Ravi woke to the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore. The smell of saltwater filled his nostrils as he blinked his eyes open, squinting against the early morning sun that peeked through the thick canopy of trees. He lay still for a moment, trying to make sense of where he was. The sand beneath him was rough, cool, and damp, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of unfamiliar flowers mixed with the brine of the sea.
*Where... am I?*
The last thing he remembered was dying, but now he was here, in this strange yet oddly familiar place. Sitting up slowly, Ravi rubbed his eyes, taking in the surroundings. A small cove stretched out before him, flanked by jagged cliffs, with crystal-clear waters gently rolling against the rocky shoreline. In the distance, a small village was visible, nestled between the cliffs and the sea.
It took him a moment to piece it all together. This was **Warlorn Isle**, the starting point of a story he had read before. A story he never finished. In that novel, this village had been the birthplace of the hero, a boy named **Shin**, who was destined to unite the islands and challenge the mysteries beyond the **Green-Violet Wall**.
But now, somehow, Ravi was here. He wasn't the hero. He wasn't even a character in the story. Yet, through the memories of the body he now inhabited, he knew enough to survive. *I'm a war orphan,* he thought, sifting through the memories. The boy whose life he had inherited had grown up on the fringes of this village, scraping by with whatever work he could find. It was a hard life, but one that had given Ravi just enough to start from.
*I guess I should start by finding food,* he mused. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in what felt like days. Pushing himself to his feet, Ravi brushed the sand from his clothes—simple, worn linen that had seen better days—and started walking toward the village.
---
**Raikari Village** was larger than he had expected. As he walked along the narrow dirt road, he could see fishing boats tied to the docks and people bustling around the marketplace, setting up stalls for the day. The sound of hammers echoed from the blacksmith's shop, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted from a small bakery nestled between two larger buildings.
Ravi's stomach growled again, more insistently this time. He followed the scent of bread, weaving through the crowd until he found the bakery. A woman in her forties stood behind the counter, pulling loaves from the oven. Her hair was tied back in a neat bun, and her apron was dusted with flour.
She caught sight of Ravi as he approached. "Haven't seen you before," she remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "New in town?"
Ravi hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah... I've been away for a while. Just trying to get back on my feet."
The woman studied him for a moment, then softened. "You look like you could use a good meal." She handed him a loaf of bread, still warm from the oven. "Here. On the house. You can repay me when you're able."
"Thank you," Ravi said, surprised by her kindness. He took the bread and stepped away from the stall, finding a quiet corner near the docks to sit and eat. The bread was soft and fresh, and he devoured it quickly, feeling the warmth fill his empty stomach.
As he ate, he listened to the conversations around him. The villagers spoke of fishing, of repairing their boats, of upcoming festivals. It was peaceful, far removed from the chaos and dangers that would soon unfold. But Ravi knew better. This calm wouldn't last.
---
Over the next few days, Ravi settled into life in the village. He took on small tasks—hauling water, helping the fishermen, sweeping the village square—anything to blend in and avoid suspicion. His goal was simple: stay low, keep out of trouble, and gather information.
He had read enough of the novel to know that things would soon escalate. Warlorn Isle might be a quiet backwater now, but it wouldn't remain that way. Not with the hero's story about to begin.
Most of his free time was spent observing the other villagers, especially the boys around his age. They were rough and loud, always boasting about their future as **soul welders**—warriors who awakened spirit soul servants when they turned eighteen. It was a rite of passage here, something every boy looked forward to. But not everyone succeeded.
"When you turn eighteen, the village elder takes you to the shrine," one of the boys explained to his friends one evening by the docks. "There, you offer your weapon, and if you're lucky, your soul servant will awaken inside it."
Another boy grinned. "I'm gonna awaken two, I just know it. Maybe even three if I'm lucky."
"Pfft, don't get your hopes up. Most people only get one, if they get any at all."
Ravi listened quietly, sitting a few feet away as the boys talked. He already knew who would awaken multiple spirits. **Shin**, the protagonist of the story, would awaken two soul servants—**Suchi**, a human-born soul, and **Asuchin**, a powerful beast soul in the form of a silver dragon. It was his fate, after all.
Ravi's own awakening was still some time off, but it weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't afford to be weak. This wasn't just about survival—he needed to become strong enough to control his own fate in this world. The stakes were too high for him to play a passive role.
But for now, he was content to wait. The village offered a temporary sanctuary, a place to gather his thoughts and plan his next move. He knew the story, but he also knew that the real world often played out differently than books. He would have to adapt, think on his feet, and seize the right opportunities when they came.
---
One evening, as Ravi sat on the outskirts of the village, looking out at the sea, he thought about the **Green-Violet Wall** that surrounded their world. No one knew what lay beyond it. Some said it was a barrier put in place by ancient gods, others believed it was a prison. A hundred years ago, a man had claimed to return from outside the wall, speaking of treasures, power, and monsters. But he had vanished shortly after, leaving only rumors behind.
The wall intrigued Ravi. He knew that beyond it lay the real dangers and opportunities. If he was ever going to become truly powerful, he would have to go beyond the wall. But that was a distant goal. For now, he would focus on getting stronger, preparing for the challenges ahead.
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