Sanctuary has everything a human needs. To look for more is simply a suicidal thought poisoning the mind.

This was the reality of many. An unspoken fact among society looming over the heads of the population. It was set down by King Jacob. For a man like him, searching beyond the safety of Sanctuary's walls was preposterous. He'd hoped they'd see his line of reasoning but to no avail.

Towering above every living soul was a transparent glass wall in the shape of a dome. It separated humanity from the horrors of the outside. Nobody questioned it. Nobody dared to complain in public. What lied beyond was sand and sand only. Storms of gold spraying as far as human eyes could possibly see. A wasteland filled with death and forgotten dreams. It was a realm unfit for their kind.

Regardless, these creatures were named humans. Eventually, curiosity consumed specific individuals and urged them to venture into the unknown. They saw no problem leaving Sanctuary. No problem dying in an endless desert. What did they seek? Perhaps a ticket to a better life? How imbecilic. Nothing existed in this world. Not anymore. As such, the semblance of hope faded and the flame of determination sizzled to a feeble spark. Sanctuary was a society of unmotivated mortals.

Yet her hope remained.

The floating vehicle sluggishly hovered down the street. Her guardian and royal advisor sat next to her silently, a gargoyle dressed in a suit. Sighing, she gazed out the stallion's window, sky-blue eyes observing curiously. The poverty-stricken Ensett District was a dreadful sight to witness.

Wooden houses stood on both sides of the cracked street as people, malnourished and defeated, limped aimlessly wearing ragged and torn clothing. Truly they lived lives she knew not. Whenever she saw the state of the poorer districts she couldn't fight the conception that her father, the current king, failed at ascertaining his citizens' well-being. Surely more could be done.

"Something troubling you, Princess Alice?" her protector finally inquired, noticing the girl's frown. Lucas had served her family for as long as she remembered. He was a guardian to be depended on. The navy blue colored uniform he wore served to hide the well-built physique underneath. Neatly kempt blonde hair sat atop his head while a pair of lime green eyes stared concernedly.

"How should I put this," she replied, waving her hand. "When I said I wished to visit the walls I was under the impression I could go by myself. Having you escort me makes me feel as if I'm weak. Not to mention it's a huge waste of resources."

"The king would never allow it, you know this."

She bowed her head. "Of course,"

"Keep in mind, princess, we aren't in the luxurious Eris or Phana districts. We're somewhere filled to the brim with criminals, thieves, and low-lives. As your protector, I must ensure your safety." His hardened gaze targeted the window. "You're the rightful heir to the throne, Sanctuary's next leader. Do you know what would happen should any harm befall you?"

"Bad things?"

"Indeed," Lucas confirmed grimly. "For starters, Sanctuary would be without a crown, someone to establish laws and-"

"Is that really so terrible?" Alice cut him off. "The riots in the lower districts are happening for a reason. People are angry at my father. If there wasn't a king or ruler then would it not be better for everyone?"

Oh, the sweet innocence of a child. Lucas couldn't directly fault her for coming to such a conclusion. His princess was highly analytical for her young age. "Princess," he started, sliding closer to the girl. "It'll be much easier for you to understand if I tell you this first: A nation without rule is bound for failure. Should no-one act as leader Sanctuary would inevitably plunge into chaos."

"Then why are there so many problems? People act as if there is already chaos and are partaking in crimes to voice their collective frustration." She gazed through the window solemnly, placing her head inside of her cupped palm. "If having a ruler brings peace and order, why does everything seem so hectic?"

"Rulers are essential for any nation to prosper. Although, there is a clear distinction between one ruler and the next." Alice aimed an unfocused gaze at him. Folding his arms, Lucas promptly explained, "What I mean is every ruler has their own idea of how to . . . Well, rule. You've read about the wars of the Old World, haven't you?"

"I have."

The Old World. What a fascinating topic. Alice read many texts discussing the bygone era. It was a realm where there existed vast forests teeming with life and lakes so deep you couldn't see the bottom. Animals that had been driven to extinction roamed the untainted lands. Everything was so green. It was a paradise humanity had lost.

Back then, their species survived in civilizations and occasionally went to war with rival nations. Such books were banned from the public, the girl sneakily reading them each day in the castle library. How she wished she could've seen those wonders. How she dreamed of acquiring the tiniest taste of freedom.

