Morning came slowly over Gwang won Villa,
spreading soft light across the quiet court yards and old stone walls,
birds hopped around ,chirping without care for the worries that filled the world.
The house was peaceful,calm, and safe .
Atleast that was what every one believed .
Woo jin stepped out of the Big wooden house where he lived with Master yoon,
rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms.He had been living there for as long as he could remember .
Every morning felt the same,
same paths ,same tasks,the same cool fresh air touching is skin..
he looked young for his age,
with a black hair that refuses to stay neat and eyes that always carried a hint of confusion ,
as if he was still trying to figure out his place in the world ,
at seventeen(17) he was tall but lean,
even though he trained daily ,
he was no match compared to others is age.
he picked up the two wooden buckets placed near the door and started walking towards the small well at the center of the courtyard ,
This was his routine —fecth water ,sweep the court yard,
clean the training hall,
then help with horses at the stables.
After that he trained under master Yoon until sunset ,
it was tiring but simple and ordinary .
In few weeks woo jin would turn 18,
and that meant something every young person feared ,
COMPULSORY ENROLLMENT INTO THE KNIGHT ACADEMY
and on that day he would leave home.
Woo jin sighed as he reached the well and set the buckets down.
Every human who turned 18 has to train for two(2) years at the academy,
The law was strict .No excuses .Ever since the vampire launched the Great Raid twenty (20) years ago,
humans had been preparing every generation to defend them selves .
Woo jin knew this too well,and it scared him.Not because of the vampires but because he was weak .
Others his age could atleast swing a sword with confidence,some where even strong enough to help town guards .Woo Jin,on the other hand , struggled with even lifting a training spear.
Master Yoon always said , " strength isn't just muscle,you would find your own way ."But Woo jin didn't see anyway No powers,
No strength ,No talent ,
just ordinary Woo jin,
he plunged the bucket into the well and listened to it burbling noise deep below.As he pulled it up something caught his eyes on the ground —a straight black mark on the stone tiles,about the size of a hand .
He frowned .
" was this here yesterday ...."?
He knelt down and touched it gently it was warm,
Woo jin snatched is hand back
The burn marks were cold now.
Who had made a fire inside the villa? There were no torches, no fire pits near the well—nothing to explain it.
He looked around .
The villa was too quiet .
He had the sudden feeling that something was wrong .
The wind wasn't blowing ,
but he felt a chill brush at the back of his neck.
He straightened and slowly tilted his head backwards ,
That was when he saw him .
A man standing silently at the entrance of the court yard.
The figure wore a long dark cloak .The hood was pulled low,covering his face .He stood perfectly still ,like a statue .Woo jin hadn't heard foodsteps .He also didn't hear the gate open.
he wasn't aware.
How long had this man been standing there ? he said to him self still in shock .
Woo jin swallowed hard and tried to keep his voice steady.
"Um... sir ? How can i help you
the man didn't move .
Woojin felt a shiver run down his spine .
"Master Yoon is not here at the moment ",Woo jin tried again ." he went out early today .if you are looking for him ,maybe you can come back later."
The stranger took one step forward
Woo jin saw him approaching ,
and also stepped back a bit ,
the stranger took another step.
Woo jin shoulder stiffined out of fright ,
this wasn't normal ,
this wasn't right he said out loud ,
almost screaming ,
something was wrong with this man
"please... stop right there ,"Woo jin said trying to sound brave.but his voice shook .
The man lifted his head lightly ,
and woo jin saw his eyes beneath the hood,
They glowed .(Red ,Bright Unnatural ).
Woo jin froze in shock unable to speak
A vampire !?
His legs tensed ,his heart beat were rapid ,cold fear swept through is whole body like ice,
Vampires weren't supposed to be inside the human territory .They stayed in their lands far beyond the forests.
The knight corps patrolled the borders constantly ,
there were thousands of guards,wall,watchers ,warning bells...
So how ?...
Why ?.. he stuttered
Why was a vampire here
and why is he looking at me?
Before woo jin could think the vampire moved,
in less than an heart beat ,he
crossed the court yard,
and grabs Woo jin by the neck ..
Woo jin froze in pure panic ,
His legs wouldn't buldge ,
Unable to speak ,
his whole body felt chained by fear .
His eyes turned red,
He was going to die,
he blamed him self for been weak and unable to protect him self .
