—Starless night.

"Let's begin the Magic Soul Conversion…"

That night, a whole village was assaulted by the troop of forbidden-magic practitioners. Every house was burnt to ashes. Villagers were slaughtered and were converted into magic.

On the dark basement behind the shrine, appeared a tiny silhouette.

Accompanied by the roars of the flames the night sky stained in brownish red by the blazing fire shone on burning objects. Beneath the blazing lights, stands a black shadow on the floor filled with blood.

—It was a young boy.

Approximately six to seven years old. His dusky brown hair that is close to black, reflecting the brilliance of the blazing lights.

'ugh…'

The young boy let out a soundless moan and continued standing in the ground. His clothes were already in tatters, revealing his skin drenched in blood.

He can't still believe what happened to their village just now.

The troop of forbidden-magic practitioners gathered the remaining villagers in the plaza. A man holding a red crystal said something and the whole village was filled with a blinding red light that lasted a whole minute. After that only a large pool of blood remained. Even the bodies of the killed villagers were missing.

... *crack*!

.....*tsiiii*!

A sound of burning could be heard everywhere. On the road where the boy had walked past, there is a trail of blood that was slowly being dissolved by the smoke. Also, there is a thin layer of black light and mist envelops his body, as if to suggest the cause for the strange happenings. It was like his body had been emitting some curse or unknown things.

ʺ... Ugh... Ah...ʺ

'Why has this thing happened to us?!'

For a typical person, he probably died already. But the boy continued forward. He should have died already but for some unknown reason, he still remained alive while everybody disappeared.

He dragged on his dying body and willed it inches forward, again and again.

His destination was a quiet forest in front of him. He needs to get away from the heat being radiated from the burning houses that might kill him before he loses his consciousness.

'I will never die in a way like this!'

If he could reach there, he could perhaps be found by a passerby after some time and he will be safe.

Five meters... Three meters... Two meters.

'Just a little bit more…'

One meter. At a distance where he was just within reach at the village's gate, the boy could hold on no longer. He falls on his knees and then collapsed head down into a puddle of blood on the road. Huge amounts of blood flowed out from his wounded body.

His whole body was just lying there motionless. No, he could not move. The huge amount of blood lost, together with the scorching atmosphere, had caused him to be unable to continue moving.

it's no good, I'm losing consciousness…

... *thud*

On the brownish-red road at night, came yet another sound could be heard.

Beneath the lights that are illuminating the roads, a silhouette of a person appeared.

ʺ...ʺ

Hearing the footsteps, the collapsed boy tried really hard and lift his head faintly.

It was a silhouette of a person, who was wearing a tight‐fitting vestment and a black robe, despite the scorching night.

As the lights were strong enough, one could make out the appearance of that person in detail. Because of the voluptuous curves as well as the seductive figure, he recognized that the person was a female.

ʺ—A single survivor. You won't last until daybreak if you won't be treated immediately...ʺ

The lady looked at him; a frown appeared on her face before giving him a slight smile.

She was a young lady with long black hair. Judging from her voice and appearance, she may not even be twenty-five yet.

"Worry not. Since it was fate who brought us here together, I will save you from this nightmare. ʺ

—A mysterious scene.

ʺ...ʺ

With a pair of eyes that had lost their focus, the boy looked at the lady in front of him.

ʺAh, you do not even have the strength to reply? I guess you're at your limit. ʺ

The lady stretched out her hand towards the boy. After taking the boy to her arms as if she's a prince carrying a princess, the lady uttered something that the boy can't comprehend.

At that instant, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed. The burning village and the dark forest are nowhere to be seen. What appeared in from of them is a very large mansion.

ʺ--!!ʺ

He reflexively groaned at the sight in front of him.

ʺ... Not bad. Your body is seriously injured and lose a lot of blood but you're still awake. ʺ

In the darkness, the lady laughed lightly.

ʺYour body is filled with a something I can't tell. Maybe it is magic and it is strong enough to actually be on par against me. Interesting.ʺ

The body of the young boy gave off a strange black light. The lady looked at that lovingly and then reached out for the boy with her hands yet again.

The teenager suddenly shrunk away. Upon seeing that, she gave a bitter smile.

ʺDon 't be afraid. I won't do something that will endanger you. That is to say, if I am bearing any ill intention towards you, I will not be talking to you right now like this. ʺ

ʺ...ʺ

The boy maintained his collapsed state in her arms but lifted his head to look at the lady.

His pair of jet-black eyes gave off a shimmer of light, as though they were trying to say something.

'Please help me…'

ʺI see, it looked like I was in too much of a rush just now. That's right; your sole intention is to survive here and take revenge. ʺ

Looking into the young boy's eyes, her expressions became gentle for the first time.

With a gentle expression close to a light smile, as though she was a mother welcoming the return of her child, she asked him;

ʺI just wish to ask you something. Do you want to be a magician? ʺ

Upon being asked that question—

The young boy, who had been silent all this while, opened his mouth weakly. However, he did not have the strength to speak. His half-opened mouth only managed to croak out faint breaths.

'—--! My voice…'

"Well, it does not matter. I'll take you with me. ʺ

She brushed her black hair with her hands, which was still dazzling despite being in the dark.

ʺMy name is Manaria. You better remember it now. I'm the person who saves your life tonight. But for now ‐ allow me to welcome you once again. ʺ

Following that.

A flash of light shone from deep within her crimson eyes. The lady who addressed herself as ʹManariaʹ grabbed hold onto the boy's hands tightly.

ʺI welcome you. Oh, young man, who had an unknown capability. For a long time now, this world needed someone to rule it. Maybe it's your fate we met like this!"

On that night, on the world of magic, something is coming that was rarely seen before.