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Chapter 1: Shadows and Bonds

  Chapter 1: Shadows and Bonds

  Beneath the scorching sun of Distaria, surrounded by crumbling walls and the grating hum of sand-filled winds, Equi sits cross-legged in what can only generously be called "her spot." It's her makeshift refuge—a place to catch fleeting moments of calm amidst a world that feels relentlessly harsh. Today, though, calm is the last thing on her mind.

  “Ugh," Equi groans, running her fingers through her oddly natural, blue-tangled hair. "Why is my life such a cliché? My birthday falls on the Once-in-a-Million-Chance phenomenon! A solar and lunar eclipse on the same day? Could the universe be any more dramatic?”

  Her “emotion filled” complaints are, of course, aimed at Dren, who casually leans against a stained, weathered wall nearby. His rugged face is etched with amusement, one eyebrow cocked as if silently daring her to keep going.

  “Now, Equi," he begins in his usual drawl, but before he can even finish, Equi mockingly deepens her voice to mimic his:

  "Don’t talk like that! You know it’s because you’re so special." She theatrically presses her hands over the center of her eyebrow to mock Dren’s “seriousness”. "I mean, who else could possibly be MY best friend?"

  Dren bursts into laughter, the kind of laugh that breaks the tension like a cop in a room full of criminals. “Haha get it?” she thought. He responds with an overly dramatic bow, his iron short bats clinking together as if laughing with him against his back. "Spot on, princess. I couldn't have said it better myself."

  The exchange is pure—playful banter intertwined with genuine camaraderie. Beneath Dren’s sarcasm and Equi’s exasperation is a deep bond forged through shared struggle.

  Living in Distaria is no laughing matter. Labelled as “The Dredge” of humanity! The forgotten, unwanted, criminal, poor, and “mentally inadequate” fight for survival in this wasteland. There’s nothing “dropped off” to the island but other people’s “trash”. But even other people’s trash can grow a backbone and defend its own fate…

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Dren, as usual, doesn’t leave the moment untouched. “You know,” he smirks, “with the way things are, maybe you’ll reincarnate as a literal sun goddess next time. Then your eclipses can come with fireworks.” He winks, earning an eyeroll from Equi.

  Across the vast ocean, the scene shifts to a shadowy, rain-soaked cityscape in America. A group gathers under the cover of night, their faces hidden in the half-light of flickering street lamps. Each figure carries a different energy: redemption, revenge, confusion, dominance, and destruction burn like unspoken fires in their eyes.

  These figures are bent on forging their own paths—paths that promise to reshape not only their world but the lives of everyone connected to it. The gathering hints at something larger, a storm brewing on the edges of fate, but their true purpose remains shrouded in mystery.

  Among them, one figure pauses, looking up at the sky as if sensing the cosmic shift. The audience is left with questions, as this moment serves only to plant the seeds of intrigue for what is to come. “Tonight let us bathe in the magnificence the universe offers us. We may not feel the cosmic energy, but we can see the planets shifting towards us. Take this city, show them we will no longer tolerate ignorance and corruption.”

  Washington D.C. fell that night, in what could only be called. “The night light fell, so did America”

  Back in Distaria, as night begins to fall and the eclipses draw closer, Equi and Dren make their way to what passes for a "celebration" in their corner of the world. The town is rough, dangerous, and unforgiving, but tonight even Distaria manages a flicker of life.

  Their shared laughter echoes as they walk shoulder-to-shoulder, Dren pointing out the absurdities of their surroundings; drunks, sex addicts, drug addicts, and dancers alike celebrated as the world began to fall dark. Equi, ever kind, occasionally chides him for being too harsh but can’t stop herself from smiling at his sharp wit.

  Unbeknownst to them, this seemingly unremarkable night marks the first step in a journey that will tie their destinies to forces beyond their understanding. As the eclipses begin to align, to the far east the planets cover the sun, to the far west the rest cover the moon.

  And ALL went pitch Black.

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