In this world, everyone is born with a key. Those keys are passed down through generations.
No one knows where they came from, but those keys can open doors to another world — a world filled with deadly trials. If you complete the trial, you return with blessings from gods, mythical beasts, and ancient warriors. The amount of blessings you earn depends on how well you perform.
But if you fail, the door shatters… and you are gone forever.
If you survive, you are given a permanent rank — a rank that decides your place in society for the rest of your life.
Now, our story takes place far away from the kingdom of Virelia, in an isolated area surrounded by trees. In the middle was an open area filled with a variety of wildflowers. In front of it all was a small wooden house.
From the other side of the house, a young man with one shoe and a key-shaped necklace hanging by his neck walked toward the house. He was about normal height for his age. His eyes looked hollow, his face was covered in dirt and blood, his black hair was messy, his clothing was tattered, his head was down, his hands were bloody.
He walked slowly toward the small tomb beneath a tree on the right side of the house.
He dropped to his knees and instantly broke down, tears flowing out of his eyes uncontrollably. He turned, leaned against the tree next to the tomb, and stared up at the stars.
(Current time: November 6, 11:59 PM)
"Hey, Mom… it's almost my birthday today. I will be turning 14. I thought we would celebrate it together," he mumbled.
(Current time: November 7, 12:00 AM)
"I missed you, Mother. I missed your handmade cakes. I missed watching the stars together. Why did you leave me alone? This world is really cruel. I don't have anyone to run to," he muttered.
He stared at the stars in the sky silently. Then he started talking to his mother's grave.
"Do you remember telling me that when someone passes away, they become the stars in the sky?" he paused. "People keep telling me that's not true, and that once you are gone, you are gone forever. Part of me knows that you just said that to comfort me," he paused again as he broke down once more, "but I like to believe your truth, Mother. At least then I know you are up there watching over me. At least then I don't always feel so alone, Mother," he muttered as he curled up next to his mother's grave and fell asleep.
He slept under the moonlight as it shined on him. It looked like the light was embracing him. He smiled as he slept away.
When the sun rose, a group of soldiers approached the boy. They were carrying spears, shields, and swords. They wore dark gray longcoats with silver trim, thin silver metal plates over their chests, combat pants, and black leather boots.
Leading them was a tall man with blond hair, yellow eyes, and a sharp jaw. Unlike the other soldiers, he wore a white longcoat with gold stripes, with a few medals on the right side of his chest. On the right side of his hip was a fancy longsword. They slowly approached the sleeping young boy.
"Young Master Sylas, please wake up," he said as he reached out to shake him.
His reflexes kicked in. His eyes snapped open. He instantly leaped backward, holding his last shoe in his hand like a sword.
"Who are you?" he snapped.
His vision slowly returned, and he recognized the man in front of him.
"Oh… it's you, Lucius," he put his shoe down. "What do you want now?" he asked as he put on that one shoe.
"Young Master, we came to take you back," he replied.
He looked up. "Where?"
"To the kingdom of Virelia. Your father has called for you," he said casually.
He burst out laughing. Then it disappeared.
"Tell him to shove it. I have nothing to do with that man or that family."
Lucius sighed, as if he expected the answer.
"Sorry, but this time it's not an option," his voice now steady. "We will have to take you by force."
"Try taking me," his red eyes locked onto Lucius, and he walked past them toward the forest.
One of the soldiers stepped forward and grabbed him by the shoulder.
He turned his head, grabbed the soldier's wrist, twisted it, and threw him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground.
"Don't touch me," he muttered, as his knee pressed onto the soldier's back, then he twisted his arm, dislocating it. The soldier screamed in pain.
"Capture him."
The others all moved at once — three soldiers rushing in, trying to capture him without hurting him.
When one of them tried to grab him, he rolled to the left, avoiding it.
Another soldier ran towards him. Sylas ducked under the swing, stepped inside, and slammed his elbow on the side. The soldier fell onto his knee.
A third one leaped in the air, trying to grab him, but Sylas grabbed his wrist mid-air, twisted, turned his hip, and flipped him over, this time taking his sword as he laid on the ground.
He got to his feet, blade in hand, his breathing calm. He pointed the sword at the rest.
"Come, fools… if you want to die."
Now he had a sword. He could fight properly.
Lucius stepped forward, drawing his own blade. Sylas zipped through the air.
He swung his sword with full force.
Clang!
Their swords collided. He was able to block it with ease.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
He struck again and again, trying to find an opening, but it was no use.
Lucius kept blocking. His stance was perfect. He had no opening, his eyes focused.
"Where did you learn to fight so well?" he smiled.
"Shut up," he snapped.
His movement became faster, but Lucius's guard was flawless.
He backed away, then shot forward and attacked him horizontally.
And again, Lucius blocked it — but Sylas used that moment to land a low kick to his knee.
Lucius groaned in pain, but he swung his sword vertically, forcing Sylas to leap backward.
"Not bad. So Alice has taught you how to fight," he said.
Something snapped within Sylas.
He lunged forward, swung his sword horizontally with full force, but Lucius jumped backward. His sword hit the ground, sending the recoil through his arms, but he didn't let go of the sword.
He moved faster. His strikes were now messy, predictable, just full pure emotion.
"Don't say her name! None of you deserve to say her name!" he swung.
"She was the greatest warrior in the kingdom," and again, "And that man played with her heart and abandoned her in this place, alone!" he choked on each word as he continued to swing his sword.
His arms moved wildly — rage exploding from every swing.
"You all abandoned her! She was a hero. She was loved by everyone in the kingdom! Then because of that devilish king and queen, she became the most hated person in the kingdom!" he screamed louder.
"That's not true," Lucius said, while easily blocking all his strikes.
"Shut up!" he shouted as he leaped up and struck down.
Lucius raised his sword and blocked it, the force making his knee bend slightly.
He used that chance to kick him on the left side of his head while still in mid-air, but Lucius lifted his arm up to block, the force making him slide slightly to the right.
Lucius tried to grab his leg, but Sylas backed away before he could grab him.
"Calm down, Sylas."
"Shut up! Shut up!!" He lunged with everything he had, striking down from above.
He was so full of rage, he didn't even notice — Lucius had sidestepped, and with one clean strike, hit the side of his neck.
Everything started spinning. He stumbled back, vision going blurry. The sky twisted. His legs gave out.
And he fell to his knees. Then before hitting the ground face first, with the last bit of energy he muttered —
"You all… killed her."