The year 326 in the Altoria Kingdom calendar was not a particularly remarkable year for world history, but for the Almon family, it was a year of miracles. In a humble wooden house on the outskirts of Noive Village, the cries of a baby boy pierced the silence of the night during the third week of the seventh month.
Keyown Almon gazed at his son with tearful eyes. On the bed, Sarah, his wife, offered a weak but proud smile. The baby was unique; he was born with soft tufts of ash-white hair, reminiscent of the sky at the break of dawn. When the infant opened his eyes, a pair of clear, sea-blue eyes—mirroring his mother's—gazed at the world for the first time.
"Keyzier Almon," Keyown whispered, stroking the tiny cheek. "You will be a great man, son. Grow healthy, and achieve whatever your heart desires."
Nine years passed like a summer breeze. Keyzier grew into a lively boy brimming with curiosity. However, among all the children in Noive Village, only one could truly keep up with Keyzier's boundless energy: Donovan Harlan.
Donovan was a stark contrast to Keyzier. If Keyzier was the personification of a calm morning sky, Donovan was the embodiment of a raging fire. His hair was a vibrant flame-red, clashing beautifully with deep purple eyes that held a mysterious depth. They were two sides of the same coin, inseparable since birth.
That afternoon, the sun shone fiercely over Noive Village. Keyzier sat atop the village perimeter fence, staring at the horizon bordered by giant trees in the distance.
"Novan, let's go outside the village!" Keyzier blurted out suddenly. His voice was laced with a reckless sense of adventure. "Just once, I want to see what lies beyond this boring fence. I want to see the outside world!"
Donovan, who was busily chewing on a blade of grass, choked. He looked at his best friend with wide, dark purple eyes. "W-why do you want to go out there? Have you gone mad? Haven't our parents always told us that there are many dangerous monsters out there? My father said a single monster claw could rip open the belly of a kid like us!"
Keyzier hopped down from the fence, landing lightly. He approached Donovan, giving him a pleading look with his sea-blue eyes—his ultimate weapon for melting anyone's heart.
"Come on, Novan... just this once, accompany me. Just a little bit! We'll only walk toward the forest border and come back before mother cooks dinner. I'm begging you, Novan... you're the only one I can trust."
Donovan let out a long sigh. He hated it when Keyzier started pleading like that. That pathetic face always managed to crumble his defenses. "Just for a moment, okay? Promise?"
"Promise!" Keyzier cheered, doing small jumps of joy.
Unbeknownst to them, that simple decision was their first step toward the gates of hell.
Their small footsteps led them past wheat fields, across a small stream, until finally, the shadows of massive trees began to swallow the sunlight. The atmosphere shifted rapidly. The air, once warm, became damp and cold. Without realizing it, they had crossed the safety limit and entered the most feared place in the entire Altoria Kingdom: The Death Forest.
The name was not mere hyperbole to scare children. This forest was a graveyard for hundreds of brave adventurers and royal soldiers who had once carried out official missions for the kingdom. Here, the trees seemed to possess a life of their own, growing so densely that they blocked out the sun, creating an eternal, deceptive labyrinth.
Keyzier stopped walking. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He suddenly realized that the cheerful chirping of village birds had been replaced by a haunting silence.
"Key... let's go back!" Donovan whispered. His voice trembled violently as he gripped the hem of Keyzier's shirt.
Keyzier looked around. His heart was a chaotic mix of guilt and overwhelming fear. Their legs shook. The forest was eerily quiet, yet the silence felt deafening. Suddenly, the screech of a black crow echoed in the distance, sounding like the mocking laughter of death itself.
"Yeah... you're right. We have to go back now!" Keyzier whispered.
They turned around, clasping each other's hands tightly, as if letting go meant one of them would vanish into the darkness. They began walking in the direction they believed was the exit. One hour passed, then two. The trees they passed looked identical.
"Key, where are we? Why can't we find the way out?" Donovan began to sob. Cold sweat poured from his forehead beneath his red hair.
"I-I don't know, Novan! It feels like we're just going in circles... we're lost." Keyzier's voice caught in his throat.
Despair began to shroud them like a thick fog. Donovan slumped to the ground, burying his face in his knees. Frustration took hold of him. But just before they surrendered to hopelessness, a sound shook the earth beneath their feet.
[BOOM!!!] [CRACK!!!]
A massive explosion tore through the forest's silence, followed by the thunderous crash of giant trees falling. Birds scattered into the canopy-covered sky. Amidst the echoes of the blast, the faint sound of human shouting could be heard—the sound of people in combat.
"Key, did you hear that?" Donovan looked up, his dark purple eyes alert.
"Yes, I heard it! Let's go there, Novan! Maybe they are adventurers or royal soldiers. They can surely help us get out of here!" Keyzier's blue eyes reignited with hope.
"N-No, I'm scared! What if it's not human? Maybe it's just monsters fighting over territory!" Donovan refused vehemently, his hands shaking.
Keyzier knelt in front of Donovan. He cupped his friend's cheeks, forcing Donovan to meet his clear blue eyes. "Novan, listen to me. If we just stay here doing nothing, we are only waiting for death to find us! I don't want to die a pathetic death here! We have to try!"
"But... I'm scared..." Donovan broke down in tears.
"Then I'll go there alone! You just wait here!" Keyzier stood up and turned his back sharply.
Keyzier had barely taken a step when Donovan lunged and pulled Keyzier's hand so hard they both fell onto the damp earth.
"Why are you leaving me here alone, huh?! You're mean, Key!" Donovan cried out through his sobs.
"You're the one who said you didn't want to come! So I'm going by myself!" Keyzier snapped back, his emotions peaking from the fear he was trying to hide.
"It's not that I don't want to come, I'm just scared! Why don't you understand?!"
Their emotional argument made them forget that they were currently in the most dangerous territory imaginable.
Silence descended once again, but this time it felt different. There was the sound of dry leaves rustling that did not come from the wind. Keyzier and Donovan froze. Their bickering ceased instantly.
From behind the dark shadows of the trees, a pair of small, glowing yellow eyes emerged, filled with malice. Then another pair. And another.
Five pale-green creatures, stunted yet muscular, crawled out of the bushes. They were Goblins—voracious creatures notorious for their cruelty toward anyone who trespassed into their domain. Their filthy hands clutched rusted swords and sharp stones.
"Kiiikkk.... Kiiikkkk!"
A raspy croak escaped the Goblins' throats as they began to encircle the two boys. The foul stench of raw meat wafted from their breath.
Keyzier and Donovan slowly stood up, pressing their backs against each other. They were cornered in front of a massive tree with roots that coiled like snakes. Donovan gripped Keyzier's arm tightly, while Keyzier clenched his fists, though his heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.
"Key... what should we do?" Donovan asked in a voice that was barely a breath.
Keyzier stared at the rusted sword brandished by the Goblin in front of him. The blue light in his usually calm eyes now flickered with adrenaline and a burgeoning survival instinct.
"Don't let go of my hand, Novan!" Keyzier replied, quiet but firm. "No matter what happens, do not let go!"
The Goblin in the center smirked, revealing rows of jagged, yellow teeth.