---

"Wake up!"

The voice pierced through the overwhelming void, distant and muffled at first. Slowly, it grew louder, more demanding.

"Wake up!"

I blinked, but there was nothing to see—only darkness. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the emptiness that surrounded me. How long had I been here? Days? Weeks? It felt like an eternity. I slapped my face, trying to force myself to stay alert, to resist the pull of the void threatening to swallow me.

Time had no meaning here. There was no day, no night. Only this nothingness, stretching endlessly around me. At first, I panicked, the isolation gnawing at my mind. But panic had faded, replaced by a numbing boredom. My core pulsed steadily within me, keeping me alive, but the life it sustained felt meaningless.

---

"Ashborn, wake up!"

The sound of my sister's voice startled me, and the world around me shifted. Colors bled into the darkness, transforming it into the familiar scene of my bedroom, bathed in the soft light of dawn. I blinked, shaking off the haze of sleep as Shaureen stood over me, her face lit up with excitement.

"It's today, isn't it?" I muttered, still groggy.

Shaureen beamed at me, her eyes sparkling. "Of course it is! Now get up! I've got a surprise for you."

I groaned but dragged myself out of bed. Her excitement was contagious, but part of me still wanted to stay beneath the warm covers, hiding from the day ahead. I shuffled into the kitchen, where the scent of something… burnt, filled the air.

My eyes fell on the table, where two blackened pieces of toast sat alongside an omelet that had seen better days.

"You… cooked?" I asked, trying to mask my concern.

Shaureen nodded enthusiastically, ignoring the charred edges of the toast. "Yep! It's a special day, so I wanted to make you breakfast. I know it's not perfect, but… I really tried."

I smiled despite myself. Her cooking was far from perfect, but the effort she put into it was more important. "Thank you, Shaureen. It's perfect."

I took a bite of the toast, chewing slowly to hide the fact that it tasted like ash. At least it was cut perfectly, if that meant anything. Shaureen watched me eagerly, clearly proud of her creation. I couldn't disappoint her.

After breakfast, Shaureen insisted on helping me with my hair, humming cheerfully as she worked through the knots. My long, black hair was always wild, but she seemed determined to make me look presentable for today.

"You should look your best today," she said, her hands working with practiced ease. "It's your Ignition Ceremony, after all. Aren't you excited?"

I forced a smile, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm. "Yeah… I guess so."

Shaureen didn't seem to notice the lack of excitement in my voice. "Once you're Ignited, you'll be stronger than ever! And think of all the amazing things you'll be able to do. You'll be a warrior, like the others!"

My smile wavered. Becoming a warrior wasn't something I was looking forward to. Everyone in our clan—the Solunar and Lunaris—became warriors after their Ignition. It was our tradition. The ceremony awakened the sun or moon fragment within us, granting us power beyond that of ordinary humans. We stopped aging and gained the ability to fight in the wars that defined our people.

But... I found it meaningless. I didn't want the life of a warrior, bound to fight battles I didn't believe in. The wars we were dragged into felt pointless- no, they were pointless. Yet, there was no choice in the matter. Once you were Ignited, there was no turning back.

"There!" Shaureen said, stepping back to admire her work. "You look great! Now go, or you'll be late."

I grabbed my glaive and slung it over my back, the familiar weight settling against me. "I could get there in two minutes if I run," I muttered, glancing at the sun rising outside.

"But if you run, you'll mess up your hair!" Shaureen scolded, crossing her arms. "No running today. You have to arrive looking proper."

I sighed but nodded. "Fine. I'll walk."

---

As I walked through the village, I was struck by how alive it felt. Children played in the streets, their laughter filling the air. Merchants hawked their wares, selling food and trinkets for the celebration. Everyone was excited for the Ignition Ceremony—it was the highlight of the year, a time when the village came together to celebrate the new warriors that would carry on our legacy.

As I walked among them, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong. This place felt like a cage. The weight of the glaive on my back reminded me of the duty I would soon be bound to. I had no choice. None of us did.

"Hey, Ashborn!"

I turned to see Araon jogging toward me, a wide grin on his face. He was a year younger than me, and his Ignition Ceremony wouldn't be for another year, but that didn't stop him from buzzing with excitement.

"Big day, huh?" he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Aren't you pumped? I'd be going crazy if it were me."

I forced a chuckle. "Yeah, it's exciting."

Araon frowned slightly, sensing something off. "You don't sound too thrilled."

I shrugged. "I guess… I'm just nervous."