"Then you should know every king or queen has a different itinerary. A different outlook of his or her kingdom. Seeing as how I'm a servant, I shouldn't speak negatively of King Vincent." Lucas admitted, his voice lowering. "However, many citizens, myself included, believe his majesty isn't fulfilling his duty as king."

She suspected as much. "How many?"

"Enough to get the message across."

"I can't say it's working."

"Don't worry, little princess. I'm certain once his majesty finds the time, he'll tackle the rising issues concerning the lower classed districts."

". . . I'll believe it when I see it."

The stallion floated sluggishly above fractured earth. The reason they'd not reached their destination sooner was because of the ever-increasing traffic. People in Ensett didn't drive stallions. Instead, they rode in carriages pulled by four-legged furred beasts called horses.

A long line of these carriages spanned from the hood of the stallion all the way to the end of the street. At this rate, they'd never get anywhere. Sighing to himself, Lucas tapped on the glass window separating the rear and front sections of the elongated stallion. The glass slid down, revealing the aged face of their much older driver.

"Pull over, James. I'll escort her myself."

"What?! Are you sure?"

"Do you really want to keep his royal majesty waiting? You know how he gets when he's upset."

A fair point. The driver had seen his fair share of the king's childish temper tantrums. He steadily guided the stallion to the side of the dusty street. With an excited smile aimed at Lucas, Alice opened the door. Without mercy, the sun's rays struck her pure skin. The unpleasant stench of garbage and smoke dominated the atmosphere.

The hustle and bustle of Ensett's residents as well as the slaving horses heavily contrasted to the quietness of the royal grounds. Despite the offputting environment, the young princess beamed. She couldn't be happier.

She'd visited the walls plenty of times before yet she'd never been permitted to roam outside a stallion. It truly was a different experience altogether. As she stretched her limbs Lucas ordered James to retrieve them at the walls. He then grabbed the five-year-old girl's hand prior to leading the way.

Open-air markets populated the streets, each governed by a clerk competing for her attention. A girl with long white hair dressed in an elegant blue dress stuck out like a sore thumb. A knowing and vigilant Lucas hurried her from the market sector, briskly entering the outskirts of the town.

Nothing resided here except more decrepit buildings along with its even worse looking citizens. She felt their sadness. They were suffering yet her father did nothing to help. Their pain, sorrow, and vexation went unbeknownst to those governing the harsh society. It made her sick.

However, what approached them was what she'd originally intended to see. Alice hesitantly stepped across the stretch of dirty soil separating the slums and the barrier covered in hexagonal shapes. Her quiet stare went undisturbed. There it was. The wall. It surrounded the entire city.

The transparent glass appeared as it always did: Lifeless. She got closer, attempting to identify what lied passed Sanctuary's borders. Just like last week and the week before, she solely found sand, sand, and more sand. It raged in a blistering storm colliding against the glass.

"Satisfied, princess?"

She glanced back at Lucas and complained, "We just got here?"

"I understand. Nevertheless, if you don't return for afternoon lessons the king will have my head."

"Pfft! I'd never let him hurt you."

He was taken aback by the innocent reply. "Th- Thank you, princess. Unfortunately, King Vincent holds the power."

"Sure he does."

Her hand slid over the glass. How could anyone survive in such a climate? She wanted to believe humanity belonged free from Sanctuary yet she didn't think it'd be possible for a mere human to endure the Outside World's calamity. As she took her next step, Alice froze. It was as if time itself came to a screeching halt. Chills ran up her spine. Goosebumps covered her skin. The princess stood as still as a statue.

"Princess Alice?" Receiving no response from the frozen royal, her anxious keeper scuttled towards her. Approaching the princess he soon discovered what had captured her undivided attention. Like her, he also had no idea how he was supposed to react. It stained the side of the glass wall.

The imprint of a hand.

"ENFORCERS!! I NEED ENFORCERS OVER HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!!"

Lucas' screaming echoed across the district. It broke Alice's elongated state of petrification. She was pulled from the glass and into his arms. Lucas glared menacingly. She'd never seen him act like this. He was trying to protect her. To keep her safe. Yet, his face frightened the girl to her very core.

Enforcers were quick to arrive. Men dressed in black colored long-sleeved uniforms. Caps sat on their heads along with rifles strapped to their backs. Two of the four men pulled them back the second they saw the handprint. Behind them, Alice noticed a growing crowd chatting amongst themselves. This was as world-shattering for them as it was for her. People believing no humans lived outside Sanctuary were gawking at a human on the other side of the wall.