Woo jin shuts his eyes tightly ,
Then —
A calm ,emotionless voice echoed inside his head
"SYSTEM INITIALIZING…"
"ACTIVATION COMPLETE"
"SURVIVAL MODE ENGAGED"
Woo jin eyes snapped open
"What —?!"
He didn't even get to finish the thought .
His legs moved by them selves .
He ducked
The vampire's claws sliced the air right above his head, sharp enough to split a rock .
Woo jin rolled across the ground ,
his body moving faster and smoother than he ever thought possible .
He didn't know what was happening.
He didn't understand.
He only felt his body responding like it had awakened from a deep sleep.
The vampire paused and stared at Woo jin, surprised.
Woo jin scrambled to his feet, breathing hard. His hands trembled. His heart felt like it would burst out of his chest.
The vampire turned his head slightly, as if inspecting him.
"You're… interesting," the vampire said softly. His voice was calm, almost curious. "You shouldn't have been able to dodge that attack."
Woojin didn't reply.
He could not reply because his throat felt dry.a whole lot was going through his mind,
he couldnt believe what just happened .
What was that voice ?
Why did his body move on it own ?
Before he could gather is thoughts together ,a glowing text appeared in front of his eyes .
Floating .Clear .Imposssible
"WARNING: HOST IN MORTAL DANGER"
"NEW TASK: SURVIVE FOR 60 SECONDS"
Reward: Unknown Skill
A timer appeared.
60…
59…
58…
Woo jin stared in shock .
"what ..what is this ...?"
The vampire plunged forward again, but this time is attack where more vicious and faster
Woo jin heart jumped .His legs tensed and ready to run
The vampire blurred....
Woo jin dodged again ,
narrowly escaping a strike that would have cut him in half .
it wasn't skill.
it wasn't training .
it wasn't courage.
Something inside him —something he didn't understand was keeping him alive .
The vampire landed lightly on his feet ,
graceful like a shadow.His glowing eyes narrowed as he stared at Woo jin
You are strange ....boy"
Woo jin backed away slowly ,
his heart beating fast
He didn't ask questions .
He didn't demand answers .
He didn't want to know why this creature was here .
He just wanted to stay alive
The vampire took another step .
"Don't come closer !"
Woo jin yelled ,his voice cracking
The vampire smiled faintly.
Not kindly.
Not cruelly.
Just… interested.
As if woo jin was a puzzle he wants to understand.
But the vampire didn't stop .
Woo jin turned and ran .
He ran as fast as he could ,
Fear pushed him forward ,
every step he took was a desperate attempt to survive .
The timer ticked
47… 46… 45…
He heard the vampire behind him.
Not footsteps.
Just a whisper of movement.
Woo jin gasped and threw himself to the side as claws swept past him again. He fell hard, rolling across the ground. His elbow scraped against the stone, and pain shot up his arm.
"Ah"
He forced himself up again, biting down a cry.
The vampire didn't give him a moment to rest.
He appeared in front of Woo jin
blocking his escape path .
Woo jin stumbled backward.
"Wh... what do you want from me ?"
The vampire tilted is head again ,
studying him like a strange animal .
"I don't know yet," he said softly. "But I came here because something… called me. Something inside this place."
His eyes focused on Woo jin .
Cold fear flooded Woo jin's body.
Why him?
What was inside him?
What had he done to attract this monster?
He didn't know.
He only knew one thing—
The timer kept ticking.
29… 28… 27…
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed across the court yard.
Woo jin and the vampire both turned .
Master yoon burst through the gate with his sword drawn,
eyes wild in shock and furry
"Woo jin Get back !"
Woo jin knees nearly gave out in relief
Now that Master Yoon is here ,
he was safe ... or atleast ,safer
The vampire stepped back slightly ,
wacthing the old swordsman calmly .
Master Yoon stood between Woo jin and the vampire ,
griiping his blade .
"What do you think you're doing here, blood demon?" Master yoon growled.
The vampire didn't answer. He only glanced once at Aeran before stepping away.
"Today isn't the right day," he whispered. "But I'll come again."
Then, like smoke in sunlight, the vampire vanished.
Woo jin sank to the ground, trembling.
Master rushed to him, kneeling beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Woo jin. Are you hurt?"
Woo jin opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He was shaken.
Confused.
Terrified.
And inside his mind, the calm voice spoke again:
"TASK COMPLETE"
"Reward: First Skill Awakening"
"Skill Unlocking…"
Woo jin stared blankly at the air, unable to understand any of it.
Today was supposed to be ordinary.
It wasn't.
It was the day everything began.