1st 5 Pages Feb Workshop - Adebayo Rev 2

Name: Jide Adebayo

Genre: Young Adult Science Fantasy

Title: Chrome & Steele: Paradiso Trials

 

Pitch

 

My YA science fantasy novel follows two young characters seeking self-discovery in the afterlife; one world of many where deities draw power from a single unifying force. The manuscript is complete at 105,000 words and is the first book of three.

 

Steele’s on the run for his life with no idea how he died the first time. Adrift on Chrysos, a sprawling dimension of powerful deities, Steele learns that these gods come in many forms, distinguished by a system of castes. He tries his best to navigate this new world where advanced science and mysticism converge, but a homicidal pursuer seeks him dead as his own godlike powers start to develop.

Chrome was born on Chrysos and hails from the proud caste of Assassins. She kills deities and enjoys it, but the assassinations only serve to distract her from a growing concern. She harbors a secret that if discovered, could put her own immortality at risk.

Through bonds and competition, Chrome and Steele team up under unlikely circumstances for this era’s Paradiso Trials. Deities from every corner of Chrysos come to contend, seeking the rumored prize said to grant the winner unimaginable influence over distant, mortal worlds.

 

 

Steele heard the crack before he felt the pain. The agony rivaled that of when he first woke up in this new world several days ago. But he had no time to focus on the drawbacks of his new powers. He needed to escape. Dwelling on broken bones would come later. He got back up and darted across the open valley becoming lighter with each stride—sprinting, dashing, then gliding. The second sun was setting which was a good sign that he’d distanced himself from Ruby and the cave in which she’d held him hostage. He felt relieved to be running on soft, even ground considering the burning river had charred his shoes after jumping across. He’d risked drowning in fire to elude Ruby, and it worked, mostly. His broken arm from sticking such a poor landing reaffirmed that he sucked at using these powers. When he could no longer see the cave or the burning river, he stopped to catch his breath and collect his thoughts, resting his hands on his battered knees beneath tattered clothing.

A thief. That’s what she’d called him. He’d woken up, chained to a rock with nothing visible but shadows that danced on the walls with each passing sun. His only occasional visitor was Ruby, and she was demented. No one steals from that kind of person. When Steele asked her about what he’d stolen, she repeatedly tortured him. It was shocking how fast his body healed just to be broken down again, his pleas choked with confusion. But from the moment he’d first opened his eyes, something deeper bothered Steele. He couldn’t remember any details of his life.

He lifted his head and scanned his surroundings. He knew this wasn’t his world, but he felt as if his mind was playing tricks on him. He had supernatural abilities that he couldn’t control. He knew his name and, conceptually, how the physics of a planet should work—one sun, one moon, and predictable seasonal climates. But since his escape, he’d noticed the skies tended to light up and darken with no predictability. Maybe it was due to the many suns, the many moons, and the many stars that circled the world, or maybe he was hallucinating. He needed to find answers to why he couldn’t remember, but where to start?

Think, Steele. Ruby never revealed much, only her name and the fact that he could look forward to a long and excruciating afterlife. Afterlife? Had he died and gone straight to hell? If so, it might explain why he’d been dealt such a bad hand and why everything felt foreign to him—the air, the land, even his own body. He remembered thrashing against the rock for hours to no avail and how hard his hair felt as his dreads hung and brushed past his lips, the metallic taste full in his mouth. Metal hair? He must’ve been hardheaded in his prior life. He coughed up a rusty laugh. Despite the pain that coursed through his arm, it warmed him to be able to smile again. It was the only thing that felt natural.

The terrain cracked and shifted, shaking off Steele’s amusement. The ground beneath his feet grumbled and the valley morphed into staggered cliffs. Was this his power? No, this felt different. He tried to move but his body grew heavy. Not now he pleaded. It was becoming more difficult to ignore his growing yet inconsistent authority over gravity. The cliff tilted, and Steele slipped. With his increase in weight, he descended at an alarming speed and saw a figure at the bottom of the slope. Ruby? No, the person looked like a grizzly and disheveled man.

Before Steele could come up with a decent strategy, his face met the earth. Dust and rock flew up as he dented the ground. Great, that’s two broken arms. Pinned under the weight of his own power, Steele tilted his head up slowly, getting a much better look at the guy from toe to head. He was monstrous up close and towered over Steele at least by six or seven feet. Everything bulged out: arms, thighs, and head. He wore a shirt that hugged his frame a little too friendly around his protruding stomach, was a few shades darker than Steele, and bald as a rock.

“Nice hair,” the man said. “Most kid deities only bow as a sign of respect; you don’t have to go so far as to lay your life down.”

Kid deity? Maybe Ruby hadn’t been lying. Maybe Steele had died already.

The big guy lifted Steele by his broken arms. The pain nearly knocked Steele out, but fear filled him with a much heavier realization. He’d been caught. Should he fight or surrender peacefully? After all, no one really made it clear if he could die twice.

“Here, lemme fix those for ya.”

The man put Steele down and rearranged both arms back into place while Steele’s body took care of the rest. The pain subsided almost as quickly as it came.

“What do they call you young fella?” His gaze was full and friendly, catching Steele off guard. He realized that this was the only person he’d met in this strange world outside of Ruby. After a long silence, the odd and hefty man continued, “You must be a shy fella huh? You remind me a lot of my son when he was your age, suspicious but with eyes that confess you’re a good kid. Oh, and sorry about reforming the valley into cliffs. Didn’t know anyone was down there.”

So, it was him who tore up the valley. And he has powers too? The thought put Steele at ease. If he played his cards right, maybe Steele could fish some answers out of the cheerful giant.

The big guy crouched down to Steele’s level, bringing them eye to eye. “Well, my name is Sumo Bronze. Nice to meet’cha.” He extended his hand, but uncertainty still gripped Steele. His voice cracked as he spoke.

“My name is Steele Locs.”

He reached out to shake Sumo’s hand, but Sumo embraced him with outstretched arms, scooping Steele up into his chest. Steele resisted in reflex; the shock of contact reminding his body of the torture it’d endured. But Sumo had a gentle touch about him. The hug felt genuine, warm with compassion. Steele felt his limbs go weak from comfort. He pressed his fingers against his eyelids to hold back the tears. Sumo hadn’t noticed.

“What a fitting name for you, young fella.” He ruffled Steele’s dreads a bit before putting him back down. “We’re huggers in my family, and you looked like you needed one, kid. Now, do you mind telling me who or what you’re running from?”

Steele debated telling Sumo about Ruby, but he couldn’t take the risk. “I was just practicing my stride,” he lied.

Sumo frowned. “A child in danger is worth saving, but a child that lies only draws suspicion. I won’t push the subject though. It’s not my place.”

He folded his arms across his chest, his muscles pulsing as he tapped his fingers on his bicep. “I do have one question that you should probably answer honestly,” Sumo continued. “You sure did hit the ground a lot harder than I’d expect for a kid your size. You also seem rather new to Chrysos as well. But you didn’t come from one of the transmutation circles, did you?”