Artemis, The City of Awakened, was, by most standards, one of the most technologically and magically advanced Smart Cities on Earth. Skyscrapers glistened like diamond spires, and floating vehicles darted across layered highways in perfect rhythm.
But like all glittering utopias, Artemis had its shadows. Beneath the towers and bright façades lay a very different world—one of alleys, rusted corners, and whispers. Scattered across the city were slums—forgotten zones carved out by the weight of class and lineage.
Tonight, in the heart of the western slum, inside a dimly lit and rundown motel, a secret gathering was underway.
Nine figures sat around a long, uneven table, feasting in silence. The food was lavish—imported meats, enchanted wines, and rare delicacies that had no place in a place this filthy. Yet not a word was spoken. They were waiting.
