In the vast, cavernous room, a divine creature stood above all others. Draped in a long black robe with a hood, adorned with countless silver, shiny diamonds, he was an imposing figure, standing taller than two meters.
His black eyes glowed mesmerizingly, and he had immense black wings that added to his formidable presence.
"This is perfect," he declared, his voice echoing through the chamber. "This will be the greatest weapon against the Devil himself. You, whoever you are, should not disappoint me."
Before him stood a silhouette of a man, featureless and glowing white. Beside it were two portals: the left one glowing golden, and the right one shining white.
"So, where will you go?" the god in the black hood asked.
Before any answer could come, the enormous gate behind him creaked open.
From the gate, someone stepped forth. It was a figure, similar to the black-robed god but clad entirely in white, with brilliant white wings.
One thing that stood out mostly was his face… which was non existent.
"Pharnavaz," the white-clad figure spoke.
"How do you know my name?" Pharnavaz, the black-hooded god, asked. But the god in white did not respond with words. Instead, he unleashed a white sword.
"Pharnavaz [ Two ] [ Four] [ Six ] ,"
the white figure repeated, stepping forward menacingly.
Pharnavaz retreated a step, his eyes widening. "That sword... how do you have it? This is..."
Before he could finish, the white figure slashed the sword. Pharnavaz dodged the shockwave but did not foresee the white figure's true intent.
Instead of striking him, the sword cut the white silhouette in half.
"No!" Pharnavaz shouted.
The portals activated, absorbing the right side of the body into the white portal and the left side into the golden one.
"How dare you!" Pharnavaz turned to confront the white figure, but he was already gone.
"This is bad... this is too bad," Pharnavaz muttered. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed. "Whatever happens now surely depends on fate itself."
246, 246 — 2-4-6
Dune opened his eyes, breathing heavily. "Where am I?" he asked himself, looking around.
As he tried to stand up, the shocking view made him drop to his knees instantly. He was in the sky, standing on a tall, thin platform, just thick enough to hold him.
"What the hell?" he muttered, looking down. He was impossibly high, thousands of meters up, with clouds below him.
"This is the worst...I need to find…..Find what? … what am i even saying?"
When he looked up, the sight shocked him even more. Above him was not the sky but a vast ocean. A massive, turbulent sea hung above, defying all logic.
Creatures larger than mountains swam in this inverted ocean: leviathans, krakens, and more monstrous beings, their forms dark and ancient.
Dune shivered. "What the hell is this place?" he muttered. Suddenly, the sky seemed to grow bigger. No! It was falling down. The water above got closer, crashing down towards him.
He looked up and saw the monstrous creatures charging at him, their colossal bodies slicing through the water with terrifying speed.
"Dune! Wake up!" a distant voice shouted.
The water and creatures collided with him all at once, a crushing, suffocating force.
"Evelyn? — No! Dune! Wake up!"
December 24
Dune jolted awake, drenched in sweat. He was in the classroom. The morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting a golden hue on everything inside.
His teacher Amanda stood at the front, her voice gentle yet full of authority as she spoke to her students.
"It was just a dream?"
Dune muttered, trying to calm his racing heart. But it had felt too realistic. He looked up and saw his teacher Amanda staring at him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. He then heard her calming voice.
"Five thousand years ago," she began, "our world was torn apart by a great war. Demons fought angels, gods battled humans, and mythical creatures clashed for dominance."
She looked around the room, making eye contact with each student before continuing.
"In the end, the gods won. They enslaved demons and subdued other beings, ruling over both mortals and immortals."
Amanda's expression grew somber as she spoke of the angels. "The angels, with their powerful light neba, were seen as too dangerous. They were all destroyed by the gods."
The classroom fell silent, captivated by Amanda's tale. She then spoke of Zet, a human who had defied the gods.
"For two thousand years, Zet controlled two worlds, his strength was unmatched. But then, he vanished, leaving behind a legacy of myth and legend."
The students were enthralled by the story of ancient heroes and epic battles. They knew well the divide between mortals and gods.
"And so," Amanda concluded, "we live in a world shaped by our past.
Beyond our continent of Sanatria, there are five more, each with its own culture and rulers. And sixth continent which is a meeting place for everyone."
When the lesson came to an end, Amanda's eyes landed on Dune, who was lost in thought by the window. His white hair caught the sunlight, and his dark eyes, with a scar on one side of the eye, reflected a quiet strength.
Dune, at fifteen, had faced many hardships but still held a youthful innocence. He rarely spoke, but Amanda sensed a deep intelligence in him.
"Dune," Amanda called softly, "what are your thoughts on Zeten and those who bear it?"
