The cold night wind blew with an ironic delicacy, brushing Kaelen's skin as he stood at the edge of the cliff. The dark abyss called to him, stretching out like a hungry mouth ready to devour him. Before him, the vast expanse of the city blurred in the distance, its tiny, indifferent lights resembling the life he had led until now.
Kaelen took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside him, but it only fanned the flames of his despair. He was nothing but useless. A dead weight in his family life, an easy target for his classmates' taunts. He had failed at everything: being a son, being a friend, being someone.
"What's the point of breathing?" he asked himself, feeling his thoughts grow darker. Each failure crushed him, each rejection pulled him deeper into the abyss he was about to surrender to.
For a moment, a stifled laugh escaped his throat. A strange sound, almost inhuman, like that of someone who had accepted the inevitable. Kaelen covered his mouth, but the laughter grew, swelling into a crazed cackle. He couldn't help it. It was ridiculous. His life, his failures… everything had been a cruel joke. And he, the fool in his own tragedy.
Tears welled in his eyes, mixing with his laughter, transforming into sobs. Kaelen dropped to his knees, crying with a desperation that tore him apart from within. "I can't take this anymore…" There was no strength left in him to keep fighting. What for?
Standing once more, he looked into the void that awaited him, and without further hesitation, he stepped forward.
The wind surrounded him, and the freefall filled him with a strange peace. Finally… finally, it would all be over. But just as he braced for impact, something changed. The air around him turned warm, wrapping him in a sensation of comfort. And at that moment, he heard a voice. He didn't know if it was real or if his mind was playing tricks on him in its final moments.
"Everything will be alright…" said the voice, soft and warm, like a whisper soothing his soul.
His eyes shot open. He wanted to scream, but the scream lodged in his throat. And then everything disappeared in a flash of light.
Kaelen woke with a start, gasping. His body was covered in dry, cold dirt, and as he opened his eyes, he found himself beneath a strange sky. Three moons hung above, casting a dim light over an unfamiliar landscape. He sat up slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. Where was he?
He tried to recall the moment before his fall. The voice… that voice he had heard. It hadn't been real, had it?
Looking around, he noticed he wasn't alone. Around him, dozens, perhaps hundreds of people lay scattered on the ground, all as disoriented as he was. Kaelen saw groups in the distance, probably just as confused. Young men and women, most between fifteen and twenty-five years old, all wearing the same bewildered expressions. What is this place?
A sense of chaos began to grow. Some stood up while others began to argue, fear and confusion spreading like wildfire.
Kaelen watched in silence, trying to understand what was happening. But before he could process it, a piercing scream tore through the air.
"Ahhh!"
He turned his head just in time to see a young man fall to the ground, with a small, grotesque figure on top of him. It was tiny, about the size of an eight-year-old, with a large head that stood out on its small body and grotesque eyes that gleamed with malice. Large, blood-stained fangs dripped onto the ground. As Kaelen took in the sight, he realized what it was: a Goblin. Something he thought only existed in fantasy novels had come to life before him, about to murder someone. Watching as this green-skinned, repulsive creature stabbed a rusty dagger into the young man's leg, while blood poured out and the young man screamed in pain, was the harsh reality that hit Kaelen. This was no longer the world he used to live in—here, you had to fight to survive.
Kaelen felt his stomach churn at the sight. Everything froze for a second.
"There are more!" someone shouted.
Eight more goblins, armed with daggers, emerged from the mist, their small bodies moving swiftly as they closed in on the group. They were horrible creatures, with yellow eyes and twisted grins revealing rotting teeth. They moved confidently, as if they had done this before—hunting disoriented and vulnerable humans.
Fear flooded Kaelen. His body trembled with pure terror. "I'm going to die here."
Everyone else wore the same expression of horror, unable to move. The goblins drew closer, their mocking laughter echoing among them. One of them raised its dagger, ready to strike.
And then, suddenly, a figure appeared out of nowhere.
With inhuman speed, a knight in shining armor burst into the scene, his sword tracing a perfect arc as he decapitated the goblin in one swift stroke. The creature's body fell to the ground, lifeless.
The knight, a blond man with sky-blue eyes and a confident smile, looked at the group with surprising calm.
"Do not fear!" he shouted in a firm voice. "You are safe now."
Two more soldiers appeared behind him, and within seconds, the remaining goblins were slain, their bodies collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
The knight turned to the newcomers. "I am Sir Aldric, knight of the kingdom of Ethelia. You are all safe under our protection."
But the panic had already taken hold of the group. Voices of protest, fear, and anger began to rise among the summoned.
"What is this?" one shouted. "Where are we?"
"You're lying to us!"
"What the hell were those things?"
Kaelen remained silent, fear still gripping his throat. He couldn't process everything that was happening.
Then, another figure emerged from the crowd. A woman, so beautiful that for a moment Kaelen forgot to breathe. She had blonde hair like the sun, and her eyes radiated a warmth that contrasted with the coldness of the place. She walked with inhuman grace toward the injured young man, and without a word, placed her hands over his bleeding leg.
Golden light emerged from her palms, and before everyone's astonished eyes, the wound began to close.
