We saw an unknown land, following the darkness itself and seeing the light coming only from one crack.
We dive into that crack, look inside, and see the hidden chamber.
A chamber of the past.
It looks old but still new. On its walls, many carved symbols are seen. Some are unknown to us, like they were lost with time. All around it, we see only one thing. Chains and hooks binding a person. But only his shadow is seen in the faint light spreading from some unknown flames, each flame glowing like a rainbow, each having a different color. Then the man slowly opens his eyes and looks toward his hands.
"Hmm... I am still alive."
"Why? Did they not kill me?" His eyes begin to fade slowly, like he is dying or becoming unconscious.
Slowly, slowly, he is falling into a deep sleep.
His eyes stop moving.
His body starts to become cold, looking like he is dying soon or maybe already dead.
When he is near death, one word echoes in his mind, and then severe pain strikes his head.
"Why did you not kill me? Ahhh!" he shouts in pain.
The unknown voice in his mind continues to echo, and his pain keeps increasing.
Suddenly, during the pain, his mouth unintentionally or involuntarily speaks one name. Then dark blue mist surrounds him, and all the chains that once captured him disappear.
His pain vanishes with the smoke, and he feels better.
He is amazed by what just happened. But instead of thinking too much, he starts walking to enjoy his freedom. A smile is clearly seen on his face, like he has been captured for a very long time.
He punches the chamber wall and cracks it. Then he walks ahead, moving toward the land.
A land where light forgets to come.
A dark land.
All around, only darkness is seen.
"I am free now, stupid man."
He laughs and starts running across the land.
A plain, desert-like land where nothing is seen for miles.
He enjoys his moment of freedom.
But...
"You are free? Really? The world sealed you because you deserved it. And again, you will be sealed soon. Hahaha."
A figure appears behind the freed person. A figure of light in the darkness. A godlike figure.
He raises his hand, and reality shatters. The freed person is sealed again. Even his eyes do not flicker. He is sealed once more.
"What did I do? Why are you sealing me again? That was not me. Those bad people did those things to me. I am innocent."
He is shouting, becoming both angry and sad.
He keeps shouting, but the figure disappears without hearing his voice.
"I am alone now too. What can I do here? What should I do? Who am I? Why did they seal me? I only remember one name that echoes in my mind every time, and that is 'Ruler.'
But Ruler of what? Where do I rule? And what does it mean?"
He talks to himself, slowly losing his mind.
When he finishes saying those words, the same incident repeats. Smoke surrounds him, he becomes free, and then he is sealed again by the mysterious figure.
Like he is trapped in a loop.
But what did he actually do to suffer this kind of punishment?
Why is he sealed?
That answer remains a mystery to him.
He cries, becomes angry, feels sorrow, feels depressed. He feels everything.
But there is nothing he can do.
His eyes open but lifeless.
He did not move. He did not speak. He only listened.
Listened to the silence that followed him like a curse.
He slowly, slowly lost consciousness again.
Like he was fading. Like he had died.
The smoke thinned.
His heartbeat slowed.
His breath stopped.
Silence.
Then a voice.
"Wake up."
"Wake up."
"Hmmm... Ouch."
A young boy sat up with a sharp breath, rubbing his head.
His hair was messy. His face pale with sleep. His eyes half-closed, like he had just crawled out of a dream too deep to forget.
He blinked.
Looked around.
The room was normal. Small bed. Books. Morning light through the window.
But something in his chest felt heavy.
Like he had died somewhere else.
And come back here instead.
"Ren. Hey, Ren. Wake up."
A small voice broke through the fog.
Ren Calder opened one eye, then winced. His head hurt. Not like a normal headache. More like something had cracked open inside his skull.
"Ugh…"
"You're going to be late again," the voice said, this time more annoyed. "Mom told you to stop staying up so late reading weird books."
Ren blinked and sat up slowly. His little sister stood at the door, arms crossed, already dressed in her school uniform.
"Good morning to you too, Mira," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you dream about monsters again?"
He paused. "…Not monsters. Just chains."
Mira rolled her eyes. "You're so weird."
She turned to leave but stopped halfway.
"Oh. Breakfast's on the table. Toast and eggs. Don't take too long or I'm eating yours."
Ren gave her a small smile. "Thanks."
As she walked away, her voice floated back down the hall. "And comb your hair. You look like a ghost."
He ran a hand through his messy hair and let out a breath.
Normal house. Normal sister. Normal morning.
So why did it still feel like he had just died?
He looked down at his hands. No chains. No blood. Just fingers, pale and shaking a little.
Last night's dream lingered in his mind like smoke.
A shadow. Hooks. A voice in the dark.
And that name.
"Ruler…"
He whispered it under his breath. It made his chest tighten.
But there was no time to think. He got dressed, splashed water on his face, and grabbed his bag.
★★★
At the table, Mira was finishing her second slice of toast.
"Took you long enough," she said, mouth full. "You'll miss the bus."
Ren sat across from her. "I could just walk."
"Lazy."
"You're the one who steals my food."
She grinned and held up a third slice. "Want this?"
"…Yes."
She gave it to him with a smug look.
They ate in silence for a minute.
Then Mira glanced up. "Hey. Are you okay?"
Ren blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
"You look… sad. Like you're about to cry."
He looked down. "…I'm fine. Just tired."
Mira didn't press. She picked up her bag, slid off the chair, and started heading for the door.
"You'll feel better once school's over," she said. "Friday's pizza day, remember?"
Ren nodded.
Before she left, she turned back one last time.
"And if you have another weird dream… tell me. I'll beat it up for you."
He chuckled softly. "Sure. I'll let you know."
The door closed.
Ren sat alone for a while.
Then looked at his hand again.
No flames. No smoke.
But something was changing.
He could feel it.
And whatever it was…
It had already begun.