The Shattered Realms series

Kael ran through the dense forest, his breath ragged and his limbs aching. The Godshard pulsed faintly against his chest, its warmth a constant reminder of the danger he carried. Behind him, the shouts of Imperial soldiers echoed, their boots crushing leaves and twigs.

"They're closing in," he muttered to himself, glancing over his shoulder. His heart sank as he caught a glimpse of their dark armor weaving through the trees.

He pushed himself harder, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over roots. The shard's power still thrummed in his veins, but it was growing fainter. He had used too much during the raid.

Suddenly, the forest opened up, revealing a narrow gorge. A rickety rope bridge swayed precariously over the chasm, its planks worn and weathered. Kael hesitated for a heartbeat before sprinting toward it.

"Stop him!" one of the soldiers shouted.

Kael darted onto the bridge, the planks creaking under his weight. He reached the middle when a crossbow bolt whizzed past his ear, embedding itself into the wood. Another bolt followed, tearing through the rope on one side. The bridge tilted dangerously, and Kael grabbed the remaining rope to steady himself.

With one last surge of effort, he scrambled to the other side and collapsed onto solid ground. The bridge gave a final groan before snapping, plunging into the gorge below.

Kael lay there for a moment, gasping for breath. The soldiers cursed from the other side, their voices fading as Kael pulled himself to his feet and stumbled deeper into the forest.

Hours later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Kael emerged from the trees and found himself on the edge of a bustling settlement. Airships of various sizes were docked at makeshift platforms, their engines humming softly. Merchants shouted from market stalls, and travelers hurried between ships.

Kael's eyes widened. He had never seen so many people in one place, let alone so many airships.

"Looking for passage?" a rough voice asked.

Kael turned to see a woman leaning casually against a wooden post. She wore a leather coat lined with fur, and her dark hair was tied back in a loose braid. A cutlass hung at her side, and her piercing green eyes seemed to size him up in an instant.

"I—uh..." Kael hesitated, unsure of what to say.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like you belong here. And you definitely don't look like you can afford passage."

Kael frowned. "I don't have money, but I—"

"Let me guess," she interrupted. "You're on the run from someone, and you need to disappear fast."

Kael's mouth opened, then closed. How did she know?

The woman smirked. "Relax, kid. You're not the first. Name's Lira. Captain of the Stormchaser." She gestured toward a sleek airship docked nearby. Its hull was painted a deep blue, with gold trim that gleamed in the fading light.

Kael glanced nervously over his shoulder. "If I don't get out of here soon, the Empire will—"

"The Empire?" Lira's smirk vanished, replaced by a look of interest. "Well, that changes things. What did you do to get them on your tail?"

"It's... complicated," Kael admitted.

Lira folded her arms. "Complicated usually means valuable. What's your offer?"

Kael hesitated. He didn't trust her, but he didn't have a choice. "I can help you. I'm good with machines—I can fix almost anything."

Lira raised an eyebrow. "A mechanic, huh? That's useful. But if the Empire's after you, you'd better be worth the trouble."

Kael reached into his jacket and pulled out a small device—a broken piece of machinery he had salvaged from his workshop. He quickly disassembled it, rearranged a few components, and handed it back to her.

Lira examined it, pressing a button that activated a glowing blue light. She looked impressed, though she tried to hide it. "Not bad. All right, you've got a deal. But don't think for a second that I'm doing this out of charity."

Kael nodded, relieved. "Thank you."

Lira pushed off the post and started walking toward her ship. "You'll earn your keep on the Stormchaser. And if you bring trouble on board, you'll regret it. Now, let's move before someone recognizes you."

As they boarded the Stormchaser, Kael marveled at the ship's design. The deck was sleek and well-maintained, with glowing crystals embedded along the railings that hummed with energy.

"Stay out of the crew's way," Lira said as she guided him below deck. "You'll bunk here." She opened the door to a small, cramped cabin.

Kael set his bag down, the weight of the day finally catching up to him. "Why are you helping me?" he asked.

Lira leaned against the doorframe, her expression unreadable. "Let's just say I've got my own reasons for staying one step ahead of the Empire. But don't mistake this for kindness. If you're more trouble than you're worth, I'll toss you overboard."

Kael nodded, swallowing hard. "Understood."

As Lira left, Kael sat on the narrow cot and pulled out the Godshard. Its faint glow seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope. He was no longer alone—and with the Stormchaser, he might finally have a chance to uncover the truth about the shard.

But as the ship's engines roared to life and they lifted into the night sky, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was only beginning—and that the worst was yet to come.