"Nervous? You? Come on, Ashborn, you've trained for this your whole life. You're going to be one of the best warriors the village has ever seen."

I smiled, "Yeah. Maybe."

Araon grinned and nudged me. "Once you're Ignited, you'll be unstoppable. You'll have all the power you could ever want. What more could you ask for?"

I glanced at the sky,"Can't you imagine anything?."

Araon's grin faltered, and he studied me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "You're different, Ashborn. You know that, right? Most of us can't wait to become warriors. But you… you always have something else on your mind."

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Araon wasn't wrong. I was aware of it. While they dreamed of glory and power, I dreamed of something else. Something I couldn't quite name.

Araon gave me a long look, then patted my shoulder. "You'll figure it out," he said quietly before walking ahead.

---

The village square was alive with activity when I arrived. Banners fluttered in the wind, and the air was thick with the scent of food being prepared for the festivities. But as I moved through the crowd, thanking people for their congratulations, my thoughts kept drifting back to Shaureen.

Where was she? The ceremony would begin soon, and she hadn't arrived yet.

The Ignition Ceremony was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but all I felt was dread. The elders said that once we were Ignited, we would be closer to the gods themselves, our bodies infused with the power of the sun or moon. But what did that mean for me? What kind of life awaited me after today?

I glanced at the sun climbing higher in the sky. There wasn't much time left.

Leaping onto a nearby rooftop, I looked around, hoping to see Shaureen in the crowd. But before I could see her, a sharp, guttural cry echoed through the village, cutting through the noise of the crowd.

I turned, my blood running cold. Emerging from the shadows were monstrous creatures, their hulking forms grotesque and misshapen. Their skin, stretched tight over their bulging muscles, was covered in pulsating veins. Empty eye sockets oozed blood, and a huge eyeball forcing their mouths open, letting out eerie, wailing sounds.

The village erupted into chaos.

Screams filled the air as people ran in every direction, trying to escape the monsters that now stalked through the streets. Warriors grabbed their weapons, forming defensive lines, but the creatures moved with terrifying speed, cutting through the crowd like a knife through butter.

I leaped from the rooftop, my glaive in hand, and landed in the middle of the chaos. I had to find Shaureen.

---

I fought my way through the panicked crowd, dodging the claws of the monsters as they tore through the village. Warriors engaged them in fierce combat, their weapons flashing in the sunlight, but the creatures were relentless, their numbers growing with every passing second.

'Where are you, Shaureen?'

I cut down another creature, its blood spraying across the cobblestones as it collapsed in a heap. My heart raced as I scanned the area, my eyes darting from house to house, trying to catch sight of Shaureen. The village was falling apart around me-buildings crumbled, and smoke filled the air as the monsters rampaged through the streets.

Then, through the smoke and blood, I spotted her-Shaureen, standing with two other Lunaris women, fending off several of the creatures while protecting a pair of frightened children huddled behind them.

"Shaureen!" I shouted, my voice hoarse from the battle.

She glanced over her shoulder, relief flickering in her eyes as she saw me. But there was no time for a reunion. One of the monsters lunged at her, claws extended. Shaureen dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its strike, and drove her short sword into the creature's eye with practiced precision.

I rushed forward, my glaive slicing through the air as I brought it down on the creature's back. The blade cut deep into its flesh, and with a final shudder, it collapsed to the ground.

"Ashborn!" she called out, her voice filled with both relief and fear.

"I'm here," I panted, pulling my glaive free from the corpse. "Are you alright?"

Shaureen nodded, though I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "We've been holding them off, but they just keep coming."

The other women-Mirai and Seria, I remembered-looked just as battered, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Mirai wiped blood from her brow, her sword stained red. "We can't keep this up much longer," she said, her voice tight with exhaustion. "They're stronger than we thought."

I glanced around, assessing the situation. The monsters were relentless, their numbers growing with every passing moment. The village was in ruins, and the warriors who were still standing were barely holding their ground. The air was thick with smoke, blood, and the stench of death.

"We need to fall back," I said, my voice low but firm. "We can't fight all of them on our own."

Shaureen hesitated, her gaze flicking to the children behind her. They were scared -terrified, really-but their wide eyes were locked on her, trusting her to protect them. I could see the conflict in her expression. She didn't want to leave the others behind.

"Shaureen," I said, stepping closer. "We need to go. We will just take them to somewhere safe."

She clenched her jaw, but finally, she nodded. "Alright. Let's get the children out of here."

