《Beneath The Fallen Sky》


 The First Sin

    Every night before bed, my mother always reads me a bedtime story. Tonight was no exception


    I asked her to reread one of my favorite books: The War of Heaven and Ruin


    Despite being a children''s book that my mom read to me before bed, it was based on real story. Everything in this book truly did happen. It must be to teach younger kids like me the history of our world in a more entertaining and simplified way.


    "Are you ready, dear?"


    "Yeah, I''m ready"


    This is the story of how Earth became hell.


    "300 years ago, a Holy War broke out. It was a war between the rulers of the cosmos, who maintained order in our world. The gods versus the catastrophes. While the gods handled life, the catastrophes took care of death. Both of them kept order in this world, like two sides of the same coin.


    That was until the King of Catastrophes got greedy.


    He wished to takeover the heavenly realm to rule earth all by himself. The result was an all out war. In the eyes of the humans, all we could see was shooting stars clashing at each other and dancing in the skies. But up there, was a cruel bloodshed. The catastrophes were losing.


    As a last effort, the King of Catastrophes broke the pact of interference by descending onto earth with his 4 generals to try and take over earth. A castle no one had ever seen was born in the west, which became the new home of the demons. It didn''t take long for the Gods to notice, but by the time they did, earth had completely flipped upside down. The population reduced by half. Towns were burned down and raided. Humanity was in despair, they were utterly defenseless."


    "Do you remember what happens next?"


    "To give humanity a fair advantage, an angel called Seraphiel was sent down to bless 3 heroes, who would later seal away the King and his kind. Lionel, the sword master; Vespera, the great mage, and Thalia the priestess of life. Right?"


    "That''s exactly right, Kael"


    The rest of the book is pretty simple. Once their mission was complete, the three heroes passed down their knowledge, preparing humanity for the day the Tyrant might return. Peace was upheld and humanity thrived again. Slowly but surely, the world was rebuilt.


    That was until 15 years ago, when the Ruler of catastrophes and all his demons broke through the seal. Deep down everyone knew this would happen someday.


    "I think your father will be getting home soon, you should go to sleep before he gets angry again"


    My bedroom was a closet in the far back of the house. We practically lived in a shed. From time to time I could hear the critters in our walls when I tried to sleep.


    My father despises me. In a world where magic and sword skills thrive, I was born completely talentless. He always tells my mom that if it weren''t for such a useless son like me, they could live a better life instead of merely surviving. Part me of thought he was right, but my mother never agreed to it. She has faith that I''ll become a great warrior one day and bring hope to this world.


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    Shortly after leaving my room, I heard yelling the room next to mine. My father was back. Like always, he was angry. Angry at anything and everything, blaming anything and everything.


    I heard a loud bang, as if someone fell to the ground. I slightly opened the door to check and I was right. My mom was laying on the ground.


    My father had gotten really drunk that night and started hitting her. This wasn''t exactly rare, but this time, he looked like he would seriously kill her.


    I ran out of my room and yelled at him to stop hitting her. That''s when I saw my dad walking towards me.


    "Don''t you dare lay a hand on my boy"


    His eyes, bloodshot and wild, locked onto me. His lips twisted into a drunken sneer. Then he moved¡ªfast. Too fast. A rough hand clamped onto my arm, fingers digging in like a vice. The next thing I knew, the room was spinning.


    I hit my head on the wall and was concussed for a short while. I wondered what my mom had seen in that man. Why she chose to marry such a piece of shit like him.


    I remember her telling me in the past that he wasn''t always a bad man, he had changed around the time that the second war broke out. He was confused on what to do and desperate to survive, which led him to become a heavy drinker.


    After opening my eyes again, I took a minute to adjust my sight. Everything was blurry.


    I finally managed to make out what was happening in front of me. My father was sitting on top of my mother with his hands around her neck.


    "A-and you! You aren''t much better than that damned son of ours! If only you''d sell that stupid golden necklace around your neck, maybe we could afford a better home instead of this old shack in these damned slums!"


    His intoxicating breath that reeked of alcohol was like poison. He could barely speak a sentence without hiccuping.


    He was slowly killing her.


    My legs locked in place, refusing to listen. My breath hitched, shallow and uneven, as if my ribs were caving in. My fingers twitched at my sides, but no matter how much I screamed at myself to move, I stood frozen¡ªuseless¡ªwatching as my mother''s life slipped away.


