As the day began, the thin line of sky expanded to welcome the first rays of sunlight, illuminating the elegant limbs of the Golden City's buildings.

Madison awoke to the glare of the sun reflecting off the pale walls of her room. Her soft skin brushed against the pillow as she rolled onto her back, stretching with a long yawn, still only partially awake.

She wiped her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed, casting a cursory glance around.

The room was of moderate size and, aside from the wall behind the bed, it lacked any enclosed walls. The rest of the space was open to the clear sky, with copper railings surrounding the balcony and wooden pillars placed at regular intervals to support the sloping ceiling.

Given her habit of sleeping in her underwear due to the city's artificial heat, she found it easy to get ready for the day, as she did today. She slipped into a white dress adorned with blue floral patterns and a pair of polished gray leather sandals.

She then headed to the bathroom, where she washed her face and brushed her hair. Among the aspects of her appearance that inspired the deepest affection, her lustrous, silky golden hair held special significance—it was the only thing she had inherited from her mother.

Once her preparations were complete, she made her way into the hallway outside her room, the wooden floor creaking beneath her feet. She was accompanied by the soft song of the charcoal burners on the windowsill, which she had carefully prepared as a habitat for them.

"Good morning, Father."

In the living room, she noticed a man standing at the stove, focused on preparing breakfast. His white shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, his brown hair was tied back in a bun at the crown of his head, and a thin chain swayed rhythmically with his movements.

As he turned around, his face came into view, framed by a thick but neatly trimmed beard that accentuated his light brown eyes.

"The bucket is out there somewhere," Harrinson said, his voice noticeably hoarse. "Make sure the front light is off before you go."

Madison watched as the eggs and bacon sizzled, rendering their considerable fat in the pan. Her eyes reflected her intense hunger, looking like a pair of fried eggs themselves. But she had obligations that demanded her attention more urgently than her appetite.

She retrieved the bucket of water and grabbed her straw hat from a rack near the door. As she opened the door, she couldn’t help but close her eyes and flash a smile.

The sun rose over the southern horizon, and gentle winds dispersed the morning mist to the east. Though these breezes were too weak to sway the imposing towers of the city, they gently stirred the flower gardens, scattering petals into the air. Soon, the cries of children echoed from the wide stone streets, adding to the morning bustle.

The Golden City, a paragon of human and technological advancement, was a community of virtuous people who revered their gods, adhered to strict obedience, and followed the rules to the letter.

Madison adjusted her grip on the water bucket and pulled a rope to her right, which activated a locking mechanism, releasing fireflies from the light pole above.

As she continued on her way, she greeted every neighbor she encountered. The inhabitants of the Golden City knew each other well and maintained harmonious relationships. The aromas of breakfast filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter drifting from the windows of close-knit families.

Anyone unfamiliar with the architectural layout of the Golden City would likely get disoriented at the first intersection or staircase. The city's structure was divided into different levels, connected by doors, mechanical elevators, and seemingly endless staircases.

"Hey, Madi, over here!"

Hearing the shout, Madison noticed a girl about her age. She was dressed in a brown shirt and leather pants that came down to her knees, along with a pair of thin boots. The girl was Emma, a classmate of Madison's, whom she had known since freshman year. Given the distance between their houses, they always met in the mornings when their families sent them out for water.

Together, they would discuss the latest topics of interest in the city streets, though today, something was happening in the public square that everyone was eager to see.

"I don't know if you agree, but I'm hoping to run into some cute guys..." Madison glanced sideways at her with a mischievous grin. "Ugh, what? You know how I feel about the boys at our school."

Madison felt a bit embarrassed at the thought of using the Reunion as an excuse.

"It's hard to believe our parents would expect us to do that on such an important day," Madison replied with a hint of amusement.

"As ridiculous as suggesting we're like the denizens of the Lower World... How wicked of you, Madi!"

Madison looked at Emma with innocent confusion.

"Uh?"

"Anyway, I’m absolutely sure that I’ll find a suitable companion to embark on an expedition to the Lower World! Together, we’ll explore the ocean, its beaches, and its forests. And I’m going to meet that companion today at the Reunion!"

Madison sighed.

"We’re already capable of doing all that—well, um, except for the whole... companion thing. I mean, we have History Replicators at school for a reason, right?"

"I know," Emma replied, her tone growing serious. "But that’s not what I mean, and it's not the point I'm trying to make. I... You know what I’m talking about! W-Why are you making me say it?"

A silence fell between them, until Madison spoke again.

"...You want to touch land."

"Is it a sin to want that?"

"No... I mean, for us, it’s not, and I’m sure it’s not for our history teacher either. But it is for the Council of Regents."

"The Council?" Emma scoffed incredulously. "Their main job seems to be scaring people with silly stories even children don’t believe anymore. If the inhabitants of the Lower World live just below us, and we consider ourselves superior to them in every way, why shouldn’t we be allowed to go down?"

"That kind of thinking is what gets people into trouble, Emma."

The atmosphere between them grew tense. Soon, they reached the communal drinking fountain, where they turned on the taps and filled their water buckets to the brim.

They said their goodbyes and parted at the same spot where they had met.