After Zet's disappearance, humans gained a power called Zeten, marked by a different colored tattoos on their chest. Those with Zeten were initially hailed as heroes, but their power often led to madness and destruction. The world now feared them, and strict measures were taken to control or eliminate them.
Dune's calm voice broke the silence. "I think they are untamed beings. It's a burden to be born with Zeten. Five rulers had no choice but to act for everyone's safety. We're still trying to understand their madness and how to stop it. Their origins are mysterious, and many Zetens are reluctant to share what they know."
The class listened intently, and Amanda felt a pang of disappointment. She had hoped for more personal insight from Dune. The students nodded in agreement, accepting this reality with a mix of fear and resignation.
As the students left, Amanda couldn't shake the feeling that Dune held more secrets than he let on.
Dune walked through the streets of the city, Fein, thinking about the day's lesson. Despite agreeing outwardly, he had a deeper understanding of Zetens that diverged from the prevailing fear.
Fein, though small, was bustling with life. Poverty and hardship were common, but so was the laughter of children. The city, a blend of tradition and modernity, was steeped in history.
Cobblestone streets were lined with simple, two-story houses with wooden shutters. Lampposts covered in ivy cast a soft glow. Market stalls in the main square were filled with fresh produce and handmade goods, with vendors calling out to passersby.
The smell of baked bread and flowers filled the air. Children played near a large fountain, their laughter echoing through the narrow alleys. Fein was a place where the past lived on in every corner.
Arriving home, a grand house just outside the city, Dune felt a sense of calm.
As Dune opened the door to his house, Eva, the younger of the twin sisters, dashed forward and wrapped her arms around Dune in a tight hug.
"Dune!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "You're back!"
Dune laughed and returned her hug, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Hey there, Eva. Missed you too."
Emma, the older twin by mere minutes, emerged from the kitchen and, noticing Dune without anything in his hands, said, "You forgot something, you know."
Dune raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be, Emma?"
"Our birthday gifts, silly!" Emma replied with a grin, crossing her arms over her chest. "You promised you'd bring something back from the city."
Dune chuckled nervously, racking his brain for an excuse. "Ah, right! Well, it's a surprise, you see. Can't spoil it now, can I?"
Eva pouted, "But Dune, we've been waiting all day!"
Their mother Lina, hearing the commotion, stepped out of the kitchen, her presence filling the room with warmth. With her long black hair cascading down her back and her kind eyes sparkling with amusement, she smiled at her children.
"Now, now, let's not give Dune a hard time," she chided gently, placing a hand on Eva's shoulder. "He'll give you your gifts when the time is right."
Giving in, Eva and Emma nodded unwillingly, their excitement still clear on their faces.
As they all gathered around the table for dinner, the air filled with the comforting chatter of family, laughter, and the clinking of utensils. Eva and Emma chattered excitedly about their sixth birthday, their laughter ringing out like music in the cozy kitchen.
Dune smiled warmly at his younger siblings, amazed at how quickly they were growing up.
"Mom, where are Ned and Daniel?" Dune asked.
Lina's expression tightened slightly, revealing the worry that gnawed at her heart. "They're out," she replied, her gaze flickering with worry.
Dune's thoughts turned first to Daniel, his 21-year-old eldest brother. Known throughout the city of Fein as a beacon of strength and kindness, Daniel was a respected figure, admired by all who knew him.
His unique power, magical Neba eyes that struck fear into the hearts of those who crossed him, had earned him a reputation as the city's strongest and most benevolent hero.
And then there was Ned, 16, one year older than Dune, with the mark of Zeten upon his chest. Cursed with powers beyond mortal comprehension, Ned remained hidden from the prying eyes of the world, shielded by their mother's unique abilities.
Despite the dangers that lurked in the shadows, Ned was a source of both pride and fear for their family, his true potential yet to be fully realized.
Dune listened to his mother's response, a heavy silence filling the room. "And him? Where is he?" Dune asked quietly, bitterness in his voice.
Lina looked down, troubled. "He's out too," she whispered.
Resentment surged through Dune. His father, Sam, was a constant source of frustration and anger. A drunkard who cared little for his family, Sam cast a dark cloud over their home, overshadowing their happiness.
With a bitter scoff, Dune pushed back his chair and left the table, heading out into the garden. The cool evening air did little to calm the turmoil inside him. Thoughts of his father filled his mind, anger and frustration bubbling up.
What angered him more was his mother's unwavering loyalty to Sam, despite everything he had put them through. Dune couldn't understand how she could continue to defend a man who brought so much misery to their family.
Daniel, his eldest brother, had once confided that their father changed after Dune's birth. But the details remained a painful secret, a chapter of their family history no one dared to revisit.