Prologue VII

The shop district right at the heart of Timult, the capital city of the great Legrand Empire, was bustling with life, products, and innovations. There on the polished cobblestone streets were the premier works of artisans, magicians, crafters, engineers, arts, and entertainments.

The city existed with a nearly seamless blend of magi-tech, steampunk, and alchemical enhancements. As the night sky began blossom into full darkness, so too did the streets of Timult finally come to life with the full range of wants and depravity that mankind can offer.

In the streets of Timult it was said that anything could be purchased for the right price, and that by that very same logic just by going to the streets of Timult at night, everything was for sale.

That was the mindset of the Legrand empire, and a mindset that made the military might of Legrand so dominant.

This far removed from the front lines of the war, it was easy for many to forget just how devastating war could be. Particularly as all things great and small won during the war were ultimately filtered here, to the heart of the Legrand Empire, where the spoils could be auctioned off. The most prominent of items sold were the unspent Badges of Honor, ones that told their own story of prowess and acclaim. For the right price, any Noble could host the badge of a prominent soldier, wishing to spend their hard-earned stories on a few vices that are only available here.

Thus was the grandeur of Timult, the city that never slept, and would sell you off to others if you dared to rest your eyes while on their streets.

Banners hung over the streets, denoting victory after victory. On different buildings maps of the newly occupied territories of Legrand Empire could be seen showing yet another country brought under heel.

In the streets, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before the next target of conquest was noted. For nothing could stop the relentless assault of the Legrand Empire.

This was just the forty-eight-hour party held free of charge to every true citizen of the empire. By coming here and partaking in the finest foods and drinks that the Legrand Empire had to offer, they could be the first to know what country would be conquered next, and begin preparing to make business arrangements to take advantage of new open markets and sources of revenue that should be claimed and divvied up.

All the revelers had to do was stick around, eat, and wait to find out where their next source of income would come from.

Even close to midnight, the party was just getting started.

Stolen novel; please report.

That was why everyone noticed when it happened.

Fwoosh.

A giant plume of smoke, dust, and what appeared to be minor traces of a sandstorm appeared out of nowhere.

Cough, cough.

A thief appeared in the middle of the streets of Timult. A feat that should be impossible given how many anti-magic runes and wards were strewn throughout the city. Yet somehow a storm that all but reeked of supernatural energy blew threw the wide magical opening.

The winds were so fierce that they tore down the banners on the north side of the street, the side facing the now open portal.

Most had to look away, the fierce winds carrying dirt and debris that instantly stung at the eyes. The arid heat of the scorching winds enough to cause instant pain to anyone who was attending the festivities.

For a few of the higher level guards, they began moving forward to try to intercept the lone thief who appeared to be wearing both a thief mask, the advanced EGGs, and seemed to be coated with magic.

Silence.

Yet, despite the panic and the fact that a few people were clearly trying to scream, nothing could be heard over the billowing winds.

“This is Timult right?” The thief asked, her voice seemingly able to appear from everywhere and nowhere all at once. Her voice even overpowered the scalding winds that were blowing behind and around her.

WHIIIRRRINGGG WINDS!

The longer the thief stayed, the more violent storms came through the portal behind her, causing even more of the caustic sands to come through and cause severe damage to a few of the weaker people.

“Well?” The thief asked, a bit of annoyance seeping into her voice now.

By now many people who were on the far side of the portal could only look on in shock as dirt, dust, and sand began pouring out from the far side of the portal.

With this, a few of the people wishing to get this over with began nodding their heads. A few tried to open their mouths to speak, only to be met with mouths full of dirt and sand for their hassle.

“Okay, about time,” the Thief said angrily as she spun around, showing glowing wings that seemed to cut right through the blowing sand around her.

Sand that once it made contact with her wings suddenly seemed to gain weight and a bit of moisture, causing it to fall in thick clumps on the ground right below her feet. Feet that were now visibly seen hovering over the ground.

“I believe these are yours.” The floating girl said, as she seemed to reach in and pull out three large black eggs. Eggs the were the size of giant dragon eggs, if dragons laid eggs the size of small vehicles.

Once the three eggs were pulled out from the portal, they were placed right at her feet. Then she spoke again.

“I was going to demand to speak to a manager, but I really need to figure out what the heck just happened there.” The crazy thief said, as she pointed back through the portal that was violently spewing out dust and sand even now.

The Thief then turned to leave, before turning back and seemed to take in the look of everything, before ending her speech with a raised hand as if in a toast “so with that, I bid you adieu and slàinte mhath!”

Then just as quickly as she appeared, the little thief left through the very portal that should have been leaving waves of scalding hot winds and sand everywhere.

Clothes were ruined, some people were bleeding from the exposure to such violent forces of nature. To make matters worse, the mages that had been on hand could only cower in fear at the sheer overwhelming power that the sands had on them.

Then finally as the dust and smoke began to settle, everyone on the north side of the street appeared to be coated in inches of dirt, dust, and debris.

While those who had been stationed on the southern side of the street could only look on in horror at the devastations that had occurred right before their eyes. Devastation that took less than a minute to actually occur, but would take days if not longer to fully clean up from the otherwise pristine streets and shops.

To make matters worse, was the odd eerie black glow of the three large eggs that had been left behind right in the middle of the street.

“What just happened?” One person asked, then to his surprise, he looked around before realizing that he could speak. Or at the very least he could hear his own words again.

“I can speak?”

“Same.”

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.”

“My Shop, my beautiful shop!”

So much havoc occurred in a matter of moments, and worst of all, no one knew exactly what had just happened.

Not even the alleged perpetrator of the whole event.