Prologue
State Proclamation
To the Citizens of Sormuse and its Territories:
In the name of liberation and justice, we, the new governing body of the State, proclaim the dawn of an era free from the yoke of the oppressor. The tyrannical reign of mages and their dark sorcery has been overthrown in favour of a society founded on the principles of light, purity, and shared righteousness.
We stand united under the banner of the Volkov, symbolising our unwavering resolve against the malevolent influence of dark magic. The days of wicked incantations and unholy rituals are behind us, and we pledge to cleanse our land from the stain of magic.
In this new Sormuse, the state shall ensure the purity of our people’s hearts and souls. We shall promote virtuous living and moral rectitude, cleansing the land of all enchantments and spells. Every citizen shall be free from the corrupting influence of forbidden powers.
No longer shall the twisted machinations of sorcery threaten our land. We shall eradicate the foul practice of magic and return to the righteous path. Those who defy our pursuit of purity shall face the stern judgement of the state.
But let it be known that we do not condone dissent. Any who challenge our noble cause and attempt to bring back the dark arts shall be met with the swift and unyielding hand of justice. The state is our protector, and we, in turn, are its defenders.
Sormuse is reborn, and we stride resolutely toward a brighter future, free from the influence of malevolent magic. The evil sorcery that oppressed us for far too long has been expelled, making way for the dawn of an era defined by purity, righteousness, and collective strength.
By the people’s collective will, we shall prevail.
Signed,
The Central Committee of the State
Chapter 1 The Gilded Cage
Aria’s breath came in ragged gasps as she dashed through the bustling streets of the city. It was midday, and people had begun moving towards the market stalls for their midday lunch. She had lost all sense of time while engrossed in her research and cursed herself for not setting an alarm. Her heart pounded as she navigated the throng, a maze of bodies and steam-machines belching acarid smoke into the air. Some people gave way to allow her to pass, others merely looked at her with curiosity as she darted past, their attention momentarily diverted from whatever task they were doing. Aria had always prided herself on her punctuality and presentation. She could already imagine the professor’s stern expression upon her late arrival, compounded by her dishevelled appearance. Her steps quickened as she mentally rehearsed apologies and reasons for her tardiness.
She took a shortcut through the market. Ignoring the indignant shouts of the stall holders trying to sell their wares. For a moment, the smell of smoke,coal and industry was temporarily replaced with fragrant perfumes, fabrics and cooking food. It was in that moment that her stomach began to voice its displeasure of being ignored, adding to the already disgruntled chorus of the irate merchants. She squeezed through a narrow gap between a vendor’s cart and the corner of a stone building. Was this the right way? Did she turn in too soon? It had been 2 months since he had last gone through this part of the city but much of it had changed since then. With the ever growing demand for power and better infrastructure to house the growing population, constant renovations had to be made. She looked around in an attempt to get her bearings and find something familiar. She took note of the cranes and belching smoke of one of the factories. She eventually found herself at the foot of an old statue. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she gazed up at the towering figure of the long dead Tsar. The statue had been defaced and was full of various forms of graffiti. The marred monument stood as both a relic of the past and a reminder of the State’s rise to power.
As her eyes flitted over the vandalised marks marring the stone visage, Aria couldn’t help but ponder on the stories of the long dead tyrant and the times before the revolution. She thought back to the tales of mages wielding immense power and influence, only for their empire to crumble under the weight of an uprising. The very idea of magic was now met with scorn and fear.
Her thoughts were abruptly shattered by a sudden shout followed by a collision. She found herself on the ground as a steam carriage sped by, its driver issuing a slew of curses. ″Are you alright?!″ came a voice from nearby. The stranger came and offered a hand to help her up. Aria accepted the hand, feeling the unfamiliar texture of gloves against her skin. “A bit of dirt here and there, but everything appears to be in order,” she replied with a small smile, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious figure before her. The stranger, a woman, was a beautiful figure with raven hair that cascaded like silk, framing cat-like features that held an air of enigmatic grace. Her green-eyed gaze met Aria’s, and she smirked. ″You know, staring out into space is a good way to get yourself flattened.″ Aria flushed as she realised her mistake. ″S-sorry,” she stammered. “I was lost in thought.″ The woman glanced at the statue, then at Aria. ″Funny, most people won’t even give this relic a passing glance, much less stare at it like you did.″ she remarked.
Aria glanced back at the statue and thought for a moment before responding. ″Most people avoid looking at it out of fear of being seen as a loyalist. I believe it is important to remember the past in order to avoid repeating its mistakes.″ The woman nodded. ″Wise words. Are you an academic by chance?″ . ″ I am part of the science commission at the academy,″ Aria explained quickly, realising her meeting with the professor was growing ever closer. She checked the time on a nearby clock tower and felt a jolt of panic. ″I am so sorry! I need to go!″ Aria hastily gathered her belongings and sprinted in the direction of the cafe.
