In the depths of his mind, Hiroto found himself standing in a pitch-white expanse. No sky, no horizon—just an endless world of pale, empty light stretching in every direction. Far off, a faint shadow loomed, a blot of darkness suspended in this surreal landscape.
Without thinking, Hiroto began moving toward it, his right hand reaching out instinctively. The shadow seemed distant yet close, like it was just beyond his fingertips, retreating even as he moved faster. His heart pounded as the shadow grew clearer, almost tangible, drawing him in with an unexplainable pull. He stretched his arm farther, his fingers brushing against the edge of the darkness, when—
He jolted awake, feeling cool grass beneath him. Hiroto blinked, adjusting to the warm sunlight streaming down over a vast plain of greenery. He glanced around, finding Ronan lounging beside him, already awake and watching the clouds.
"You're up, sleepyhead," Ronan teased with a grin. "You looked like you were having some sort of intense dream."
Hiroto shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering sense of unease. "Yeah… it was strange. I was in this… white place. Chasing a shadow."
"Sounds like a premonition," Ronan chuckled, though his expression shifted as he noticed Hiroto's serious gaze.
The two friends stood up, dusting off their clothes, and took in their surroundings. They'd arrived in Noctyra, a world of mystery, beauty, and countless secrets. Behind them lay a peaceful village, and before them, a world to explore.
After settling in the village and gathering basic tools, Hiroto and Ronan decided to help around town for extra resources. They took up work as miners, venturing into the surrounding caves to collect coal and cobblestone. But as they descended into one particularly dark cavern, an uneasy tension settled over them.
The cave walls were too smooth, unnaturally so, as if carved by hands—though neither knew by what kind. "This place… feels wrong," Ronan muttered. He called out to Hiroto, who joined him, curiosity overtaking caution.
They worked deeper into the caves, following a carved tunnel. Eventually, they stumbled upon a massive hole plunging into the darkness. After a silent exchange of nods, they took a leap of faith, landing in a dimly lit chamber corrupted with patches of obsidian and crying obsidian. A thick, foreboding energy filled the air, and at the center of the room stood a giant, crystalline object bound by heavy chains, pulsing ominously.
Before Ronan could voice his concerns, Hiroto's gaze locked onto the crystal. Driven by an unknown urge, he struck it. The crystal shattered, sending a wave of dark energy surging through the room. Hiroto collapsed as strange symbols flickered around him, leaving Ronan to desperately try to rouse him.
When Hiroto finally awoke, he urged Ronan to seal the cave, his voice laced with urgency. Together, they blocked the entrance with obsidian bricks from the village blacksmith, but the unsettling energy lingered, filling them both with the sense that this was only the beginning.