Chapter One .
A world full of lies… can true love really appear? That's the same question I asked myself. Even though I knew it was nearly impossible, I believed in that empty lie. I believed that maybe—even I—could find a way to reach that so-called true love. My final decision was: if I wanted it so badly, then I would create that empty lie myself.
A time when unbelievable miracles were real. A time when magic was real and dominated all of space and time itself. In this era, a boy was born into a poor family, and his name was Damien.
The time wasn't the only wonder. The world itself—where Damien was born—was both beautiful and ugly. In this world, people were divided into different classes. What defined them wasn't money, status, or royalty—it was magic.
Those who could use magic were extremely rare, and those who did were considered gods among men. High kings and almighty royal bloodlines were the ones who ruled. The royal families were filled with talented magicians. Naturally, they were meant to rule.
Magic was the key to power and pleasure. Those talented enough to wield it created great clans and noble families. Those unable to use it lived as villagers. Villagers survived by farming, hunting, and serving the higher-ups. They were the poorest people in the world.
Three kinds of people, and three kinds of lives: the royals, the high families, and the commoners—the villagers. Commoners had another name: "low-lifes"—a title given by the higher ones.
Besides humans, there were mysterious creatures who could also use magic. Some were intelligent enough to speak, and some even resembled humans. These creatures lived in the Dark Forest. The Dark Forest was their homeland, and humans dared not approach it. Even the mighty magicians feared to enter, for those who went into the Dark Forest… never returned.
This was the world Damien was born into. His family were humble farmers in the village of Flowerfield. As its name suggested, it was a place that truly looked like a field of flowers. A land rich in food and freedom. Other villages even called it "heaven" among the villages.
Flowerfield, along with 26 other villages, was part of the Kingdom of Rainheart. The kingdom was surrounded by its 27 villages, and it was known as the Gateway to the Dark Forest. Because of this, other kingdoms respected Rainheart. They knew that Rainheart was the only shield standing between the Dark Forest and the rest of the world.
Damien's parents were the most kind-hearted people in Flowerfield. His mother, Liora, was a farmer who tended cows and goats. Her beauty was known throughout the village. Some said she was the flower of Flowerfield. Her beauty was magical—so great that even magic itself couldn't compare.
Her background was unknown; no one knew what kind of family she came from. But no one cared. To the villagers, she was their flower—a kind lady everyone adored.
Damien's father was a strong and brave hunter, with a joyful smile full of warmth. Everyone in the village knew him. He was the one who woke before dawn and greeted everyone—from beggars to merchants. An orphan, he treated the wilderness as his parents. His name was known not only in the village but throughout Rainheart, for his heroism.
Even the king once tried to make him a knight. But because of his humble nature, he refused, saying:"I belong to the wild, Your Majesty. I cannot imagine leaving it. So I humbly request to stay within it."
The king respected him for this, and so did everyone else.
These were the parents Damien was blessed with. A kind mother, a brave father, and a beautiful village filled with wonders. Life seemed perfect from the beginning. Flowerfield may have been poorer than other villages in the kingdom, but it had one thing the others lacked: happiness and freedom.
Damien grew up without hardship. His family was poor, but that never stopped them from being happy. By the age of ten, he was already skilled at hunting—a gift from his father. At such a young age, he could catch deer, rabbits, and other small animals.
But Damien wasn't only a hunter. He was also a great help to his mother. When she was busy with housework, he would milk the cows and help with farming. He was known in the village for his kindness, and his looks as well.
Damien had inherited much of his mother's beauty. With his dark hair and blue eyes, he had been handsome since childhood. Villagers often joked, "This boy doesn't look a bit like his father!" But they meant it kindly, for everyone knew Liora's beauty was not something to be spoken of as a flaw.
This was the perfect life Damien lived. Sometimes he thought to himself:"If this is my life from now on, I couldn't ask for more."
But he didn't know. After turning seventeen, on one fateful day—everything would change.