The wind howled through the vast open field, carrying whispers that Kaito couldn't quite understand. He stood motionless, staring at Zephyr—the Divine King who had just spoken of a power hidden within him. The gravity of the moment weighed heavily on his chest, and he struggled to process the enormity of what had just happened.
An otherworldly realm. A destiny chosen for him. Power beyond comprehension.
Yet, none of it made sense. How could he—a nobody, an invisible presence in his own life—hold any sort of importance in this world?
"Where… where are my classmates?" Kaito asked again, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to keep calm. "I need to know if they're okay."
Zephyr's piercing eyes softened, as if he could sense Kaito's anxiety. "They are safe for now, scattered across different regions. You need not worry about them… yet. Your path is separate from theirs."
Kaito's pulse quickened. "Separate? Why? What's happening? Why am I here?"
Zephyr's lips curved into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "In time, you will come to understand. You, and you alone, have been chosen to wield Ascendancy—a power that transcends the mundane abilities your classmates will possess."
"Ascendancy," Kaito repeated, feeling the word echo in his mind. The Inner Voice stirred again, faint and elusive, like a whisper at the back of his thoughts. The idea of possessing a unique power tempted him, pulling him toward something greater than he ever imagined. But doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind.
"I don't understand," Kaito muttered, trying to grasp the situation. "Why me? I'm nothing special."
Zephyr's gaze grew colder. "In your world, perhaps. But here, all things are different. Strength is not defined by the opinions of others, nor by your own perception of worth. Here, potential is what matters—and you have it in abundance."
Kaito remained silent, his mind spinning. He wanted to deny it, to reject the idea that this could somehow be real. But the air here, the weight of the place… it was undeniable. The landscape around him felt alive, thrumming with a power he couldn't quite understand. It pressed against him, urging him to accept that this world—this situation—was real.
Zephyr turned his back to Kaito and began walking toward the horizon. "Come," he called, not waiting to see if Kaito would follow. "There is much for you to learn."
After a moment's hesitation, Kaito took a shaky step forward. Then another. Soon, he was walking after Zephyr, the tall figure moving with an unnatural grace across the landscape. As they moved, Kaito noticed that the environment was shifting subtly, the grass underfoot changing colors, the air around them humming with invisible energy.
The field they crossed seemed endless, but Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching him, waiting for something. His unease grew as they walked in silence, and the questions buzzing in his head finally spilled out.
"You said I'm supposed to wield this 'Ascendancy.' What exactly is it? And why are you telling me I have potential? I've never been strong. I've never been… anything."
Zephyr didn't stop walking, but his voice carried clearly over the wind. "Ascendancy is not merely physical strength or brute force. It is a power rooted in the manipulation of reality itself—an ability to analyze and control the world around you in ways others cannot. It is a power of the mind and the will."
Kaito frowned. "But why me? What makes me different?"
Zephyr finally slowed, turning to face him. The Divine King's eyes gleamed in the starlight, and his expression hardened. "Because you are empty."
Kaito blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of the statement.
"Your heart, your soul—both are devoid of the things that weigh down others," Zephyr continued, his voice now cold. "You have no ties, no deep connections. You have lived your life on the edge of the shadows, unnoticed and unburdened by the weight of belonging. In that emptiness lies great potential. You can fill that void with power, with purpose. That is what makes you different from the others."
Kaito's stomach twisted at the words. Was this truly how Zephyr saw him? How this world saw him? Empty? But a part of him couldn't deny the truth in it. He had always felt hollow, as if he were drifting through life with no real anchor. But could that emptiness really be a source of strength?
Before he could respond, Zephyr raised a hand, and the air around them shimmered. In an instant, the field vanished, and they now stood at the edge of a massive cliff, overlooking a sprawling city below. The city's architecture was unlike anything Kaito had ever seen—towering spires of obsidian and gold rose toward the sky, and ethereal bridges of light connected buildings that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
"This is Vaelis, the capital of the eastern realm," Zephyr said, gesturing toward the city. "Here, you will learn about Ascendancy, and what it means to wield such power."
Kaito took in the sight, his awe mixing with a deep sense of trepidation. This world was vast, unknowable, and filled with dangers he couldn't yet comprehend. And yet… somewhere deep within him, the thought of learning about this new power stirred something primal. A yearning.
As they descended the cliffside path toward Vaelis, Kaito couldn't help but ask, "And what about my classmates? Will I… see them again?"
Zephyr's expression remained unreadable as they walked. "Perhaps. But I warn you—Ascendancy is not a gift granted without cost. The more you seek power, the more you will find yourself drifting further from the world you once knew."
Kaito swallowed hard. "What does that mean?"
The Divine King looked ahead, his eyes fixed on the towering city. "Ascendancy requires sacrifice. The further you ascend, the more you will be forced to leave behind."
They reached the base of the cliff, where a large gate marked the entrance to the city. Guards in gleaming armor stood watch, their expressions stern as they regarded the newcomers. Zephyr led Kaito past them without a word, and the gates opened into a grand plaza filled with people from all walks of life—warriors, scholars, and merchants mingled under the glow of strange, floating orbs that illuminated the night.
As Kaito followed Zephyr deeper into the city, a growing sense of unease gnawed at him. The Divine King's words echoed in his mind.
"Sacrifice…"
What would he have to give up to unlock the power of Ascendancy? And more importantly, was he willing to pay the price?
Zephyr led him to the steps of a massive black tower, its top vanishing into the clouds. "This is where your training begins," he said, his voice low and commanding. "You will learn what it means to control Ascendancy here. You will understand how to shape the world to your will."
Kaito stared up at the tower, his heart racing. Part of him wanted to turn back, to demand more answers. But another part—a deeper, quieter part—whispered that this was the only path forward. That his life, as it had been, was no longer an option.
Zephyr stepped aside, gesturing toward the entrance. "The path of Ascendancy is yours to walk, Kaito Takahara. But remember this: once you begin, there is no turning back."
Kaito hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward, crossing the threshold of the tower. The heavy doors closed behind him with a resounding boom, sealing his fate.
In the depths of his mind, the Inner Voice whispered once again:
Power awaits.