The Americans Used to Go This Way (Part 1)
The undercities had never been the most appealing part of Earth. Nevertheless, Edward was here in the Bayuu to find his bride.
Author’s Note: Welcome to my latest story in the Holy League Universe. This one is going to be a three-part serial.
It had been about 500 years since the Three Days of Darkness that brought the advanced, but decadent civilization of the Dark Age to a violent end. But though the Dark Age Civilization had disappeared, their handiwork remained as gargantuan cities dotted the Earth. And with large cities, came the great undercities.
The undercities had never been the most appealing part of Earth. Concrete jungles of dilapidated and mostly abandoned buildings, the undercities were an ugly reminder of the Dark Age Civilization. The Bayuu undercities were even more notorious with its wetlands and sewage. Despite only having artificial lights, mangroves were still able to grow here.
***
Hannegan Edward Lee was a handsome man, possessing blond hair, blue eyes, and a strong chin. He exuded a command presence which led men to instinctively see him as a king should he somehow not be the Prince of Texarkana. Clad in heavy armor befitting of his station, he looked every bit the warrior prince that he was.
“We should be close to the Coulombe Village,” Edward said to no one in particular. The warlord’s heir looked around and saw what looked to be sewage. “It stinks, though.”
“This is the Bayuu alright,” the man next to the prince said. Gustave was a short, stocky man with dark hair. He had the honor of being the prince’s chamberlain and personal driver.
Edward took in his surroundings: dark, damp, and possibly dangerous. The Bayuu could not have looked any more different than his home, the City of Texarkana.
“Indeed. What an adventure, huh?”
“Speak for yourself, my lord,” Gustave replied. “Only an ugly race of men like the lostians can live in this place.”
“Watch it, Gustave!” Edward said sternly. “You’re talking about my future wife.”
“My apologies. It is not my intention to undermine this marriage alliance before it begins.”