Izzul and Rin embarked on their first journey, indifferent to the seasons—be it rain, heat, or fall—but they still couldn't find the Land Of Kalzareth. The land was said to be a hidden realm.
"Hey, Izzul, can we take a break for a moment?" Rin asked, her voice weary.
"Alright," Izzul replied.
Izzul activated the power of his skull. Bones emerged from his hands, forming a hard tent made entirely of bone.
"Wow, is that magic?" Rin asked, full of curiosity.
"This isn't magic. It's a curse, a curse from a coward," Izzul replied with a calm, expressionless face.
"Do you like your power?" Rin asked again, still intrigued.
"If you say like, maybe not," Izzul shook his head. "This curse is powerful, but it also makes me feel pain... pain that I can't explain. It's not a wound, but a hurt that I don't understand." His face looked confused. "Besides, this power is very dangerous and disgusting. It can destroy enemies in horrifying ways."
At that moment, a sound of 'thud-thud-thud' echoed, as if something was running closer."Rin, let's go. The enemy is coming."
"Okay!"
They both fled down the hill. The sound grew nearer, reverberating around them.
"That's not human," Izzul said as they ran.
"Should we fight?" Rin asked, gripping her thin sword, but Izzul remained silent, as if he knew what was chasing them.
"Ahh, no choice!" Rin drew her sword and rushed toward the source of the sound. However, all she found was a dim shadow.
"Lumoria – First Form: Shadow Blade!" Rin attacked the shadow with her slash, but it was unaffected.
"MOVE, RIN!" Izzul came to save Rin. "Skull Crusher – First Form: Ray of Emptiness!" Izzul summoned a skull from the darkness.
The skull absorbed the dark energy around it before releasing the Ray of Emptiness—a stream of dark energy in the form of pitch-black light, rushing forward while absorbing everything in its path. The shadow vanished instantly, turning into fine dust that swirled away.
"Hey, Izzul! What was that?" Rin asked, annoyed that Izzul had never been upfront with her.
"That was a shadow from the Skull Forest of Malacca. Those shadows will chase anyone who carries a curse like mine. It's called the Shadow Under The Moon," Izzul replied.
"Shadow Under The Moon?" Rin furrowed her brow, confused.
"Yes. Only those who bear a curse can destroy it. If a normal person tries to fight those shadows, their soul will be absorbed until death," Izzul explained, staring at the ground.
Izzul lay down on a pile of wood, letting out a heavy sigh. The Ray of Emptiness consumed a lot of dark energy and made his bones feel cold; he needed time to recover after using it. If overused, Izzul could become weak.
"Hmm, the nearest land from here is a secluded land, Lyxara," Rin said while holding the map she brought.
Seeing Izzul's weak state made Rin worry. She quickly gathered wood, lit a fire, and cooked nutritious hot soup for Izzul.
"Here, soup. Eat it while it's hot; it can help you recover quickly," Rin said, handing him the soup.
"Thank you…" Izzul said as he accepted the soup.
Izzul devoured the soup greedily, and Rin, watching his behavior, smiled shyly. After he finished eating, Izzul fell into a deep sleep on the pile of wood, while Rin kept watch at night against enemy attacks.
At the same time in the Land of Nyxara, Queen Karina ordered Fei to check on Izzul and Rin; Fei was a 30-year-old man with a scar on his face, and he had been working with Queen Karina since he was 18 as a spy.
"Fei, go find the traces of Izzul and Rin. I have a bad feeling about their departure. Something dangerous might be coming," Queen Karina ordered, holding her chest.
"Alright, Your Majesty, but what should I do if Izzul can't control his curse?" Fei asked.
"Wear this bracelet; it contains long-range communication magic, and report what happens. I will come immediately," replied Queen Karina, handing the magic bracelet to Fei.
The sounds of small birds filled the air, singing a beautiful morning song. Their voices echoed, breaking the silence of the night that had just passed. Izzul opened his eyes and saw Rin sleeping peacefully. Izzul got up from his position and woke Rin, who was still sleeping.
"Hey Rin, it's morning," he said, tapping Rin's shoulder.