    Reaching out with her necklace in hand, my mom tried to voice up a few words.


    "Run. Run¡­away"


    I couldn''t bring myself to run. I didn''t want to abandon the only person in the world who loved me. She was the kindest soul in the world and the prettiest woman I knew. She was my everything.


    Barely managing to muster up her breath, she whispered to me:


    "Forge your own path, Kael"


    "Keep living no matter what"


    I was met with a silence, one that felt like it lasted an eternity.


    My mother was no longer moving.


    My mother spoke her last words.


    My mom¡­ was dead.


    Glancing to my left, I saw the knife my father used to hunt lower ranked catastrophes. Slowly, I walked to the knife. Focussing on nothing but that damned knife. Too drunk to realize, my father stood there, strangling a corpse that had already died.


    Right foot, then my left. I slowly approached that devil of a man.


    The knife sank into his flesh with sickening ease. His body jerked, and for a moment, his drunken eyes met mine¡ªwide, unfocused, disbelieving. Warm liquid spilled over my fingers, coating my hands in something darker than I''d ever imagined. The smell of iron flooded my nose. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. He gurgled a wet, awful sound, before his weight collapsed onto me. I gasped. My knees buckled. My father was dead. And I had killed him.


    What was this feeling in me? Guilt? Remorse?


    No.


    It wasn''t anything along the lines of feeling bad for that old shit.I was relieved. So relieved that all I could do was smile. I smiled so hard that the sides of my mouth were hurting.


    So why was I crying? Why did I feel tears flowing down my cheeks?


    Ah, that''s right. I''m only alive cause of my mother.


    Because of her sacrifice, I could go on living.


    Part of me was grateful, but what now? I have nowhere to go. No home to return to.


    After collecting my thoughts, I packed my bags, took my mother''s necklace, and got ready to leave. This was the first obstacle in my journey. It was only the beginning.


    "No matter how much blood stains my hands, I will forge a world where no one has to live in fear."

 Unfamiliar Faces

    Being born without talent was hard. My only ''skill'' was my memory, the only thing I had to hold onto in this cruel world. I buried myself in books, soaking up knowledge like a sponge. Anything to make up for the magic I lacked, anything to survive. But knowledge alone wouldn''t fill my stomach.


    I needed money, and I needed it fast. The adventurer''s exam was my best shot. I wasn''t 13 yet, so technically it''s out of sight. I''ll figure it out later, I have to make it work. I couldn''t wait another year. I had to start now before hunger and exhaustion tore me apart.


    The test consisted of three parts: magical aptitude, physical strength, and a practical wilderness exam. Thankfully, the first two parts would only serve to determine my talents, so even good for nothing kid like me had a chance to pass. The true exam started in the 3rd part. This is where I needed to prove my strengths. This was what would make me a hunter. I didn''t care about magic or healing, and I knew I didn''t have any sword skills to pass the second part of the test. Beasts were my target. Killing a mutated creature from the wild would be my target during the test. Thai was far from an easy task, and I needed to be ready.


    I took off as fast as I could and followed the directions I had. The forest had no mercy. Barely a day into my journey, I stumbled upon a small river, my parched throat begging for water. I dunked my face in, staring at my reflection. Dark, swollen circles under my eyes. My lips cracked, dry from thirst. It was impossible to hide how much I''d been suffering.


    I didn''t care about my hair, but it had grown too long. I couldn''t bring myself to ask anyone for help, so I took my father''s knife, the one I had used to kill him. My hands trembled as I hacked at my hair, the only thing left of my mother''s care. I missed her... more than anything.


    Sitting by the river, trying to catch fish with a sharpened stick, I felt like a fool. The fish darted faster than I could think.


    Hours passed. Nothing. I felt pathetic. The hunger gnawed at me. The bugs I caught were nothing but an insult to my empty stomach.


    I wasn''t cut out for this. I was starving, freezing, and completely useless. My legs wobbled as I stumbled through the woods, my body betraying me. I needed to keep moving, or I''d die out here in this forest.


    "How am I ever going to become a hunter if this is all I can achieve?"


    As night fell, I could barely see the stars. Every breath fogged the air, and the cold bit through my thin jacket. I wasn''t ready. I wasn''t ready for any of this. But there was no choice now. All I could do was be grateful that I hadn''t run into any dangerous beasts.


    The next morning, I forced myself to my feet. A pounding headache blurred my vision. My stomach churned, but the sight of walls in the distance pushed me forward. I had made it. Mercalis was within reach, it was finally in front of me, standing tall on the horizon. For the first time in days, I let myself hope.


