The Twin Cities: AXIS, #1

By Alec Davis

Who will survive the Horizon when it comes?

 

Trapped on the planet Sixe, Suu fulfils his dream and joins an elite group of soldiers, known as Spectres. They are charged with the defence of the city Maeda from the Revival – an insurgency born in the neighbouring city of Stratos. Every year, the Stratons face death from the destruction wrought by the planet itself – the Horizon – while the Maens remain safe within their city's wall. The Revival will terrorise those that are safe from the planet's wrath until they open Maeda's gate to them, so that all are protected and not just the privileged few. Suu joins the Spectre Corps to lead a life of glamour and comfort, wanting to be revered by all. However, he soon discovers the inevitable price of the position he so desperately desired – he must risk his life to protect the Maen's haven. But should he?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DEATHKAT MEDIA
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781838149413

Book preview

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alec Davis lives and works in Burmecia – Realm of Eternal Rain. He spends his free time putting tiny dents into bits of metal and drying his clothes on radiators. Nothing else is particularly relevant.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I cannot thank Jimmy Trippier enough for his help with this endeavour – not only for his beautiful artwork that decorates the front of this book, but also for reading my incoherent scribbles in the early drafts of this book, and providing invaluable feedback that morphed my ill-conceived ideas into something tangible, and gave me the confidence to move forwards. I sincerely hope he’ll be on board for future endeavours, but I think he knows I’m going to give him little choice.

Next, my thanks go out to Michael Keyon and Joe Fixter for reading through later drafts of this madness, and for the positivity they sent my way. You guys rock.

Finally, I’d like to thank L. B. Engwerda for putting up with my literary rants when she was just trying to draw her wonderful art, and for not getting pissy when I was working on this book like a reclusive jerk rather than being social (especially when everything went to hell during the 2020 Covid-19 UK Lockdown).

ALEC DAVIS

THE TWIN CITIES

AXIS: PART IA

Published by DEATHKAT MEDIA, 2020.

Manchester, UK. deathkatmedia.com

Copyright © Alec Davis, 2020

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Alec Davis, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Edition 2020.

Graphic design and typesetting by Jimmy Trippier

Cover illustration copyright © Jimmy Trippier, 2020

**TRIGGER WARNINGS AND PARENTAL GUIDANCE**

This novel contains fictional terrorism, violence, bullying, binge drinking, and swearing.

Usually, there is a notification here that states that all resemblances to actual people aren’t intentional bla bla bla bla. Here’s mine:

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

THIS BOOK IS FICTION.

ISBN 978-1-8381494-1-3

Dedicated to Howl and Salem – may they torment people in the afterlife forever.

Contents

The Third Generation

Dua

Surprise

Aftermath

War

Hidden in Plain Sight

Epilogue

Glossary

Arielle crouched atop the roof of Maeda University. Ten stories high, the north plains beyond the Nameidium platform clearly visible in the coming dawn. The jade flora was pitted with jagged rock, which sat beneath a faint stream of purple dust. It was the Nameidium ore grains that revealed the passage of the wind. These were faintly lit by the glowing trees surrounding Maeda, planted in concentric circles, enveloping the city in an azure halo.

Arielle walked out onto the balcony which stretched over the vast canyon between the university and the city wall. Her metallic boots caused the balcony to give a little under the weight. She climbed the balcony railings and stood tall, her sandy hair was gently lifted off her sheathed swords by the calm breeze.

Arielle stepped off.

The Locking boots she wore made a frictionless platform to stand on anywhere she wanted. With both boots activated, she drifted forward – there was nothing to slow her inertia, like skates on ice. Her feet were Locked to an invisible track, with only air between her and the ground. If her Locking boots were turned off, she would plummet ten stories.

Arielle deactivated them.

Three Revival insurgents from the city of Stratos approached, illuminated here and there by Maeda’s rings of trees. It was their thirteenth attack against the city of Maeda since the Revival was formed. Their terrorism was an act of desperation, a last resort to gain safety from a world in periodic catastrophe. The Horizon always came, every year, with the possibility that more Stratons would die. If only the Maens would shelter them behind its city wall, they would be safe.

