The Archivist Who Burned the Truth: A City of Lies

High above a dying world, the obsidian towers of Erythra, a city born of hubris and magic, cling precariously to the clouds. Within its heart lies the Grand Athenaeum, an infinite library where Serith, the enigmatic archivist, guards the secrets of ages. Neither male nor female, Serith holds the key to Erythra's salvation—an ancient text whispered to hold the power of rebirth. But the text unveils a truth more devastating than destruction: the city’s shimmering facade masks a pact forged in blood, a sacrifice of the lower levels to fuel the elite’s opulent existence.

Torn between duty and a simmering resentment for the decadent ruling council, Serith is caught in a web of deceit. Council member Chloe Torres, a viper cloaked in silk, sees Serith's knowledge as a path to absolute power, offering promises of reform that are nothing but gilded cages. Meanwhile, in the city's shadowed depths, Nathan Hansen, a disillusioned engineer, ignites the flames of rebellion, whispering of a future free from the council's tyranny. Serith, the keeper of Erythra’s past, becomes an unwitting pawn in its volatile present, caught between the machinations of the elite and the desperate cries of the oppressed.

As Serith delves deeper into the ancient text, fragmented memories surface, shattering their carefully constructed identity. They were once a child of the lower levels, chosen, molded, and their memories erased to serve the very power they now question. The lines between victim and perpetrator blur, echoing the city's own moral decay. Chloe, sensing the shift in Serith, tightens her grip, weaving a tapestry of lies and half-truths, painting Nathan as a dangerous radical, driving Serith further into isolation.

But the rebellion cannot be silenced. Erythra shudders, its magic flickering, mirroring Serith’s own internal turmoil. Within the library’s echoing halls, the final piece of the puzzle clicks into place: a failsafe, a ritual with the power to either restart the city’s core or unleash its utter annihilation. Betrayed and hunted, Serith finds refuge amongst the rebels, discovering a shared yearning for justice, even if their paths diverge. The Grand Athenaeum becomes a battleground, a crucible where Serith must choose a side, a destiny.

© 2024 PublishDrive (E-kirja): 6610000689057

Julkaisupäivä

E-kirja: 23. joulukuuta 2024