The sky was the color of blood—a crimson canopy that seemed to weep over the ruins of the world. At the summit of the Peak of Despair, the air was thick with the suffocating stench of sulfur and death. The battle was over, but the silence that followed was more painful than the clash of steel.
Averyon Dael, the Hero, stood alone at the center of the carnage. His sword, Exernos, trembled slightly in his hand, its opal blade stained with black blood that evaporated like bitter regrets. Around him, his brothers-in-arms were at their limits.
Magnus Kirishima, his closest friend, collapsed to his knees. His breath came in ragged gasps as tears carved trails through the soot on his face. "We did it, Averyon..." Magnus choked out in a sob of relief. "We're going home... we can finally live, my friend."
Averyon slowly turned his head. His gaze was no longer that of a warrior, but that of a man who could already see into the beyond. "Go back without me, Magnus," he whispered, an infinite sadness in his voice. "Your lives are only just beginning."
Suddenly, reality itself tore open. The Void manifested behind him—a pitch-black maw hungering for existence. "NO! AVERYON!" Magnus screamed, lunging forward desperately.
Renka let out a harrowing cry, and Kenji collapsed, shaking with sobs. With one last smile—gentle and peaceful—Averyon was pulled into the abyss. The rift snapped shut, leaving his friends shattered in the eternal silence of the mountain.
20 Years Later
In the warmth of a small village forge, a fragile cry rose into the night, mending the wounds of time. The newborn opened eyes that were dark and deep. Takeru Ishigami, the giant of the forge, broke into tears as he cradled the child.
"Look at him, Yuna..." he whispered, his voice cracking with happiness. "He's so beautiful, so perfect. It's like he brought all the light in the world into this house. Look at his peaceful face. His eyes... it's like he can already see everything. It's incredible for a newborn."
Yuna, radiant despite her exhaustion, pulled the baby toward her heart. "He has such a calming gaze... He is our son. Our little Kazuya."
16 Years Later
In a secluded clearing, the whistling of a wooden blade sliced through the morning air. Kazuya, now sixteen, moved with a frightening fluidity. He had woken up late again, lost in a trance he didn't understand, his body moving by pure instinct as if remembering an ancient dance.
"KAZUYA! The carriage is here!" Yuna called out, her voice tight with emotion. The moment of departure had arrived. Yuna hugged Kazuya tightly, her eyes welling with tears. "My baby... Promise me you'll take care of yourself. My heart will stop beating until you return."
Kazuya took his mother's hands and squeezed them tenderly. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll come back stronger, I promise. I'll write to you every week."
Takeru placed his massive hands on his son's shoulders. "The world is cruel, kid. The nobles will try to trample you because you don't have their 'pure' blood. But remember this forge. Never let anyone break your will. We love you, Kazuya."
Kazuya looked his father straight in the eyes with a newfound determination. "I'll never forget where I came from, Dad. They'll see that a blacksmith's son can stand up to anyone. Thank you for everything."
He climbed into the carriage. As he watched his parents become small silhouettes waving in the distance, he felt a single tear roll down his cheek, but he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
Arrival at the Royal Academy
After days of travel, the carriage stopped before the golden gates of the Academy of Olympus. As he stepped down, Kazuya was immediately shoved by a group of youths in glittering uniforms.
At the center of the group stood a boy with a haughty demeanor, his hair a flaming red that seemed to crackle with energy. This was Ignus, the son of a powerful lineage of mages. He stopped and stared at Kazuya with blatant disdain.
"Ugh, the smell of cow dung reaches all the way here," Ignus sneered, pinching his nose. "Look at this 'Commoner.' Tell me, peasant, did you come here to muck out the stables, or did you actually believe you could enter this place without a single spark of magic?"
The nobles around him burst into laughter. Ignus stepped closer to Kazuya, a small flame dancing at the tip of his fingers. "In this Academy, people like you are nothing but shadows. Never cross my path, or I'll incinerate you before you can even draw that stick of yours."
Kazuya remained motionless, staring at Ignus with a flat calm that seemed to irritate the noble. "I paid for my spot like everyone else," Kazuya replied simply. "The rest will be decided on the field."
Ignus narrowed his eyes, furious. "We'll see about that soon enough, trash."
As the nobles walked away, Kazuya sighed and headed toward the Hall of Resonance. Destiny was waiting for him.