Maeda was a safe haven, protected from the wrath of the planet. However, its array of cramped tower housing was already too heavy – or so the Maens claimed – and the Nameidium platform the city stood upon could not support more people. ‘Lies’ the Stratons claimed. Over three-hundred years of bad blood between the Twin Cities – Maeda and Stratos – left no hope for trust between them. Though that is what the Maens asked for – trust. They claimed they couldn’t house more families and needed the Stratons to take their word for it. Two hundred and eighty-six people died the year previous when the Horizon came to Stratos. Two hundred and eighty-six men, women, and children died, who would have otherwise lived, had they been residing inside Maeda’s walls. The Stratons understood they couldn’t all be saved, they couldn’t all fit within Maeda’s walls; but the children, at the very least, could be protected when the Horizon struck next, though still the Maens refused.

So, the Revival attacked Maeda. They vowed that their terrorism would continue until Maeda opened its doors to them, or until Arielle killed every single one of them, just like she killed everyone in the last insurgency twenty years previous.

The three Revival insurgents continued their approach. There had been many attacks like this in recent times. The terrorists were testing the Maens’ strength, response time, but more importantly, their intentions. The Maen government were keen to send a message to its people, a message of change, a message of mercy – ‘we kill only as a last resort’. They would not repeat the ruthless massacre of the previous insurgency. Maen soldiers were now given this doctrine as a direct order, the most important order of all. However, some didn’t always follow it.

And with good reason.

Arielle fell. The wind in her brown eyes caused them to water, and the odd tear streamed around her pale, slender face. She manoeuvred her feet beneath her to brace for impact. A metal glove of fingertip cones and bones connected to a bracelet on her wrist, which controlled the various functions of the Locking equipment. One slowed her descent and curved her trajectory forwards at an incredible speed when she tilted her feet forwards – like racing down a curved ramp. Arielle barely cleared the height of Maeda’s stone wall, passing between the guards that patrolled it.

The insurgents spotted their opponent. Like Arielle, they glided a little above the ground at incredible speed on Locked boots, accelerated by the propeller backpacks they wore. Each of them drew a pistol, loaded bullets, and shot at their enemy.

No one had ever managed to hit Arielle. Since her first battle twenty-two years ago, people had tried and failed. She was a Ghost, the first Ghost. It was unlikely anyone would ever hit her.

She glided at great speed above the rocky terrain, crouching to circumvent the wind, and although her boots touched nothing, stood on nothing, they were secure. Arielle felt the restraint, the inability to turn her feet left or right even a little. They were Locked. And it wasn’t just her boots she could attach to the invisible track – the metal Nameidium that granted this ability could be engineered into many forms, including knives. Arielle pulled two from specialized sheaths and launched them at the insurgents.

Defending his neck with a heavy bangle, one soldier deflected Arielle’s blade. What he didn’t see was the smaller knife lower down, concealed in the shadow of the first. It pierced his bowel and he collapsed, eventually crashing into the rock below and tumbling until his bruised and broken body came to a final stop.

Arielle and the two remaining Stratons were now seconds from collision. She could see only the whites of their eyes, their silhouettes with the blazing sun behind them, low in the sky. Using her wrist control to manipulate her Locking gear, Arielle stepped from left to right, evading the enemy’s bullets perfectly, gracefully.

The clash neared. She steered towards the smaller of the two foes. Arielle jumped upwards and grabbed an unseen ledge – her glove hand was Locked in place – and then planted her feet next to hands, orientating herself upside down. Her enemy, surprised and confused, was slow to draw his weapon as Arielle swept her drawn sword across his head. At the last second he parried with his short sabre, but the momentum, Arielle’s blunt force, tore the weapon from his hand. Arielle used the impact to spin herself around in mid-air and revealed a loaded pistol pointed towards his head.

Finally, she’d seen his face. He looked young. Too young.

And he looked terrified.

Arielle pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The shot rang in her ears.

Her last opponent had passed and started to double back. Like the others that had come to Maeda, these three Revival soldiers had been rookies. Arielle, with her greater experience and skill, hadn’t felt challenged at all. At forty-one, she thrived for more, to be tested. She wanted to push her body like she had when she was young, to prove to herself that her age was irrelevant. Meaningless. And there was only one way Arielle could challenge herself to that extent...

She planted her feet on the uneven ground, rocks cracking under the impact, and faced her enemy. She sheathed her weapons to even the odds, to give her foe a chance to win.

Arielle took a deep breath and waited with the sun rising behind her, warm on her back.

The Revival soldier closed in, sword and gun at the ready, and Arielle held nothing.

This isn’t worth it, she thought. I shouldn’t risk my life just to make myself feel young. Someday, they might learn that I’m...

Someday, they might need me, they might want to get to know me.

Someday, they might care if...if I’m alive.

