The Shattered Sky: Only I Do What the Gods Can't

Kael pushed through the dense underbrush, his boots crunching against the dry leaves and twigs beneath him. The forest seemed endless, and the weight of the journey had begun to settle into his bones.

His legs were stiff from days of nonstop travel, and the sharp feeling of hunger gnawed at his stomach. He paused for a moment, wiping sweat from his brow, and breathed in the cool, crisp air.

The forest gradually gave way to rolling fields, their golden hues shimmering under the light of the setting sun. Kael squinted against the glare, the silhouette of a town emerging in the distance.

The sight of civilization in a while and who knows, this might be the capital. The thought of rest, food, and the possibility of this being where he finds his sister, caused flicker of hope amidst his exhaustion.

The town was alive with activity. Unlike the ravaged villages Kael had passed before, this settlement thrived. Its high stone walls were lined with watchtowers, each manned by guards armed with fragment-powered weapons that gleamed faintly in the fading light. The gates stood open, bustling with traders and travelers.

Kael approached cautiously, his blade at his side and his fragment pulsing faintly in his palm. The hum of energy seemed to grow stronger as he neared the town, the air charged with a faint but undeniable current.

"Fragment energy saturates this place," Neo's voice chimed in his mind. "You'll need to be careful. People here are bound to notice yours."

"I don't plan on drawing attention," Kael muttered under his breath.

Neo's tone turned dry. "You tend to do that anyway."

Kael sighed but said nothing, his focus shifting to the guards at the gate.

The guards were clad in leather and chainmail. Some were reinforced with glowing fragments embedded in their breastplates.

One of them, a tall man with a stern expression, stepped forward as Kael approached.

"State your business," the guard demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"I'm just a traveler," Kael said evenly. "Looking for a place to rest."

The guard's eyes narrowed, scanning Kael from head to toe. His gaze lingered on the faint glow emanating from Kael's palm.

"You're a fragment user," the guard said. It wasn't a question.

Kael nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "It's nothing dangerous. Just for protection."

The guard held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding. "Keep your protection to yourself, then. We don't need trouble here."

Kael stepped through the gates, the sound of activity inside the town washing over him.

The streets were alive with a chaotic energy that spoke of prosperity and tension in equal measure. Merchants shouted their wares from brightly colored stalls, their voices competing with the clang of blacksmiths' hammers and the laughter of children darting through the crowd.

Kael's eyes darted from one sight to the next. Fragments were everywhere—embedded in tools, powering machines and even merged with some children.

"This place is thriving," Kael murmured, his voice tinged with awe.

Neo's voice carried a note of caution. "Thrive or not, power always comes at a cost. Keep your guard up."

Kael nodded, his grip tightening on the strap of his pack.

This was not the capital. No, it was too small. He had to find out if Lira had passed through this town, but the bustling streets made the task feel daunting.

He approached a fruit vendor, a woman with a sharp gaze and quick hands who was arranging glowing apples in neat rows.

"Excuse me," Kael said, his tone polite.

The woman glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you need?"

"I'm looking for someone," Kael said. "A young woman with dark hair, carrying daggers. She might have passed through here recently."

The vendor frowned, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Can't say I've seen anyone like that. But you might try the tavern. Travelers tend to stop there first."

Kael thanked her and moved on, moving through the crowd toward the largest building in the center of town.

The tavern was a bustling hub of activity, its interior warm and noisy. Conversations filled the air, the clinking of mugs and the occasional burst of laughter creating a lively atmosphere.

Kael approached the barkeep, a burly man with a grizzled beard and an air of authority.

"What'll it be?" the barkeep asked, wiping a mug with a cloth.

"Just information," Kael said, placing a few copper coins that he had earned in the small villages he passed on the counter. "I'm looking for someone."

The barkeep eyed the coins before nodding. "Who?"

"A young woman, dark hair, armed with daggers. She might've come through here recently," Kael said, his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest.

The barkeep scratched his beard, his brow furrowing in thought. "Can't say for sure. We get a lot of travelers these days. But if she had fragments, she'd probably have drawn attention. You might ask around."

Kael thanked him and turned to survey the room. The tavern was packed with all sorts—merchants, hunters, and villagers alike. The air buzzed with energy, but no one stood out as particularly useful.

Kael spent the next few hours asking questions, but every answer was the same—no one had seen Lira. Frustration gnawed at him, but he pushed it down, reminding himself that giving up wasn't an option.

As the tavern began to empty for the night, Kael stepped outside, the cool night air a welcome relief.

"She's not here," Neo said softly.

"I know," Kael replied, his voice heavy. "But this town is big. There has to be someone who's seen her."

Neo's tone carried a note of sympathy. "Rest tonight. You'll think clearer in the morning."

Kael nodded reluctantly, finding a quiet corner to settle for the night. But sleep came slowly, his thoughts consumed by worry for his sister.

The next morning, Kael's search took him to the outskirts of town. Here, the mood was noticeably darker. The homes were smaller, the streets less crowded, and the people wore expressions of quiet unease.

"What's wrong?" Kael murmured.

Neo's voice was low and tense. "Something's off. The fragment energy here... it feels corrupted."

Kael's hand went to his blade instinctively as he continued down the street. He overheard snatches of conversation, hushed voices speaking of missing people and strange figures spotted at night.

His steps quickened as he approached a group of villagers huddled near a dilapidated well.

"Excuse me," Kael said, his tone firm but polite. "What's been happening here?"

The villagers exchanged wary glances before an older man stepped forward. "You're not from around here," the man said, his voice gruff.

"I'm just passing through," Kael said. "But I can help. Tell me what's going on."

The man hesitated before nodding. "Bandits. They've been harassing the outskirts for weeks now. Taking supplies, people... anything they can get their hands on."

"People?" Kael asked.

"Yes, they take the young men to turn them into slaves and young woman for their own entertainment."

Kael's jaw tightened. "Where are they hiding?"

The man shook his head. "We don't know. They come at night, and they're gone by morning. But there's more to it than that. They've got fragment-powered weapons, and they're not afraid to use them. That's why no one's tried to stop them."

"This isn't just a town's problem," Neo said in his mind. "As Herald of the Celestials, this is your problem too."

Kael nodded, determination hardening his resolve. "Then I'll stop them."

The villagers looked at him with a mix of hope and skepticism, but Kael didn't wait for their approval. He turned and headed back toward the town square, his mind already racing with plans.

As Kael walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that the bandits were connected to something larger. The fragments they wielded, the corruption Neo had sensed—it all pointed to a darker truth.

But for now, his focus was clear. He had to protect the town, and perhaps, in doing so, he'd find the answers he sought—and maybe even a clue about Lira.

Kael stood in the center of the square, his hand brushing against the hilt of his blade as his mind raced. Around him, the town's bustling energy felt like a distant echo, muted under the thought of the bandit threat.

What if one of the girls they took was his sister? The thought haunted him, a big reminder that he couldn't live with himself if something like that happened to him.

Neo's voice was a steady hum in his mind. "You'll need to act quickly. The longer they operate unchecked, the stronger their grip will become."

Kael tightened his grip. "Then I'll make sure tonight's the last night they threaten anyone."