The streets of the Sky District were crowded and noisy, just how Sybilla liked it. Nowhere better than a busy street to practice her concentration. She bit her lip, concentrating on the palm of her hand. Come on, she thought. A little flame winked into existence in her hand. Pleased with her achievement, she closed her hand to kill the tiny fire. There was a bakery nearby which she quickly headed towards to buy herself something sweet as a reward, though she probably would have bought herself something even if she had not succeeded. She was wandering through the District because she liked to look at the new gadgets, most of the technology still a wonder to her. In the city where she had grown up in technology, and everything really, had always been at least a few years behind the rest of the world. Being near the Last Line, it was as close to rural as the Consortium got. 

Sybilla had just started eating the tart she had bought when her wrist communicator beeped twice. She jumped a little, still not used to it being on her wrist. Frowning, she clicked it to see what it was. The screen lit up with a single sentence: “Come to the Sky Spire launching bay ASAP.” She sadly stuffed the rest of the tart into her mouth and started heading back towards the Spire. 

The Sky Spire loomed in front of her like some scary watch dog observing the lives of little ants. There was a steady intake and outtake of people at the Spire’s base, the monks being “helpful” and all, which made it more difficult than Sybilla liked to maneuver her way into the building. She made her way onto the elevator, quickly pressing the launching bay button as she squeezed into the back. She was one of the last people on, so her exit was much less of a hassle. 

Entering the launch bay, she got an immediate downer at the site of Cade, another monk who she had the pleasure of calling her elder. She nodded respectfully towards him and looked around the rest of the room. The only other occupant in the room was a moody looking boy, probably slightly older than him, smoking what she suspected was a joint. Not wanting to stand by Cade and not knowing the other boy, she went to the left of the door a few steps and sat down, hoping to get a few minutes of meditation in before the higher ups entered.