Chapter One: The vanity of dreams
In the depths of endless darkness, where horrors gather in gloomy silence, dark destinies lurk in the shadows. Beneath a foreboding gray sky, an evil organization convenes, its members bearing faces that seem to have emerged from nightmares worse than the demons themselves. The air, laden with the scent of darkness and mystery, trembles now and then with anxious breaths. The only words spoken in the corners of this stormy meeting came from their leader, whose voice rang ominously: "Now, the challenge begins. Prepare yourselves; let us take what we want."
In a world where magic scatters like stars in the sky, there lies a continent known as the Continent of Magic. Here, where spiritual forces intertwine and a single spell can change the course of events, we find ourselves in the city of Itrajan. In this place, mana dances like tongues of light, reflecting off ancient buildings and narrow streets. The colors of magic intertwine with every moment, creating an atmosphere of mystery and challenge. Our story begins in the year 933, in a time fraught with turmoil and power struggles.
There were parents living amid the waves of these wondrous realms, and they had a son named Adam Ethan, whose black hair shimmered like the dark night, and whose red eyes reflected hidden secrets. Andre Ethan and Marie Ethan were once childhood friends, and their love story could be told like a fairy tale from bygone eras, where their paths met at mysterious times and their relationship became a symbol of strong love and patience.
When Adam turned two, his parents entered into a deep conflict regarding their son's fate. They sat in a cozy family room, where the lights danced on the walls from the flickering fire. Marie said, her voice filled with confidence and hope: "When our son discovers the secret of his powers, he will become a great wizard. I bet he will excel in magic just as his parents did because we were in the Hidden Holy Knights."
Andre responded in a heavy tone, as if emerging from the depths of a dark cave: "I know you feel confident because you are strong, but there's nothing to prove that our son possesses innate power. Let's start by teaching him martial arts, and then magic will gradually reveal itself. The elements and natural abilities in the world have been monopolized by the gifted, and people have forgotten much about the mysterious science." Marie was convinced by Andre's words; she considered herself very gifted and believed she shouldn't fear for her only son's future. She also decided to train for what she had dreamed of since she was little.
Days passed, and as time went on, Adam grew up amid this family struggling between hope and harsh reality. In his early years, there was nothing remarkable about Adam's behavior except for his constant state of indifference. Even his parents began to worry about the lack of development in his skills as they had hoped. Marie, despite her deep love for her son, saw each moment as a loss of opportunities and abilities.
One day, while the sun shone on the horizon of Itrajan, it was time to make a crucial decision. Andre and Marie reached a point where each felt the weight of the choice before them. "We must let Adam go to a regular school," Marie said decisively. "We won't pressure him with lessons from the Holy Knights. I want to see my son happy, discovering his true passion in life."
After five days of arguments, Andre came to a reasonable conclusion, but with a heavy heart. "Alright, if that's what you think is best, we'll follow your idea. But remember, the world of magic isn't an easy place, and it may not be what we hope for."
Thus, Adam was enrolled in a school run by Marie's friend, Carla Prince, who came from a noble family. This school was housed in an ancient building that held within its walls a long history of education and experience. Adam entered the classroom for the first time, and his mysterious appearance in the large classroom drew attention. He sat in the far corner, as if trying to penetrate the veil of the world surrounding him.
The students wandered around him, exchanging glances and whispering softly. Even Carla, a revered teacher known for her wisdom and insight, couldn't ignore his isolation. She noticed that none of the children dared to approach him, as if an invisible line separated him from them. "Why this silence?" she wondered to herself, observing the behavior of this intriguing child. His unique personality was highly introverted; he seemed to love only his parents, who cared for him, yet he was still young and would grow up to learn the meaning of building friendships.
At that moment, the image of Neil materialized, a five-year-old village boy, facing the world with all its innocence and curiosity. Neil gazed at the horizon, where his dreams mingled with his thoughts, while his hopes resonated with his simple desire to live a life full of peace. When Neil asked two questions, one being, "Teacher, why are you from a noble family while you teach villagers?" Carla looked at him and later said, "I'll answer you," and added another question from Neil: "Will our dreams come true, or are they just illusions?" He spoke with a mysterious hope and hidden fears, while he thought that everything around him was merely an embodiment of his dreams.
No one expected that this innocent question would be the key to the beginning of a series of events that would change everyone's lives. Carla's expression changed as the children of the class gathered, transforming the lessons into scenes of contemplation and examination, with the teacher responding that dreams are a spiritual symbol for humans to help them develop and remain steadfast on the right path, for life consists of dreams and shadows. In summary, there is no late time to start achieving what you want. Begin from any point. Work is the way that will enable you to realize your dreams, and true success requires hard work. Your mind can astonish you if you can tell yourself, "I can achieve this; I can do this; I can do this."
Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground. Live your life every day as if you were about to climb a mountain. Occasionally glance up at the summit so you don't forget your goal, but don't miss the opportunity to appreciate the magnificent views at each stage. Life is full of stones, so don't stumble over them; instead, collect them and build a ladder to climb towards success.
As days went by, Neil began to discover the depth of Adam's character. He watched the internal struggles that Adam faced and saw how he was treated by his peers. One day, when Adam was attacked by a group of children, Neil rushed in, striking them with extraordinary speed as if he were an invisible person, channeling his magical aura at his young age. Perhaps his power would be effective against them, but he paused and saw them merely as amateurs and asked them, "Why are you hitting him?" Neil shouted, confronting the assailants with a frowning face and glowing eyes. His shout was merely a show to gauge the reaction of the unruly children. But their response was sadly filled with mockery: "He's just a commoner and a villager; let's hit him." Neil decided to protect Adam as a result of their response because he didn't want to strike them, considering their thinking too simplistic.
The conflict escalated as Neil tried to defend Adam, empowered by his mana that manifested in a moment of anger. He struck one of the attackers with a powerful blow of mana, and the skirmishes continued until Carla intervened to stop them. Everything blended into shouts and noise.
While Neil spoke with Carla about Adam's condition, which reflected his struggles and isolation, a particular expression appeared on his face. "I want to die as soon as possible..." Adam's words emerged like an internal scream from the depths of his soul; he was a gloomy person.
As Carla observed and listened, she sensed that there was something deeper than mere strange behavior. There was a profound feeling that hidden struggles and undiscovered secrets were intertwined with both Adam and Neil. Carla wished to delve into this mystery and find ways to help these children achieve their true destinies. She silently praised Neil for how he perceived the event maturely, realizing that if it had been another child, they might not have shown restraint. But Adam, she knew, was the son of her friend; yet his state was one of torment, where one becomes both prisoner and jailer.
Depression often presents a golden opportunity that life gives us to move forward in matters that mean a lot to our hearts, but due to our haste or negligence, it can be swept under the rug, forgotten. Our greatest mistakes in dealing with ourselves are anxiety and surrender to depression and feelings of frustration. We are all alike; we are all united by shared indifference towards our work. The best way to clarify murky water is to leave it alone. The result of indifference towards public issues is that we are governed by the worst people. If you are indifferent to injustice, you have chosen to side with the oppressor. So, Adam, you must not act recklessly; indifference is not the solution to everything.
In this world filled with challenges and secrets, where magic and spiritual forces intertwine in the fabric of reality, events accelerated towards revealing dark truths and deep secrets awaiting discovery. Every moment brought new surprises as Adam and Neil continued on a path filled with adventures and trials.