In the sprawling, labyrinthine city of Veyrune, where steel and stone rise like jagged teeth against the sky, renowned architect Lira Caless has always felt a peculiar connection to the structure
In the sprawling, labyrinthine city of Veyrune, where steel and stone rise like jagged teeth against the sky, renowned architect Lira Caless has always felt a peculiar connection to the structures she designs. But when the ancient district of Old Veyrune begins to “scream” in her mind—a cacophony of anguish and despair—she discovers her empathy extends far beyond the human realm. Lira can feel the emotions of buildings themselves, their silent histories etched into their foundations like scars. As she delves into the heart of Old Veyrune, Lira uncovers a sinister history of exploitation and suffering encoded in its crumbling walls. The district’s pain is not merely physical decay but a collective memory of lives lost, voices silenced, and injustices buried beneath layers of mortar and brick. Determined to heal the city’s wounds, Lira embarks on a journey that will challenge her understanding of architecture, humanity, and her own identity. Her path leads her to the Guild of Sympathetic Architects, a secretive and powerful organization whose members share her ability to commune with structures. But the guild’s intentions are far from benevolent. Led by the enigmatic and ruthless Mark Chandler, they weaponize their empathy to manipulate urban populations, using buildings as tools of control and surveillance. To them, architecture is not a means of healing but a mechanism of power. Torn between her desire to rebuild Veyrune’s soul and her growing awareness of the guild’s corruption, Lira finds herself at the center of a moral and existential struggle. The city itself becomes a character in her story, its emotions shifting from despair to hope, from anger to forgiveness. But as Lira works to mend its fractured spirit, she begins to suspect that the buildings she seeks to heal may harbor secrets of their own—secrets that could either save or destroy her. With the help of Tina Dennis, a former guild member scarred by their dark practices, and Annette Roberts, a historian with a deep knowledge of Veyrune’s past, Lira navigates a world where every wall has a story and every ally could be an enemy. As she uncovers the truth about the guild’s origins and their connection to Old Veyrune’s suffering, she must confront her own role in the city’s future.
