In a dark apartment which shook from time to time as trains passed over, sat a pale, weak boy with dark brown hair which, hadn't been trimmed in ages and ordinary brown eyes. However, even though it was as if he looked on the brink of death he was smiling quietly, for today was a special day, today there was a chance for him to escape the hell where he lived, because today he could die.
He rubbed the sigil of a closed vertical eye on his wrist which had appeared there two days ago on his 16th birthday.
[Time remaining until your first trial 3:21:43]
The boy sighed.
'I guess it's time to turn myself in'
He headed out the door into the maze of the underground, the underground was where the poorest of the poor lived, otherwise known as undergrounders. Tunnels connecting everything to everywhere with trains and transportation of the rich running above it was never quiet, although with the amount of robberies and violence there never was peace but the boy didn't have to worry about that too much. Because he knew the underground like the back of his hand since he had lived all his life there.
He slowly headed through the tunnels which were poorly lit in some areas and headed above the underground. his eyes stung as he saw the sun which was rare for an undergrounder to see since most of their life was spent either working to be able to afford the next day's food and rent.
But today was the day he most likely would end up disappearing from this world forever so he wasn't that concerned about food for tomorrow.
He approached and stopped in front of a tall building which was made of solid metal with no windows or other aspects, he could've easily mistaken the building for a pillar if not for a large sign above the doors which read 'Ascenders welcome'.
The boy stood still for a while, not thinking about anything in particular more so coming to terms with his fate. After what seemed like an eternity too long and just a moment he walked in and approached a front desk and addressed the man sitting there.
"Hello I've been chosen by the trial I'd like to get registered please"
The man looked up and frowned for a moment after seeing his the boy's appearance, indeed undergrounders were not exactly known for their handsomeness but after a moment he responded
"Of course just write down your information and we'll get you in a pod"
The man handed him a tablet which asked basic questions about him, the boy grabbed the tablet and sat down in a chair in the lobby.
'Name - Moru Kameos'
'Family - Dead' They had passed in the harsh environment of the underground long ago from stress and overwork, Moru did not remember much of them and had come to terms with their passing long ago.
'Occupation - Librarian' His passion had for long been history, but quite unfortunately grand jobs such as historians were not available to undergrounders such as him, he had worked hard and long to be able to become a librarian but it had paid off because he had been able to read about history during his free time.
'Last wishes - Spread my ashes across a park' Moru was quite glad to have such a death this way he'd get an award.. well awards didn't mean much when you were dead but it was nonetheless quite an honor, and the government would put a bit of effort into respecting his last wish.
Sighing Moru got up and walked to the front desk and handed the tablet back.
"It's all done could I get in the pod now please?"
The man glanced at the tablet and nodded.
"Of course just follow me, how much till your trial begins?"
Moru quickly swiped at the sigil on his wrist to open the trial menu.
[Time remaining 0:57:15]
"57 Minutes until it starts"
The man glanced at Moru and nodded a bit somberly.
"Alright you'll have to sit in the pod for a bit then"
Moru nodded and they went back to a somber silence as they kept walking, soon the man opened a door and they walked into a long hall which, was filled with pods for those in their trials, most were empty, too many people had passed in this hall and soon Moru would join them.
The man opened a pod and nodded to Moru. They kept a somber silence as Moru climbed into the pod and nodded back to the man.
"Good luck," said the man as he closed the pod.
Soon Moru was left on his own and he thought about his life however, there was not much to think about, most of it had been spent working himself toward death to afford the next meal.
'What a shame' Thought Moru and then it was dark, but a second later he was freezing as if in the middle of snow storm or what that must've been like, there wasn't snow anymore there hadn't been any in ages.
However what Moru saw froze him for a second it was as if he was surrounded by nothing but snow and ice, he looked around and saw around him a swarm of soldiers, as if enough to storm the heavens and kill the gods, they all were carrying varying weapons from daggers to swords to bows and great axes, they all were marching in the same direction, some of them were dressed in steel which was dyed red others were dressed in leather which was also red, some groups were carrying flags which were made with red cloth with what seemed like a symbol of a axe and sword crossed which was surrounded by a circle of fire.