"Hmm…" Rin opened her eyes and sat up.
"Let's move; we don't have time," Izzul said while cleaning his glasses.
"Okay," Rin quickly packed her things.
A peaceful morning with no enemy movements. At the foot of the high mountain, Rin and Izzul began their journey; as soon as they emerged from the mountains, they encountered a lost boy. The boy was wearing tattered clothes, as if he had just been abused
.
"Hey, cute kid, where are you going?" Rin asked with a sweet smile.
"Skull Forest of Malacca," the boy replied firmly.
Hearing the boy's answer, Izzul became angry with him.
"Do you want to die?" Izzul asked, scolding the boy.
"Hey, Izzul..." Rin interjected.
"Go ahead, kid, but if you die, no one will care," Izzul said, leaving the boy.
"Do you have no feelings? Can't you see that boy? He looks like he's been abused. Don't you want to save him?" Rin said firmly.
"That's better for him; besides, he won't live long with those wounds," Izzul replied, ignoring the boy.
"Hey, Izz..." Rin mistakenly called Izzul by the nickname Izz, knowing that using his nickname would remind Izzul of the events in his village.
"Just call me Izz... It's easier," Izzul said.
Hearing his response, Rin smiled and approached Izzul, rambling about the boy.
At the same time, in the Sea of Kalzareth, a soldier approached his King.
"Your Majesty, Meilin's trail has completely vanished... But there is a boy who survived from the Skull Forest of Malacca; he is Mila's child and Fredlin's grandchild. He has the same blood as Meilin. What should I do?" said the soldier.
"What's the boy's name?" the King asked.
"We're not sure yet."
"Go find the boy and bring him before me," the King ordered angrily.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
The soldier quickly left the palace and began their hunt. Their numbers totaled nearly five thousand to capture a single boy who managed to escape from the Skull Forest of Malacca.
In the middle of the vast ocean, there was a secluded island that was so beautiful, as if protected by a mysterious fog. Its beach was adorned with golden sand that softly reflected the sunlight, while calm emerald waves rolled onto the shore. The island was surrounded by lush trees with dark green leaves, and glowing blue flowers sparkled among the trees, adding to the magical atmosphere.
In the center of the island, a waterfall flowed from a high cliff, creating a fine mist that shimmered like stardust when touched by sunlight. The surrounding forest was filled with large trees with twisted roots, as if magically guarding the land. In the distance, majestic mountains were wrapped in a thin fog, providing a stunning and mysterious view, as if protecting the hidden wonders of the island. The air was filled with tiny glowing lights, like fireflies, dancing in the wind and radiating a magical aura.
Izzul and Rin arrived on the beautiful island.
"Wow, it's so pretty... right, Izz?" Rin said, dancing beside Izzul.
"Hmm..." Izzul could only remain silent, mesmerized by the beauty of the island.
"Izz... I will accompany you no matter how bad your past is; it has nothing to do with me... even if my life is at stake," Rin said firmly.
The grass swaying in the gentle breeze produced a soft sound, as if the whispers of nature accompanied the surrounding tranquility. Each blade seemed to brush the ground, creating a soft sound that accompanied the surrounding silence. Under the footsteps of Izzul and Rin, the grass rustled softly—the sound was almost like the rustling of papers or the whispering of fine sand, bringing the atmosphere to life and instilling a sense of peace in their hearts.
"Alright," Izzul said with a slight smile, which captivated Rin. It was the first time Rin saw Izzul's sweet smile, making her heart race.
"Rin, what's the name of this island?" Izzul asked.
"Ahh..." Rin, blushing, quickly opened her map.
"Aurelora Island," Rin answered, her face turning crimson.
"Hmm... Rin, are you sick? Why is your face red?" Izzul asked.
"Ahh... it's nothing," Rin said, growing even more embarrassed.
"Let's go to the capital of this island," Izzul said while walking.
Rin, still flustered, felt her heart racing; she hadn't moved from her spot.
"Rin...?" ...
"RIN... BEHIND YOU!"
A mercenary from Kalzareth unleashed fire magic and burned Rin's entire body...