Aurora Heights — Azure Central
The sky over Azure rarely slept.
Even at night, the Aurora Borealis stretched across the heavens like a fractured ribbon of light—slowly shifting, quietly breathing, as if the sky itself was alive and observing.
They called this region Aurora Heights.
Not because of beauty alone.
But because of status.
Only elites lived here.
Only those who mattered to the system.
And above all of them—
Something else watched.
A figure sat on the edge of a tall communication tower.
A red light blinked beneath them at steady intervals, marking time for the city below.
They hummed softly.
A tune without origin.
Without lyrics.
Without meaning anyone could trace.
Their long grey hair was tied loosely, but the ends drifted in the wind like broken threads refusing to settle. An orange coat wrapped around their body, heavy and layered, too structured to be casual and too relaxed to be formal.
A blindfold covered their eyes.
Bright orange.
Unnaturally clean.
Unnaturally still.
The humming stopped.
Silence took its place instantly.
The figure tilted their head slightly downward.
As if the city had just spoken.
Then—
They leaned forward.
And fell.
No scream.
No wind resistance.
Just a clean disappearance into the void below the tower.
A blink later—
They were gone.
---
Ashford District — North Azure
The streets here were quieter.
Less polished than Aurora Heights.
Less controlled.
More human.
A woman walked alone through the district.
Her steps were steady, but not hurried.
She wore a long dark dress that moved softly with her motion, like it was remembering every step before she took it.
Her long straight hair flowed down her back.
Her bangs hovered close to her eyes—but never fully covered them.
Her eyes…
Had lost something.
Not sight.
Not function.
Something deeper.
Luster.
They were slightly larger than normal pupils, as if reality itself didn't fully agree with how she perceived it.
She stopped.
Just once.
Then slowly turned her head.
A presence had appeared beside her.
No sound of arrival.
No displacement of air.
Just—
existence.
A figure in a long orange coat stood there, as if they had always been there and the world had simply forgotten to notice.
The woman exhaled lightly.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
The orange-coated figure tilted their head.
"I came here and no one came to welcome me in"
A soft laugh escaped them.
Then the figure bowed slightly.
"Forgive my mistake."
A pause.
"Would you come with me?"
The woman smiled faintly.
"Decent invitation."
She stepped forward.
And the world seemed to blink and they were gone.
----
Unknown Location
The room was simple.
Too simple for someone of their presence.
A table.
Two chairs.
A kettle already warm.
Two cups of tea, freshly poured.
Nothing else.
The setting was on the balcony, where it overlooked an unknown are in Azure.
The woman sat first.
She lifted the cup and took a slow sip.
"Not bad," she said calmly. "You're improving."
The orange-coated figure sat opposite her.
A brief silence followed.
Not awkward.
Not comfortable.
Something in between.
Like both of them were waiting for the other to stop pretending.
Then—
"Why her?" the figure asked.
The woman didn't stop drinking.
She swallowed before answering.
"She seemed vulnerable."
A pause.
"And I've been looking for followers."
The figure's gaze didn't change.
Or at least, it didn't feel like it did.
The woman continued.
"Or would you prefer I let her awaken the wrong way… and get mixed with her concept?"
Silence.
The tea steamed gently between them.
Then the figure responded.
"It's true."
A slow breath.
"Letting her become a forbidden would be a problem."
Another pause.
"But it doesn't change our goal."
Their hand tightened slightly around the cup.
"Sacrifices are necessary."
The woman stirred her tea slowly.
"Was that the mindset you used to kill your followers?"
For the first time—
The figure stopped moving.
Just for a moment.
Then continued as if nothing had happened.
"Mostly."
The woman leaned back slightly.
"What was her ability?"
The figure asked.
The woman smiled faintly.
From her sleeve, she produced a thin black pipe with gold engravings.
She lit it.
Smoke curled into the air.
"It's art," she said calmly.
The figure didn't respond immediately.
The woman exhaled.
"I haven't seen art in a long time."
A small pause.
"Another one of Canon's prominent figures is gone."
The name landed heavier than expected.
Canon.
The smallest city.
The weakest in structure.
But still—
A piece of the board.
The figure spoke again.
"I really don't like the smell of smoke."
The woman tilted her head.
A playful tone entered her voice.
"So this really is where you stay."
As if confirming a location, then she strode over to a table.
She placed the pipe aside briefly.
Then returned to her seat.
"It was tactical."
A faint smile.
"When you're at war… even the smallest piece can tilt the balance."
Then, quieter—
"She knew him."
A pause.
"I would have gone directly to him."
"But Grim and Author don't like manipulation toward him."
The room shifted slightly at that statement.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
An hour later, after they finished their team,
The woman stood.
"I'll be leaving now."
The figure stood as well, adjusting their coat.
A soft bow.
"Are you afraid Empire might think you're having an affair with his rival?"
The woman chuckled.
"And you?" she replied.
"Void wouldn't like your habits either."
Silence.
Heavy this time.
Sharp.
Then both smiled faintly.
As if nothing was ever said.
The figure walked to the edge of the room.
"You've dropped something."
The pipe.
They picked it up carefully.
Then turned.
"Where do you want to go?"
The woman thought briefly.
Then answered:
"Lapis Crest District."
A pause.
"Did you really think I came alone?"
A faint shift in the air.
The figure smiled slightly.
"You forget."
"Nothing enters or leaves Azure without my notice."
A snap.
And she vanished.
---
Lapis Crest District
The theatre stood quietly at the edge of the district.
People gathered outside.
Talking.
Waiting.
Some nervous.
Some excited.
Some unaware of why they felt uneasy.
Then—
A figure appeared among them.
No transition.
No arrival.
Just presence.
The crowd froze for half a second.
A few stepped back instinctively.
Someone whispered:
"…Miss Dreamscape?"
She smiled gently.
One of the people besides spoke up," Ma'am did something happen with god eye"
Her expression was calm.
Almost kind.
"Azure and Datcha are under a non-aggression agreement."
She tilted her head toward the theatre.
"So we only had tea."
A pause.
Then she stepped forward.
"We can go in now."
The group followed.
Some chatting.
Some silent.
Some uneasy for reasons they couldn't explain.