Adrianna; Psychic of Valecon Shadow Oranization
Copyright© 2026 by A duck named TEF
Chapter 2
We take the derelict, the despised, the scorned, the pariahs of ann types. We take them all. They become part of us, part of our society, our community, and we protect them as our own. Once you pass that threshold, you enter a new world. We operate on our own rules, we execute our own justice. When you enter here, you agree to our ways.
Welcome to the Edifice of the People.
My name is Reeves, no surname, just Reeves. I was born here, raised by the community because my mom died of an overdose and no one knows who my dad is. The community is my family and I would do anything for them.
That’s the mentality here, we are one people no matter where our ‘origin’ is. People of all colors, creeds, and lands came here for one reason or another. They may have been on the run from something, maybe they just couldn’t afford life where they had been, or maybe they too were born here like I was. Whatever the reason they came, they agreed to the terms, and now they are one of us.
Let me explain this place a little more, or better? The Edifice of the People is an old boom town with a large tower in the center of the town. Everyone lives in the tower, it’s pretty crowded and old. You can smell the aging steele and plaster, many people do their best to patch the place up, but honestly, I’m shocked this place is still standing. I guess old construction really is unlike the newer places with obvious expiry dates.
The upper levels are where it’s most crowded, the first two lower levels are mostly businesses operated by the community. The basement levels are for recreation of all types. If you can think it, you can find. Bars, dungeons, themed cafes, gymnasiums, all in the lowest areas.
There are a few other, smaller buildings. Those are mostly garages, staging, or storage places. No one actually lives in those places, no plumbing and terrible electricity make viable living impossible. The gangs typically control those buildings, they operate for the tower leaders.
The land itself is pretty small, a clearing surrounded by dense jungles. There’s one road in and out, it’s not maintained as not many people here have a vehicle anyway. There is one thing we have here that isn’t found anywhere else on the islands or the supercontinent. A special plant with incredible medicinal properties, though it’s mostly known for its hallucinogenic capabilities.
This plant provides a high unlike anything else, it’s non-addictive, and completely safe for consumption. It was used as a death drug in ancient times, easing the dying in their final moments.
Many corporations have tried to commercialise it, but no matter what anyone tries it will not grow anywhere but here. Why? Legend tells that one of the renown fallen had cultivated it here, and set upon it both a blessing and a curse. It would be a gift to humanity, but available here only. Other legends say it’s because a great king bled on this land and the plant is nourished by the ground where that blood had been spilled.
Gods, or kings, no one really cares. That plant is our power play against the rest of the world, it’s kinda the reason we are safe and won’t be pushed out of our home. The leaders ensure our safety, all thanks to that plant.
We are also a major export of floral teas. Many people in the community work the floral fields, it’s honorable work. I work in the floral fields every other season. I’m still considered ‘too young’ to maintain such a cozy job. The rest of the time I work as a runner doing odd jobs for whoever will hire me. I have some connections by now so I’m hoping I can become full time in the fields. The air is cleaner out there.
That’s one of the drawbacks, the poor air quality in the lower levels of the tower where the businesses are located. There’s enough purifiers in the basement levels that the smog doesn’t sink down there and cause an issue. There are retro-fitted purifiers in the upper levels where everyone lives so no one gets poisoned in their sleep. However, the working areas? You have to wear a mask or be lucky enough to have a location close to a window. There hasn’t been enough funding to justify purifiers there, no matter how much the community outcries.
So now you know a little more about the Edifice of the People, and the tower that serves as the hub for his place. It’s my home, all I’ve ever known. Really, I have never been beyond the gates that stand rusting at the end of the road where the clearing ends and the jungle begins.
I’ve heard stories of snow covered mountains, and sandy or rocky beaches where you can look out to the ocean and see the curving of the planet. I love hearing stories of the world beyond this place.
Many of the other natural born citizens, like myself, don’t care to hear about the world beyond though. Our culture is enough for them and they have no desire to leave. I didn’t plan on going anywhere myself but sometimes, sometimes my curiosity takes over and I dream of a larger world with concrete jungles, views of massive white tipped mountains, and peach-colored beaches up against cool blue waters.
What a dream! I never thought I’d leave my home land.
It started a lot earlier than I had realized. It began with a rumor. The type of rumor so outlandish, it really is true.
I had been on a usual route, running errands for my direct elders, the ones who spent the most time raising me into the young man I am today. Mister Oland and his wife needed me to run some newly imported apples to a private purchaser in one of the much higher levels in the tower. I had never been to a level beyond the tenth floor, this person must have been of great importance, they lived up to the sixteenth floor! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to be allowed to go to such a level.
I made my way to the sixteenth floor. Wow! It was so elaborate with its art-deco, luxurious golds and blacks and grays. The hall itself was stunning. I could only imagine what the rooms on this floor looked like. I admired the beautiful door before using the griffon head knocker, such craftsmanship is unknown to anything tenth-floor or lower. Well, maybe some of the posh clubs in the basements, but not in the more common places.
An older woman answered the door, her eyes lighting up when she saw the box I was holding.
“My apples! And such a handsome delivery boy too. Come inside, I’ll need to find my cheques.” She practically yanked me by the arm into the room.
I was gobsmacked. The room was flooded with natural light from the floor to ceiling windows. They had such large windows! The place was a comfortable temperature too, and I couldn’t see any air regulator anywhere. The one in my room is so noisy and a boxy eyesore attached to the only tiny window. This place was amazing! The same art-deco decor from the hallway was here too, though with the natural light it seemed much brighter than the windowless hall.
The woman had disappeared somewhere, and I was so absorbed by the windows alone that I didn’t notice the two gentlemen conversing with each other in the room. They didn’t seem to care about my existence either, speaking freely.
Now, I am not one to eavesdrop on a private conversation, but it’s difficult to not hear what’s being said when the speaker has such a robust voice and no volume control.
I couldn’t tell you the exact context, but I did pick up some idea of what was going on.
It was the owner of this room and a representative of some powerful outsider, a lord of some estate place. They were discussing the release, or escape of some prisoner here. It was rather high profile as apparently the man who owned this room was requesting a safe defect.
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