A World on the Precipice
The Crimson Citadel stood as an unshaken monument of power for centuries, its red stone walls gleaming beneath the twin moons of Mars. It had withstood wars, revolutions, and the passage of time itself. But now, it stood on the brink of something far worse.
At the highest balcony of the citadel, Prince Arian Valerius gazed into the distance, his mind heavy with the burdens of a throne he was not ready to claim.
Beyond the Grand Spires, the sky itself seemed to tremble. The Rift had grown.
What had once been a mere anomaly in the Exo-Wastes—a distortion of light and space—had become an expanding wound in the very fabric of reality. Tendrils of cosmic energy flickered in and out of existence, and with each passing day, the Rift pulsed like a dying star, threatening to unravel everything.
His father would have known what to do.
King Valerius had ruled with strength and certainty, always guiding Mars with an unwavering hand. But he was gone now. And Arian, untested and uncertain, was left to navigate the chaos in his place.
A gust of cold wind swept through the citadel, and with it came the distant sound of chanting.
The Solar Clerics.
From the streets below, they sang ancient hymns to the Celestial Sovereign, pleading for salvation. Arian's lips curled in frustration. What god would answer them now? The Sovereign was dead. And his death had left Mars to fend for itself.
The Gathering of the Court
The great doors of the Throne Hall creaked open, and a procession of nobles entered, their expressions tense. At the head of the group was Chancellor Mordain, the kingdom's chief scholar, draped in ceremonial robes of deep blue. Beside him walked Commander Eridan, his battle-worn armor reflecting the dim torchlight, and Lady Seraphis, Arian's most trusted advisor.
As Arian turned to face them, the weight of expectation in their eyes nearly crushed him.
"Your Highness," Mordain began, bowing deeply. "The Rift has expanded again. Reports from the eastern provinces state that entire villages have been swallowed by its influence."
Arian's fingers tightened against the armrest of the throne. "And what have the scholars learned?"
Mordain hesitated. "It is… unlike anything we have encountered. The Rift is not a simple storm or anomaly. It is a tear in existence itself. And it is spreading."
Commander Eridan stepped forward, his voice grim. "If the Rift reaches the Grand Spires, it will consume everything. Our scholars, our military strongholds, our people. We cannot afford to wait."
Lady Seraphis, ever calm, folded her arms. "Our defenses are useless against something we do not understand. This will result in Mars instability, and we must approach it as such."
The mention of Mars instability sent a chill through the room.
In their eyes the Universe was collapsing. And Mars was caught in the fallout.
A King's Dilemma
Arian leaned forward, his mind racing. "What are our options?"
Seraphis sighed. "We must investigate the Rift directly. Only then will we understand if it can be contained."
"And if it cannot?"
A heavy silence fell over the room. Then, Seraphis spoke the words Arian had been dreading.
"Then we must consider evacuation."
The idea was unthinkable. Mars had been the jewel of civilization for centuries. Its people had conquered the barren wastes, built thriving cities, turned a dead world into a beacon of power. To abandon it now would mean more than just the loss of a home. It would mean the end of everything his ancestors had fought for.
His father had always ruled with strength. But was strength the ability to stand firm in the face of destruction, or was it the wisdom to know when to flee?
Arian closed his eyes.
No.
He could not abandon Mars.
"I will go to the Rift."
Mordain's eyes widened. "Your Highness—"
"If I am to lead, I must understand what we are facing." Arian's voice was steady. "Send word. I will depart at first light."
Commander Eridan clenched his jaw. "Then I will assemble an escort. If you insist on going, you will not go alone."
Arian nodded, knowing full well that this journey could mean his death. But what choice did he have? If the Rift truly held the key to Mars's survival, then he had no choice but to seek its answers himself.
And in doing so, he would step onto a path that would alter the fate of Mars—and the universe—forever.