    Then, darkness swallowed me whole.


    My eyes slowly opened, the blurry shapes above me gradually taking form. The wooden beams of a roof came into focus, I realized I was lying down.


    "Where the hell am I"


    A dull throbbing pain spread across my head as I sat up, my mind racing to piece together what had happened. The last thing I remembered was stepping out of that godforsaken forest, the road stretching out before me, and then... nothing. Everything went dark.


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    A soft voice broke the silence, pulling me from my thoughts.


    "We found you laying down face-first on the gravel road and brought you onto our carriage"


    My heart raced. Instinctively, I reached for my knife, but before I could even grasp the hilt, a deep voice vibrated through the air, sending a chill down my spine. It felt like a demon was standing behind me.


    "Let''s calm down, shall we?"


    "You can start by putting that knife away"


    I slowly shifted my gaze down and saw a glint of cold metal¡ªa sharp, silver lance just grazing my neck. I felt a drop of blood trickle down from the point. One wrong move and I knew my head would be rolling on the floor.


    "As I said, I think we should all take a deep breath and relax"


    I took my hand off the hilt of my knife, cautiously, but swiftly, and the mysterious figure behind me withdrew his lance.


    Slowly, I turned my head to see what was around me. Who was the source of the fear I was feeling?


    To my right, was a short and young lady


    with blond hair dressed in white clothing and a golden cross pendant on her neck. She must be a priestess.


    To my left was a rather skinny and pale young man with light brown hair slightly covering his eyes. He had a tall wooden bow on his back with a pack of arrows to his side and what seemed like a small hunting knife on his belt.


    "N-nice to meet you"


    And finally, the cause of this horrible sensation in my chest. The reason my heart felt like it was pierced by a blade.


    A tall, rather lean man with his large lance was standing up. He was dressed in all black and had long red hair with a bandana covering his forehead.


    I was prepared to face a giant with huge muscles and an evil look on his face, something like a demon. So why? Why was it that a simple-looking man with a simple smile made me piss myself?


    I was unimpressed.


    "Haha, that reaction is priceless. You look rather disappointed."


    "With that huge deep voice you yelled at me with, I thought you would be the King of Catastrophes himself¡­"


    "Oh, that? That was my skill, ''Fearstrike.'' Quite the showstopper, don''t you think?"


    So lame¡­


    He chuckled.


    "It fills anyone weaker than myself with fear so intense they can barely move. It''s a bit useless otherwise, but fun in these situations."


    He had a smug look on his face like he was the strongest in the world.


    My nerves started to ease.


    "C-captain, I thought we told you to not use that skill around us s-since we are also weaker than you"


    "Yeah, what Finnian said! Don''t use that skill anymore. I nearly peed myself!"


    While everyone was laughing so amicably, I was embarrassed . So embarrassed that I could feel my face burning. I''m sure it was really red.  Not only was I saved by random people, I now needed a change of pants.


    "Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Caden. I''m the leader of the Blackspear party"


    Such a lame name¡­


    "To your right is Eryndor. As you can tell from her clothes, she''s a healing priest."


    She gave off a bright, warm smile. I could tell it was a genuine one.


    "Let me treat that wound for you"


    Suddenly a bright green light emitted from her hands. I had never seen something like it. It was magic.


    "How''s that? I used a little bit of my healing arts to close the wound and numb the pain."


    "It''s perfect¡­thanks."


    "And last but not least, Finnian. He''s our back-line supporter and helps with the hunting and the cooking. You could say he''s the brains and I''m the brawn''s."


    He seems shy, but for some reason, dependable.


    What was it about these guys that made me drop my guard so easily?


    "Are you guys from the adventurers guild?"


    I already knew the answer cause of the badges pinned to their clothes. Each of them was wearing a bronze badge with the guild''s lion crest in the middle. I had seen it in a book before.


    "We sure are! We just came back from a mission in the woods you came out of. We were out hunting a few mutated beasts"


    His story made sense. The smell of raw meat and the skinned hide being used as a carpet to make the ride a little more comfortable was well enough proof.


    It also explains why I saw no mutated beasts during my travels.


    I felt the carriage start to slow down.


    "Carriage permit please"


    "Ah yes, here you go officer"


    Two voices were discussing outside. I was curious to see what was going on. I needed a second to stretch my legs, they had fallen asleep from the carriage constantly shaking.


