Dark Crow Rising

"Look, I'm telling you, this isn't my domain, I'm legally not allowed to interfere." I explain to the angry shopkeeper as glass cracks under his shoes.

"You're armed and armoured! You're a guard!" he points out as if it means anything. Sighing, I put a hand to my brow and shake my head. Honestly, I was just passing by and he drags me into this. For the love of the gods...

"The most I can do is put in a report to the actual Board of the City Guard. Again, I'm an estate guard." I tell him, leaving him none the happier but it gives me a chance to leave. I nod my head along and mutter as abuse is hurled towards my turned back. Taking note of the pair of actual city guards turning the corner, I approach them.

"What's up, Playgrounder?" one questions, a chuckle on his lips at how oh-so-funny his quip is. I smirk back and step around a little.

"Have fun you two, got you a lovely concerned citizen." I say, patting the pair on their backs and forcing them ahead with it. The commotion all goes far behind and I carry on with the reason I am out here in the streets of Grimmicksal. I want to get some flowers for my sweet thing and surprise her while I have the freedom to not be couped up in the house.

Watching a group of people about my age, I hide my stare as they go about their carefree day. I have no clue as to where in the family the girls might be, but, I can say without a doubt the boys are second sons or later. If they were firstborns like me, they'd have been sworn in as estate guards as a starting point for a military career. I wish sometimes I had the freedom these lot do, but, I can work with my lot in life.

There's a strict degree applied to it because of this comparatively half-hearted military service. However, the benefits are clear as I bring good standing to my family's name and some access to the many industries built around our armed forces. And, while it's not the most impressive thing to the longest-serving people, the fact I was able to get a Gilded Coin of the Clockwork Republic this young is nice. While not a proper medal, it is still something I can have polished on a desk, cupboard or windowsill.

Sometimes I have to admit, I wish I didn't have the responsibilities my role incurs. But at the same time, how can someone not love a sharp uniform and place of importance? They might not always be proud of me specifically, yet, it's easy to get rolled up in all the excitement people have. At some point as well, one or more of the people in those crowds will be my children.

My firstborn son will follow in my footsteps and I will of had the experience to ease him into it better. My father could not offer me the same though the effort was put in by him. And, of course, the house I stand guard over is as grand as it is because of him. I know every speck of dust like I do my own reflection but at least there's a lot of rooms to walk through.

Catching a hint of my quarry with my nose, my closest hand goes to my money and it rattles. I smile a little in anticipation of her smile when I give her the flowers. I think she will enjoy them, especially if I grab her a nice wealthy bundle of bright colours. Minding the traffic, I wait a little and then head towards the shop stall at the edge of a private botanist.

Well, private may be a loose word here. With so little plant life to be found inside of a mountain-state, places that put in the effort to grow gardens, trees and simple flower baskets have a lot to offer. There's a bit of a queue at the stall, but that's alright, I have plenty of time. Oh, even better, people are just moving along.

"Welcome, how can I be of service?" the aelenvari woman tending the business asks, her bulbs shining bright. She catches onto this and hides them and I smile like she is. I guess she must've been raised among her own kind and not in the hustle and bustle of a place like this. Can't yet speak once, still doing it twice.

"Oh... Lemme think." I go, clicking my tongue while I bring out the amount of money her chalkboard requests. Her long ears do not twitch in the slightest at the sound of the money and instead, she nearly loses herself in the flowers. Going by the one she's almost giddy over and the matching colour of her hair, I have a few guesses as to her name.

Noting how the aelenvari shopkeep becomes excited as I pass over her name-flower, I pick them.

"Here you go." I say, almost laughing as those puffed-up rosy cheeks grow.

"Thank you for coming! Blessings of the gods and goddesses be upon you." she tells me and I wave.

"Yeah, you too." I tell her quickly, leaving her behind so I can get on my way to the woman these are for. Securing my money once again, I find a street name and reorient myself in the direction I need to go. The closest portal hub is still a short walk off, but, I can get there in no time at all. Straightening my back and sending my shoulders out, my armour rattles more than usual.

The crowds spot me earlier and step aside and a cylindrical tower comes into view. Hopefully, it's not too busy or those inside mistake me for the estate guard of one of the houses beyond. Minding the road again, a series of completely packed military vehicles drive on by. The expression of the state guard within is grim and their weapon grips tight.

