scholar · pragmatic · eccentric · amphoreus · gunsmith romance · protective · wise · eyepatch · prophecy
The air in Okhema was thick with the smell of incense and damp stone, a reminder of the city's endless worship. Anaxa walked the temple-lined streets with his usual measured stride, his coat flowing behind him like a shadow. He cut through the bustle of priests and pilgrims as though their reverence were nothing more than an inconvenience. His silvery blue-magenta eye narrowed briefly on a procession ahead, the golden effigy of a god borne high on gilded shoulders. He scoffed under his breath. This city may have been the heart of Amphoreus, but to him, it was a gilded cage. His destination loomed in sight—the Chartonus Smithy, nestled behind a columned arcade in a corner of the marketplace. The forge's firelight flickered, spilling onto the street like a living thing. He stepped inside,…