    I took a step and opened the curtain leading to the front of the carriage where the driver and the horses were.


    There it was.


    A loud and lively town, with countless people walking across its roads. The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread and spices. Market stalls lined the streets, bursting with vibrant colors. Fabrics in every shade imaginable, fruits stacked high, and trinkets that caught the sun''s rays sat atop wooden tables. I could hear music coming from afar. It was the complete opposite of my hometown. This place truly felt like paradise.


    "You''re good to go. Welcome to Mercalis"

 A Place to Belong

    The moment I stepped out of the carriage, the city swallowed me whole. Tall houses lined the wide streets, their balconies draped with fluttering laundry. Market stalls spilled into the roads, selling everything from fresh fruits to polished weapons. The scent of grilled meat mixed with the sharp tang of alchemical potions, and the constant hum of bartering voices filled the air. I turned to point something out to Caden¡ª


    He was gone. They were all gone.


    "Shit."


    I had no clue where I was going. All I knew was the name of the adventurers guild. Nothing else. I was lost in an unfamiliar city.


    With all the people around, I could barely hear my own thoughts. I pushed through the crowd, my heartbeat speeding up with every step. Where did they go? Faces blurred past me, voices overlapping in a storm of noise. I tried retracing my steps, but every street looked the same. Endless stalls, endless people, endless movement.


    I swallowed hard. I was completely alone.


    "Excuse me, boy."


    A warm voice cut through the panic.


    "Yes, you."


    I turned to see an old lady with a kind smile, her eyes warm with understanding.


    "You look a little lost, am I right?"


    "A-ah yes, I happen to be a little lost..."


    It was a little embarrassing. Not only was I being treated like a child, I was lost like a little dog.


    "What do you happen to be looking for? I''m sure I can help you"


    Tears ran down my face as I looked to the sky with my hands in the form of a prayer. I was saved.


    "I seem to have wondered off from my friends without noticing, but the main thing I''m looking for it is the Ironclad Hall"


    "Oh you mean the adventurers guild? Keep walking down this road until you reach the fountain. Once you''ve arrived, take the road to the right and go up the stairs. It''ll be right in front of you."


    I immediately took off and thanked her. She waved me off with a kind smile. I wish there was a way I could repay her kindness.


    The statue of Lionel, the Sword Hero stood tall at the fountain''s center, his greatsword Dawnsunder pointed downward, its tip touching the pedestal as water flowed around it. His long cloak, sculpted to appear in movement, draped behind him, and his armor bearing faint traces of battle scars. His face was chiseled with sharp features and a stern gaze, looking toward an unseen battlefield. Despite centuries passing, the statue radiated quiet power, a timeless reminder of the hero who once shaped history.


    I didn''t waste too much time, I didn''t have any to spare. I marched up the slightly cracked cobblestone stairs and slowly saw a huge hall entering my line of sight. Ironclad Hall was written in huge letters, wooden doors bearing the guild''s crest stood tall and open. People were entering and leaving, each having amazing armour and fancy weapons. I felt out of place.


    When I walked in, a kind lady with short dark hair dressed in a green attire and a small hat sitting atop her head greeted me.


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    "Welcome to the adventurers guild, my name is Helene. What can I help you with today?"


    I tried explaining to her that I was here to take the hunters exam, but I was quickly interrupted by a huge man wearing thick, heavy armour. The handle of his massive hammer had knocked me over. His huge and heavy footsteps halted and the clanging of his armour went quiet.


    "Oh, what do we have here? What''s a small little brat like you doing here? This isn''t a daycare, little boy."


    His party of 5 people behind him laughed. The rest of the guild quickly followed. I got up and dusted myself off. Typical jackasses. I tried my hardest to keep a blank face and continued my conversation with the lady, but yet again, was interrupted by the muscle-for-brains asshole.


    "Did you not hear what I said? You don''t belong here twerp. Buzz off and go find your mommy."


    His words scraped against something raw inside me. Find my mother? If only he knew. My grip tightened around my knife. I knew I wasn''t strong enough to take him down, but I wasn''t going to let him talk like that.


    A shadow appeared quickly, as if it had teleported in front of me. A large figure, almost as tall as the monkey in the armour stopped my blade with only his fingers. His frame was huge, despite only wearing normal clothes. He had a short, brown beard that was slowly turning grey. His slicked back hair revealed scars on his face. This guy must be a veteran.


