He was only six years old...
Aether, a young boy, ran through the narrow alleys of the village, laughing with his friends as the golden sunlight bathed the wooden and earthen homes. There was no worry in his heart—only the joy of winning his little game. In those fleeting moments, the world felt like it would remain peaceful forever.
At midday, a familiar voice called out to him:
> "Aether! Come home, lunch is ready!"
It was his father's voice—Mark, a powerful knight of the kingdom, rarely seen without his armor, even inside their house.
Aether ran home, where his mother, Luna, greeted him with a smile as warm as a thousand suns. His older brother, Lloyd, ever serious and composed, sat quietly, while his baby sister, Kartithia, struggled to hold her spoon without spilling soup on her dress.
They all gathered around the wooden table, their laughter blending with the aroma of the stew.
Then suddenly...
A violent tremor tore through the ground beneath them. The walls cracked. The ceiling collapsed in a heartbeat that stretched like eternity.
Screams. Blood. Dust.
A section of the house caved in over Mark's head—or so it seemed. But the one who fell... was not Mark.
It was Lloyd. The older brother.
Mark rushed outside, sword drawn, his face frozen in shock, as if time had stopped for him.
He looked up to the sky...
There were no clouds.
Only a massive violet gate—opening like an eye from the abyss.
And from it emerged the creatures of darkness.
Twisted forms. Burning eyes. Roar
s that made the night itself scream.