Arielle pulled her pistol from its holster and loaded it. Dodging the enemy’s bullets, she looked her in the eye, and then shot her in the head.

Someday.

The Third Generation

I

Suu was chosen.

He lined up next to his future comrades. Five, including him. They awaited their new teacher, their new commanding officer. A Ghost.

Suu had applied for the Spectre training program and had been accepted. Graduates of this program became specialised soldiers, with benefits few other jobs in Maeda could provide – the largest apartments, the best food, drink, and other comforts; but most importantly, these soldiers received the highest respect from all Maens.

I was chosen, Suu thought. Soon, everyone in Maeda will know my name.

He stood tall and proud, but silent. All the recruits did. He was glad to see his close friend, Raki Sato, had also been selected. They thought it would be best not to speak, worried that the group would hear their nerves through their trembling voices. As a last-minute thought, Suu tied up his long, frizzy hair to look smarter, revealing his closely shaven, skinny jawline. His brown eyes were wide with excitement.

Much of the recruits’ training would take place in the university, in the north-west of the city. Their teacher had decided their first meeting would be informal, held in the small, sixth-floor common room. Sofas were provided to sit on, yet they all stood as a sign of respect.

Good afternoon, the man in the jet-black uniform with blue lining said as he entered. He had kind, grey eyes, and well-trimmed, grey-flecked black hair and stubble across his cheeks. My given name is Artemis, but I prefer ‘Art’.

Suu was at the end of the line. Artemis approached him first and shook his hand. Please to meet you...?

Um, Suu Scarlatti, he said.

Purple-tinted hair, eh? Artemis said.

It’s my natural colour, sir.

I don’t doubt that, Suu. It’s interesting, I like it. Artemis moved down the line, shaking the hand of the next recruit.

I’m Raki Sato, sir. Although he was smaller and thinner than Suu, Raki was generally twice as loud when amongst friends.

Raki, I knew your father. He was a good man. You look like him, you know.

I know, sir, Raki said, smiling.

Artemis nodded and moved on.

Haile Palmer, pleased to meet you. Artemis shook her hand. Haile’s green eyes meet his and she forced a smile. Haile often obscured her eyes with her auburn hair. Today, however, she felt it prudent to pin back her fringe.

Haile...we’ve met before, have we not?

Yes, sir. I work in the university science department, she said.

Ah, I see. You’re our surprise candidate for the program?

Yes, I guess that would be me.

I look forward to seeing you in action, Haile.

I’m not... she winced.

Artemis had already turned his attention to the next recruit.

It’s an absolute honour to be here, sir! I’m Ide Jovias, sir! the broad-shouldered giant said passionately.

Woah, calm down, recruit. Ide was it?

Yes, sir!

Pleased to meet you, Ide. Artemis moved on with haste. And you are?

Um, everyone calls me Mittens, said the short, blonde-haired girl hesitantly.

Mittens?!

Y-yes, sir.

"What’s your real name, miss?"

Um, Molly Appleby.

Sounds like you had to think about that. What would you like me to call you?

Um, whatever you prefer, I guess.

"I prefer what you like to be called."

No one’s called me Molly in a long time, so it would probably be weird if you did.

Most people don’t know her real name, sir, Raki interjected, so you’d best stick with Mittens.

I see. Well, Artemis centred himself amongst the five of them, welcome, Suu, Raki, Haile, Ide, and…Mittens. Are there any questions before we get started?

Questions?! Suu thought. One of the legendary First-Generation Ghosts stands before me and asks if I have questions?! I have so many for you that I’d need weeks, maybe months for you to answer them all. You, Arielle, and Sadye are the most famous people in Maeda’s history. If it wasn’t for you three, the Straton insurgents would probably have killed us all and taken Maeda by now.

If Art is teaching us, I wonder who’s teaching Dua...

No questions then? Artemis interrupted the silence. I’m sure you’ll have some by the end of the day. He stepped back and opened the common room door.

* * *

Maeda University was the second largest structure in the city. Some were as tall, but the university, however, spread out to the length of at least three of the others. Although most of the university interior had been assigned to various research teams, a few of the larger chambers had been gutted to accommodate Spectre training. Suu and his team found themselves in one such chamber.

The room was freezing. The brick walls displayed evidence of the previous interior – many rusted bolts protruded out at various heights. Once the room would have been a lecture theatre or a large laboratory of some sort. In the centre was a rectangular, metal container next to a table of gloves. At the far side were two one-metre-square platforms. The purple-tinted metal partially coated in insulating rubber sat underneath a balcony that was six metres high.

