11 years later.
The morning sunlight pierced through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. The curtains swayed gently as a cool breeze wafted in, carrying the fresh scent of morning dew.
There was nothing quite like the deep sleep that followed a night of strategy and late chess matches. Andrew kicked off the covers and planted his feet on the polished wooden floor with a thump.
Running his fingers through his long brown hair, he pushed away the stray strands that clung to his face. His gaze landed on the physical calendar pinned to the wall.
It was finally Meriko, the 45th.
"So, today's the day I become an adventurer," Andrew muttered under his breath.
He moved to his bookshelf and retrieved his adventuring essentials: a black glove and a golden mask. The glove slid over his left hand, concealing the seal. The mask slide into his bag
That was all he needed. Everything else was safely stored away.
He hurried to the dining room, where Carbon sat enjoying a simple breakfast of bread while one of the green-skinned Punchio maids poured tea for him. They were green skinned people with tendril like braided hair.
Carbon, a man of stoic demeanor, glanced at Andrew over the rim of his cup.
"You're up early," he remarked, his voice steady.
Andrew shrugged, snagging a blue apple from the counter. "I've got things to do."
"Not even staying for breakfast?" Carbon asked, eyeing him curiously.
"You know I hate breakfast," Andrew replied, taking a bite of the apple. Its tart juice stung his tongue. "This is enough."
He started toward the stairs, hoping to avoid further questioning, but Carbon's sharp tone stopped him. "Andrew. You only wake up early on your birthday."
Andrew froze, his expression tightening. Damn.
Today marked his 20th year, and he had no intention of staying behind. Despite Carbon's protective nature and shared disapproval with adventuring, Andrew had made his choice.
Turning back, Andrew admitted, "Yeah. I'm 20 today. And I'm leaving to become an adventurer. Nothing you say will change that."
Carbon's face darkened. "A joke, right?"
"No."
The older man let out a heavy sigh, his usual calm shaken. "This is about what you always said, isn't it? You want to become respected, to stand beside your brother."
Andrew didn't reply. He didn't need to.
"Promise me you'll be safe," Carbon said finally, his tone resigned.
Andrew smirked faintly. "I will. And you know I'm hard to kill."
Carbon shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Still as rebellious as ever."
As Andrew descended the stairs, Carbon called after him one last time. "Do you have enough money?"
Andrew hesitated, recalling the 34 bronze coins he had left. "Nope!" he lied casually.
"You're lying, aren't you?"
"Of course, Pops."
Outside the mansion, Andrew approached the estate's donkey, Merku. Its white coat gleamed in the sunlight, and it stood calm, waiting for him. He gave its neck a quick pat before climbing into the saddle.
"To Sundawn," Andrew said, putting on his gold mask.
Merku twitched its ears and immediately began to run. Its hooves clattered on the smooth concrete path that wound through the estate, lined with neat rows of bright flowers. The scent of lavender and roses filled the air as they passed.
At the edge of the estate, the iron gate creaked open on its own, allowing them to exit onto the road. The view changed from the lush estate gardens to open fields, with the occasional tree dotting the landscape.
After a couple hours, the city walls of Sundawn came into view.
Merku slowed as they neared. Andrew swung off the saddle and landed on the dusty road just outside the gate. He gave Merku another pat.
"Good boy," he said, then turned to face the bustling city ahead.
Merku on the other hand run back home.
"Remove the mask," one commanded.
Andrew complied, revealing half of his face. The guard's expression twisted, both shocked and displeased.
"Son of Carbon. Interesting to see you," the man said, barely containing his disdain.
"Thanks," Andrew said as the towering black gates opened for him to enter.
Adventurers walked up and down the bustling street. People from a wide variety of cultures mingled, some struggling to overcome language barriers or unfamiliar accents.
Among the crowd were Punchios, Lizardfolk, and Julioes, a peculiar species resembling humanoid pink bubblegum creatures. They looked like something out of a strange experiment—like Kid Buu from Dragon Ball Z had spawned an entire species.
Nearby, vendors sold cone-shaped apples called Aljuni and other unusual fruits, like rapidly shape-shifting cherries.
Andrew stopped at a stall and purchased an Aljuni from the merchant. It had been years since he last tasted one.
As he bit into it, blue juice dripped down his chin. The flavor was a curious blend of mango and grape—but something was off.
"Bah," he muttered. "Picked too early. It's supposed to taste mostly like grape!"
