much in the last century that it is likely in truth a functioning upper tier City.

  Q – An arid metropolis spanning from east to west within an island desert in Tillethy. Rivers and major roads connecting the Cities of U and F pass through Q, which is the second smallest of all mid-tier Cities. Historically, it took its architecture cues from classical age Egypt, but within the last one hundred years, its newer buildings closer emulate those of India’s cities. Q is primarily known for its industry in dyes and fabrics, exported from factories with long, hard working days.

  R – The southernmost City, R suffers from poor weather conditions and dark, cloudy days. Sometimes, storms from the icy wasteland of Subarctica reach its shores and suddenly bring in heavy wind and snowfall. Despite these aspects, R is fully controlled by the Guard, and remains its primary ship-building site and naval station, with dozens of harbors able to deploy hundreds of warships to destinations across the world. To survive storms, the buildings are rugged concrete block structures, with little personality.

  S – Also controlled by the Guard, S is one of Aurra’s most important Cities, as it is the primary exporter of raw and refined synthids, used to create matter from energy and providing over 80% of Aurra’s food and material. Heavily defended against attacks from both air and sea, S has many mega-project digging operations tearing apart its synthid-rich land. When its vast quarries are depleted, they become parks, lakes, or tiered neighborhoods. Thousands of factories and refineries tarnish what would otherwise be pristine buildings modeled after Moroccan and Greek architecture.

  T – A Tillethian City covering an isolated island, T is the lowest ranked “non-punishment” City, though it has taken strides to improve its living standards in the past few decades and now has a number of above average neighborhoods. Purely a residence City with a commercial core, T is one of the very few Aurrian metropolises to have genuine suburbs, and overall, in layout and design, could be easily confused for a standard American city.

  Punishment Tier

  U – On the same long body of Tillethian land as Q, U has harbors to the north and south that serve the Guard, which the City supports but isn’t controlled by. U is the primary supplier of aircraft and airships, and acts as a launching area for extended campaigns, with large fields filled with hangars and mooring stations. As the first “Punishment City”, U employs forced labor but only once or twice a week, and has several reformation centers.

  V – There are no other Cities quite like V. With an oversized sunsphere which has a distinctive industrial hum, V—by far—produces the largest protective space in Aurra. It requires this space to cover its swathes of farmland, and small satellite urban centers, and even villages, in between. There is enough farmland across V’s fertile plans to provide Aurra with a fifth of its total crop and nearly all of its fully organic, non-synthesized food. Though some of its farms have forced labor, those seeking reformation hours often elect to be transferred to V, just for the chance to work outside on a farm. Numerous guilds control the farms and manage exports, many of which go to a separate harbor in the east.

  W – Arguably the most unique City in all of Aurra, W is the only one that doesn’t have a central sunsphere. Instead, it is a fully subterranean complex below a mountainous island, and only uses small sun lamps to cover entrances, ventilation ports, and cracks in the “ceiling.” W is both vast and deep, and its top layer, just below sea level, rests under an enormous skylight built into the mountain; the City’s only window to the sky.

  Despite the darkness of W and its industrial towers, building interiors tend to be extravagant, often with greenery to make up for the lack of outside parks. The fact that these indoor parks and luxuries exist but are not visible in one sweeping view of W has led to some contentious relations with the Guard’s Tier Review Board, which attests that the City is trying to pull itself into a higher tier, which would cause the Guard to lose a punishment City.

  X – A densely packed urban jungle, isolated in East Onasia, built near an inland, unprotected, acidic sea. The largest of the punishment Cities, X is often seen as Aurra’s dumping grounds, as it has barely any commerce or industry to speak of—and therefore little forced labor. Instead, it relies on many small reformation centers to rehabilitate those judged to spend a lifetime in its confines. Much of the punishment itself is said to just be having to live in a “forgotten” City, provided only the bare essentials by the ruling Guardsmen—who themselves are often selected to be tossed aside for poor performance or mistakes, and may not feel inclined to fully defend the City should it ever see conflict.

  Y – A fortified City in Tillethy’s southern seas, Y is an ugly, concrete metropolis with slave labor, war machine factories, prisons and reformation centers, and a heavy Guard presence. Outside of forced work conditions, or factory work with little pay to create its tanks, weaponry, ship hulls, or other materiel, Y is usually seen as a place of little value to the Guard. The only areas with decent living conditions are within the military ports, which can rapidly deploy naval ships across Tillethy. Longstanding rumors have also pointed to Y being the site of occasional dangerous science experiments over the years, sometimes involving human test subjects.

  Z – The prison City, and second smallest, having about twice the population of A. Prisoners, whether sent here to be born and live out a life sentence by a Hold judge, or placed here from elsewhere for committing grievous crimes in Aurra, are only allowed to leave upon death. Not everyone is a prisoner; Z is segmented by walls, and has a fairly suitable town for the staff. Nine other blocks cover the crescent-shaped dark and desolate island, with Block 1 being a village designed like a smaller Y, where well-behaved prisoners get small apartments and an open sky. Blocks get worse as they go higher in number, as do reformation techniques, many of which border on torture to “cleanse the soul” and serve as a deterrent for behavior in future lives. Block 9, which takes cues from Dante’s ninth circle, is kept cold and from the outside seen as a dark pit, the end of Aurra.