Submission for The Royal Road Community Magazine Contest: June Edition #1 The land of Quewilrth is dark and unforgiving. The weak are trampled underfoot without a second thought. If you can't pay your debts with money, blood is willingly accepted. Everyone is out for themselves, and there is no true relief from the constant suffering. Those who try to fight this ultimate truth are eventually broken and discarded like trash. Hope is nothing but a dream that only the wealthiest and most powerful have the luxury to contemplate. In this oppressive world are two souls entwined by destiny to eventually collide. Marozia and Obadiah. One seeking love, and the other hope. Two impossible goals, and yet both within reach. Only one may come away with what they want, but what are they willing to do to get it? What beliefs are they willing to abandon? How many people are they willing to betray? To kill? Marozia has been forced into her role as head priestess of the Y'neak church. Being blessed with the power of reaching beyond the boundary of the mortal world and bridging paradise and the abyss, her rule was never even contested. At least not out loud. Yet, despite her power and influence, all she wanted was a simple life with those she loves. It's too bad that her position makes that nothing more than an idle dream she can never accomplish. Despite having the power of the gods, even she has limits placed upon her. Although the tide of change is approaching, and perhaps she can find a way to shatter the chains that keep her bound. Obadiah is lucky that he was accepted into the Y'neak church's army as a child. It allowed him to survive and keep his belly full every other day. His faith is what keeps him going despite the oppression and darkness he sees every day. A small flicker of hope lies within his heart. Hope that lifting up others may spread that spark, and finally change the world for the better. But, when his faith is shaken, will that small flame be able to survive? When the people he cares about the most are threatened, will he be able to turn his back on the church to save them?