"Magic?" someone whispered in awe.
The woman smiled softly, nodding. "Basic healing," she said modestly. "Do not worry, you are now under the protection of the kingdom of Ethelia. My name is Selene, and I am princess of this realm."
Kaelen couldn't take his eyes off her. Something about her captivated him, not just her beauty, but the serenity she projected. He felt something warm inside him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time: hope.
As the knights guided the group toward the outskirts, Kaelen continued to observe his surroundings. Hundreds of groups like his were being escorted by soldiers in the distance, each just as lost as the next. He couldn't help but feel suspicious. "What's happening here?"
While walking along the path through a dense forest, something caught his eye. In the distance, between the trees, he thought he saw a small figure running. A girl. He frowned.
"Hey!" he pointed, looking at the soldiers. "Did you see that? A girl running through the woods!"
The knight escorting him looked at him with curiosity. "That's impossible."
"What do you mean impossible?"
"If a girl were loose in these lands, she wouldn't last five minutes. The creatures out here would devour her instantly." His tone was serious.
Kaelen was baffled. Had he imagined that figure? But before he could process it, he looked at the other summoned, searching for answers in their expressions, but all he found was more confusion. Everyone seemed just as scared, their faces pale, eyes wide as if the reality of their situation was just starting to sink in. No one mentioned the girl. Perhaps it had just been a reflection of his own confusion.
They continued walking in silence as the forest began to clear. At the end of the path, beyond the trees, the walls of the kingdom of Ethelia suddenly appeared. Tall and majestic, the white stone towers rose toward the sky, their domes shimmering in the reflection of the three moons. Kaelen felt the air grow heavier as they approached those ancient walls. Despite his unease, he couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and fear.
"Impressive, isn't it?" said Sir Aldric, smiling as he watched the astonished expressions of the newcomers. "Welcome to the kingdom of Ethelia. Here, you will be safe."
The group was escorted to some carriages waiting outside the kingdom. Kaelen climbed into one with the others, as the city gates slowly opened, revealing the interior. As the carriages moved along the stone streets, Kaelen couldn't help but marvel at the life pulsing within the kingdom.
Ethelia was bustling with activity. The markets were packed with stalls selling exotic fruits, vibrant fabrics, and all kinds of artifacts Kaelen had never seen. The houses, built with smooth, polished stones, had roofs that seemed to glow with a faint light. Knights patrolled the streets on foot, their armor gleaming under the light of the three moons. People of all races walked the streets: tall, slender beings, some with elongated ears, others with animal features or colorful wings. It was an impossible spectacle for someone who came from Earth.
The murmur among the newcomers was constant. Kaelen heard fragments of conversations, some filled with fear, others with wonder. "How is all this possible?", "What are those beings?", "This seems like madness…" The questions piled up in everyone's minds, but no one had answers.
A man sitting next to Kaelen looked toward one of the escorts and, in a defiant tone, said: "What is this place supposed to be? You haven't told us anything clearly. Where the hell are we?"
One of the soldiers escorting them, a man with a severe face, looked at him harshly. "Shut up and show some respect!" he barked, approaching the carriage as if he were about to strike the man.
But before he could, Sir Aldric intervened. "Calm down, Oran." He placed a hand on the soldier's shoulder, forcing him to step back. "They are newcomers. They have no idea what's happening. It's natural for them to be scared, and we haven't had new summonings in 500 years, so treat them with a little more care."
The soldier frowned but obeyed. Kaelen watched the exchange carefully. There was something in the way Sir Aldric spoke, a mixture of authority and compassion that made him stand out among the others. Kaelen decided that, at least for now, this knight was someone he could trust.
The carriage continued its journey through the city, passing along the main street. The activity around them didn't stop. Kaelen could see the other newcomers in other carriages, all with the same wide-eyed looks of confusion. But what caught his attention most was the constant whispering among them. It was clear that none of them had any idea what awaited them.
"500 years?" Kaelen finally broke his own silence. "You said you haven't had summonings in 500 years… What does that mean?"
Sir Aldric turned to him, his smile fading slightly, but he remained calm. "That's correct. Five hundred years ago was the last time a group of people like you was brought to this world. We don't know why it happens exactly, but every hundred years, people from different planets and races are summoned to Aether, just as you have been today. It has been happening since ancient times."
Kaelen nodded, processing the information. "And this kingdom… Ethelia…?"
"Ethelia is the main kingdom of humans in this world. Here, hundreds of years ago, the first group of summoned humans arrived, and over time, they founded this kingdom. Since then, we have maintained a fragile balance between the different races that have also been brought to this world. What you see here is the result of centuries of history."
Kaelen frowned, feeling that there were more questions in his mind than he could formulate at that moment. But before he could continue, Sir Aldric raised a hand.
"I know you all have many questions, but soon you will arrive at the castle and hear what you need to know. I assure you, all your doubts will be answered."
The carriages finally stopped in front of the castle of Ethelia, a majestic structure that seemed to touch the skies. The white marble walls gleamed under the light of the three moons, and the towers rose as if they were the fingers of a god stretching toward infinity. Kaelen looked up, enthralled by the beauty of the structure, but something about the atmosphere made him shiver.
