A long time ago, in a world still young, seven great races coexisted: demons, angels, fairies, demi-humans, dwarves, elves, and humans. Each had a purpose, and together they maintained the balance of a world where, according to ancient prophecies, a new god would be born: the God of Beginning and End.
However, that balance was destroyed when beings calling themselves "gods" appeared, intending to rule everything. Their ambition unleashed a war so brutal that it led to the complete extinction of the demonic race.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a dark place. Everything around me seemed like space… although, curiously, I didn't even know what that word meant. "What is space?" I wondered. And yet, something in my mind—something that wasn't entirely mine—seemed to know everything.
Gradually, that consciousness began to whisper knowledge, images, and words I had never heard. It was as if my own brain harbored wisdom that didn't belong to me, showing me things I didn't fully understand… but somehow, also comprehended.
Time passed with unbearable slowness, as if the world had forgotten to move. Boredom became a part of me… until a sharp pain pierced through my head.
I closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them, I was somewhere else. Everything was on fire. Flames roared around me, and the heat enveloped me like a living nightmare. I felt deep, tearing pain, and my vision was blurry, distorted.
Among the shadows, I made out the silhouette of a kneeling child. He was crying, clinging to a woman's body. She held him tenderly, even as the world crumbled around them.
I assumed she was his mother. Not only because of the age difference, but because of the way she protected him. But what drew my attention most were the horns protruding from her head.
I couldn't clearly see what was happening around me, but the woman's voice was clear, warm… almost like a whisper cutting through the fire.
"Don't cry… you have to be strong, Kurayami," she said gently.
Hearing that name, something inside me trembled. It was as if that word, Kurayami, carried a deeper meaning, as if it belonged to me.
Then, everything began to fade. The image blurred, the sound vanished completely… and before I knew it, I was somewhere else.
When I came to, I found myself in what seemed to be a cave. The walls were made of damp stone, and the air smelled of old earth. In front of me, standing completely still, was an imposing man.
He wore white armor that gleamed in the dim light, a red cape fluttered slightly behind him, and his face was completely covered by a metal helmet.
He wielded a sword, holding it firmly while watching me cautiously. Without further ado, he asked in a deep voice:
"Who are you… and what is that thing you're in?"
I didn't quite know why I knew, but the words came out on their own. I replied with a calm, almost mechanical smile:
"It's a hibernation capsule. It allows you to sleep for many years without aging… or feeling the passage of time."
The knight kept his sword raised for a few more seconds, as if he still didn't trust me… or was deciding whether to kill me on the spot.
Finally, he lowered the weapon cautiously but continued to watch me with suspicion.
"You are the last one," he said firmly. "The last we found in those capsules. Outside, there are eleven others…
Heroes, they call themselves."
I returned his gaze with a carefree smile.
"No problem," I said. "Could you show me the way?"
The knight sighed, as if he hadn't expected such calm from me. Then, with a silent gesture, he pointed toward a passage shrouded in shadows.
Without another word, we began walking together, leaving behind the place where I had awakened.
As we moved through the tunnel, the knight explained that he had been patrolling, as he usually did, when he noticed the cave entrance and decided to inspect it for enemies.
"Enemies?" I asked. "Who are they at war with? Which country?"
His voice sounded dry, almost resigned.
"Almost all existing races. We humans are fighting against the rest of the world."
After that conversation, we didn't speak again. The silence, dense and uncomfortable, accompanied us throughout the journey.
Finally, we reached the cave exit. The sunlight outside made me squint, and there, waiting for us, I saw eleven young people.
There were men and women, all youthful in appearance, probably between sixteen and eighteen years old.
Upon seeing me, their faces lit up. They greeted me with warm smiles, and some even came forward to hug me, as if they had known me their entire lives.
I didn't understand why they treated me with such familiarity. I didn't know them… or so I thought. But they spoke to me and smiled as if we were lifelong friends, as if an invisible bond existed between us.
I decided to play along, without asking questions. Something inside me felt warm, almost happy to see them.
Yet at the same time, a gnawing unease ate at me: I didn't remember who they were… or who I really was.
One by one, the young people introduced themselves to the knight, who watched them carefully.
—Iko.
—Hana.
—Rin.
—Akira.
—Ken.
—Emi.
—Aiko.
—Haruki.
—Mei.
—Dakeshi.
—Daichi.
The last one, Daichi, stepped forward with a confident smile.
"I am Daichi, the eldest brother," he said proudly. "I am in charge of all of us."
"Eldest brother?" I thought, confused. Does that mean… we are all siblings?
Before I could sort out my thoughts, the knight approached me.
"And you? What is your name?"
I remained silent for a few seconds. I didn't know… or I didn't remember. But then, that voice echoed again in my mind: the woman holding the child among the flames, whispering gently to him.
Kurayami.
"My name is… Kurayami," I answered, with a certainty I didn't know where it came from.