Chapter 0: The Day the Skies Burned
The city of Halcynthia stood proud behind towering magical barriers—walls of shimmering light that had protected its people for generations. Crystalline towers reached toward the heavens, and within the walls, life thrived. Laughter filled the streets, children chased each other past fruit stalls, and Knights of the Vanguard marched with gleaming armor.
To young Aiden, it was the safest place in the world. He lived a simple life with his loving parents and his childhood friend, Carollina, in a quiet corner of the city. The two of them often gazed up at the sky together, dreaming of the world beyond the barrier.
But that dream would soon be shattered.
It began with a shadow. A blot in the blue sky that grew larger with every heartbeat.
Then came the roar—a deafening, soul-piercing sound that froze the city.
The magical barrier, once thought unbreakable, rippled.
Cracks appeared.
And then… the dragon descended.
A monstrous beast of obsidian scales and burning crimson eyes tore through the sky like a god of destruction. It unleashed hellfire, its flames devouring buildings and people alike. Screams filled the streets as the once-protected city turned into an inferno.
Aiden stood frozen, clutching Carollina's trembling hand. Around them, chaos reigned.
"Mother! Father!" he cried, sprinting through the smoke-filled air as burning debris rained from above.
He found them near the marketplace, trying to shield others. His father's sword was drawn, his mother's healing magic glowing faintly around a wounded child.
"Aiden!" his mother screamed, seeing him approach. "Run! Take Carollina and go!"
Before he could reach them, the dragon landed with a crash that shattered the ground.
Time slowed.
He watched helplessly as his father charged the beast, slashing with everything he had.
The dragon batted him away like a fly.
His mother screamed, covering Aiden with her last protective spell as she was consumed by fire.
And just like that… they were gone.
Aiden's body trembled. His throat tightened. His heart cracked wide open.
The heat, the roar, the smoke—it was too much.
He collapsed, sobbing, unable to process the horror around him.
That's when a cloaked figure appeared through the flames, moving like a phantom.
The man's voice was firm but calm. "Get up, boy."
Aiden looked up through tear-filled eyes.
The man reached down and pulled both Aiden and Carollina to their feet. "Follow me if you want to live."
With no time to think, they obeyed.
They ran through shattered streets, past bodies and rubble, until they reached the last standing plaza where the Vanguard Knights had gathered.
A rallying cry echoed. The Knights launched a counterattack—not to defeat the dragon, but to drive it back. Blades of light, enchanted spears, and magic arrows lit the sky.
For a moment, humanity fought back.
The dragon, now wounded and furious, gave one final roar before turning skyward and escaping beyond the barrier. It had made its point.
Nearly 20% of the population was gone.
The city lay in ruins.
And Aiden… was no longer the same.
He knelt in the ashes where his parents once stood, holding a charred piece of his mother's necklace.
Carollina placed a hand on his shoulder, her own eyes swollen with grief. But neither of them spoke.
And the cloaked man?
He stood silently behind them, his eyes hidden beneath shadow.
He knew this was just the beginning.
Because deep within Aiden's blood something ancient had stirred.
And now, the fire had been lit.