In the year 2400, the world changed forever. Without warning, the skies blazed with a radiant, golden light so bright it rivaled the sun which was called Lux. For hours, the phenomenon bathed the Earth, visible from every corner of the globe. Lux wasn't just a spectacle—it was a harbinger.
As the brilliance faded, tremors rippled across the continents. From beneath the crust of the planet, colossal structures emerged, reaching towards the heavens like the limbs of some ancient, otherworldly tree. These were the Tower Trees: 52 monolithic formations, each branching into 104 medium-sized towers, which themselves gave rise to 208 smaller spires. Beneath the earth, their roots wove together, forming a vast, interconnected network of unknown origin and unfathomable power.
The world was stunned. Attempts to understand the Towers failed; their material defied all known science, and their origins remained a mystery. But more bewildering was what lay inside. Each Tower Tree was a labyrinth of floors, each one guarded by creatures out of humanity's oldest myths—beasts of fire, shadows, and arcane might. The Towers were a fortress of secrets, danger, and wonder.
Lux, however, had another effect. Among the billions of humans who witnessed it, half of them found themselves changed. The light altered their DNA, granting them abilities beyond imagination: manipulation of elements, heightened physical prowess, precognitive instincts, and more. These individuals, called Luminals, were the only ones capable of venturing into the Towers and surviving their dangers.
At first, the governments of the world sought to exploit the Towers. Their attempts ended in catastrophic failure. The Towers were not to be conquered by force, and the Luminals, powerful as they were, could not be controlled. Realizing the need for cooperation, governments established organizations to recruit, train, and oversee Luminals willing to explore the Towers. But this newfound frontier of opportunity also drew darker forces. Corporations, rogue factions, and criminal syndicates formed their own groups, vying for the treasures, knowledge, and power hidden within the Towers.
In the nation of Egria, a technological powerhouse and one of the most advanced countries in the world, the race to unlock the mysteries of the Towers is fiercer than ever. Home to the world's leading research facilities and armed with cutting-edge advancements, Egria stands at the forefront of Tower exploration. But even here, in a land of order and innovation, shadows stir. Rival organizations, both lawful and illicit, wage silent wars for dominance, while the Towers remain an enigma, their true purpose shrouded in secrecy.
Lux was not just a herald of change; it was a call. A call to those brave enough to enter the unknown, to face the monsters within, and to seek the truth buried in the roots of the world. For the Towers are more than they seem—something ancient and unfathomable stirs within them.
And it waits.
*****
In 2801.. in the nation of Egria.
THUMP.
A book was closed by a woman with a gloomy expression after finishing reading the book about History of Lux Lights.
She has long flowing, and silvery-white hair with that looks soft as silk, it was styled in loose ponytail tied near the top, leaving some strands framing her face with a soft violet color eyes. She was Yurilia, a normal average college student of Aetherspire University which was a country side University in the Eldoria city which was the southest city in the Enviria Region.
"This book explain it as if the world was in chaos but.."
I look outside of the window, it was a normal scenery of busy city of Eldoria but was painted with a beautiful structure that rise from the ground up to the skies, it was a giant tower trees. Despite the book tell it was chaotic, there's nothing really big happening nowdays, it was peaceful.
"...It's too peaceful, honestly it feels like there's nothing ever happened."
"I'm happy that i get awakened as Luminals but.. It's only a low skill status of Craftsman."
I sigh as i take the book with me to the check-out counter of the bookstore and buy it, It Cost me 5$ to buy this book... wait.. do people even buy book like this anymore?
I'm walking on the sidewalk while looking at my phone and searching through the internet about making money easily this years, but all i can find is exploring the Tower Trees.. MY SKILLS ARE NOTHING BUT LOW LEVEL CRAFTSMAN..! I CAN ONLY EXPLORE JUST THE ENTRANCE! ..Is what i screaming inside my head for 2 years after awakening.
To get awakened there's 2 way. First, you'll have to make contact with lux lights that was produced by the Otherwordly Artifact found by top Luminals in the Tower Trees, and there's 52 same artifacts function the same way and was placed in the each nation's capital city, as for my nation it was in the Aetherion city.. it cost a lot of money to do that and i have to sell a lot of my belonging to managed arrived there. While the second way is getting lux light's from luminals but producing lux light's will decreased their overall power so noone even want to do that.
"Huff.. all i can do is just continue my item shop and sell it to Luminals, I've never even want to do any of this, all i want is just.."
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and raise my head.
"LIVE A RICH LIFE..!!!"
I said with a loud voice that letting out all my frustration. But reality came back to me as i realize i was being looked at and it makes me embarassed as i walk faster.
After walking for hours i'm arrived at my small Item Shop with a sign: "Yurilia's Shop", it was small but enough for me to make a money for living.
