My heart pounds against my ribcage, threatening to burst at any moment—but I don’t dare stop. No matter how many times I feel like giving up, I don’t. Not when the footsteps behind me draw closer with every tick of the clock.

  I try not to scream, try not to draw attention as I crash into something in the dark... and then, the predator chasing me appears in front of me. His deep voice lingers in the air:

  “Finally caught you, little bird.”

  ....................

  I spsh water on my face to wash away the drowsiness, then sit on my prayer mat, offering gratitude to my Creator. I was born into a religious family, and Jida—my grandmother—gets upset if I don’t maintain my prayers regurly.

  “Azalea?” Jida calls out, and I guess it’s time for dinner. I dash down the stairs, greet her, and begin piling food onto our ptes.

  “A dy doesn’t munch and chew like that,” she says with a hint of sternness, but I don’t miss the twinkle in her eyes. I smile as she offers me more. “You know how much I love mashed potatoes and grilled chicken with cheese, Jida.” The aroma alone feels enough to fill me.

  My parents died in an accident when I was young, and since then, Grandma has been my only guardian. I don’t remember much of them—just their photos serve as fragile reminders.

  “We need to talk,” she says.

  I prod gently, “About my job?”

  She nods. “Look, darling, I know how much you dislike the idea of working under the Luminarks—but we need money. You need money. You need a better life. It’s not our fault what’s happening to the Virex. People are being killed mercilessly, and if the world’s leaders aren’t taking any steps, then you alone can’t change everything.”

  She pauses, her eyes softening.

  “You feel guilty. We all do. But tell me—what have we done to not deserve a good life? Don’t you think you deserve better opportunities? Don’t you want your Jida to receive proper treatment?”

  Her words echo in my mind, refusing to let me rest.

  I wish there were another way—but Jida isn’t wrong.

  As much as I hate to admit it, I need to leave Ashton, my city under Sora.

  Now, let me expin everything. Our world is divided into four nations:

  Those who value knowledge are called the Luminark.

  Those who live for bravery are known as the Virex.

  Those who crave power are the Velmorran.

  And finally, there’s Sora—those who seek peace.

  I belong to Sora, but I’m not proud of it.

  Why, you might ask? It’s simple—because we’re cowards. Cowards who look the other way while the world burns.

  Since the end of the first Imperial War, the Velmorran have been trying to wipe out the Virex entirely. There was a time when Virex stood as the strongest nation. Now, it's left in ruins. During the war, many of their own leaders betrayed them—hungry for power—and because of that, innocent civilians lost their lives, their families, their homes.

  Throughout Sora, we feel the sorrow, the grief—but we do nothing. We’re not strong enough. We depend on others more than we’d like to admit.

  Even in Luminark and Valemorran, I’m sure there are some ordinary people who feel guilty. But most days when I think about it, I feel torn apart. On one hand I wish Virex to be free of the tyranny but on the other hand I'm here revising my herbology notes to secure a job at Doctrine Association, under Luminark control.

  Although the Luminark aren’t directly responsible for the mass murder in Virex, their leader has close ties to Velmorran’s, supplying ammunition and aids.

  It makes a bit of sense, Knowledge is like light—but even light can cast shadows. Sometimes, the hunger for wisdom gives way to the hunger for power.