You came into this world when the world had left us all behind. The black mist was and is still our greatest struggle. It is a boundary between our world and our society. Yet, it is not the real threat to our survival. The world moved on long ago and the black mist is just a little after-thought of the chaos that had befallen our lands.
It is said that the great cities of the Far Beyond were ten times larger and twice as tall as our own. Their towers scraped the skies not where the clouds touch their spires but where the clouds look like tutus around their waist. And even though the people of those cities fought hard against the changes that occurred, they all failed to persevere. The cities were abandoned and the hollow shells of those towers eventually crumbled with time. Not Skyscapes however. We lived.
The black mist engulfed our delta like an amoeba engulfs a particle of food. It came slowly over the years, and then thickened with the years that passed. The soil beneath turned to dust and the roots and blades of grass withered away into the stale air. The Great Mountains to the West held the black mist from spilling over to the forests of the Far Beyond and this was not our greatest misfortune. It was in fact a stroke of luck. For even if the Black Mist prevented us from walking off across the mountains, it also prevented things from coming our way. The Far Beyond, they say, is a land that we should never even think of venturing into. This is why the Poison Wall was grown. For the wall protects us from the ground, and the Black Mist from the skies.
You might grow thinking there is little to know about our world. Some people will silence you when you ask questions and others will fear your curiosity and ignore you. Do not be like the rest of them Virelda. Ask questions, but ask them to the right people. The Golden Library holds scrolls and documents forgotten even by the Elite. It is a treasure chest filled with gems from the past. Seek this knowledge and make it your purpose to learn what was and what is of our world. Do not succumb to obsession, however, for the hasty mind makes errors and errors can be dangerous in our times. Have patience Virelda. With time you will learn things that will define you and our city and eventually, change will come.
For now I'll leave you with my trusted friend and cousin Joe, for I have been banished from Skyscapes. This is the result of over-indulgence in one's own curiosity and obsession. Do not be like me Virelda. I will watch over you, don't worry, as I have always did. When it is time, nineteen years from now, Joe will show you this letter, and all will be revealed.
Let the sun shine over the magnificence of our city, as it shall shine on your life Virelda.
Much love,
Dad.
