Volume 2 prologue 1 Stars all for their own

''So this is the grand city of Argia, I don't know what I expected, but I never thought it would be a sky like this.'' Abram had ventured out of a warehouse where the gate to the city had been hidden. As soon as he was outside in an old parking lot, he came close to a fence to look at the city around him. There were skyscrapers and rows of buildings in every direction and another great wall in the distance, one far taller than the one on the outside, but he could still see the night sky above.

A sky shining with countless blue stars like diamonds, He had never seen such a thing, there were stars all around them, but no signs of a moon, there was something else as well, a red tint on the clouds in the distance, it was quite beautiful to him but made one thing clear, what had separated the city from the rest of the world was never the walls.

''Wow, I'm no astrology but that is not the same sky I have seen since I was a child, are you really telling me we are not really on Earth anymore?'' Rush Collins had followed him as well and leaned over the fence to take a look at the city sprawling ahead, the city ahead illuminating the night was rising, the rows of buildings were stacked in multiple layers each taller than the last.

''So these are the so-called layers. City folk had their districts built at different heights, all the way to the capitol district. I'm guessing that will be the place beyond the inner wall. I heard of this from a few travelers, but none of them ever mentioned this sky man. That is so damn weird.'' Rush Collins was just as impressed with the view.

''Another dimension... Maybe it's a false sky... do you think this whole city may be the work of a demon? "Abram could only think of that, the whole sky changing could not be done by man.

''That is a scary thought. Let's just hope there is nothing that bad. The city folks even have their own sky, no wonder they don't even care about us outside of it, I never thought the difference between us was this huge, I have to wonder what else is normal for these folks.'' Abram leaned against the fence, looking back at the warehouse. Aurora and Cao were both walking towards them, they finally caught up with them.

''Welcome to the last great capital in the world, is quite something, right? The city of demons.'' Aurora opened her arms proudly as she looked at the great wall in the distance and spun in her hell to look back at the two of them.

''Is really quite huge, I think all of the outskirts can fit on a single of those rings, how many districts are here anyway?''

''Seven layers, those are the steps of hell.'' Mr. Cao spoke nonchalant.

''Right, you two are city folk correct? I guess you both must know how this place works.''

''Is not that different from any other city, most people simply work. How good your status is will depend on your position in the city to be sure. The capital district is completely walled off, only government workers and their families are allowed in...well with the exception of a few VIP's I supposed, the other districts are controlled by the five families except here the central ring, the inner circle.'' Mr.Cao looked at the rising streets in the distance with longing.

''Where are you two from? Both of you are from the low streets then?'' Rush asked them, and Aurora just shook her head.

''I worked in the capitol district... "I was a member of the anti-devil corps, just a regular troop, but I won't lie, I was always a rich kid."Aurora pointed at the distant wall.

''Yeah she did mention that, I guess you must really know a lot about the big shots there. So how is it beyond the great inner wall?'' Abram asked her as she leaned with her back against the fence her expression turned quite serious.

''Beats me, I got most of my memories erased when I quit the force, is standard procedure there. They must have a demon similar to yours, Mr.Abram.''

''What, just like that? Is that what happens when you quit a job in this place?'' Rush asked her, and she just smiled.

''It is just a security thing. We are speaking about the government devil control team. You can only quit if you agree to its contract and all. Still, I didn't really lose my memories of the people I knew or even how to fight, but some details are just blank in my mind now.''

''One thing you both should be wary of is that contracts in this city are everything. Be extremely careful of what you sign.'' Mr. Cao interjected. ''Now as to myself, I lived in the Long Wan district. Most people are of Chinese descent there, so it's an easy guess, as to what my profession was, I was an assassin for the Hailong Hui triad, but that's all in the past now.'' Cao stared into the sky and shruged.

''Will you look at that Abram It seems we are the only normal people in this group.'' The four of them looked at the city, Abram felt it all to be quite surreal he never really expected to see anything this massive, it was like the tales of the old world for sure.''

''Well, I said I would judge this city with my own eyes, so what is the next step? Are we going to hunt on these streets?'' Abrams's expression was clear with tiredness, he knew the streets of the outskirts well, but the expanding metropolis dwarfed him in ways he never thought, for all that he had seen facing a different sky made it clear how little he knew of the world.

''That is correct, you two, don't worry. Mr.Cao and I still have contacts. It will take us a few months to settle in, but we will proceed with our work in this city. This is the true city of demons. The root of them all is in here somewhere.'' Auror left the fence and put her arm over Abrams's shoulder.

''That said, people are people anywhere this is just a city, so you two don't worry too much, get a feel of the town, and go and try the food, the sooner you get that this is just one more place where people gather to live the better.'' Abram nodded

''You are right, I really need to find a good bar here. They must have some stuff I have never seen.''Rush clapped already smiling, Abram smiled again, he was sure Rush would have no problem getting used to the city, but he had no such confidence.

''Well then, let us go back to the labyrinth. We have no authorization to wander just yet, but it is good to know the night sky remains as beautiful as always.'' Mr.Cao was already walking back into the warehouse, Aurora shrugged and followed him.

''Well, I guess we really did make it...so many people died hoping to see the night sky.'' Abram fixed his cap as he walked back with Collins.

''Yeah, I'm going to judge it with my own eyes as well, is the least I can do for them.''Abram knew that in the end, Nicholas did what he did in hopes of seeing these stars, so if anything, he needed to know if they were stars worth seeking or merely lures in the night.

As a hunter, he was sure that he would know the true face of the city in due time.