The sound of rushing footsteps echoed through the village streets, followed by the sharp clang of metal. A child's cry cut through the noise, but it was quickly drowned out by the deafening roar that followed.
Kai didn't need to look back. He knew what was happening. The creature—massive, bloodthirsty, and unstoppable—was tearing through his village, reducing everything and everyone in its path to dust and rubble.
His legs burned, muscles screaming as he sprinted through the narrow alleys. He could barely think, his mind trapped in a haze of panic and confusion. Somewhere in the distance, the village bell tolled a warning, but it was too late for that. Much too late.
A scream—sharp and familiar—pierced through the chaos, and Kai's heart lurched.
"Mother!"
He skidded to a halt, frantically searching for the source of the sound. His gaze locked on a burning house, its roof collapsing as the monstrous manarite rampaged through it. Among the debris, he spotted her—his mother, trapped beneath the fallen beams.
"Mom!" Kai rushed forward, the acrid stench of smoke burning his throat. His hands trembled as he tried to lift the debris, but the burning wood was too heavy, too hot. His mother's face was twisted in pain, but she smiled weakly when she saw him.
"Kai… you need to run…"
"No, I can't—" Kai's voice cracked. His hands desperately clawed at the rubble, but it was no use. She was pinned, and the fire was spreading fast.
"Listen to me, Kai!" Her voice, though weak, was firm. "You have to leave. Now. Find your father. Get out of here."
Tears blurred his vision, mixing with the sweat and grime that coated his face. "I won't leave you!"
Another roar erupted from behind them, closer this time. The manarite—an enormous, blackened beast with glowing red eyes—was tearing through the village, and it was heading straight for them. The ground shook with each thunderous step.
Kai's breath hitched. He had no choice.
"I love you, Mom," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He turned and ran, not looking back.
His feet pounded the ground as the world around him blurred. He weaved through the alleys, avoiding collapsing buildings and the bodies of villagers who hadn't been as lucky. His heart felt like it was going to explode in his chest, every nerve in his body screaming for him to move faster.
The manarite's roars echoed behind him, but it was the distant scream of his mother that shattered him.
He couldn't save her.
"Kai!" A voice called out through the din, and Kai's eyes snapped up. His father was running toward him, his face etched with desperation.
"Father!" Kai reached out, but just as he did, a massive shadow loomed behind his father.
A clawed hand, enormous and black as night, crashed down, obliterating the space between them. His father's figure vanished beneath the massive beast, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust and debris.
"No!" Kai screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the deafening roar of the manarite. His legs gave out beneath him, and he fell to the ground, staring blankly at the spot where his father had just been.
Everything around him seemed to slow. The sounds of the burning village faded into a distant hum, and the world became a blur of shadows and fire.
A cold, heavy weight settled in Kai's chest, pulling him down into the darkness.
Kai bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. His hand instinctively reached for his neck, where a jagged scar—the only reminder of that night—ran down his throat. It had been years since the attack, but the nightmares still haunted him.
He ran a hand through his damp hair, his heart still pounding from the vivid memory of his parents' deaths. No matter how much time had passed, the guilt and anger never faded.
A faint glow seeped through the curtains of his small room. He swung his legs off the bed, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. Today wasn't just any day.
Today was the day he'd face his initiation.
Kai stood, stretching his aching muscles, and walked to the window. His village had been replaced by the sprawling grounds of NYX Academy—a place where the light and dark were constantly at odds. The massive stone towers loomed in the distance, their shadows stretching like fingers over the courtyard.
He had been brought here after the attack, a broken boy who had barely survived. But today, he wasn't just a survivor. He was about to step into a new chapter—one that could either make him stronger or destroy him.
He pulled on his boots, slung his tattered cloak over his shoulders, and headed toward the door. His hand brushed against the scar on his neck one more time—a silent reminder of the power he now held. A power that had only surfaced once, on the night of the attack.
It had terrified him.
The shadows had responded to him, twisting and writhing like living things. He hadn't understood it then, and even now, the darkness within him remained a mystery. But at NYX Academy, that was about to change.
The courtyard buzzed with anticipation as students gathered for their initiation. In the center stood Lysandra Valen, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd with the confidence only someone of her stature could carry. She spotted Kai and gave him a nod of acknowledgment.
"You ready for this?" she asked as he approached.
Kai shrugged. "Do I have a choice?"
She grinned. "Not really."
They stood in silence, watching as the other initiates lined up. Some looked nervous, while others appeared eager, their eyes burning with ambition.
A sudden chill swept through the courtyard as the gates of the arena creaked open. The moment had come.
The initiation trial was simple, yet brutal: face a manarite—one of the very creatures that had ravaged his village—and survive. It was a test of power, of control. Those who succeeded would become part of the academy's elite. Those who failed… well, failure wasn't an option.
Kai clenched his fists, feeling the familiar burn of anger rise within him. This was his chance to prove himself. To finally gain control over the darkness inside him.
The first initiate stepped forward, entering the arena as the crowd watched in silence. The air crackled with tension as a manarite—a smaller, less lethal version than the one that had destroyed Kai's village—emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes fixated on the trembling student.
The fight was quick. The student faltered, his control slipping, and the manarite lunged. Within moments, it was over.
The body was dragged away, and the next student was called.
One by one, they faced the creatures, and one by one, they either triumphed or fell. Each fight only fueled the growing knot of dread in Kai's stomach.
Finally, his name was called.
Kai stepped into the arena, the weight of every eye upon him. The gates slammed shut behind him, trapping him inside with the beast.
The manarite emerged from the shadows, its blackened form slithering toward him. Its glowing red eyes locked onto his, and Kai felt a familiar, dark pull in his chest.
He took a deep breath, feeling the tension coil in his muscles. The manarite snarled, its claws scraping the stone floor as it circled him.
"Come on," Kai muttered to himself, willing the shadows to respond. He couldn't afford to fail. Not now.
The manarite lunged, and in that split second, Kai felt it—the darkness inside him, rising to the surface.
And then… the shadows exploded from him.