    "That''s enough you two, you should know not to fight in the guild hall. It''s strictly forbidden. Any issues must be taken outside."


    "Y-yes guild master¡­"


    The large monkey in the armour backed down like a scared little dog. It was quite the hilarious sight.


    "What is your name, young man?"


    "Kael. My name is Kael."


    "Well then Kael, what business do you have here today?"


    "As I tried explaining to the kind receptionist, I''m here to take the hunters exam."


    This was it. This was the moment I was waiting for. The sole reason for coming to this town, for crossing that hell-shaped forest that almost killed me. I was scared. I couldn''t expect what would happen next.


    "You seem to be a little young, boy. Do you not know that the age of entry is 13?"


    "Yes, I''m fully aware, but I don''t have time to wait another year. I need to take the exam now."


    "I''m not sure why you''re in such a rush, but I can''t let you take the exam. I''m sorry."


    What was I thinking? The rule was set there in the first place for a reason. Of course I wouldn''t be able to take it a year early. Especially since I had no talents to prove. The front doors creaked open and 3 people came through. It was Caden and his party.


    He called out my name and asked where I had ran off to. I explained to him what happened and how I got lost. After that, the guild master explained our current situation. Caden seemed unusually friendly towards the guild master, even for a guy like him. That''s when I found out they were family friends. That''s when the guild master had proposed a solution.


    "What if you apply as a miner, since no exams need to take place. With that, you can join Caden''s party and venture out with him until you turn 13. Miners don''t just dig. They extract mana stones from crystal caves, which often attract beasts. It''s dangerous, but with the right party, you''ll survive and gain experience along the way."


    Generally, parties consisted of 5 main roles. Hunters, priests, rangers, mages and tanks. Occasionally, if the party decided to attack the crystal caves to extract the mana stones, they would take on a miner to join their party. t''s true that Caden''s party didn''t have a miner yet, but this really wasn''t what I was expecting. I was completely in Caden''s hands. Wether I would be able to survive was up to him.


    "Hmm, that''s not a bad idea. Sure, let''s go for it. What do you think, Kael?"


    My eyes widened. Was I hearing this correctly? A party strong enough to provide for themselves would willingly take on a kid like me? A deadweight? I clenched my fists. Why? Out of pity? No, I can''t think like that! If they''re giving me a chance, I have to take it. Both Finnian and Elyndor agreed to it as well. I bowed down and shouted.


    "I''ll be in your care from now on. I''ll try my hardest to prove my worth and to not drag everyone down."


    They chuckled and told me to take it easy. I was truly indebted to them. They had saved me for the second time. The receptionist handed me my miner''s license. The picture was awful. I looked like I''d crawled out of aditch.


    We decided to head out to find an inn for us to spend the night in. On our way, we picked up some grilled corn and chicken-on-a-stick. I, of course, had no money, but was still fed due the their kindness.


    I think I''ve found a place I can call home.

 Forging a Path

    I had finally gotten a good night''s rest. How long has it been since I was able to? Too long to remember. As soon as everyone was awake, we had started to discuss our much needed plans for the future. I had a goal but no path to reach it. If I wanted to free this world from torment and slay the Tyrant, I needed a few things. First of all, I needed to get stronger. Far stronge than I am now. The second thing I needed was capable allies who shared same goal as me. It wasn''t exactly hard to find these kind of people, since it was a common desire of this world. The Tyrant had taken many lives. Before we started this journey, the rest of the party needed to know what my motives were.


    "I plan on going for the King of Catastrophes."


    The mood suddenly got heavy. Everybody went silent and shifted their gaze towards me. Elyndor had a look of worry in her eyes. I could tell she thought I was crazy. Finnian tried to muster up words, but in the end he didn''t speak a sound.


    "You should give up on that dream of yours. It''s a suicide mission, everybody knows that. Nobody has ever gotten past the one of the four demon generals and you, a 12 year old boy, want to go for the devil who commands them? Don''t be stupid."


    Caden was the only one to say something. He seemed angry. He was worried about me. I knew he was right, but I wasn''t going to change my mind. This world has gone through too much suffering cause of the catastrophes. Someone needed to do it.


    "I know it sounds crazy,


    I exhaled, gripping my knees.


    But how can I sit back and do nothing? Every day, more people die. Every hour. If no one else can stop him¡­ then I have to."