"Wh- What should we do?!"

"I don't know! They never told us! Where's the lieutenant?!"

Alice stared in disbelief as the qualified pair of soldiers bickered back and forth. Was the situation so foreign to them?

"Enough!" shouted Lucas. "Open it! Open the wall now!"

"Sir! Are you crazy?! We have no idea what that . . . That thing is!" a soldier argued.

Lucas frowned. "It's a human, is it not? A creature like us! Are you saying we should condemn that poor soul to death?!"

All four enforcers hesitated. "What about the king? This seems like a decision he should make-"

"I am the king's royal advisor! If anyone's qualified on making this decision it's me!" The hand made a fist, weakly tapping the glass. The enforcer closest to it jumped in panic. Lucas felt a bit sorrowful knowing they were entrusted to act as Sanctuary's peacekeepers. "If we don't do something that person will die. Do you really want someone's blood on your hands?"

Exchanging unsure glances, one of the men, presumably, the enforcer in charge of the unit, took out a black card key and placed it on the wall. Green lines spanning from the card began to coat its surface. The glass dissolved into fragmented light particles and left a hexagonal-shaped entrance.

Gusts of sand billowed through with a mighty roar. A man collapsed inside, dropping face-first onto the ground. It was immediately closed afterward, the light particles rebuilding the previously disintegrated barrier within a few seconds.

Everything and everyone remained silent as the stranger laid motionless. He was dressed in old tattered clothing while a cloak covered his face. Lucas crouched next to him, carefully flipping him topside. "Hey, can you hear me? If you can hear anything I'm saying please give me a-"

Probably the second most shocking thing he'd seen that day was the child clutched in the stranger's boney arms. The brown-haired boy was unconscious. Although, his breathing was more natural. He removed him from the man's arms and rested him on the ground. Seeing as how the boy was more or less okay he returned to the older alien who appeared to be in a much worse condition.

"You two," He pointed at a pair of enforcers carrying rifles. "Find a medic. He needs to be treated at once." Lucas pressed both hands against his chest, repeatedly applying pressure. "Breathe, damn you! Breathe for me!!"

As all attention rested on the dying man, Alice slowly advanced to the barefooted boy. He looked to be around her age. His messy brown hair covered his forehead, blanketing his closed eyes. Torn clothing revealed skinny limbs as well as a visible ribcage. He was clearly malnourished. A fossil coated in aged fabric.

She brushed away his hair and leaned in closer. She soon discovered the necklace, a diamond-shaped gold pendant laying on his chest. Thinking of nothing else but an old trick of her mother's, she blew onto his face. To her amazement, his eyelids unlocked. Gasping for air, the first thing he saw was the girl's peering blue irises from where his head rested on her lap. White-colored hair dangled, the ends tickling his cheeks.

"Alice! Stand back!" warned Lucas.

"But he's awake!" she refused.

"Awake?" Just then, the stranger grabbed Lucas by the arm. Lifeless grey colored eyes stared at him helplessly. He knew he didn't have much time left on this plain. Gulping, Lucas was the first to speak. "Hang in there, help will arrive shortly."

". . . My . . . Son." he croaked. Lucas glanced at the boy his princess was nurturing. "Please . . . Protect . . . My son." Those were his final words before life escaped him. Lucas shut his eyes and let him rest in peace.

"Ssh, it's going to be okay now," whispered Alice.

"Wh- Where am I?"

"Sanctuary."

". . . Sanctuary?"

"My name is Alice Riley," she introduced, a smile gracing her face.

" . . . Alice,"

"What's your name?"

He paused, tugging his hair in frustration. "I- I don't know. I can't remember anything."

Sensing his agitation, Alice deduced her first priority was comforting him. She wasn't experienced with easing others. Even so, whenever she herself was scared or worried her mother had a certain method of accomplishing that feat. Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against his. She could feel his face ignite. Being so close to a girl he'd just met made the boy experience unfamiliar emotions. His cheeks became redder and redder. Lucas, undoubtedly confused, didn't intervene. Mostly because he was unsure how to stop something so . . . Odd.

"Regardless, you'll be fine now." Alice ensured him. "I promise."

The next thing she knew, he'd fallen asleep in her lap.