The razor edge of the cities cut a trembling emerald light across the ink black of planet Nocte. A swift pass by on one of the three dark moons looked down on the green pearl shaped cities on the equator beneath their gaze. Each city tied to the next by a broad highway lit in a long trail of gems on both sides. Cars rushed either way on the highways, commuting the most privileged class to their long shifts and home. One city shone brighter than the rest, like the centerpiece, Aedris, the capital.

The city of Aedris clung to the edge of survival, its towers bleeding light into the void, the only barrier against the ravenous dark. Kaelen’s flickering crystal, pitched high, defied the abyss. The crystal hummed in his fingers nearly as fast as his courageous bones trembled in rebellion to his iron will. Tears streamed down and froze against his cheeks. Somewhere out there the creatures watched him. Waited for him to drift far enough from the safety of the light. 

Their inky forms slithered around him as he stepped another step further. Their hunger rumbled the solid ground beneath his feet. His peers both jeered and cajoled him. Kaelen glances back past the glares of his challengers to the supporting eyes of his friends. Elyra, Renik and Mila demonstrate their allegiance with held breath and wide excited eyes. Kaelen nods once then sprints forward into the black skidding to a stop on the black sand and dropping his lit crystal.

As soon as the light leaves his hand the darkness falls on him like a wet blanket. He is still sliding into the dark as his feet churn and propelling him back toward the edge of the city light. There is a pause in time when you find yourself outside the light. Like taking a dive too deep in water and thrashing toward that heavenly gasp of fresh air. In the full black he can see the eyes closing in on you from all sides. He can hear their crumbling claws cutting through the sands and scratching the stone beneath. His heart cracks lightning bolts against his ribcage. 

Growling on all sides of him turns to screeches and roars that drown out the cheers and jeers of his audience. The boys and girls betting against him lock arms at the edge of the city light, forming a wall to block him out. Kaelen doesn’t have time to panic, he slams might into each step and punches forward with each arm swing. A panicked scream cuts through the cords of his throat. Renik breaks through the line of locked arms. He is a fury of punches, kicks and bites.

Kaelen drops through the opening made through the line sliding on his stomach into the wonderful green Noxflare. The light bathes over him and he hears the creatures of the darkness shriek as they pull up quickly at the dark's edge. He pants and gulps in lungs full of precious air. The frozen tears on his cheeks melt free and roll down his face, new tears of victory join them on their path. 

"You're lucky you've got Renik here to protect you." Byron knelt down with a sneer on his face. He slipped his hand to the inside pocket of his jacket and touched his crystal.

Kaelen took his other hand as if to shake it and felt the Noxflare rush through him. He gasped as he felt the greatest rush of power in his life. The scrapes on his knees healed shut and the excess light poured into his own crystal. He watched as the green light burst out from behind the cover of his worn brown leather jacket.

"Nice doing business with you Byron." Kaelen smiled a genuine smile. For once he wouldn't go to bed hungry, he would have enough for rent, and he would have enough for parts.

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The rest of the kids began to disperse. "Lemme walk with ya Moosh." Renik grabbed up Kaelen by the arm and pulled him to his feet. "Sum uns gotta watch yer back."

Renik only stood as tall as Kaelen's shoulder, but he was built like a bulldog and fought like a badger. Broad jaw, crooked teeth, brown tussled hair and the beginnings of a mustache, made him a face that was not soon forgotten. His reputation made doubly sure.

Kaelen held out a hand and Renik shook his head. "It's half yours. I couldn't have made it back if you weren't here. They definitely wouldn't have paid up."

"Gimme a chip or two. I make out aight, you never got flare." Renik held out his hand cautious waiting for Kaelen to agree. 

Kaelen nodded and thrust his hand into Renik's. He didn't need to close his eyes but it helped him to visualize the transfer. A chip was about a fingertip, a shard two fingers and a sphere was a ball about the size of your hand. He concentrated on filling his middle finger to the brim with light and shot it into the back of Renik's hand.

Renik snatched his hand back and pulled open his coat to look down into the hidden pocket over his heart. "Dat was a sleeve and you know it."

"Barely half a shard." Kaelen smirked. "Might keep you from thieving tonight."

Renik sniffed. "Ain't gone stop me. It's about principle."  

"You could stay over if you want. I can get a room with this." Kaelen patted his chest. 

Renik shook his head and curled up his upper lip, "nah. Waste a flare. Jus accept we don't belong in their world Moosh. Stay out here wit me, I'll show ya the ropes."

Kaelen nearly jumped out of his skin when two forgotten brushed past. They were hard to spot. Everyone else wore a leather jacket or coat of some sort with at least some glowing pinstripes. Forgotten had nothing at all. Soot covered, in ragged clothes and bare feet to boot. You couldn't hear them or see them until they were right up on you. Kaelen stepped far to the side unintentionally.

They weren't a threat, it was just a knee jerk reaction to the forgotten, always followed by unbearable guilt. It wasn't their fault they had nothing left. It was nearly an inevitability of the system. Raising costs same pay. Either you keep climbing the ladder working more and more or you get swallowed. Unless you were a gutter their like Renik but that was a risk in itself. 

The intermediates that Renik robbed would kill him if they caught him. He wouldn't stand a chance against someone that could push. They could kinetically move anything within about three yards of themselves. They were intermediates so they couldn't move anything above about ten pounds but that was enough to fling a knife or trip you. Kaelen couldn't really imagine what all they could do but he knew he didn't want to find out. He had seen a third dawn enforcer pull a light post down to block a thief from getting away.

Renik raised an eyebrow at him. "Ain't gonna bite ya."

Kaelen considered his friend knowing that Renik must stay somewhere near the forgotten. "What do they eat?" 

"The old foods, stuff from before. They make fires an roast it. Smells good." Renik licked his lips.

Kaelen tried to imagine eating meats, he imagined it would be bitter and tough. He had grown up on Noxflare like everyone else, it was sweet and invigorating. "Have you eaten their food?"

"Nah," Renik sniffed and watched as a woman walked past with her hand clutched tight to a gem powered hand light. She waved down a cromed out black car with green neon interior lights and under glow behind the spokes of the tires. A man with a fedora hat jumped out and held the door open for her.

Renik winked at her as she glanced back at him. She scrambled into the car. The driver glared at them and Renik turned back to walk with Kaelen. "I wanted that light Moosh."

"I'm sure you did. Maybe she will leave it out for you to borrow later." Kaelen shook his head. "Be careful Moony, I gotta turn in tonight, maybe rent myself a bath."

"Aight Moosh. I'll stop at the shop in the morn." Renik walked out from under the street lamp into the dark. The pinstripes on his jacket switched off and he gimmied a nearby door somewhere in the dark.

Kaelen walked up the steps to the Never Night Inn. A warm bed and a shower would be a whole shard. He bit his lip as he considered. Maybe just a bed.

(fill in this area with Kaelen facing minor enemies in the slums, winning the bet and heading back to work after collecting his bet. Renik is introduced with his short stout stature and violent ruthless nature as well as a feral temperament.) (Kaelen works in then tinkersmith under Jarleen making artifacts that source Noxflare for various purposes, and fixing broken artifacts.)