    I clenched my fists, thinking of the battlefield I had never seen but knew too well from whispered stories. Four demon generals. Each ruling their own floor of the Dark Castle, their black banners flying high. Beneath them, three lieutenants each¡ªtwelve monsters leading legions of demons to burn our lands and slaughter our people.


    And what did we have?


    I imagined the Warlords, humanity''s greatest warriors, leading our armies into hopeless battles. Three Warlords, three lieutenants, three commanders. Nine warriors to hold back an endless tide. Even our emperor, the strongest of them all, could only afford to step in when two or more demon generals moved together. He had an empire to run, after all.


    The numbers never lied. Twelve versus nine. A losing war from the start.


    I could still remember the stories from the Grey Zone. A village wiped out overnight. A battalion torn apart by a single demon lieutenant. And yet, despite everything, humanity never gave up.


    And neither would I.


    I announced to the party all that I was thinking: How long I wanted to stay as an adventurer, roughly when I would join the army and a few other details. The mood remained heavy throughout the whole conversation.


    "You know we won''t be joining you on that road, don''t you, Kael?"


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    I knew that from the start. Finnian was here to provide for his older parents in the wetlands. Caden was an orphan, like me, who was only in this business for the money. He wanted to rack up gold and lay low for the rest of his life. That''s where we differed. As for Elyndor, she had a dream to heal as many people as she could. Too scared to join the army, she settled for the adventurers guild.


    When I finished my rant on my future plans, we discussed where we would be heading out to next. Caden suggested we headed to the drylands.


    "Now that we have a miner on the team, we should head out to the crystal caves. This is where most ores can be found. We can make a lot of cash from it."


    The rest of the party wasn''t opposed to this. Neither was I. Money was what I needed and that''s where I''d find it. Of course, we''d fight monsters along the way and even in the caves, so I''d still be able to practice and grow my skills while observing how the rest of them fight and learn from them.


    We headed back to the guild to take on quests at the mission board. Since it was a long journey of roughly 10 days by carriage, it was a smart idea to pick up missions around that area. More money, more combat experience.


    Among the seemingly endless requests, only a few sounded reasonable for our level.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª MISSION BOARD ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [ Difficulty level: D ]


    [Objective: Gather Opium Mushrooms, Spider Silk, Firefly essence, Goblin blood and Moonstone dust. Deliver them back to the alchemist shop inside Mercalis ]


    [ Contractor: Edelweiss, the alchemist ]


    [ Reward: 25 silver coins ]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [ Difficulty level: C- ]


    [ Objective: Subjugate the goblin nest in the wetlands, south east of the western boarder. Many goblins have been running rampant in the forest, ravaging crop fields. ]


    [ Contractor: Farmer Garrick ]


    [ Reward: 45 silver coins, any lootings from the goblins ]


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "We''ll take these two. Any objections?"


    No one objected. These two were almost perfect for our party. Caden had the strength to fight the goblins while Elyndor would support him with her healing arts. Finnian lived in the country, so he knew what materials to look for and where they were. A big advantage was how our quests interlinked.


    "Before we head out, we should stop by old man Vorn''s store. We can''t have Kael out adventuring with the scrap he''s wearing now can we. Not to mention his little butter knife he carries."


    The party chuckled. I opened my mouth, but no words came. What do you even say to people who save your life, who feed you, shelter you, and now arm you? Gratitude wasn''t enough.


    The forge was at the edge of the trade district, squat and worn, its blackened stone walls streaked with soot. A rusted iron sign above the entrance, the letters barely readable: ''Vorn''s Blades & Mail''. Unlike the polished shops with their bright displays, this place is open to the street, the heat spilling out like a living thing. The clang of metal on metal rings through the air.


    I stepped inside, and the heat slammed into me, thick and suffocating. The scent of burning coal, oil, and raw iron clings to the walls. Weapons line every surface: swords, axes, and spears stacked in racks, their edges gleaming in the forge''s glow. Shields hang from wooden beams, dented and worn. There''s no order here, no display for customers¡ªjust steel, waiting for a hand to claim it.


    At the back, a massive, scarred man hammers at a glowing blade, his arms thick with muscle, his bald head glistening with sweat. He doesn''t acknowledge me. I take a step closer, eyes tracing the weapons, drawn to a short sword resting on a rack. My fingers barely brush the hilt when his voice cuts through the air.


    "You got coin, or are you just here to gawk?"


    I froze, unsure whether he was serious or just testing me. The heat of the forge pressed in on me, and for a moment, I considered turning back. But then I remembered why I was here. I needed this.


