Chapter 2: DAYBREAK
Morning sunlight filtered lazily through the curtains of Axel's room, painting golden lines across the floor. But the warmth did nothing to lift the weight pressing down on him—the images from his vision, Lord Jitara's offer, Dylan's question, and the black spade card all lingered in his mind like shadows he couldn't shake.
He moved quietly, almost reverently, toward the small desk by the window. His hand trembled slightly as he scribbled a note to Dylan, Hakari, and John. It was brief, simple: "I need to find myself. Don't worry. I'll return." He folded it carefully and left it on the bed, the words a fragile promise.
Next, he turned toward Murphy's weapon room. The cold steel of Kinslayer called to him from the rack. Its blackened hilt gleamed faintly in the morning light, as if aware of the journey Axel was about to undertake. Fingers brushing over the door, he felt a tingle, a small spark of something ancient and powerful that he didn't yet understand he turned around and say a single black card on the shelf with a sign positively do not open so he went over thought for a second and left but as he was about leaving it entered his pocket without him knowing.
AXEL(thinking)I need space… time… to see who I really am. Not as the magicless boy everyone overlooks… but as me.
Strapping the sword to his back and sliding the sheath across his side, he also grabbed a travel bag, checked it twice, and quietly left the house. The streets were still mostly empty, save for the occasional morning merchant or messenger. The distant hum of city life was calm, but to Axel, the world felt tense, holding its breath.
As he approached the massive gates that separated the Infernals from the forbidden land of Espada, two guards stepped forward. Their armor clinked softly, and the sharp gleam of their swords reflected the morning sun.
GUARD 1Where do you think you're going, boy?
GUARD 2(suspiciously)The land of Espada is forbidden. You know that.
Axel's chest tightened, but he forced his shoulders back. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of determination.
AXELI have business in Espada. It's… personal.
The guards exchanged a glance, eyebrows raised in silent judgment.
GUARD 1(mocking)Personal business? With what? Your fists? Your… nothing? You're magicless. You won't survive there.
Axel took a slow breath, letting the words roll off him like water over stone.
AXELI'm not asking for your permission. I'm going whether you like it or not.
Guard 2's lips quirked upward, a faint hint of respect in his eyes.
GUARD 2You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that. But step through that gate… there's no turning back.
Axel's gaze didn't waver. He could feel the weight of his choice pressing down, but underneath it burned a fiercer force: a determination he hadn't allowed himself to fully embrace until now.
AXELI'm aware. But I have to do this. I need to find out who I am.
The guards hesitated. Time seemed to stretch for a heartbeat, the morning wind whipping against the gates as if urging him forward. Then, slowly, they stepped aside.
Axel's boots clanged softly against the stone as he crossed the threshold. The land of Espada greeted him with stark contrast: jagged cliffs replaced smooth towers, and a cold wind carried the scent of ash and distant smoke. The ground was cracked and uneven, forcing him to watch every step. Here, nature itself seemed sharper, less forgiving.
Every sense was heightened. The wind carried strange, whispering sounds, almost voices, and the sky was a pale, eerie gray, as if mourning the land's desolation. Birds circled high above, their cries distant and haunting. Axel's eyes scanned the horizon, alert for any sign of life—or danger.
GUARD 1(calling after him)Good luck, kid. You're going to need it.
Axel didn't look back. The words barely registered over the pounding of his heartbeat. Each step into Espada was a step away from his past and toward something uncertain—but necessary. He felt the weight of Kinslayer against his back, heavy yet reassuring, a companion for the trials to come.
He paused briefly, glancing down at the black spade card tucked into his pocket. It pulsed faintly, almost alive, as though it knew this crossing was just the beginning. A shiver ran through him, but he clenched his fist around it and kept moving.
The landscape stretched endlessly before him: jagged mountains, mist-covered valleys, and ruins half-swallowed by wild growth. Shadows danced across the rocks as the morning sun struggled to pierce the dense clouds. Every step carried risk, every movement felt watched, every sound held a warning.
And yet, for the first time in his life, Axel felt… alive. Not because he had power, not because anyone recognized him—but because this was his path.
The land of Espada awaited, indifferent to who he was—or who he would become.
TO BE CONTINUED…