Kastonia is a large city--about the size of New York--in the E-Dimension space. The dimension of the planet that Kastonia is located on is scientifically called E5. One day, I'll get Luminanz to give you a tour of the solar system. Kastonia is kinda similar to modern day Japan in terms of city structure. Kastonia takes great pride in it's scenery and it's endless list of things to do. This metro area is made up of 12 districts. Each district is like a state and Kastonia is like a country. However, you'll often here me call it a city. In actuality, it's more of a modern day kingdom.
There are many different kinds of people and culture within Kastonia. One of my favorite things to see are street performers. The dancing, the music, and a little break from reality is enough to brighten my mood! Fun fact, I've seen graffiti artists at work! There's an abandoned train station in the Lapis district that I enjoy going to. There's always new artwork to see! There are all sorts of festivals, museums, historical buildings, music, and experiences here to explore. Lots of individuals rely on public transportation to get around. Buses are for traveling within the district and trains are for from one district to another. The traffic in Kastonia is less than ideal which is why I prefer to walk to where I'm going. Trains are more efficient and I sometimes wish they had trains within the districts.
The crime rates within Kastonia were relatively below average. At least until recently. While a lot of people here believe in the value of money, good customer service, & ethical handling of businesses, there are those who will try to take advantage of the system. Despite how wonderful Kastonia is, there are people who abuse power, take advantage of others, and will do whatever it takes to look out for themselves. Some of the more common crimes are things like drug abuse, petty crime, and assault. The rates of violent crimes took a nose dive between 2018-2022. Unfortuantely they are rising again, due to the increased activity of the Abyss.
The Epoch District is where I stay! Lots of young adults can be found living in this area. Mainly because this is where majority of colleges are located. But what's important for you to know is the Lost Woods. The Lost Woods is location on the outskirts of the Epoch District. There's a huge area of woods that borders the next city. That's where the Lost Woods is located.
The existence of the Lost Woods is heavily debated amongst the people of Kastonia. Let me be the first to tell you; it is indeed a real place. Not just anyone can enter the Lost Woods. The Lost Woods isn't just a wooded area. It's an entity. An entity that judges the hearts of others, turning away those who it deems dangerous. People speculate that the Lost Woods is where children go who are seeking refuge. If you try to enter inside the Lost Woods and it doesn't accept you, you'll be turned around, and end up at the starting point. If you're an active danger to the inhabitants of the Lost Woods, then it'll lead Rosaline's amalgamations right to you.
This place is also rumored to be the home of a group of individuals called; The Children of the Lost Woods. They are the keepers of the woods and the children who seek protection. What's fascinating is that the Children of the Lost Woods have been seen around. Quite often in fact. When disasters happen, the city gets destroyed, or large scaled attacks occur, they're there helping out. Yet there hasn't been a single positive identification of any of them. People speculate all the time, often accusing certain people of being one of the Children. Their accusations are always based on little evidence and are found to be completely false.
The Elysian District consists of all the property owned by the Royal Family. This district is like the 'capital'. Any person that is employed and works within the palace lives in this district. There are hotels and resorts for high officials who are in Kastonia on official royal business. All of the royal guards and their family live in this district. This district looks more like a fantasy village, compared to the modern look of the other districts.
The Aether Palace structure is very similar to the Potala Palace. I'm not the best at describing images, so I suggest you look up a picture of the Potala Palace. The Aether Palace is one of the oldest structures in Kastonia. It has many secret entrances/exits, false rooms & doors, as well as hidden rooms that can only be unlocked by correctly solving puzzles. Inari Kami is the only person who knows the most about these rooms.
The Kami Family is respected by all of Kastonia and has ruled this big city since it's founding. The family is known for their wisdom, prosperity, strength, beauty, curiosity, and relentlessness. Inari Kami is the former queen. She's said to have a firey personality that would dive head deep into any problem that came her way. And if you couldn't keep up, she'd leave you in the dust. Despite her...impulsiveness, the people loved her as their ruler. The respected her willingness to listen and find solutions for problems that plagued the kingdom. The crown was recently passed down to her daughter, Kimora Kami. She currently resides in the Aether Palace with her mother and children.
The Midas District is home to the most wealthies of people. It's right next to the Elysian District. But the important people in this district are called the Elite. Suggested based off the name, the Elite are the most successful and influential in Kastonia. They take pride in their power, achievements, strategy, tradition, and beauty. Everyone wishes to be them, but no one really likes them. Do keep in mind that I'm still doing research into these families, so I don't know a lot. But, allow me to share with you what I do know.
As I mentioned earlier, the Elite are household names. Mainly due to major contributions to the development, discovery, and/or business success of Kastonia. The Elite are all business owners/entrepeneurs, lawyers, doctors, or scientists. Interestingly enough, their political position is unique. They don't have to officially be a politician. Rather, they can use their money and power to either aide or hinder politicians running for state government positions. If I remember correctly, there are currently 20 families. To become an Elite; first there has to be a vacancy. Usually that means the entire family is either dead or disgraced. Then there's an underground process that takes place. What happens is unknown to outsiders. Finally, the remaining Elite families will vote. But as of the current day & age, becoming an Elite is near impossible. The current 20 families have had a strong grip on their titles and status.
Most citizens don't like the Elite. Which is understandable. While some of them are greatly respected, others are greatly revered. The Elite have extremely high standards. Being in their good graces is rare and often times, being on their bad side can lead to some pretty severe consequencesThere are rumors that some of the Elite participate in illegal underground activities, political corruption scandals, and workplace violations. With them being as powerful as they are, a lot of what they do is 'hush hush' making it difficult to find out more information.
The Obelisk District is also called the Forgotten District. This district is complete and utter control of the Abyss. They are the only district that does not have a state government or local council. The Kami Family has tried several times to connect and make peace with them, but their efforts were in vain. The Abyss is a crime organization that has recently been making a comback. The Abyss is divided into 5 smaller groups that are responsible for their own side of business. These groups are responsible for drug trafficking & distribution, human trafficking, assassinations/body-guards for hire, weapons/bombs dealing, and infiltration/espionage (they mainly focus on political infiltration). The groups do work together and coordinate with one another in order to keep the Abyss' plans on track.
The further you go into this district, the more you get pulled inside, and the harder it is to get out. The Abyss prays on individuals who are desperate for a way out. Disguised as saints, they promise individuals food, clothing, water, & shelter. They promise them money, stability, and security. Despite how well known the Abyss is, desperate people often make desperate decisions. Once you become an Abyssal member, there is no going back. Traitors are killed on sight. And running from them is impossible. They have eyes and ears everywhere. They will find you and they will kill you.
This crime syndicate is more sophisticated than anything I've ever seen. What makes the Abyss terrifying isnt their violence or brutality--although I'm sure that plays a part. It's their intelligence and ability to adapt. They run quite the strict program. Those who have even a smidge of power are expected to be able to handle business efficiently & strategically. This is what makes the Abyss impossible to completely shut down. Several years ago, Inari was able to poke a hole in their foundation, leaving them weak for a long time. She was able to wiggle her way in and stop them from executing a lot of nefarious plans. But now they're back and are running amuck in other districts.