    "I''m not here to gawk," I said, trying to sound confident. "I need proper gear¡­ something to help me survive out there."


    Vorn didn''t respond right away. His gaze flickered over me, sizing me up like a blacksmith inspecting a lump of unshaped metal. Then he grunted and motioned toward the racks.


    "Got any coin, or do I need to knock some sense into you?"


    I stepped forward, feeling both a strange thrill and fear. Whatever was about to happen, I knew this forge¡ªthis man¡ªwas going to shape my future in ways I couldn''t predict.

 Whispers of the Abyss

    "I''ve got the money, so show me what you''re selling."


    I had 10 gold to my name. That''s how much Caden gave me before he set off to handle other matters. I wasn''t exactly sure what I was looking for yet, but I needed light armor and a good, reliable weapon.


    "Take a look around. What you see on the walls is what I''ve made."


    I was no blacksmith, but I could tell these shabby, dull weapons and worn armor pieces weren''t nearly his best work. Not for someone with that kind of arrogance and experience.


    "I''ve already looked around, this isn''t what I want. I''m not looking for pawned items. I want what you''ve made. The real stuff."


    The old man let out a loud laugh, holding his belly like it was on the verge of exploding. He wiped the tear out of his left eye and had a mean-looking grin like he was ready to show off. He slowly waddled over to my left and bent down to place his hand on a handle on the ground. He let out a groan and joked about his old age. I was nervous, but out of excitement.


    What kind of masterpieces was he going to show me? Would I even be able to afford anything of his caliber?


    I could see all his muscles tense up to lift the handle, like he was pulling up the whole floor. That''s when I saw it. A hidden platform rose, revealing five relics bathed in the soft glow of emberlight.


    "Y-you made¡­ these?"


    I couldn''t believe my eyes. Just who in the hell was this old man? And why was he working in such a hole-in-the-wall shop?


    At the top left sat a towering shield, its dark alloy gleaming like polished obsidian. Jagged edges spoke of both defense and destruction, and at its heart, a single blood-red gemstone flickered like a dying star. It felt as heavy as a fortress itself.


    To the right of it, a tall, deep crimson cloak floated in place. Golden embroidery traces intricate patterns along its edges, sigils of forgotten kingdoms, each stitch woven with an unnatural precision. The material is impossibly soft yet unnervingly heavy, as if draped in the cosmos itself. When the air stirs, the cloak moves with an eerie grace, resisting the wind rather than flowing with it.


    Next was the necklace-ring duo. The necklace is a thin, almost fragile chain of blackened silver, carrying a pendant unlike anything I''ve seen before. A smooth, onyx gemstone sits in its center, encased in jagged silver-like grasping claws. When I stare too long, I swear the stone shifts¡ªlike an abyss blinking back at me. The ring matches its design, a simple band of the same dark silver, but when I bring it closer, an invisible pressure surrounds my fingers, as if it''s deciding whether or not I''m worthy to wear it.


    Then, there was the staff. Its wooden shaft was of an emerald color, with veins of silver branching like lightning through a storm. The head of the staff holds a crystal, cracked and imperfect, yet still seething with a deep, slumbering power. Strange symbols coil around its length, shifting when viewed from different angles. When I step closer, the air around it grows heavier, pulsating with restrained energy, waiting for a master to awaken it.


    And then, my gaze locks onto it.


    A sword of absolute darkness¡ªits blade a flawless abyss that doesn''t reflect light but devours it. Midnight black, with edges so sharp they seem to cut through the air itself. The hilt is wrapped in interwoven strands of deep, silver-threaded leather, worn smooth from time but still firm beneath my fingers. Unlike the others, it doesn''t hum with power, doesn''t whisper in forgotten tongues¡ªit simply exists, waiting, its presence undeniable.


    I instantly knew. This is the one.


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    My fingers stretch toward the hilt, drawn by an instinct I don''t fully understand. The sword feels like it''s calling to me, waiting. But before I can touch it, a firm hand clamps onto my wrist.


    I turn, startled, to find Vorn watching me with a grave expression. His previous easy demeanor is gone¡ªno smirk, no casual indifference. He isn''t angry. He''s warning me.


    "That''s not a sword you pick up on a whim, boy," he says, his voice low and steady. "It''s alive."


    I frown, glancing back at the blade. Alive? The thought unsettles me, but I don''t pull away.