Raising a brow slightly, I shake my head and cross the road. Spotting an unused console, I start to put in the public visitor's code and wait. A small camera on it flashes and then a bing of approval follows suit. Smiling a little as the portal opens up, I make sure everything is in order and then step through.

The industry of the city makes way for the artificial sky of the isolated pocket dimension. I briefly walk the gravel path as the portal swirls behind me and wait outside the metal gate. A window opens and a wonderfully dressed woman leans out with a wave and smile on her glossy lips. Returning the pair of behaviours, I start to balance on my heels as the commotion comes bursting out the front door.

"Hi, hi, hi!" she cheerily goes as her impatience forces her through the opening gate at the first chance. She bangs up against me and our lips meet for a quick peck before I hand over the flowers.

"For you my sweet." I say, watching her knees grow weak as she tries to balance the bundle between a firm and tight grip. She finds the right kind of pressure and brings them in for a hearty sniffing.

"Thank you!" she chirps and I get another hug and kiss as a reward. I chuckle a huff and hold her close, a slight sway to our squeeze.

"Everything going alright for you as of late?" I ask, looking at the hedges cushioning the front garden from the exterior walls. She nods and moves to take my hand so she can probably take me to something to show. But, we stop as an alarm rings out, even in here.

"What's that?" my sweet asks and I frown as I free myself of her grip. Setting a hand on my weapon, I let her see my deadly seriousness.

"That is a national alert and unless your brother has received something in the mail recently..." I say, trailing off at the lack of inspectors coming through or my friend coming to attention at the estate's front.

"Is everything all right?" my sweet asks and I start to shake my head.

"Make sure everyone is safe and here, I need to get back home!" I tell her, waving a quick farewell and rushing back through the portal. I rematerialise into a complete mess and am forced to step aside quickly as others like me rush home. Seeing the tide of soldiers, the people throughout the city follow suit and I find a group of city guard.

"You need to get to your estate, soldier." the grizzliest among them reminds me with a firm pat and pointed finger. I resist his efforts and catch his attention fully.

"What's going on?" I ask, spotting a small pebble leaping into the air and an odd shake lingering in my legs.

"Something nasty is on the way and a full deployment is in order, now, go!" he explains and reminds, his next pat bordering on a shove. Rushing ahead, I ignore the panic of children and older so the city guard can do their job and I do mine. Vehicles are forced to stop at gunpoint and their living contents are emptied.

Shop owners are trying to lock up but are just shoved back inside and the doors are forcibly blocked. Running with all I have, the quakes happen again and a pile of glasses a waitress was going to bring in collapse. The sharp debris spreads across the ground and a bit of blood spills when some people are too slow and are trampled. The panic starts to grow and what feels like a bomb rocks the entire mountain.

Somehow, the entire mountain-state falls quiet and the sound of all manner of vehicles can be heard. Airships are firing what they can and explosions are going off right... Above. Looking that way, I frown as some kind of dust waterfall starts to rain down.

A set of giant fingers suddenly burst in through the mountain at the far end. Another load come in and they start to curl around the sand. I blink as in disbelief as more and more solid rock becomes dust until the very day is shining into the mountain's core. A skeleton, almost pitch black in body.

The bony jaw roars in triumph as the mountain is pulled apart like a nut's shell. Gulping, my feet start to move without my conscious input. Terror returns to the mountain and I barge my way past those in my way no matter who they are. I need to get home.

The giant reaches into the mountain-state's centre, bringing with it whatever that sand is. The tower leading to my sweet's home collapses into a puff and the mountain's top fails. Rocks and what is left of above rain down and come nowhere near the ground as anything but dust. Watching the people of the mountain vanish, I smash aside someone at the nearest console. Putting in the code for my home, I kick the console as the city's power fails.

The sand starts to rush into the building and I throw what debris I can at it. One hand remains on the essential button and I keep pressing it as the portal slowly opens. It finally bursts to life and I rush around, barely avoiding the dust and leaping through the portal. Sighing in relief, I hobble slightly with my numb leg and I shake as my vision goes black.

Why do I feel like I am leaking?

Shaking light and colour back into view, I drag myself through the front door and see Father. His eyes are wide with shock, mouth agape, finger up. Nearly falling again, I blink as I lose my grip on the thing I was touching. Looking behind me, my face goes blank.

I brought the dust in with me...

I fall onto the floor, the dust reaching my hips and further beyond.

"MALLOR!" my mother cries as I reach my hand out. I barely curl a finger up as it becomes sand. I can't speak, I can't-