Synopsis: Facies Mentiendi

And in the stories of the people,
A million faces, a million lies.
[VNV Nation – Chrome]

There are three central institutions in the city of Alteria: the Government, the University and the Agency. The first one watches over everything with its all-knowing, all-seeing system Integra. The second one looks after the welfare of the citizens. The third one does not exist. That’s how the official version runs, anyway. In the year of 2368, in a contradictory world shaped by both educated elites and socialism, people are still driven by their greed for power. And maybe, just maybe, the pursuit of happiness.

'Facies Mentiendi' is a collection of interconnected novellas set in this dystopic world and centred around the Agency - a group of assassins.

'Initium' tells the story of a hacker, Darjan Informatik Kajaz, who is given a very special assignment by Integra. His orders: Take down the Agency. His modus operandi: Play the hacker for them while trying to gather information about the real people behind the powerful codenames Dea and Gladia. His whole life: To be turned upside-down.

'Ardor' is supposed to be a love story. It does, however, start with another kind of fire - the burning ruins of Tarek Keystone’s home. It starts with three altogether different words, let him live, before the world goes dark, in several ways. This is only the beginning, though. There’s still plenty of time to play with words … and to change their meanings.

Welcome to Alteria.

Translations: 'facies' = face, form, look / 'mentiendi' = 'of lying' / 'initium' = beginning / 'ardor' = fire, heat, gleam, passion.