Chapter 3

James couldn’t stop pondering the sky.

Not the Alder Sun.

The genuine one.

The image from the cargo container replayed in his mind repeatedly white clouds drifting across a blue void, moving slowly like vessels on a tranquil sea. It had only been visible for a fleeting moment, perhaps even less, but it had transformed something within him.

Throughout his life, he had been told that the surface world was irreparably broken.

Yet broken worlds didn’t have clouds.

This thought trailed him for the remainder of the day like a shadow.

By evening, the central districts of Alderian glimmered softly beneath the Sun’s unyielding light. Workers traversed the transit rails, engineers oversaw geothermal towers, and the hydroponic terraces buzzed quietly with automated irrigation systems.

Everything appeared as it always had.

But now James couldn’t shake the sensation that he was navigating through a meticulously crafted illusion.

“James!”

He turned.

Mara rushed across the plaza towards him, her expression tense.

“You vanished after the lecture.”

“I went home.”

“Without a word.”

“I needed some time to think.”

Mara halted in front of him, lowering her voice. “You saw that screen, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

James paused.

“It signifies that the surface isn’t lifeless.”

“That doesn’t imply it’s safe.”

“It indicates we’ve been fed information that isn’t accurate.”

Mara folded her arms. “Or it suggests the council is examining a perilous world to prevent us from repeating its errors.”

“That’s not the same as saying it’s gone.”

She averted her gaze for a brief moment.

“Such information could lead to panic,” she murmured softly.

“Or it could spark curiosity.”

“Precisely.”

James was about to reply when a voice cut in.

“James.”

They both turned to see Dr. Elias Alderon standing at the plaza’s edge.

James’ uncle seldom came to the Academy district, preferring to remain deep within the geothermal control facilities that managed Alderian’s energy distribution.

His presence here instantly made James feel uneasy.

“Come walk with me,” Elias instructed.

The three of them made their way across the plaza, but after a few paces, Elias looked over at Mara.

“I need to talk to my nephew privately.”

Mara paused, uncertain.

James gave a slight nod.

“It’s fine.”

With reluctance, she stepped back.

Elias continued until they arrived at a more secluded observation platform that overlooked one of the geothermal stabilizer towers. The tower loomed from the valley floor like a gigantic metal spine, releasing controlled bursts of warm vapor into the cavernous air.

For a brief moment, Elias remained silent.

Then he finally spoke.

“You were spotted in the industrial district today.”

James felt a knot form in his stomach.

“That’s not against the law.”

“No,” Elias replied with a calm demeanor. “However, monitoring restricted cargo routes tends to draw attention.”

James shifted his gaze toward him. “What was in that shipment?”

Elias’ face grew stern.

“That’s precisely the type of question I hoped you wouldn’t pose.”

“So there is something being concealed.”

“There are matters that need to be approached with caution.”

“Why is that?”

Elias gazed out over the valley, his eyes fixed on the far-off mountains.

“Because civilizations fall apart when information travels faster than wisdom.”

“That sounds like fear.”

“It sounds like experience.”

James tightened his jaw. “The surface is still thriving.”

Elias abruptly turned to face him.

“Who informed you of that?”

“I witnessed it myself.” A heavy silence enveloped them.

For the first time, Elias appeared genuinely concerned.

“You need to cease your inquiries into this,” he said softly.

“Why?”

“The systems safeguarding Alderian are not built for curiosity; they are built for stability.”

“That’s not a satisfactory answer.”

“It’s the only response you’ll receive.”

James fixed his gaze on him.

“You were part of the creation of this civilization,” he remarked. “Doesn’t it trouble you that people are kept in the dark about the reality of the world above?”

Elias lowered his voice.

“What troubles me more is that young individuals think they grasp risks they’ve never experienced.”

James remained silent.

After a lengthy pause, Elias placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sharing this with you as family,” he said gently. “Avoid the mountain archives.”

James felt his heart race.

“You anticipated that’s where I’d head.”

“I understand how your mind operates.”

“Then you know I won’t cease my inquiries.”

Elias briefly closed his eyes.

“That’s precisely what I fear.”

He turned and started walking back toward the transit rail.

James observed him leave, the warning resonating in his thoughts.

Stay away from the archives.

A familiar voice shattered the silence.

“So.”

Kael emerged from behind a support column.

James sighed softly. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough.”

“You were listening in.”

“I prefer to call it ‘gathering intelligence.’”

James shook his head.

“You heard what he said.”

“Yeah,” Kael replied. “And he just validated everything.”

James frowned. “Validated what?”

Kael leaned in closer.

“The archives are significant.”

James turned his gaze back to the far-off mountains.

The restricted rail line vanished into tunnels carved deep within the stone.

“If they’re concealing the truth about the surface,” he said slowly, “then that’s where it must be.”

Kael smiled broadly.

“Exactly.”

Footsteps echoed from the plaza.

Mara came back, glancing nervously between them.

“You both seem like you’ve just made a dreadful choice.”

Kael shrugged his shoulders.

“Not yet.”

James inhaled slowly.

“But we’re about to.”

“What does that imply?” Mara inquired.

James looked towards the mountains.

“It means we’re heading to the archives.”

Mara’s eyes grew wide.

“You can’t be serious.”

Kael’s grin returned, more pronounced this time.

“Oh,” he replied.

“We’re very serious.”

High above them, the Alder Sun shone quietly over the cavern sky.

And somewhere deep within the mountain, the answers James had sought for his entire life were waiting.

All he needed to do…

was defy the rules of his entire civilization to uncover them.

Thank you for reading this sample. We invite you to finish reading this story by purchasing this book.