Rynth: Four Beats

"All may be traced back to the gods. And if not, then you may query Fate itself." To stop a bird from flying, you need only do two things: you may build a cage or break its wings.  Raoul's mother has done both. The once-sociable prodigy staggers through his days people-watching while his jailer keeps his world small and his potential smaller. His future lies outside of the bars, and the key's nowhere to be found. Enter Krocko, a loudmouth freelancer who notices the glow Raoul doesn't know he's giving off. He introduces him to Driving, a conviction-based power tied to the very Cycles of civilization Rynth has progressed through. For the first time, Raoul realizes he actually wants something. The bird decides to peck off the lock on the cage. It chirps, seeking three from its flock that it used to fly with. Four pairs of wings soar higher than one, after all. Sometimes, in a world quietly inching closer to the end, the will to change the world and yourself for the better is all you need.