STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

Chapter 5

The streets of Sector 6 glowed under the city ’s ambient lights, geometric patterns reflecting AstroSYS’s flawless design. Lucien stepped out of the transit station searching the street for Darius.

The bar was easy to spot. Its brick facade, worn and uneven, stood in deliberate contrast to the sleek, modern lines of the surrounding buildings. The neon sign —The Crescent—flickered in bright, swirling colors against the still evening air, an anachronism amidst the precision of the city.

From the corner, Darius waved, his grin wide and familiar. Carter stood beside him, composed as always, while Leona leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, skepticism written across her face.

Lucien raised an eyebrow as he approached. “Leona. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

She smirked, pushing off the wall. “I was bored. And if I have to hear Pascal talk about alignment one more time, I might lose it. ”

Darius laughed, clapping Lucien on the shoulder and gesturing toward the bar. “Alright, enough standing around. Drinks first, then art. Let’s go.”

Lucien cast a glance past the bar to the exhibition building down the street. Its glass exterior gleamed under the city lights, standing in stark contrast to The Crescent’s weathered charm. A small crowd had already begun to gather near the entrance, their chatter a low murmur of polite anticipation.

Government-approved art. Why does that feel like an oxymoron?

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