    "What do you mean?"


    Vorn exhales through his nose, his grip tightening just slightly before he releases me.


    "That thing doesn''t just cut flesh. It feeds. It latches onto its wielder, drawing from them¡ªstrength, will, life itself. If you''re not strong enough, it''ll hollow you out from the inside, like a slow-acting poison."


    His eyes narrow.


    "You touch it without knowing what you''re doing, and it won''t kill you fast. It''ll make you think you can handle it¡­ right up until it drains you dry."


    The sword sits there, silent, unmoving, but I swear I feel it watching me. Waiting.


    I swallow, flexing my fingers.


    "And if someone is strong enough?"


    Vorn studies me for a long moment, then sighs.


    "Then it becomes something else entirely."


    He steps back, crossing his arms.


    "If you think you can take it, prove it. Otherwise, walk away."


    The moment my fingers graze the hilt, the world shatters. Darkness swallows me whole, and suddenly, I am elsewhere. A vast, endless void stretches around me, thick like ink, suffocating and endless. My breath catches in my throat¡ªnot because of the void itself, but because of the thing inside it. A towering shadow looms ahead, its form impossible to fully grasp. Its shape writhes, shifting, as if it''s something that shouldn''t exist in this world. At its center, a monstrous mouth gapes open¡ªrows upon rows of jagged teeth stretching into the abyss. And then, there are the eyes. Dozens, maybe hundreds of them, glowing a sickly yellow, were all trained on me.


    My body refuses to move.


    The thing leans forward, eyes narrowing, studying me like prey.


    And then¡ª


    It smiles.


    A low, guttural chuckle echoes through the void, reverberating in my skull. The sound is ancient, hungry.


    I think he''s testing me.


    My vision warps, my head pounds, and before I can react¡ª


    Everything goes black.


    A sharp inhale. My eyes snap open, and I''m lying on the cold stone floor of the forge. The dim ember light above swims in my vision as the world slowly pieces itself back together.


    "He''s awake," a voice says¡ªfamiliar, relieved.


    I blink, trying to sit up, but my head throbs like it''s been cracked open. Caden is kneeling beside me, concern written all over his face. The rest of the party is standing around, tense, like they just watched me drop dead.


    "What the hell was that?!" Caden asks, his voice sharp with worry.


    "As soon as we walked in the store, you dropped dead on the ground."


    I swallow, my throat dry.


    "I¡­ I saw something. The memory of those countless eyes sends a shiver through me. I glance at the sword¡ªit''s still resting on the display, untouched."


    I force myself upright, inhaling shakily.


    "When I touched it, I wasn''t here anymore. It was like my mind got pulled into¡­ somewhere else."


    I hesitate, trying to find the words.


    "There was¡­ a creature. A massive shadow. Too many eyes, too many teeth." I shake my head. "It looked at me. It smiled."


    A heavy silence follows.


    Then, Vorn exhales through his nose, arms crossed, expression unreadable.


    "Hmph. So that''s what happened."


    I look at him sharply.


    "You expected that?"


    Vorn doesn''t answer immediately. Instead, he steps toward the sword, gaze lingering on it before he finally speaks.


    "You survived." He exhaled. "That means something. That thing inside the sword... it saw you and didn''t consume you outright. That doesn''t mean you''ve won it over. It means you''re worth watching. A sort of light acceptance, if you could call it."


    Caden stares at him.


    "Accepting? He just passed out! How the hell is that acceptance?"


    Vorn gives a slow nod.


    "It didn''t kill him."


    The room goes quiet.


    Vorn continues, his voice firm.


    "Most people who touch that sword don''t get a warning. They get consumed."


    He looks back at me.


    "Whatever you saw in there¡ªthat''s the will of the sword. It acknowledged you. But it also rejected your current state."


    His eyes narrow.


    "You''re not strong enough yet. If you try to wield it as you are, it will devour you."


    I exhale, my hands clenching into fists. The weight of his words sinks in. The sword is alive. It recognized me. But it also saw my weakness.


    Caden huffs.


    "Then that settles it, right? He just doesn''t take it. We move on."


    But I don''t respond.


    I can still feel it¡ªthe weight of its presence, the way it looked at me in the void. I should walk away. I should leave it alone and listen to reason. But the memory of those eyes lingers. The way it smiled¡ªlike it was waiting for me to return. I tighten my grip. No. I won''t back down. I don''t care how long it takes. I will make it mine.