Aureia watched the fire, its flame dancing in her eyes, as the barrier weakened and the city sank faster. They turned toward the fading light, its edge blurring like ink in water. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aureia dragged Lacian into the shaft and upward, their breathing heavy as they climbed out onto the reef rocks and stumbled clear, the lighthouse ruins collapsing behind them in a churning sea of water. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Lacian stood on the corridor, fifty armed guards arrayed behind him, as Samothes spoke from the opposite approach, demanding the key to pass through the central platform's vortex. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aureias eyes were still open, but the focus in them was failing. She looked toward Lacian. Her lips moved. Close it, she mouthed. Lacian turned back, bracing himself against the oncoming blue-white flood, his… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Lacian nodded. She went to the Second Gate. Ilaewyn paused. I have just come from there. The Workshops forced-opening operation has been interrupted, and seawater is flooding the deep structures. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Silas pushed the slab with all his might, the stone shifting as he drew breath and set his shoulder beneath it. The gap widened enough for a man to turn and force himself through, and then he was out, the cool… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Silas stepped to the dais and drew out a slender metal pin, the key for opening the device. He inserted it into a narrow side aperture and began to turn it, slowly. The mechanism hummed, and the dark blue… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Silas turned right into the passage, leading toward the outer edge of the old Harbor District, where an abandoned lighthouse stood. The exit beneath it should still be sealed. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Tarmo unwrapped the bundle and held the notebooks, their warping pages a testament to the weight of secrets kept beneath the waves of the Harbor District. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

As the barrier formed, Metis broke apart a hard travel loaf and distributed the pieces in silence, while Aureia accepted hers and bit off only a small piece, her gaze fixed on the golden arc stretching across… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aureia nodded and looked toward the entrance. Several minutes passed before Sorins team came in. Five had left. Three returned. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aurelia crouched at the water's edge, her hand extended as if searching for something in the grey depths. The waves lapped steadily against the shore, their rhythmic motion a stark contrast to the chaos that… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Lacian lowered his eyes to the key, memories of the Harbor District's devastation flashing before him. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aureia opened her eyes to find the city in ruins, half of the great dome submerged beneath the waves. She gave a small nod and let her eyes fall shut again, the warm sunlight on her face a respite from the… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Ilaewyn charged straight into the storm of light, his body shattering armor cracked with fissures as he forced a path through armed men and converging fire, then the corridor blew apart. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Asteron raised his voice until it struck the dome, invoking Article One of the Emergency Crown Adjudication Statute. He bit through his finger and pressed the bleeding tip against the sigil, which flared dark… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Samothes stood beside the pillar, his hand extended in invitation as the vortex of light swirled faster, its column rising towards the chamber's crystal shell. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Lacian tightened his grip on Namira's hand and waited. A few seconds later, her pupils drew in. Her gaze found him and held. Her lips moved. Brother... One word. His heart clenched so hard it felt like a blow. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Lacian entered the coordinate string, the light-display brightened, Scanning. A few seconds later the result appeared. Green. Sample contamination level: zero. Confirm sealing? Aureia gave one sharp nod.… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity

Aureia grasped the seal in both hands and raised it above her head. Its gold flared brighter in answer to the light of the key. Lacian began to turn it. First turn. The key moved with a deep metallic grind.… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6GQZP4 #SunkenCity