To be a successful team, Artemis began, you will need to work together to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

That might be a problem, Suu thought. Raki and Ide have known each other for years and they don’t get on at all. Perhaps they can learn to play nice?

Suu had only met Ide for the first time today and he quite liked the guy. There was still time...

Artemis continued: "Over the next year, you will develop a dynamic, unique to your team. Only you can determine what that dynamic is. You will begin now.

This is your first team exercise: I want all five of you standing on that balcony. He pointed. "You may use any means necessary. However, your safety must be put first at all times. I will stop you should you attempt anything I am uncomfortable with. You may begin."

Artemis left the five recruits bemused. The clock was ticking and no one knew where to start.

It doesn’t look like anyone’s going to suggest anything. Fine by me, I’ll take charge, Suu decided. Shall we start by seeing what we’ve got to use? We’re not climbing up there, are we?

He lifted the cover on the container and looked inside. Dry ice?

The rest weren’t far behind. Except for Ide – he was inspecting the platforms. Not long after, he joined the others dragging a platform.

What do we have this much dry ice for? Suu asked no one in particular.

It’s for the Nameidium,¹ Haile pointed out.

To do what?

You’re on a Spectre training program and you don’t know what Locking is?

"I’m here to learn what Locking is."

But it’s common knowledge. Surely someone must’ve mentioned it to you?

"Obviously it’s been mentioned to me, I just don’t know what it is!" Suu held back his anger. Am I the only one in the room who doesn’t know? Dammit. How have I lived for twenty-one years and never been told?

Okay, I’ll explain. You’re familiar with the metal Nameidium, yes?

Well, yeah. Maeda’s built on top of a giant slab of it. It’s what stops the Horizon destroying us every year.

Have you heard of flux pinning?

Um...

It’s okay, few people have. Basically, metals with this property will Lock in certain directions when cooled to a certain temperature below freezing.

But I see Arielle, Art, and Sadye glide across the skyline all the time. They’re not Locked at all! I never really understood that.

"That’s true, but they are Locked to a certain height and path."

But, they’re not-

Have you seen the train that runs to the quarries and farms outside the city?

Yes, of course.

"Imagine Nameidium running along an invisible set of the tracks like the train runs along. It’s Locked to the tracks. Understand?"

I see. What makes the invisible tracks and why can they be in the air?

That’s a discussion for another day, we’ve already wasted a lot of time.

Good point. So, I guess the idea is that we get up to the balcony using the Nameidium platforms?

Well, it’s easy really, Ide joined the discussion. We cool a platform in the dry ice and manoeuvre it between the balcony and the floor, and then we climb up and position the second platform so we can all reach the balcony.

Raki and Mittens nodded in approval.

I thought the Nameidium Locked once cooled? Suu said. Even if it can move in one direction, the height’s still fixed, right? So how do we get it out of the dry-ice container and move it under the balcony?

"Just like the train on the tracks, if you push hard enough on its side, it can be forced off the track, Haile explained. She helped Ide drop the flat block of Nameidium into the dry ice. To move a platform this big will take a lot of brute force, but between us, we should be able to move it."

Okay, Suu said, but how then do we all lift up the second platform whilst standing on the first? Surely it won’t take our combined weight?

We’ll figure it out as we go shall we?

Sounds like a plan.

* * *

Arielle, your continued disregard for this council’s wishes is becoming tiresome! Bernard yelled. "You were not ordered to engage the Stratons yesterday, but more importantly, you are not permitted to kill any Stratons unless given specific orders to do so."

Bernard and the council members had summoned Arielle to their meeting room. The council chamber had little natural light and little decoration. The waxed wooden walls were pointlessly polished to perfection, as were the metal thrones the council members sat on, which were elevated in a semicircle around the central floor where Arielle stood. It emphasised their dominance over her, which she did not like. As always, the council’s personal guard surrounded the chamber.

Bernard’s tailored suit and perfectly cropped, blonde hair set him apart from the other two casually dressed council members.

Do you hear me, Arielle? he said. This council has morals to upkeep!

"Morals?! Arielle roared. No one will care about morals when Maeda is burning to the ground. When your family is killed by the Revival, will you still uphold your ‘morals’, Bernard? Huh?!"

Arielle regretted the lives she’d taken the day before. Though if she hadn’t, the Straton terrorists would only grow bolder, and Maeda would suffer.