"Don't get too lost staring at the castle, boy," Sir Aldric said with a slight friendly mockery in his tone. "Come, enter. The best is yet to come."
Kaelen smiled a little at the knight's attitude, but that smile faded when he saw Aldric's expression. For a brief moment, before he turned away, Aldric had shown a smile that was anything but friendly—rather… something sinister.
An inexplicable chill ran down Kaelen's spine, freezing him at the entrance of the castle.
"Are you alright?" A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Selene was standing next to him, her presence emanating a calming warmth. Kaelen turned toward her and, for a second, forgot everything else. The purity of her face, the warmth of her eyes. It was impossible not to feel drawn to her.
"Yes… I'm fine," he finally said, nodding awkwardly.
Selene smiled sweetly at him, and Kaelen felt his doubts melt away for a moment. If she was here, it must be safe. The purity in her gaze made him believe that this place, strange as it was, couldn't be so bad.
With that thought, he stepped forward and crossed the castle's threshold, following the rest of the group.
Inside, darkness enveloped them almost immediately. Kaelen and the others stopped, perplexed, as the lights in the enormous hall seemed to dim one by one. Only the sound of their footsteps and breaths broke the silence. Kaelen felt a knot form in his stomach. Something wasn't right.
Suddenly, a sphere of light floated down from the ceiling, faintly illuminating the space. The orb began to spin slowly, projecting an image in the air, like a hologram. The figure of an elderly man, dressed in royal robes, appeared before them.
"Welcome," said the man's deep voice. "I am the king of Ethelia, and I know you must all be confused. Do not be afraid. Soon, you will understand your purpose in this world."
The king began explaining the origin of Aether. He spoke of how every hundred years, beings from different races and worlds were summoned to this place, and how Ethelia had thrived under that dynamic. He spoke of the magic that permeated everything, of the races that coexisted on the planet, though he left out many details.
The king explained that in this world, everything lives for and because of mana. People born in Aether all have a mana core inside them, which grows over time as they become stronger. However, the summoned, not having been exposed to mana, would need to live in Aether for twenty years to naturally develop a mana core. So, centuries ago, a method for creating an artificial core was developed, allowing the summoned to obtain a core quickly, which, after practice and training, would give rise to a natural core within them, without having to wait twenty years wandering the land. And in this world so dependent on mana, being useless, unable to use magic, makes one nothing but a burden, since even the peasants who tend the cattle or farm use mana daily in their lives.
Finally, after speaking non-stop for fifteen minutes, the king addressed the matter that troubled Kaelen the most.
"Those of you who wish to continue living a meaningful life in this world will have the option to participate in the artificial mana core creation program. This process is crucial if you wish to access the power that flows through this world. Do not fear, the process is safe."
Kaelen couldn't help but notice that some in the group began to show expressions of doubt, of fear. The king seemed to sense it, and with a calm smile, added:
"Of course, those who choose not to participate will not be forced. You can live among us, but you must understand that without a core, it will be almost impossible for you to find work or survive without help, as everything here is connected to magic."
The tension in the room grew. Kaelen looked at the faces around him: pale faces, frightened stares. Some seemed ready to abandon, others stood frozen, unable to make a decision.
But when Kaelen looked at Selene, she was standing in the distance, near the orb of light. Their eyes met, and she smiled softly at him. That gesture, so simple and warm, was all Kaelen needed to decide.
"I'll do it," he murmured to himself.
"I can't keep being the useless failure everyone despised; this is my chance to shine and prove I'm worth something." Kaelen let himself be carried away by his thoughts, starting to reassure himself, and at that moment, he swore he would become someone successful in this new world.
At that, several people began questioning the king, shouting insults and accusations. Kaelen caught bits of what they were saying amidst the noise.
"How can we trust you?!"
"You must have been the ones who brought us here!"
Kaelen, surprised, realized that the person shouting was none other than the same man who had yelled at the guard in the carriage.
And with this, the atmosphere grew tense again. Several people decided to leave the hall, preferring to rely on themselves.
After some decided to leave, a guard escorted Kaelen and others into a room filled with metal capsules. The air was stifling. As Kaelen observed the capsules, he couldn't help but notice how worn they looked, as if they hadn't been used in years.
"This… is the technology of this world?" he thought, feeling a growing anxiety. The capsules seemed ready to break down at any moment.
A guard approached Kaelen. "Don't worry," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It only hurts a little."
"Hurt?" Kaelen asked, his heart racing. "What do you mean it hurts?"
Before he could get an answer, the guard closed the capsule around Kaelen, trapping him inside. Kaelen started pounding on the interior, his heart hammering in his chest. "Let me out!" he shouted, but his cries were ignored. The pain began immediately. Something cold and strange coursed through his body, entering through his limbs and slowly traveling toward his abdomen.
Kaelen tried to control his breathing, but the pain was unbearable, like his blood itself was on fire. His screams mingled with those of others in the capsules around him. Screams of despair, of anguish. Kaelen felt like he was going to lose his mind. The mana was coursing through him, and the pain kept intensifying, with no end in sight.
And then… everything went dark.