The sun dipped low over the slums, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. From his perch on the rooftop of a crumbling building, **Caelum** watched the light fade, his sharp features cast in shadow. At 16, he was lean and wiry, his body honed by years of survival in the unforgiving streets. But tonight, his mind was far from the chaos below.


    He traced the outline of the noble district in the distance, its towering spires and gleaming lights a stark contrast to the squalor around him. It had been **13 years** since he’d last seen it up close—13 years since he’d been cast out of his family’s estate, left to fend for himself in the slums.


    His earliest memory was of his sister, **Liora**. She had been six years old then, her small hand gripping his as they were dragged away from the only home they’d ever known. He remembered her tear-streaked face, her whispered promise: *“I’ll find you, Caelum. I’ll never leave you.”*


    But she had.


    *“Thirteen years,”* he thought, his jaw tightening. *“Thirteen years, and I don’t even know if she’s alive.”*


    The thought of her haunted him. He didn’t know why they’d been separated, why their family had abandoned him but kept her. He didn’t even know what she looked like now. All he had were fragments of memories—her laughter, her voice, the way she’d shielded him from the world’s cruelty.


    And now, with his 17th birthday just two days away, the **Dreaming Trial** loomed over him like a storm cloud. It was his chance to awaken as a Necro, to gain the power to change his life—and maybe even find a way to reunite with Liora. But the thought of failing, of becoming a **Kaikro**, twisted his stomach into knots.


    *“What if I’m not strong enough?”* he wondered, his fingers tightening around the edge of the rooftop. *“What if I end up like the others—twisted, broken, forgotten?”*


    Below him, the slums stirred to life. The narrow alleys buzzed with activity as people scavenged for food, bartered for goods, or simply tried to survive another day. Caelum knew every corner of this place, every hiding spot, every escape route. It was his home, but it was also his prison.


    *“Two more days,”* he whispered to himself. *“Two more days, and everything changes.”*


    ---


    The sound of shouting snapped him out of his thoughts. He glanced down to see a group of **street enforcers**—thugs hired by the local crime lord—pushing through the crowd, their eyes scanning the area. Caelum’s heart sank as he recognized their leader: **Garrick**, a hulking man with a scar running down his cheek and a reputation for brutality.


    *“Caelum!”* Garrick bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise of the slums. *“We know you’re here, you little rat! Come out, and maybe we’ll make it quick!”*


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    Caelum cursed under his breath. He’d known this was coming. He’d crossed Garrick one too many times—stealing food, sabotaging his operations, and generally making himself a thorn in the man’s side. But he hadn’t expected the enforcers to come after him so soon.


    He moved quickly, leaping from the rooftop and landing lightly on a lower ledge before dropping to the ground. The enforcers spotted him immediately, their shouts echoing through the alleys as they gave chase.


    Caelum sprinted through the narrow streets, his movements quick and precise. He darted around corners, ducked under low-hanging signs, and vaulted over piles of debris, using every trick he’d learned over the years to stay ahead of his pursuers.


    *“You’re dead, kid!”* Garrick roared, his voice growing closer. *“No one crosses me and gets away with it!”*


    Caelum’s heart pounded as he pushed himself harder, his lungs burning with the effort. He knew the slums like the back of his hand, but the enforcers were relentless, their heavy boots pounding against the cobblestones as they closed the gap.


    He turned down a narrow alley, only to skid to a halt as he realized it was a dead end. Panic surged through him as he spun around, searching for another way out, but the enforcers were already blocking the entrance.


    Garrick stepped forward, a cruel smile twisting his scarred face. *“Nowhere to run now, kid,”* he said, cracking his knuckles. *“Time to pay for what you’ve done.”*


    Caelum’s mind raced. He couldn’t fight them—not all of them. But he wasn’t about to go down without a fight. He reached for the dagger at his belt, his fingers tightening around the hilt as he prepared to make his stand.


    ---


    Before he could move, a voice cut through the tension.


    “Enough.”


    The enforcers froze, their eyes widening as a figure stepped out of the shadows. The man was tall and imposing, dressed in dark robes with intricate silver embroidery. His eyes glowed faintly, and the air around him seemed to shimmer with power. This was an **Ascendant**, a powerful Necro.


    Garrick hesitated, his bravado faltering in the face of the Ascendant’s presence. *“This doesn’t concern you,”* he said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.


    The Ascendant ignored him, his glowing eyes fixed on Caelum. *“You’ve got guts, kid,”* he said, his voice low and gravelly. *“But guts won’t be enough to survive in this world for long.”*


    Caelum tensed, his heart racing. He’d heard stories about the Ascendants—how they were ruthless, how they’d kill you without hesitation if you offend them. But there was something in the man’s gaze that made him pause.


    *“Who are you?”* Caelum asked, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.


    The Ascendant stepped closer, his glowing eyes boring into Caelum’s. *“My name is Kael,”* he said. *“And if you want to survive this world you’ll listen to me. The past isn’t kind to those who aren’t prepared, but first how old are you?"*


    Caelum stared at him, a mix of fear and determination in his eyes. He didn’t know what the Ascendant wanted from him, but he knew one thing for certain: his life was about to change forever.


    *“i am 16, going to 17 in the next 3 dayd. Why did you ask and what do you want from me?”* Caelum asked.


    Kael smirked. *“To check if the time have reach for you to gain the first thing you need to survive and if you’re worth my time, kid. Let’s see if you’ve got what itt akes to survive the Trial—and maybe even change the world.”*