Prologue: A Journey of the Nameless
When Merslin first crossed into this world and began to make his name in the kingdom of Luminaria, a young boy listened to tales of his legend with a heart full of wonder and dreams. Though born the son of a farmer, with nothing remarkable about his station, the very name of Merslin was to him like myth itself. When Merslin resolved to found the Empire of Elysium across the continent, the boy's family, following his father's decision, joined the migration to this new land.
In Elysium, the boy had a chance to see King Merslin with his own eyes, and his heart swelled with awe. To him, Merslin was not just an ideal—he was the very embodiment of greatness. The boy longed to grow strong, to become not a mere man but a hero. He yearned to wield magic, yet soon discovered that magic required not only effort, but wealth and innate talent. His own attempts left him only at the threshold, able to taste but never command its power. Still, he would not abandon his dream so easily.
One day, as regret for his failures with magic weighed heavily on him, he happened upon a scene of Prince Lian training with a sword. The blade moved with a sharpness alive in itself, something beyond technique, as though carrying a will of its own. In that moment, the boy was struck with a revelation—perhaps his path did not lie with magic, but with the sword."Could I ever wield such a blade?"
Suppressing his timidity, he lifted a sword for the first time. Though he began later than most, he discovered that he possessed a spark of talent. Slowly, steadily, he trained. At the martial halls Merslin had founded, he honed his craft, his sincerity and effort yielding fruit. What began as admiration grew into discipline, and discipline into skill.
He was no longer the boy chasing after the shadows of heroes. He was becoming a youth ready to carve his own name into the world. In Elysium, under Merslin's watch, he resolved to walk a path made not by birth or destiny, but by his own hand and blade."I may not have been born a hero like Merslin, but upon this blade's edge, I will inscribe my own story."
Thus, he set his sights upon Elysium's Grand Tournament of Arms. From a farmer's son to a challenger in the empire's greatest arena, he took his first steps forward, his resolve hardening with every stride.
Chapter 1: The Stage of Dreams, The Grand Tournament
By midday, the streets of Elysium's capital overflowed with people. Today marked the opening of the first Grand Tournament of Arms, and men and women from every corner of the empire poured into the city. The avenues leading to the arena were filled with laughter, song, and expectation.
The boy walked hand in hand with his father, pushing through the crowds. Everywhere he looked, eyes gleamed with anticipation. Banners of the tournament fluttered high, painting the streets with vibrant colors. Merchants called out their wares, selling food and trinkets, while children shouted the names of famed warriors, wagering who would seize victory.
Caught up in the fervor, the boy's heart raced. Here, for one day, every citizen shed their worries and gathered to witness the rise of heroes. He heard a shout nearby:"Do you think Lisa will win? I'm certain of it—she's unstoppable!"
Lisa—warrior, comrade of Merslin, already a living legend. Her name stirred the crowd like fire on dry grass. The boy's chest thudded with longing. Could he one day stand where she stood? Could he cease to be a mere spectator and become a warrior himself?
Children dashed past him, voices shrill with dreams."I'll be up there one day, just like Merslin!""Not you! You're too small. I'll become a mage and protect Elysium!"
Their laughter struck something deep within him. He, too, harbored a small, stubborn hope—that one day, he might earn a place in this arena, prove his worth, and be remembered like the heroes before him.
The closer they came to the arena, the louder the roar of the crowd became. The boy could feel the ground trembling beneath the stamp of countless feet, the empire itself celebrating peace and strength through this grand contest.
And then, at last, he stepped inside. The air was electric. He stood among thousands as Lisa entered the arena, her presence alone enough to still the noise. She fought with a ferocity and grace that silenced doubt, each strike proclaiming her destiny. The boy watched in awe as she claimed victory, the first champion of the Grand Tournament.
In that moment, something within him shifted. He was no longer content to be nameless, faceless in the crowd. He would take up the sword in earnest. His journey as a warrior of Elysium had begun.