PROLOGUE
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The waves of the Narrow Sea collided with the cliffs of Driftmark. Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen went out of their castle for a stroll at midday, taking in the smell of the seas. Unlike most lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms, they had married for love, and shared a passion for travel. Corlys was the greatest sailor Westeros had ever seen, and Rhaenys' realm was the sky, which she had toured many times on the back of her she-dragon Meleys. The sea and the sky had no limits, which made them perfectly suited for the couple. Even then, they both could have never imagined what was in store for them that extraordinary day.
It all began with a deafening sound, the likes of which none of them had heard before. To their surprise, it came not from the sea, but from the sky. The couple looked up and saw a comet, or something that looked like it.
"An omen for the Old King's reign?" Lord Corlys asked his wife. King Jaehaerys had ruled the realm peacefully for nearly sixty years, longer than any king in Westerosi history. Did the gods have something to say?
"I don't think so." Princess Rhaenys replied, never losing sight of it. "It does not even look like a comet."
She was proven right, when the mysterious object started descending. What appeared to be an object at first soon grew in size, until it resembled something more. Something none of them were expecting.
"By the gods…!" exclaimed Corlys. "Is it?" Whatever structure it was, it looked like a fortress. A fortress in the air! How was such a thing possible?
The sound grew louder and louder, as the fortress continued its descent. Everyone in Driftmark, from the nobles to the smallfolk and servants had assembled at the spot to gaze on the object with wonder. The septons and septas prayed for protection, calling it the wrath of the gods. Among all of them, only the lord and lady of the island remained calm. Their lord was a sailor who had seen many sights in his various adventures on the seas, and the lady had tamed a dragon in her youth. As the fortress came closer, it was revealed to have six sides and six towers.
"It will sink." Corlys said. The object was very close to the sea and would soon be under it. But then, all six of its towers roared as they produced grey smoke, and the structure slowed down until it was just above the water. In just a minute, it stopped on the horizon, a fair distance away from Driftmark. The smoke covered it for some moments, and after it went away, the residents of the island were greeted to an awe-inspiring sight. The fortress floated on the water, and they could see green lights from the top of its towers. Just what had they witnessed?
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Note: This fic will contain elements from many sci-fi stories and games, such as Civilization Beyond Earth, Death Stranding and more, but it's not a proper crossover with any of them. Watch Beyond Earth Rising Tide trailer to get an idea of the fortress.
