Ishtar hit the ground hard as the earth trembled violently.
He looked around; it was as if he had fallen into hell itself. There were no trees, no plants—only dry, cracked earth stretching endlessly. Before him lay a massive abyss.
Suddenly, the ground shook again, but this time, the earth wasn't the only thing trembling. The moon above was shuddering too. In an instant, the crimson moon began to crack, shattering into pieces before disappearing completely. In its place, a black Isotra rose—the star around which the planet Avalon revolved.
Ishtar's chest tightened with fear; every breath he took burned his lungs like fire. He scrambled to his feet and began to run toward the abyss. After running for a while, he neared the peak.
Clang! Clang!
The sounds of steel clashing against steel echoed through the air; someone was fighting. When Ishtar reached the edge of the cliff, he saw two men locked in combat.
The first man had burning crimson eyes and pitch-black hair. The second man was clad in shining golden armor. They struck their swords together with such might that the heavens themselves seemed to split with every impact.
Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from the void and pierced Ishtar's heart from behind.
"Gah!"
Ishtar woke up with a scream, gasping for air.
He looked around frantically, his heart still pounding in his chest. He was in his room. It was just a dream... but the terror still lingered.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the corridor. It had to be his mother; morning had come.
Today was the day they would go to the temple.
It was the most important day in a young person's life. In the Empire, when a child reached adulthood, they were taken to the temple to receive the "Sky Blood" from a priest. This sacred ritual awakened the Status Window—a translucent interface that allowed one to see their own body's information.
The first line of the window displayed the person's Name and Title. Below that lay the stats: Strength, Agility, and Endurance. For example, a strong warrior might have a Strength stat of 50, while a scrawny man would hover around 10.
But the most crucial part lay at the bottom of the window: The Talent.
A person was born with only one Talent. It was absolute; no new Talent could be learned or gained later in life. Because of this, Talents determined one's status in the Empire. The nobility remained powerful simply because they were usually born with superior Talents.
Ishtar thought of his parents. His father, Andor, possessed the Weaponsmith talent, which allowed him to forge incredibly durable weapons. His mother, Nera, had the Master Chef talent, making her meals not only delicious but also capable of healing minor wounds.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Who is it?" Ishtar called out, shaking off his thoughts.
"It's Nera," the voice replied. "Breakfast is ready, son. Get dressed quickly. We're going to the temple today."
"Alright, Mom, I'm coming right away," Ishtar replied.
Since it was a special day, Ishtar put on his best white trousers and a crisp black shirt, tucking the hem neatly into his pants. He rushed down the stairs.
His parents were already seated at the dining table. Ishtar took his seat. Nera picked up a pitcher and poured a glass of grape juice, placing it in front of him. The atmosphere was unusually quiet after the events of yesterday. Nera had made her special grape juice recipe to cheer everyone up, but the tension in the air remained.
After a quick breakfast, they got ready and set off for the temple.
Today, the city of Atlonda was more crowded than usual. It was the anniversary of the Hero Ashta's birth, and a festive atmosphere ruled the streets.
After walking for a while, Ishtar and his family arrived in front of Artun's bakery. Outside the shop, Artun's wife, Arew, was sweeping the floor.
Arew, like her husband, was a Beastkin; she had long rabbit ears and a fluffy, round tail. Despite her cute appearance, everyone knew she could be quite dangerous when angered.
When Nera saw Arew, she ran toward her. Arew's eyes went wide when she saw her friend rushing over, and she excitedly jumped onto Nera.
"Ack! Arew! What are you doing? You're pregnant, you need to be more careful!" Nera shouted, stumbling.
"Sorry! I just got a little too excited seeing you," Arew replied with a grin.
Ishtar and Andor rushed over to help the two women up from the ground. Nera and Arew were childhood friends and were incredibly close. Since they saw each other constantly, Nera already knew about the baby in Arew's belly.
Ishtar loved Arew just as much as he loved Artun. When he was little and stayed over at their house, Arew would tell him tales of knights and dragons.
Ishtar took Arew's hands and pressed them to his chest, smiling warmly at her.
"Ahhh! I really can't believe it. You're going to have a baby, Auntie Arew! Congratulations. Is it a boy or a girl?"
Arew smirked, reached out, and yanked Ishtar's ear.
"You little brat! You never stop by anymore, and now you come here asking cheeky questions? I think it's time to teach you a lesson."
Ishtar tried to escape, but it was useless; Arew's grip on his ear was iron-clad. He decided to use his silver tongue to wiggle out of it.
"Auntie Arew, you know how it is... Dad makes me work so hard, I barely have time to walk around anymore."
Andor frowned upon hearing this. If it weren't Ishtar's birthday, he would have delivered his signature knuckle sandwich right then and there.
Nera flashed a demonic smile. "Sweetie, is what our son says true?"
Andor got goosebumps. As much as he loved his wife, he feared her just as much. "Absolutely... Absolutely not, my dear wife! He sits behind the counter sleeping all day!"
Hearing this, Arew twisted Ishtar's ear even harder. "Oho! You brat, you dare lie to me?"
Ishtar began to beg. "I'm sorry, seriously, it hurts! I promise I'll come by more often, Auntie! Just please let go of my ear!"
Arew finally released him. Ishtar hopped around, rubbing his red ear; it really stung.
Meanwhile, Andor reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a bracelet, and handed it to Arew. The bracelet was adorned with a Terta stone. It was believed among the common folk that this stone had the power to heal sicknesses.
Arew extended both hands to accept the bracelet—a gesture in the Empire that meant a sincere "thank you" when receiving a gift.
"So," Arew asked, examining the stone, "where are you all headed?"
"Today is Ishtar's temple day," Nera said, beaming.
