Chapter 1:
The Exiled Explorer
The desert wind blew warmly across the El-Mahra harbor, carrying the scent of sea salt mixed with spices. It felt dry and quite hot against the skin. William Greaves disembarked from the merchant ship with heavy steps, his eyes scanning the view ahead.
What is this?
A breathtaking view of the city.
The city was like something out of a fairy tale: glowing crystal towers, white marble streets, and silent floating machines at work.
It was an unusual sight for William, making him eager to explore further. Eventually, he found a market.
"Far from home, huh?" asked an old merchant nearby, proudly displaying a stack of colorful spices.
William gave a thin smile. "You could say that."
He stepped deeper into the market, trying not to draw attention. But it was hard not to stand out. His hair was light brown, his skin paler than the locals. He knew every eye was on him.
"I have to be quick," he muttered quietly, his hand feeling the small map in his jacket pocket. It was a clue leading to the Luminaris crystal laboratory, his main goal here.
However, his attempt to slip by didn’t last long. Suddenly, a loud voice rang out behind him.
"Hey, you! Stop!" yelled a guard in golden-black uniform.
William turned, his eyes widening. The guard was running toward him with two companions. He didn’t hesitate. Quickly, he fled, weaving through the market crowd.
Whatever it was, he had to run, he couldn't get caught!
"Stop! You can't run from us!"
William squeezed between narrow alleys, breathing heavily. He leaped over stacks of wooden boxes and ducked under silk cloths hanging between buildings. But there were too many pursuers.
At the final corner, he found a dead end. A high stone wall blocked his path.
"Damn," he muttered, bracing himself to fight.
But before he could move, a cold voice stopped everything.
"Stop," said a woman. Her voice was calm, yet full of authority.
Could the owner of that voice be a leader in this city? That’s what William thought.
The guards immediately stopped and saluted. William stared at the woman. She wore a silver robe adorned with small crystals that glowed softly. Her face was clean, with sharp dark brown eyes and neatly styled black hair.
"Who is she?" he asked one of the guards.
"A spy, Your Majesty. She looked suspicious in the market," one of the guards replied.
The woman approached William, her eyes scanning every detail of him. "A spy? She looks like a lost poor sailor."
William gave a wry smile. "Exactly. Just a poor sailor. I don't know what they think."
The woman was unfazed. "A poor sailor doesn’t sneak around the royal laboratory. You're here for something."
William didn’t answer, only stared at her. She smiled faintly. "I’ll find out your purpose soon enough. For now, you are my guest."
She turned to the guards. "Take him to the palace. I’ll handle him."
So, is this woman a princess? The guards called her 'Your Majesty,' right? Ah, once again, William was lost in his thoughts. Meanwhile, he didn’t even know what his fate would be.
The palace, huh?
---
El-Mahra Palace...
At El-Mahra Palace, William sat in the middle of a grand hall filled with nobles. The walls were decorated with crystal mosaics that reflected soft light, creating an atmosphere of grandeur but also intimidation. It was blinding, like knowing exactly how to assert different castes without having to speak.
The woman from earlier sat in the main seat. She introduced herself.
"I am Khadija Al-Rahim, head researcher of Luminaris and the princess of this kingdom. You've caused some trouble, but I believe you may be useful."
Ah, so she was indeed a royal princess.
William stared at her, confused. "Useful? I don't understand what you mean."
One of the nobles stood angrily. "Your Majesty, this person is clearly a threat! We can’t allow him to live. Who knows what he’s planning?"
William gritted his teeth but remained silent. Khadija raised her hand, stopping the debate. "I decide who is a threat and who is not. He stays here until I get my answers."
William finally spoke. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a sailor—"
"A sailor who sneaked into the market and almost reached the forbidden zone?" Khadija interrupted, her eyes flashing. "Don’t think I’m foolish. I know you’re more than that."
William fell silent. Khadija stared at him for a moment before waving her hand. "Take him to a guest room. I want him watched closely."
So, it seemed like he wasn’t just any guest, now he was a prisoner, wasn’t he?
---
That night, William sat in a simple yet comfortable room. From the window, he could see the giant Luminaris crystals shining in the center of the city. The crystals looked like the heart of the city, a source of life and a great mystery.
He pulled the map from his pocket, staring at it uncertainly. "What am I really facing here?" he muttered.
His mind was torn between his mission to steal Luminaris and the growing curiosity about this world. For the first time in a long time, William felt he might be involved in something much bigger than himself.
There was a sense of worry and vigilance. Yet, he did not give up on his purpose here.
"This is beyond my imagination..."
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