After bidding farewell to his parents, Lucas stood before the gate of the Nightstar estate, ready to embark on his journey. Dressed in black clothes enchanted for comfort and utility, with a mask concealing his face except for his blood-red eyes, he exuded an air of mystery and intimidation.
sniff sniff
His mother struggled to hold back tears, while his father looked upon him with pride. Lucas addressed them, his voice steady.
"I will be going now, Mother, Father."
"Have a safe trip, my son. Remember, we are always here to support you. Don't hesitate to come back if you need us," his father replied.
His mother, unable to contain her emotions, whimpered, "M-my Lucas has grown so much."
Moved by her display of emotion, Lucas approached and embraced his parents one last time.
"I'll try to come back as soon as possible,"
he assured them before finally departing from his home and family. For the next two years, he would no longer be Lucas Nightstar...
**********
In an average adventurers' guild at the edge of Moon City, the atmosphere buzzed with activity. Adventurers mingled, forming parties, discussing strategies, or enjoying meals together. Some were absorbed in selecting suitable missions from the tablets provided, inserting their identification cards to access the available missions.
Several receptionists bustled about, assisting both new and seasoned adventurers with their inquiries and concerns. Some newcomers filled out forms to officially register as adventurers, eager to begin their journey into the unknown. The guild hall was a hub of excitement and anticipation, as adventurers prepared to embark on quests and face the challenges that awaited them in the vast world beyond.
Yet, within the adventurers' guild, there exists a fundamental rule: the strong devour the weak. In this world, strength is all that matters, and those lacking it are swiftly devoured by more powerful adventurers. Adventuring is a high-risk job, with danger at every turn, but the potential rewards can be equally rewarding, depending on the nature of the mission.
Missions within the guild are categorized based on their level of difficulty, ranging from E to S rank. Each mission presents its own set of challenges and potential rewards. These tasks can vary widely, from escorting important individuals through dangerous territories to conquering formidable dungeons in remote locations where local forces lack the strength to do so themselves.
Navigating this hierarchy of missions requires careful consideration and a keen understanding of one's own abilities. Adventurers must choose their quests wisely, balancing the potential risks against the promised rewards, all while striving to prove themselves in a world where only the strongest can thrive.
As the adventurers went about their business, everyone suddenly stopped and turned towards the door that had just opened. What they saw was a man dressed in black clothes, his face concealed by a mask, revealing only his blood-red eyes. He exuded an air of mystery and intimidation.
Seeing the mysterious figure, they all narrowed their eyes at him.
It was not uncommon for adventurers to conceal their identities, but the issue was that the man seemed overly confident. Many veteran adventurers and guild members knew each other in these parts of the city, and they could tell that the man was new, never having been there before, indicating he must be a newbie.
'Confident' they all thought to themselves.
"Hey, you're new here, right, kid?" a bulky, bald-headed man with a scar running from his right eye down to his chin asked, a large axe hanging at his back as he stood in front of the man dressed in black.
The mysterious person looked straight back at the bald-headed man with his blood-red eyes, sending shivers down his spine for some reason, and nodded his head without speaking.
'Tsk, how arrogant,' the bald man thought. 'I need to put him in his place before he gets even more arrogant'.
The bald man became angry at the lack of verbal response and the unsettling feeling he got from the man's red eyes.
"Don't you have a mouth, kid?" he asked, trying to sound intimidating.
Ignoring him, the man headed to one of the tablets displayed on the many tables, with cables connecting it.
"Huh, you dare to ignore me, you arrogant weakling!?" the bald man screamed in frustration and was about to grab the man's shoulder while his back was turned.
Suddenly, they all felt a pressure descending upon them, as if a calamity had descended to destroy each one of them. The weaker and newer adventurers instantly passed out, while the other veterans, including the bald man, struggled to withstand the pressure, falling to their knees in an attempt not to pass out as well.
Then, the pressure faded, and they all looked at the cause of their distress—the man dressed in black, who calmly and silently watched all the adventurers kneeling before him. All they felt was despair, including the bald man, as they gazed at the man in black.
One of the strongest veteran members of the guild, a 4-star swordsman, asked with great difficulty, "W-who are you?" His voice trembled as the man's blood-red eyes locked onto him after the question was asked.
The swordsman felt as if he were naked, being watched by a predator, unable to fight back.
The man opened his mouth and uttered a name they would forever remember for the rest of their lives.
"Noctis," he said, walking towards the tablet without turning his back.
(AN: Noctis is Latin for "night.")