Arew's mouth fell open. The child she used to read fairy tales to was now an adult about to receive his Talent. She quickly recovered and teased him.
"Is that so... Hey Ishtar, if you end up with a trash Talent, come to your Auntie. We'll give you a job immediately."
Ishtar's face turned red. "Auntie, don't make fun of me!"
Arew laughed and patted Ishtar's head. Andor stepped in. "Anyway, it's time to go. We'll come back later."
After saying their goodbyes, Ishtar and his family walked toward the city square where the temple was located.
It was a peaceful day in Atlonda. Children ran joyfully through the streets, while adults hung "Golden Lion" flags—the crest of the Imperial Family—from their homes to celebrate the legendary Hero. The scent of roses wafting through the streets mixed with the sea breeze, leaving a pleasant feeling in everyone's soul.
However, for Ishtar, today was the turning point of his life.
His heart was pounding like a drum. This excitement wasn't just joy; it was fear. If a good Talent appeared in his Status Window, the path to his dreams would open wide. But if he received a useless Talent, life would become very difficult. In this world, your Talent defined your destiny.
After a short walk, they finally reached the city square.
In the center of the square, surrounded by market stalls, rose a massive cathedral dedicated to the Five Gods. With its white walls and golden glass, the cathedral was a masterpiece of art.
The official religion of the Empire worshipped these five deities: Maritar (Earth Mother), Sirta (Ruler of Oceans), Ristar (Lord of Winds and Storms), Wiyan (Guardian of Nature), and the head of them all, the strongest, Yurta (God of Light).
But according to legends, there was once a god as powerful as Yurta: Apofiris, the God of Darkness and Demons.
Consumed by pride, Apofiris had wanted to destroy all other gods and rule the universe alone. He decided to start with Avalon, the apple of the gods' eye. Apofiris chose a human named Tiran as his "Harbinger of Darkness" and ordered him to conquer the world. Tiran obeyed, leading dark armies to invade the lands.
Seeing this, the Five Gods declared war on Apofiris. While gods clashed in the heavens, the mortal world needed a savior to stand against Tiran. The gods found an Elf whose heart was purely free of evil: Ashtar vin Tredisha.
Each god bestowed a blessing upon him. Maritar gave the earth, Sirta the sea creatures, Ristar the speed of the wind, and Wiyan the power to control spirits. Finally, the High God Yurta granted him the authority to command the Army of Light.
Ashtar swore to defeat the Harbinger of Darkness. The war between them lasted 100 years—an era known as the "Dark Age"—and ended with Ashtar's victory. The current order was built upon that triumph. Now, the Empire is ruled by the Tredisha dynasty, the descendants of Ashtar. In the center of the capital, Yggdrasil, the massive World Tree pierces the sky, and the Elven royal family rules the world from beneath its shade.
When they arrived at the square, the crowd had turned into a flood of people. It wasn't just a ceremony day; it was a festival. Colorful stalls were set up everywhere, selling handmade toys, glittering jewelry, and illustrated parchments telling the legends of the Hero.
But what caught Ishtar's attention was the symphony of smells. The sugary scent of fried dough mixed with the mouth-watering aroma of meat sizzling over charcoal fires. Combined with the salty sea breeze, it created an atmosphere unique to Atlonda.
Ishtar looked at the massive doors of the cathedral and started to feel tense again, but his mother's soft voice broke his trance. Nera had noticed her son's pale face. She put a hand on his shoulder and smiled affectionately.
"Before we enter those cold stone walls and listen to the prayers of those surly priests, let's cheer up our stomachs," she said cheerfully, pointing to a smoky stall in the corner. "Do you smell those meat skewers? I think we need some energy before waiting for the gods' blessing. One cannot determine their fate on an empty stomach."
His father, Andor, held his belly and laughed loudly. "Your mother is right, son! A hungry bear doesn't dance, and a hungry hero can't swing a sword. Besides, the smell of that spicy sauce is making even my head spin. Let's go!"
Ishtar wanted to object; with the knot in his stomach, he didn't think he could eat. But when his father's strong hand clapped him on the back, he found himself walking toward the stall.
Just as he was following his father through the crowd, he collided hard with a cloaked figure coming from the opposite direction.
Thud.
The impact caused the stranger's hood to slip back slightly.
Ishtar froze. From beneath the coarse fabric, red hair cascaded down like dying embers. But what truly mesmerized Ishtar were the eyes. They were neither blue nor green; they were a deep grey, resembling a stormy sky filled with rain-laden clouds.
The girl looked at Ishtar for a split second. There was a frantic glint in those grey eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said. Her voice was crystal clear amidst the noise of the square, yet filled with timidity.
She quickly pulled her hood back over her face, melted into the crowd, and vanished.
"Ishtar! Come on, son, we found a table!"
Startled by his father's booming voice, Ishtar looked one last time in shock at the direction the girl had gone, then shook his head and caught up with his family.
The family sat at a makeshift wooden table at the edge of the fairground. Soon, metal skewers of meat, roasted to perfection and marinated in special Atlonda spices, were placed before them, accompanied by steaming fresh pita bread.
At his mother's insistence, Ishtar took a bite. As the flavor of the meat and the warmth of the spices spread over his tongue, he felt the knot in his stomach loosen slightly. In that moment, he truly felt the laughter around him and the warmth of his family. Andor, with his mouth full, was telling Nera about the latest mistake of the clumsy apprentice at the smithy, making her laugh.
It was a mundane, peaceful moment. Ishtar was enjoying what might be the last "normal" moment before his life changed forever.
But in the back of his mind, the image of those grey eyes still lingered.
When the meal was finished, Andor left a few copper coins on the table. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a serious, fatherly expression