CHAPTER ONE:
*THE BIRTH OF FATE*
At the birth of time, only two entities existed: the Otsuki Moon—radiant and beautiful—and Chaos—malicious and terrifying. It was in their cosmic battle that the two dragons were born; gold representing creation, and silver representing destruction. As they flew in unison like the koi fish of ancient Japanese culture—symbols of balance and perseverance—cosmic harmony was established. Within this balance, realms were created. It was in this peace that destruction was seeded, and slowly, little by little, life bloomed across all realms and flourished—an infinite number of realms. But as unity and harmony took shape in the form of realms, Chaos moved across the cosmos, tearing rifts in space-time that caused casualties—unstable dimensional pathways leading to unstable separate realms.The Otsuki Moon's mana rested upon over a hundred people, and their eye colors changed; their eyes glistened and glowed like the Otsuki Moon itself. They were called the Otsuki people, direct descendants of the two dragons. Yet in every light, there is a shadow. The brilliance of the cosmos—the Otsuki Moon—was being pushed into a corner by Chaos as his power grew stronger and his energy waned.
…*100,000,000,000,000 years later*
In a giant castle beneath the calm sky of the Otsuki Moon, the night was as peaceful as a meadow at summer's end. The castle shimmered under its light. Inside, Leah, the Guardian, had just given birth to her first child—a boy with two different eye colors: his right eye gold, his left silver. Unlike a typical newborn, he did not cry. Instead, he rested quietly, earning the name Hamak, meaning "rest."
Leah's hands trembled slightly as she cradled her son. Memories of silent rooms haunted her—the times she had carried life within, only to lose it to the cold hands of fate. Each miscarriage was a whispered grief, a storm cloud over her heart. But this child, with mismatched eyes shimmering gold and silver, was different. He was the promise that shattered her past sorrows.Hamgard, Hamak's father and an honored member of the Otsuki family by marriage, smiled warmly as he kissed Leah and the child gently on the forehead. "Call the chief members of the Otsuki, summon the council of elders. Let all realms celebrate, for the Otsuki has found an heir."
As per tradition, after a newborn Otsuki is named, a sacred ceremony known as the *Rite of the Elarin* must be held to ascertain their magical power. The Seers—the mysterious keepers of fate and prophecy—are to arrive and deliver a prophecy regarding the child's birth. Following this, a grand feast is held in the child's honor.
Leah carefully dressed in an elegant purple gown, its hues perfectly matching her eyes, and emerged from her chambers with Hamak in her arms. She moved slowly and gracefully toward the throne room. The chamber buzzed with excitement as important members of the Otsuki rushed to see the heir.
"She is here! The Guardian has arrived with her newborn son!" echoed throughout the throne room. Joy and anticipation filled the air as everyone prepared to honor the future protector of their realms.
Tyrion, commander of the Otsuki armies and present in the castle, raised his voice: "It is time to ascertain the magic power of our future Guardian."Hamgard smiled and said happily, "Place him inside the woven basket."
Newborns were traditionally placed in a basket woven with sacred threads and positioned at the center of six radiant crystals. The brightness of the crystals' glow reflected the strength of the child's magic. As Hamak was placed within the basket, the crystals shone with such intensity that their light filled the entire throne room for several minutes before shattering into fragments.
Tyrion chuckled and said, "You truly have a powerhouse on your hands, Hamgard." Laughter followed.
"Let us eat and drink until the Seers arrive," Hamgard proclaimed confidently, prompting a cheer. The room erupted into a lively celebration.
After an hour passed, the Seers had yet to arrive. The throne room remained noisy and cheerful, but suddenly, an overwhelming and ominous mana filled the space. Not because it was stronger than theirs, but because it was mysterious and foreboding. Instantly, the room fell silent—quiet as a graveyard.
Footsteps echoed, and a voice whispered through the stillness, "They're here."