Changed the tags to better fit the story.

Major changes going forward is the overall structure of the story. It is now being told in scenes. I am doing this because I only have time to write a few pages a day and I think that it suits my writing style. I am taking lots of advice from the English teachers in my university. Thanks for reading and enjoy :>

After hundreds of years of building upwards, the builder guilds encountered new problems. Workers were starting to experiencing chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and worst yet their lung tissue was scarring. The metal in the tallest buildings started to corrode and after the collapse of a privately owned pillar, it was deemed too dangerous to continue building up. Imperial scientists [adjective] discovered that the ozone in the atmosphere existed in far larger quantities than predicted.

As a result of the discovery, two important changes occurred in Windxor.

First of all, builder guilds stopped building up, and instead worked inwards on infrastructure. More space was needed for the ever growing population and because of the pollution in the lowest part of the city, it soon grew very crowded. Housing became more efficient as the thick metal walls were redesigned and compacted without reducing the support strength. Space became a scarce resource. Solutions were quickly implemented. Water lines were installed in more pillars and electric lines were no longer exclusive for noblemen. The tops of many pillars were completely renovated. This renovation is why the city of Windxor is often referred to as the most beautiful of all the Imperial Empire’s cities.

Secondly, social classes further diverged. The cost of living in the top portion of the city skyrocketed and many pillars were cut off entirely from the lower classes; a perfect example of such being the Royal Palace. The trading pillars of the nobles are full of the best technology, shops, and medical facilities in the world. The majority of nobles earn their money managing intercity trade galleons and facilitate the economy across the globe.

The majority of Windxor’s denizens belong to the lower class. The low class, for the most part, keep to themselves in the lower sections of the city. Most of the commoners live near the factories built into the city walls. These factories specialize in metalwork.

___________________________ ACT 1: CHAPTER 3 - Den of Thieves: SCENE 1

The sinking feeling of being weightless thrilled Hugh. He had read many stories where a character fell at one point or another, but words could not describe the thrill of the entire experience. Blood rushed to his head as he flipped and contorted and spun through the air. The paper mâché armor fluttered around its thousands of intricate folds but held fast. Gathering his ether to his eyes, the entire night was made visible to him. Spreading his arms and legs, Hugh veered to the right.

Slanted at a steep incline, the cable of an airship’s anchor loomed parallel to Hugh’s body. Reaching his hands out, Hugh grabbed the massive cable and zip-lined down to slow his descent. The built up heat from rubbing against the cable was completely absorbed by his ether enhanced armor and grinding sparks lit up the night from the high speed contact. All too quickly the cable evened out and Hugh took the opportunity to rotate his body around to land on the connected skybridge. Going too fast still, Hugh lost balance and flipped into a roll before tumbling to a stop. Most of the impact damage was absorbed by the ether surrounding his body and armor. Assessing that nothing was broken or bruised, Hugh jumped to his feet with flair. After rolling his shoulders and stretching, a tattered cloak peeled from his armor and enveloped him. Revealing his plating would greatly hinder the work he needed to do. Heart pumping and stock full of adrenaline, this night in Windxor belonged to him alone.

The skybridge Hugh landed on was located in the middle of the commoner floors. Because of the icy temperatures and that the buildings directly adjacent to the library are strictly for government use, the surrounding area was completely devoid of others and an eerie quiet hung like mist. Hugh dashed across the platforms and created shortcuts as he saw them. Those that glimpsed him flying across railings and over awnings diverted their gaze and kept well to themselves.

___________________________ SCENE 2

The Thief's Den has been owned by the Bowen family for 150 years. The current owner went by the name Mayer Bowen, a tall, muscular man whose face had been scarred from poxes during his youth. He had never liked the name of his bar and has to deal with every sort of rabble who finds their way through his doors. The Thief’s Den was the largest hangout location within the entire Ruby sector and was the fastest way to connect you to the right people. If you needed a job done, all you have to do is talk to Mayer, offer a price, and within a day you would get connected to the right people. If the work is clean, so is Mayer’s fee. If the job is… well... morally ambiguous, fees can get messy.

Naturally, Mayer did more business after dark than during the day.

“Mr. Perigrine! It has been too long since I’ve seen you around here. I was starting to think that you had finally been conscripted.” Mayer grinned to the small, cloaked figure walking to the bar.

Hugh removed his hood and grinned knowingly “The library has been keeping me under a tight lock. Today is a special day for me though and I’m not going to let the library’s antics involve me anymore. Today is my seventeenth birthday.”

“Well now.” Mayer raised his eyebrows “How is the life of a man?”

“It is just as I read about. Angels called my name from above and the gods etched my true name into stone with thunder and lightning.” If angels were naïve librarians and the gods played silly games with puppets who are not tied to any of the strings in their hand.

“So. What can I do for you today? If you are looking for work, I have a few contractors in the building who would kill to have your talents at their disposal.”

“Not this night. I need a place to stay for the next few weeks.”

“What happened to your place in the library?” Mayer gave a nervous chuckle as he checked the door.

“My personal goals have outgrown my status. I will not be returning to the library as Hugh Perigrine ever again.”

“But you will be returning to the library?” Now Mayers was equally confused, shocked, and suspicious. This conversation was too dangerous to be happening in a public bar full of seedy people.

“Relax. The library will not be able to track me. For all they know, I fell to my death trying to wield forces above my station.”

“Are you sure?”

“There is no doubt in my mind.”

“We will discuss no more of this here. Allow me a few minutes to attend to the bar and then meet me in my chambers.”

___________________________ SCENE 3

In the far back corner of The Thief’s Den Ashe Cudlahan stirred from his false stupor with a mischievous smirk. Memorizing Hugh’s face, Ashe walked out into the darkness of night.