The market of Akrol was alive with chaos. Men carried baskets brimming with goods, their hands rough and calloused, while women managed the stalls with sharp eyes and quicker tongues. The air was thick with voices, the clatter of pots, and the scent of spices that made the stomach ache with hunger.
"This is the world of Akrol," Shin's father whispered as they walked. "A land where men tend the home, and women rule the streets. Those who break the roles… must be punished."
Shin's eyes darted around. His gaze landed on a trembling man picking up a potato, counting his copper coins nervously.
"Two copper," the merchant woman barked when asked the price.
And then it happened. A thief—a woman—snatched the man's coin pouch and darted through the crowd. Without thinking, Shin leapt forward, blocking her path. A group of women quickly seized the thief and dragged her to the ground.
"Thank you, kid! May the gods bless you," the man gasped, relieved.
"Shin! Boys don't do this! You'll get hurt! Let's go home," his father murmured, pulling him close.
"Dad… why can't we work outside? Why do we have to live so miserably?" Shin asked, hesitation and anger in his voice.
"You won't understand… not yet," his father replied grimly.
Before they could linger on the thought, a loudspeaker crackled to life, silencing the market.
"People of Akrol! The Council has chosen the god-blessed ones who shall live in Z City! They will join the grand adventure!"
Whispers erupted around them.
"How do they choose?!" someone muttered.
"It is god's will. I wish I could be chosen," another said quietly.
Shin's eyes widened. "Dad… can I be chosen?"
His father looked away, silent. "I don't know… just be happy with what you have."
The walk home was quiet, the setting sun painting long shadows on the cobblestones. Their house was dim, cramped, and silent when they arrived. Shin knocked, then waited.
"Who's there?" came his mother's harsh voice.
"It's us, Mom," Shin replied.
Minutes passed. The door creaked open. His father frowned.
"What took you so long? We've been waiting—"
A hard slap cut through the air, landing on his father's cheek.
"Did you just argue with me?!" his mother shouted, furious.
"I-I'm sorry. It won't happen again," his father stammered, trembling.
Shin lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
Dinner was tense and heavy. His father and the maid rushed to serve the food, only to be berated.
"Where's my food?! Hurry up, you bastards!" his mother screamed.
The maid, head bowed, carried laundry instead of dinner. "Madam, I brought the clothes inside," he mumbled.
"What took you so long? Are you saying I'm wrong?" she snapped, slapping the maid and kicking him repeatedly.
Shin's hands gripped her foot, his eyes burning with rage.
"You dare touch me?!" she shouted, hitting him mercilessly.
His father stared at the floor, frozen with fear.
"Why is dinner taking so long?!" she roared again.
"It's… ready…" his father whispered.
Shin didn't eat. He couldn't. Not tonight.
Later, he crept to the basement, small and shadowed. A wooden sword was in his hands. He moved, dashed, and swung through the darkness, the air whistling past him.
The maid watched quietly.
"Thank you… for helping me earlier," the maid said softly.
Shin didn't stop. "It's nothing."
The maid hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Shin… there's a way out of this life. A way to be free."
Shin paused, breathing hard. "What do you mean?"
"There's an exam. A secret one. If you pass, you can leave. My father did. That's how I know it's real."
Shin's eyes widened. "So… there is a way?"
"Yes," the maid said. "But only if you're strong enough. Fail, and you'll be punished… thrown into the Abyss, never to return."
Shin's grip on the sword tightened. His gaze hardened. "So I can be free. That's all I need to know. I don't care what happens next. Failure is not an option. Teach me everything."
The maid smirked faintly. "As you wish. But this stays between us. You have one year… be ready."
Shin nodded. His eyes burned with silent fury.
---
⚫ Chapter 1: End