"Let's go to the garden, where we'll finally reach the song that has never cried.

Shattered like a tool broken by ashes, if that boy ever sang, oh last night.

War-torn child, war-torn... boy will he ever see that light?

"He takes a knee and falls to slumber...oh

Is it the last new light?"

A truly calming melody.

My mother was a beautiful singer. Though I strive, I could never recreate her voice.

Still, as I downed the last sip of mead, a boy could dream.

The tavern was quiet, late at night, with only a few souls left wandering the plains during these dark times.

Of course, I wasn't like that—living off the small monsters I managed to hunt. It was simple, but I always wished for more. Wealth? Power? No. I simply wanted peace. And love.

But peace and love in this cruel world were nothing more than dreams for a fool. And as luck would have it, I was the biggest fool of them all.

I slammed my cup on the table. "One more, barkeep. Then I'll be outta your hair."

She gave me a suspicious look. Her long blue hair and dark eyes traced me as I drunkenly waved my cup around.

In truth, I could hold myself to a higher standard, avoid drinking, but tonight it just felt so... nice.

"Sure, that last one's on the house." She ducked under the counter.

She popped back up, her head bouncing slightly as her dark skin shimmered in the flickering light. She slammed another cup down and smiled.

"I'm guessing you plan to crash here again, Kaelith?"

I nodded and sighed. "You know, I really do hope to have a family one day. Laughing, running around in a back garden near a house by the coast."

She shook her head, smiling. "You're forgetting the most important part."

I smiled back. "Yes, a happy wife as well."

I downed the last of the mead and stood up, my leather boots scraping slightly against the chain floor as I moved.

But oh, like every moment of peace, it was gone in a flash.

A loud man burst through the tavern doors, striding up to the counter, placing his revolver on the table and his large axe near his side.

He slammed his fist down with a thud before speaking.

"Give me two shots of your strongest wine. And make 'em stronger." His voice was as ugly as his appearance.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed.

Gruphin. A notable warrior, stronger than I.

Standing a tall six feet seven, with muscles like iron, he had taken down a draganoid and earned respect throughout the land.

But ever since, he'd been abusing it. Like now, for example—after finishing the two shots of wine, he rose, implying he didn't intend to pay.

I sat, watching in silence as he headed for the door. Then I spoke.

"Ya forgot something, sir."

He turned his bald head slowly, a sneer curling his lips. "What is it? My gun? Nah, I got that. So what?"

"Pay. You see, our lovely tavern keeper here is quite low on funds. Mind sparing a few coins for the drinks you just drank?"

He shot me an angry glare, then sighed, rubbing his face. "You know what? I'm feelin' nice today." With that, he threw a single gold coin straight at my eye, knocking me back.

As I stumbled, wiping my face, I saw him turn and leave.

Virtue ran up to me, her blue hair brushing aside as she hovered over me. "Ya know, those drinks were only worth a silver coin. You didn't make me a profit."

I smiled up at her. "Mind giving me half?"

***

The trees grew thick and oppressive, their branches tangled like the web of my thoughts. Each step I took, running from the beast, seemed more futile than the last.

I was being chased by a giant wolf.

But this was no ordinary wolf.

It could wield the Song.

The Song was more than just a melody—it was the essence of the world itself, a force that allowed those attuned to it to manipulate the very fabric of existence.

It resonated deep within the soul, a hidden power waiting to be unlocked through perfect harmony.

The wolf had learned to harness this energy, using it to command fire, summon the winds, and bend the earth to its will.

I finally reached a clearing. A single rock sat in the center, an old, rusted sword lodged deep into its surface.

I smiled bitterly.

It was the same rock I had placed there long ago, the one that marked the heart of the forest.

I had made it my own landmark, a place to return to when I needed a reason to keep going.

Turning back to face the wolf, I raised my silver sword, ready to meet it. The creature was closing in fast, crashing through the trees, and I knew it would be here any second.

Then I heard it—the sickening snap of branches as it tore through the forest. The ground shook beneath its weight, and before I could react, a ball of fire shot toward me.

I rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the flames, and swung my sword to block the next strike.

The blast hit my blade with such force it sent me staggering back, but I didn't falter. I couldn't.

Finally, the wolf emerged into the clearing, its fur a dark red, its eyes as black as a starless night.

There was no mistaking it—this was no mere animal. This was a creature shaped by the Song itself, a force of nature bound to its will.

"Well, now," I said, more to myself than to the beast, "you're a fine thing, just waiting to be caught, huh?"

The wolf growled low, its massive form tensing before it lunged. A stream of fire erupted from its mouth, aimed straight for me.

I swung my sword, intercepting its jaws just as the fire poured out. It was like holding back a flood, but I managed to redirect the flames, sending them streaming past me.

I ducked under the beast, twisting my body to avoid its snapping teeth. My sword slid free from its grip, and in one fluid motion, I drove the blade into its stomach, slicing upward with all my strength.

The wolf howled in pain, but I didn't give it the chance to recover. I swung again, this time severing its head in a single clean strike.

As the beast's body fell, its Song flowed into me. It was like a sudden burst of light, radiating through me from the deepest part of my soul.

I could feel the energy coursing through my veins, illuminating the darkness that had once defined me.

The Song—its power, its essence—was now part of me, a force that would shape the world in ways I hadn't even begun to understand.

I was still ignorant of the Song, because I had never had a teacher like most others. Still, I was able to compete with the most basic of monsters.

After taking my time to skin the beast, collecting its fur, skin, meat, and bones, I strapped it all to my back and set off for the town.

My home was the Kingdom of Therrandis; the town was Folium, and we were currently at war.

Even in the town's outskirts, soldiers were stationed on every corner, their sharp eyes constantly scanning for threats.

I was tired. After drinking away the night in the tavern, I barely managed to rise before the sun.

Now, less than four hours later, I was trudging back to town, the weight of the freshly harvested wolf on my back.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting a pale light over the fields that led into the gates of Folium this little town.

As I approached the town, the guards at the gate were immediately on alert.

It wasn't unusual for travelers to pass through, but the Kingdom was at war, and that made everyone a potential threat.

I reached into my pouch and pulled out the small metal card.

It was a simple thing, but it held everything they needed to know about me: my name, my age, my status as a non-combatant.

It was the only thing keeping me from being sent to the front lines, though I often wondered if I was just as much a fool for not joining.

One of the guards took the card and eyed it with a practiced gaze. "Kaelith," he muttered, reading the details aloud.

"Age 23. Non-Combatant. Hm. You still sure you're not going to enlist? The Kingdom could use every able-bodied soul it can get."

I shrugged. "I'm not cut out for it," I said. "I don't meet the qualifications."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "Qualifications? You've got the potential to use the Song, don't you?"

I nodded, though I knew it wasn't enough. The Song was in me, yes, but without proper training, I couldn't hope to match the strength of the soldiers who had already mastered it.

The guard grunted. "Well, you've got your reasons, I suppose." He handed back the card with a grunt of approval and waved me through.

I walked past the gates and into the town.

The streets were quieter than usual, the air heavy with the tension of war.

I could see the scars it had left on the people: gaunt faces, eyes filled with worry, and the heavy atmosphere that hung over everyone like a storm cloud.

I passed through the streets and made my way down the road until finally I reached it.

The Guild Hall is a large building with two stone statues holding swords at it's entrance.

Then sighing I walk in.