Sometimes the only way out is through. Civilizations in ruin tell stories of prideful men burning bridges & passing judgment. I inhaled the ashes of the aftermath as visions of the past became clear. A guardian angel descended upon my ancestors, exiling them from the place they called home. A golden blade carved out the foundation of the castle walls and suspended it above the clouds for no man, woman, or child to ever return.
Centuries have passed since then, yet the paradigms remain. At my birth I was given a pendant in the shape of a key by an elderly traveler. My grandmother told me it resembled a legendary sword. I carried it with me for decades never knowing its true power. But the da...