Bernard believed differently. Though you can’t hold that against him, he was a complete moron.

Bernard was brought to power when the prior leader, Gabriel Bishop, was removed nineteen years ago when the first insurgency was defeated. Gabriel was held accountable for all of the murdered Maens and Stratons, which the public thought could have easily been avoided. Due to the dire and unforeseeable circumstances at the time, Gabriel was dismissed without penalty by public vote. Bernard wouldn’t make the same mistake, just a whole bunch of other ones.

A handful of Straton terrorists is hardly a threat to the city, Arielle, Bernard said. You only needed to scare them off. Your presence alone would’ve got the job done.

"This ‘Revival’ needs to be taught that anyone that attacks Maeda will die for it. That’s why the first insurgency formed. The Revival has learnt from them. They’re smarter and more organised!"

Small groups attacking Maeda head-on is hardly smart.

That’s because those groups are the distraction. Use your head, Bernard. They attack to draw your attention away from those that are sniffing around the city.

It is strange, interjected Panos, the eldest of the council. He wore large-lensed glasses to hide his tired, ageing eyes. There have been many attacks over the course of the year, where the aggressors gave up and turned tail rather quickly.

Bernard led a council of four members: himself, Panos, Constance, and Teppei. Constance generally only made herself heard to keep order – the mother silencing the bickering children. Teppei, the youngest of the group at forty-two, only attended when it suited her. As Gabriel’s daughter, her voice was the last to be heard anyway. She was currently not in attendance.

They can ‘sniff’ around the city all they like, Bernard said, there aren’t enough of them to launch an effective assault anyway.

You don’t know that! Arielle pointed out. When we destroyed the first insurgency, the weapons and resources they had were-

I don’t care, Arielle. From now, until further notice, you are suspended from all military action.

You can’t do that. Try and stop me, Bernard.

I’ll have Art and Sadye throw you in a cage if-

MAY, Constance interrupted, …I suggest a compromise. Although she was older than Panos, well into her seventies, Constance sat tall and spoke with a strong, commanding voice.

Bernard sat down. Arielle gave Constance her attention.

The elder councilwoman continued: "Arielle, you believe this threat to be greater than predicted?"

I do.

Then we need proof. You have none, correct?

Other than the suspicious attacks, no, I do not.

I would like to suggest that you investigate then. She turned to Bernard: Let us send Arielle to Stratos, seek out the Revival, and gather information to back her claims. If she is there, she cannot sabotage your ‘morals’, Bernard.

But she could kill people in Stratos! Bernard pointed out.

She will not, because that would be incredibly stupid. Attacking the enemy whilst surrounded by their kin would be a very foolish move.

Bernard sighed. Very well. Arielle, he stood, bring me some evidence to back your claim and this council will take it under consideration.

Arielle, while you are there, Panos said, could you please assess the damage to Stratos caused by the last Horizon. We still don’t have a figure for the deaths from last year.

Arielle nodded and left. With her back turned, she smiled. I’d never had to take such an indirect method to get things done with Gabriel when he sat on the council. Still, at least I can manipulate Bernard when I need to. Maeda won’t last long if he’s left unchallenged.

The council meeting chamber sat atop Silmar Tower. It was encapsulated by an extravagant garden with highly restricted entry. Outside the chamber, Arielle was given the choice of three gravel paths – one led left into a small wood where vines and thin branches formed a canopy, one dense enough to block the sunlight; one led right between ordered flowerbeds, where every shade and colour was weaved together in mathematically pleasing patterns; but Arielle chose the path that led directly forwards into a plethora of shrubs surrounding an elevated platform. On it sat a bench, and on that bench sat Teppei Bishop. Her skin was freckled and her strawberry blonde hair fell just past her shoulders. Patiently, she awaited Arielle.

Teppei was Arielle’s oldest friend. They’d met at school and had been inseparable for quite some time after that, no matter what their teachers tried. As they matured, their interests began to differ and they saw less and less of each other. Same old story. Though many years later, both of them had suffered the brunt of tough times, and their misery brought them back together. They’d never be as close as they once were, but Arielle wasn’t going to push away an old friend when she had so few to begin with.

How’d it go, Ari? Teppei asked. She didn’t look much like her father, Gabriel, although Arielle saw his personality in her on occasion.

Extremely well, Arielle said. They reacted just like you thought they would.

Panos suggested a reconnaissance mission?