I scooped the two children into my arms, and we started to retreat, keeping close to the shadows. The sounds of battle echoed behind us, but we had to keep moving.

We made our way toward the center of the village, slipping through the narrow alleys and crumbling streets. The monsters also seemed to be concentrating their efforts near the center of town, where the heart of the celebration had once been. I could still hear the distant cries of warriors and villagers alike, fighting for their lives.

We were almost there when a new sound reached my ears-a low, rumbling growl that sent a chill down my spine. I turned, and my heart sank.

Emerging from the darkness was a creature unlike any of the others. It was enormous, its body encased in an exoskeleton that gleamed in the dim light like polished armor. It carried a sword, but not one made of metal. The sword was part of its body-flesh and bone twisted into a weapon that seemed all the more horrifying for its organic nature.

The creature moved with a grace and precision that was completely unlike the other monsters. This one was different. It wasn't just a mindless beast. It was intelligent. And it was deadly.

"Shaureen! Fall back!" I shouted, my voice laced with urgency.

Shaureen turned just as the creature swung its sword at her. She barely had time to throw herself out of the way, the blade missing her by mere inches. I lunged forward, but the creature was too fast. It parried my strike effortlessly and countered with a brutal swing that sent me stumbling backward.

Mirai rushed in, her sword raised, but the creature blocked her attack with terrifying ease. It moved like a seasoned warrior, its strikes calculated and lethal.

"It's too strong!" Seria gasped, her voice trembling as she dodged another attack.

For the first time, I felt a sense of true helplessness. We couldn't win this fight. Not against something like that.

"We have to run," I said, my voice barely steady. "We're no match for it!"

"But how?" Shaureen asked, her voice filled with panic. "We're surrounded!"

I glanced around. She was right. Two more of the monsters were surrounding us. There was no clear path out. And with Seria injured and the children in tow, there was no way we could break through the line of monsters closing in on us.

The creature let out a low growl, its blood-red eye fixed on us as it advanced. My heart pounded in my chest. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide.

And then, suddenly, a blinding light descended from the sky.

It was like a pillar of pure energy, disintegrating two of the monsters in an instant. I looked up to see a figure floating above us-a Solunar warrior, one of high status within our clan. His presence was overwhelming, his body glowing with an intense light that seemed to radiate from within.

"Run!" he commanded, his voice booming. "Warn the elders! I'll hold them off!"

Without hesitation, we took the opportunity and fled, darting through the gap the pillar of light had created. As we ran, the sounds of battle echoed behind us, but I forced myself not to look back. We couldn't afford to slow down.

By the time we reached the center of the village, the only place still safe from monsters, I handed the children off to Mirai and Seria, who immediately began searching for a healer. Shaureen and I rushed toward the elders, our only hope now was to warn them about the knight-like creatures-and for me to undergo the Ignition Ceremony. I guess elders had a reason why they were so serious when it came to timing of the ceremony. My insides felt like burning, even though I wasn't too late to the ceremony.

When we reached the tent where the elders were gathered, I burst in, breathless. Elder Korai, the oldest of the elders, turned to face us, his expression calm despite the chaos that raged outside.

"What is it, Ashborn?" he asked, his voice steady.

I quickly explained everything-the knights leading the monsters, and how more of them were coming. Korai listened intently, his brow furrowing as I spoke.

When I finished, he turned to the other elders. "Elder Borda, inform the front lines. Elder Sief, prepare the Aetherflame. We cannot delay Ashborn's awakening any longer. We already completed others, you are the only one left."

Elder Sief nodded and left the tent, returning moments later with a golden bowl that held a small, pure white flame within it.

"How do you feel?" Korai asked, his gaze sharp. "Anything unusual?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to describe the sensation in my chest. "I'm fine. It's just... I feel like I'm about to explode."

Shaureen's eyes widened in alarm. "Explode?! How is that fine?"

"There's a sun forming inside you," Korai muttered. "Of course, you're going to feel like that. Why do you think we care about the timing of the ceremony so much?"

"Normally, the ceremony is more elaborate," Korai said, his eyes locking onto mine. "But we don't have time for that now."

The flame in the bowl flickered, casting strange shadows across the tent. I could feel the power emanating from it.

He stepped closer, holding the flame aloft. "No matter what happens, do not force yourself awake. If you do... no one can predict what will happen."

With that, he thrust his hand into my chest, directly over my core.

The world around me blurred, and everything went dark.

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