AetherFall

The burning of parchment filled the air. Celeste stood atop balcony, breathing heavy as the remnants of the Grand Archive crackled below. The Enclave agents had been relentless searching for who caused it

The city streets below were in chaos The Pantheon's enforcers had underestimated her. Celeste had spent too many years hiding Tonight she felt that she won.

A whistle cut through the air. An arrow, laced with divine sigils, shot toward her from another rooftop across the square. Celeste twisted her body midair, aether surging through her limbs. She extended her hand and compressed the air itself, creating a vacuum that pulled the arrow off course. 

The archer already preparing another shot. Celeste's mind raced.

Think, Celeste. Use the aether differently.

She closed her eyes for a fraction of a second, feeling the energy flowing through the wreckage. She reached out, pulling at the remaining aether in the burning debris below.

The flames shuddered, then collapsed inward, compressing into condensed heat and pressure. Celeste pushed it forward. energy shot through the air like a comet, crashing into the other rooftop. The archer barely had time to react before the explosion.

She turned, sprinting along the edge of the building. Below, Enclave were forcing their way through the wreckage. Celeste knew she had to go

She leaped.

Midair, she reached for the aether again—this time, grabbing the very wind itself. She twisted the currents around her, slowing her fall just enough to land safely on the another rooftop. The moment her feet touched stone, she ran.

Bells rang in warning. The Pantheon's forces would be coming down the streets by dawn.

Celeste wasn't just a fugitive anymore.

And the whole world would soon know it.