BLESSED: The forgotten

The Iron Walls of Sector Seven rose like a mountain range carved by human hands, their smooth, gunmetal-gray surface interrupted only by the massive barrels of the wall cannons that gave them their nickname. Kael had to crane his neck to see the top, where automated sentry turrets tracked movement along the perimeter."Impressive, isn't it?" Jabari smirked, nudging Kael's shoulder. "Try not to gawk like a tourist. Makes you look suspicious."Kael scowled but schooled his expression as they approached the gate checkpoint. The Sector guards stood at attention in their sleek, form-fitting armor—black with silver accents, their visors reflecting the sunlight in sharp geometric patterns. Each guard carried a pulse rifle slung across their back, the weapons humming faintly with contained energy. Their uniforms bore the Sector Seven insignia: a stylized wall with seven pillars embroidered in silver thread, symbolizing strength and unity.One guard stepped forward, removing his helmet to reveal a clean-shaven face and sharp, assessing eyes. "Purpose of visit?"Jabari smoothly transitioned into his merchant persona, his voice taking on an easygoing lilt. "Just passing through with my apprentice here. Looking to trade some salvaged tech from the outer sectors." He discreetly pressed a few credit chips into the guard's palm. "For your trouble."The guard weighed the chips in his hand before nodding. "Keep your nose clean. We don't tolerate trouble inside the walls."Then they were through, and Kael's breath caught in his throat.Sector Seven unfolded before them like a dream of the future. Towering spires of alloy and glass shimmered under the artificial sunlight, their surfaces embedded with shifting patterns of light. Hover-transports glided soundlessly along designated lanes, their anti-grav fields distorting the air beneath them. The streets were alive with movement—citizens in flowing, brightly colored robes, merchants hawking wares from floating carts, and children chasing after glowing drones that left trails of harmless sparks in their wake.Jabari chuckled at Kael's stunned silence. "Try not to get lost, kid."They found lodging at The Gilded Cog, an inn that smelled of polished metal and something floral. The receptionist, Amelia, greeted them with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes."One room, two beds," Jabari said, sliding a credit chip across the counter. "My apprentice here isn't used to city comforts. Try not to scare him too much."Kael barely registered the jab. His fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the door panel as they entered their room—the bed linens crisp and untouched, the air filtered and clean. It felt sterile. Wrong.The moment Jabari left ("Stay put. I'll be back."), Kael was out the window.The city swallowed him whole.He wandered like a ghost, drifting through streets that felt too bright, too loud. A food vendor offered him something called "ice cream," the cold sweetness making his teeth ache. A public display projected news of some political debate in the upper sectors, the faces of officials Kael had never heard of flickering above the crowd.Then he saw them.UWN soldiers in their stark white-and-blue uniforms moved through the plaza like they owned it, their insignias gleaming under the artificial lights. Clad in normal camouflage patterns, they weren't armed except in special situations, like high-profile attacks, which made their swagger all the more infuriating. Kael's body tensed instinctively when one of them shouldered past him, hard enough to make him stumble."Watch it, blessed," the soldier sneered, his lip curling around the word like it was something foul.Kael's fingers twitched toward the knife hidden in his sleeve. "Funny. I don't remember the streets being yours."The soldier's face darkened. "You got a mouth on you, huh?"Kael stepped closer, refusing to back down. "And you think you can push people around just because you wear that uniform?""Uniform?" The soldier laughed, a harsh sound. "This is power, blessed. Something you wouldn't understand. You're nothing but a parasite in our city."Before Kael could retort, the soldier shoved him hard, sending him stumbling back. The altercation escalated too quickly—shoves, insults, the crack of Kael's fist against bone. Then the hum of charged weapons as Sector guards materialized between them, their pulse rifles leveled.The holding cell was cold.One of the guards—a woman with close-cropped hair and a scar across her chin—studied Kael's contract tattoos with a frown. "Blessed aren't supposed to be in the inner sectors without clearance."Before she could continue, the door slid open.The marshal filled the doorway, his broad frame blocking the light from the hall. His black uniform was trimmed in silver, the same seven-pillared insignia stitched over his heart. Dark eyes flicked over Kael with detached interest before turning to the guards."Report."The female guard straightened. "Altercation with UWN personnel. Blessed with unauthorized sector access."The marshal's gaze returned to Kael, lingering. "You're staring."Kael hadn't realized he was—too focused on the tattoo just visible above the marshal's collar. The same twisted symbol Jabari bore beneath his scars."That mark on your neck," Kael said, ignoring the warning looks from the guards. "What is it?"The marshal went very still. Then, slowly, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. "Why do you ask?"The air between them thickened. Kael held his ground."Because I've seen it before."The marshal's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes—something sharp and calculating. "Have you now."The soldier, still simmering with anger, interjected. "This blessed doesn't know his place. He should be thrown out, not questioned."The marshal turned slowly to the soldier, his demeanor shifting. "And you think you have the authority to dictate what happens here?"The soldier squared his shoulders, trying to maintain his bravado. "I'm just saying—he's a liability. We don't need his kind in the inner sectors."The marshal's gaze hardened. "You have no idea what you're dealing with. This blessed may know more than you think. Your arrogance blinds you."Kael felt the tension in the room shift, the weight of the marshal's words hanging in the air. He could sense the soldiers' discomfort, their bravado faltering under the marshal's unwavering gaze."Let me handle this," the marshal continued, turning back to Kael. "You're not in trouble—yet. But you need to understand the stakes here. What you're seeking could put you in danger."Kael nodded, feeling a mix of respect and fear for the man before him. "I just want to know the truth."The marshal studied him for a moment longer, then leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a whisper that sent a chill down Kael's spine. "Be careful who you trust, Kael. Not everyone is who they seem—even among those you think are allies."Kael's eyes widened in shock, a rush of adrenaline coursing through him. The marshal's words echoed ominously in his mind, leaving him unsettled. "What do you mean?"The marshal stepped back, allowing the guards to escort Kael out of the cell. "Stay close to Jabari. He knows the city better than you do. And remember, the walls have ears."