Upon returning home, Madison found her breakfast laid out on the table. She expressed her gratitude to the Goddess of Cultivation, the God of Industry, the Goddess of Heaven, and the Mother of Earth. Afterward, as Harrinson headed to work at the factory, Madison focused on her studies. The more efficiently she completed them, the more time she would have for other activities later in the day.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

As she sat down at her desk to begin studying, the entire room began to shake.

Madison gripped the edges of the desk, her eyes wide as she scanned the room for any objects that might fall and break. Once the shaking stopped, and she confirmed nothing had fallen, she stepped onto the balcony and looked up at the sky.

A colossal, crimson-colored incandescent balloon soared overhead, its turbines and propellers generating a breeze so strong that Madison had to cling tightly to the copper railing. She stood silent, her entire being frozen in awe of the spectacle.

From her vantage point, she saw more aerostats approaching the Port of Entry, maneuvering to secure their positions. Their cargo compartments were opening, and the crews were descending with equipment, vibrant fabrics, radiant colors, and jewelry so bright that even from a distance, Madison could clearly see them.

The timing of the Free World ambassadors’ arrival was puzzling, if not absurd. It made no sense for them to arrive so early in the afternoon, as they were scheduled to come at dusk. But as Madison reflected, it became clear that the Council had orchestrated this unexpected turn of events.

Perplexed and irritated, she hurried to the exit, grabbed her straw hat, and headed for Central Square.

The Great Hall, located on the highest floor of the Golden City, was a multi-purpose venue that hosted both festive balls and formal gatherings, like the one taking place that day.

The long tables, surrounded by chairs, were occupied by ambassadors and dignitaries from all the Houses of the Free World. The various perfumes wafting through the air contributed to the peculiar atmosphere of the Great Hall, while the colorful attire of the attendees made it easy to identify the foreigners.

At the front of the assembly, a young woman with dark brown hair stood at a podium. Her expression was serious, and her piercing blue eyes surveyed the hundreds of people before her with determination, showing no trace of shyness.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Please accept my sincere apologies for the change in schedule." Her voice was kind, soft, and clear. "Both you and I were expecting that the individual standing here would be the Great Sage Verduk D'Lan. However, unforeseen circumstances have prevented him from arriving. Since I was scheduled to follow his speech, we have decided to begin the proceedings without him to avoid unnecessary delay. I am Agnea of Cortellio, and I understand that you may not be familiar with my work, as my research and contributions are still in their infancy. However, it is more important to note that you are all well aware of the reason for your presence here.

For two hundred years, these Meetings have been held according to the selective cycle of the Wheel of Time. Now, it is once again the Golden City's turn to host this event. And while tradition has dictated that we share our individual discoveries and cultivate knowledge for the common good of humanity, today I am not here to tell you what is supposed to happen, but what is actually happening."

Agnea stepped down from the podium, placed her hands behind her back, and began walking among the tables. "A reliable source has informed me that everyone here is aware of this information, but there is a collective refusal to discuss it openly." She suddenly stopped. "But fear is the pillar of weakness, and I do not abide by it. That is why I am compelled to speak out. The natural resources beneath our city have reached their limit, and we have only a few months left before we can extract no more from the region. His Majesty in the Divine City has refused to allow us to relocate, as he has done with other cities in similar circumstances in the past. Consequently, we are faced with a situation in which our very existence is in jeopardy."

A palpable silence descended upon the Great Hall as all present acknowledged the truth of Agnea's words, despite their unfamiliarity with her.

His Majesty, the Lord of Mankind, who ruled all under the heavens from the Divine City, controlled everything and everyone. He was the source of all authority and the arbiter of obedience.

However, His Majesty exercised a cynical form of control over his subjects. When a city exhausted the resources of an entire region, he would not permit its expansion into another area. Instead, he demanded that the city be abandoned. In response, the city's gravitational field was cut off, causing it to fall to Earth and be absorbed into the planet's surface.

Subsequently, citizens were forced to relocate to Hive Cities, where living conditions were as deprived of basic necessities as they were of human rights. These individuals were forced into grueling factory work, enduring near-slavery conditions until they were physically unable to continue.

"Your speech is repetitive and lacks originality," interjected one audience member. "Instead of merely voicing opinions, it would be more constructive to propose solutions."

Others echoed similar criticisms.

"Every person who has sought an audience with His Majesty to plead their case or appeal to his reason and compassion has been imprisoned—some even executed. None have succeeded in gaining his attention."

"No city is armed with weaponry, and we lack the means to organize a revolt. Face the facts, woman, and stop spouting nonsense!"

Agnea jerked her arm sharply, causing the tunic she wore to emit a sound like a sword slicing through the air. The room fell silent.

"No," she said firmly. "I do not mean dialogue or negotiations to convince the demigod to come to his senses. Instead, I propose we invoke the Hero of Mankind."

In the annals of history and legend, the Summoned Hero was a figure of considerable importance. He was said to have been instrumental in the victory during the Petrified Wars, uniting the races of Earth and Heaven against a common foe that once tormented the world.

"Only such a formidable entity could help us defeat His Majesty and restore order to this world. Let us call upon the Hero to intercede for us once again—to help us overcome this malevolence that has caused our hearts to wither in anguish..."

"H-Heretic!"

"Someone, reason with her! Dissuade her from this madness!"

"It's an impossible ritual..."

"Do you really think those who faced a similar plight haven’t tried this before?"

And then, Agnea suddenly shouted:

"It's possible! I have devised an engram through which we can channel our magic and perform the summoning."