It was Constance that suggested I seek out the Revival. I think she just wanted me and Bernard to shut the hell up. Although, Panos did add a Horizon-damage assessment to my objectives.

So close… Teppei seemed genuinely disappointed she hadn’t guessed the events exactly. If you hadn’t got into a row with Bernard again, Panos might’ve made the suggestion first.

You know I can’t help myself. Bernard is such an ass. Why he was elected I’ll never know.

He’s the opposite of my dad.

You mean a coward and a fool?

Teppei chuckled. "Anyway, I have news. Rumours are spreading throughout Maeda and Stratos about Pax’s ideas and ambitions. People are listening. It won’t be long before both governments become aware of them."

"Well, this government can’t handle another enemy just yet. Let’s keep them in the dark until absolutely necessary."

Agreed.

* * *

With a series of lifts and climbs, two by two, Suu and his team had managed to reach the balcony, as requested by Artemis. They congratulated each other for a job well done. The arrangement of Locked platforms they had constructed from the cooled Nameidium had served them well. They’d had a few problems climbing when they’d realised only two out of the three dimensions were Locked, and, when they weren’t careful, the construct had slid horizontally away from the balcony. However, with frustrating and clumsy practice, they succeeded.

Congratulations, team! Artemis shouted up to them, giving a quick round of applause. Now, the lesson I want to teach you today is: even under pressure, one should always plan ahead.

I don’t understand, Suu said, plan ahead for wh-

The crash! of falling metal below him drowned out the remainder of his sentence.

Damn, Haile said, looking down from the balcony.

What happened? Suu asked. Why’d the platforms collapse?

The Nameidium heated up, Haile explained.

So?

It only Locks when cooled below a certain temperature.

Oh.

You didn’t plan past reaching the balcony, Artemis said, and now you’re stuck up there. It’s okay, you’re all here to learn. He fetched a ladder and the group climbed down. Suu felt a little confused as to the purpose of the activity.

Okay, I get that this task was an ice breaker and a team-building exercise, but what’s building scaffolding got to do with learning to be a Spectre? I know I’m being impatient, but dammit, I just can’t wait to get started properly!

It was at this opportune moment that Artemis gave them all their own Locking boots.

Suu held his pair with awe – they were heavy but lighter than they looked, and a great deal of flexibility was given to them by their layered design. At first glance, they looked much like regular, black, bulky boots, but the soles gave them away. As Suu studied them, the metal glistened under the illumination in the chamber. Each pair of boots came with a glove of metal-fingertip cones and bones, and a connecting control bracelet.

"These boots are called EMRs, named after their inventor Samir Emerson, Artemis said. Each boot is built to withstand many kinds of impact. The sole of each encases a layer of Nameidium, the size of which has been matched to your weight to optimise your performance. Nameidium Locks to its surrounding magnetic field. Most of the time, the field it Locks to will be the planet’s magnetic field. However, beware – this field weakens the higher you travel, so there is a limit to how high you can use your EMRs. Once Yielded, you will be able to manipulate that field to travel in any direction you wish. The goal of your training is to become accustomed to EMR travel until you learn to Yield. If you practise long and hard now, when you do Yield, you could match Ghost Arielle’s speed and dexterity on EMRs.

Oh, I nearly forgot – the control bracelet, among other things, reduces the temperature of the Nameidium allowing complete control over your boots’ Locking capabilities. The heat is removed via small jets at the back increasing your speed of glide. For long distances, lightweight, solar-powered propeller packs are available, although-

Suu wasn’t listening. Why would he? Once he held his own EMRs, everything around him crumbled away. Up until now, the day hadn’t seemed real. His introduction to the legendary Ghost Artemis, meeting his teammates, the first exercise they’d completed as a group, all of it felt like the remnants of a dream. Now he had EMRs.

Now, I’m a Spectre.²

Suu’s group decided to celebrate their first day with a round of drinks in one of the high-class, Maeda bars – Conundrum.

Maeda was divided into many high-rise tower blocks, which were interconnected by a network of bridges and balconies. It was designed to maximise and evenly distribute its population, and to reduce the chaos during rush hour. Each structure was built from the same technology – bird-bone-inspired design. This removed all excess material from key components, leaving only the rods and joints that actually bore the stress when they were in use. This technology gave Maeda’s architecture a unique style – the frames of every building, bridge, and balcony weaved together intricately. The components were strengthened by Nameidium, giving them a mauve tint. Every floor of every building was lit with bioluminescent tree vines which clung tightly to every bird bone they could