"Huff.. let's start working again."
I walked inside and place my bags on the counter table and start cleaning and placing an item i make myself from my skills.
"Hmmhmmhmm~ hopefully there's a lot of customers today~"
I humming while clening the showcase of the item's table where i put it to show the customers, after cleaning through all the table's and racks, i flip the open sign and sit on the chair as i wait for customers.
"Yesterday i didn't got a single customers... hopefully there's one atleast today."
I said while scrolling through media social called CatFeeds in my phone.
While scrolling the CatFeeds, i came across a popular account that have 12 million followers.
"Hm? Oh.. this account is that person."
An account named Kael9, which was belong to someone named Kael Astria. A 19 years old genius man which was also the son of SkyForge's CEO, which a company that makes a lot of entertainment such as games, cartoon, and all the entertainment machine in the world. He was also popular among girls because of how handsome his face is with his shoulder long black hair and red eyes, as he was also awakened as Luminals with many high level skills.
CLICK. CLICK.
I click roughly on my phone, scrolling passed his account aggressively with a slightly annoyed face.
"HMPH such lucky blessed.. person..! He have everything! also why do many girls like him? he's such a cold person who don't even understand love at all..! ..well that's the same goes to me as well.."
I sigh with a frowned face.
"I've never feel love before.. maybe because i'm too busy making money for living.."
BRAK!
The door opened hard slamming against the window, but it didn't shatter as a man walked into the store with a flat expression.
"Oh.. sorry."
He was a tall 19 years old man with a shoulder long black hair and a red eyes wearing a gray coat and a black turtleneck outfit, his shoulder was a slightly wide, which the same person I sees on my phone earlier.
"You..! you are that lucky guy!"
I said with a suprised face pointing my fingers at him as he look at me with flat expression.
"..What are you saying suddenly..?"
Ah crap. this mouth of me..
"Ahaha.. i mean.. welcome customers, what do you want to buy..?
I rush to him but tripped by my working tools on the ground as i fall
"Ow..!"
I look down as i hold my tears because it was so embarassing, and it was infront of him of all people..
I lift my head as he offer his hand to help me.
"Ahaha.. thank you.."
I smiled at him as i take his hand to get up from the ground, but for a moment he stare at my eyes before helping me stand up.
"Well.. No problem."
He said with such a calm but flat expression on his face.
"I'm here to buy item that my friend request, but i can't find any item shop nearby around here except your shop."
He said as he give me a piece of paper with a list of craft's item written on it.
"Okay! let me see first.."
It was 3 item: Frosted Gum, Pack of Black Cigarrate, and Small silver needle.
"Hm? this was a common item except for Black Cigarrate, but i have three of them wait here for moment."
I walked to the racked behind the table and take all the three item he request and give it to him.
"Here you go! it will be all-"
I was about to say the price but he suddenly give me 100$ and bow slightly to me then walked out of the store.
"Wait.."
I was too stunned because of the 100$ on my hands, but then i'm back to my sense as i run chasing him.
"HEEEY WAIT! THIS IS TOO MUCH!"
I shout trying to reach him who's already walking far from me, and he looking back at me.
"It's fine, you can keep the change.'
He said to me as he stopped walking.
"Huh.. strange.."
I said to myself as i look the money on my hand, i can't help myself but smiling because the amount of money.
His eyes caught me smiling which makes him looking at me a bit longer before walking away with the same expression.
....
...
..
.
In the SkyForge company building, in the gaming lounge room, he walked in as he sit on the sofa.
A white haired man with blue eyes walked to him and tap his shoulder.
"Hey Kael you're back, did you found the game you're searching for on the game store?"
The man said with a smile on his face.
"Ren, i didn't find it but i found item you want"
Kael said as he give's the plastic bag to Ren.
"Ahaha..! thanks Kael, but did something happen? your expression seems a bit different."
Ren said as he take the black ciggarate and smoke.
Another man walked to them holding a cue stick, he has a bright red hair and blue eyes.
"What do you mean his expression a bit different, he still has the same expression as usual."
The red haired boy said as he sit beside Kael who's playing game on his phone.
"Well well you see Azari, Even though his expression still looks the same, i can tell it's a bit different just a bit if something happening to him, because i've know him since childhood."
Ren said as he sit beside Kael too.
Kael just playing on his phone staring on the screen for a few seconds and then said.
"I met a woman in the item shop near the mall."
Ren and Azari jaw was dropped and shocked as they both looking at Kael at the same time.
"WOMAN!? THIS KAEL TALK ABOUT WOMAN!?"
Ren and Azari said loudly that can be heard by everyone on the gaming lounge room as Kael keep playing his game on his phone.
NOTE:
My first time making romance stories.