Memories of his failed attempt at growing Aljuni trees to start an ice cream business resurfaced. The plan had flopped before it even began. No one had wanted to buy anything from "the evil child."
Despite the disappointing flavor, Andrew continued eating as he made his way toward the massive building labeled "Adventurers Guild." Its official name was "Humans & Vlandos Jobs Cooperation."
Along the way, he passed numerous shops catering to adventurers: equipment stores, item vendors, blacksmiths, and more. Weapons, armor, and elixirs were available for nearly every need. Not that Andrew needed to buy anything just yet.
He entered the guild alongside other adventurers, many wearing armor and carrying weapons. Though inventories were standard, many flaunted their most impressive gear as a status symbol.
"I'm never trying to kill an orc again. The power up just isn't worth it," one party joked nearby as others browsed the quest board, selecting jobs according to their ranks.
Ignoring the chatter, Andrew approached the receptionist. She wore the guild's uniform: a white shirt and black pants. Her tired eyes and strained expression suggested she hadn't slept well in days.
She noticed Andrew and hesitated, puzzled by his mask. Then, she forced a polite smile. "Hello! You're new here, I take it?"
"Yes. I want to register as an adventurer," Andrew said, placing his birth certificate on the counter.
The receptionist examined the document. Her smile faltered as she read his name, her face suddenly pale with fear.
"Oh. Oh," she stammered, forcing a grin while her eyes darted to his gloved left hand.
"Normally, we ask for proof of Vlandos lineage, but… I suppose that won't be necessary."
She placed a tablet-like device with a gemstone-studded surface on the counter. "We need to record your details for your adventurer's card. Please touch the surface."
Andrew complied, and glowing letters projected from the tablet
"We'll need to take your picture. You'll have to remove your mask for it." She gestured to a nearby door.
Andrew followed her instructions and entered the room, where a massive, Qi crystal-powered camera awaited. After taking his photo, the receptionist used it to finalize his adventurer's license.
When he received it, Andrew couldn't help but grin behind his mask. He was now an adventurer! The process had been anticlimactic, but who cared?
"For the Chaos Realm Compass, it'll cost—"
Before she could finish, Andrew placed two silver coins on the table. "Here."
She handed him a gold compass with a sun symbol on top of it and a moon under it.
Andrew asked, "Is that all?"
"Not yet. You'll need to be assigned a guide and a party for today. It's guild policy."
"Is that absolutely necessary?" Andrew asked.
She hesitated. "Um… yes. It's not just policy; it's the law. I'd rather not lose my job or go to jail."
Andrew sighed and shrugged. "Fair enough."
"You'll be in a party with those newly registered..." She then pointed at two individuals. A woman and a heinous skinny man. "Brenda and Mark."
Brenda heard her name and walked over.
"Hello. It's nice to meet you." Her accent was heavy on the "I" and "T" sounds, and her skin was a light brown tone. She was unmistakably from the Drendmek Empire.
Andrew always found it curious when residents of Drendmek chose to come to Dragonwake, especially since their homeland offered a better quality of life—lower taxes, superior healthcare, and the likes.
Mark strolled over with an odd smile. "I'm with a bunch of dang kids... huh."
The receptionist coughed before saying, "I would suggest heading to the Green Chaos realm. The Chaos Beasts near its entrance are the weakest in the entire kingdom, so it's a good starting point."
Mark shrugged. "Yeah yeah. Follow me turds!"
Andrew cringed. He knew he wasn't going to like this Mark guy.
They left the city in a donkey-driven carriage. It was a far cheaper option than the crystal-powered vehicles that only the elites could afford.
Andrew had his Chaos Realm Compass open. The needle was spinning around. It didn't matter. The driver also had a Compass.
During the ride, Mark kept rambling about how they should feel honored to witness his "humble beginnings." He boasted that he would soon become rich, famous, and surrounded by women branded with his name.
Andrew silently wished for a beast to knock his head clean off when they entered a chaos realm.
The carriage rumbled deep into the wilderness, its wheels creaking as it moved over uneven ground. Suddenly, it came to a halt. Before them, a strange pulse of energy began to crackle, a mix of brown and white sparks dancing in the air.
Andrew's Compass in his hand twitched, its needle pointing directly at the strange disturbance.
Mark, peering through the carriage window, pointed excitedly. "It's a chaos rift! I bet you've never seen one before!"
Andrew didn't respond to him. He simply got off the carriage, followed closely by Brenda. The air around them felt oddly pleasant against Andrew's skin, like the refreshing coolness of water, but in the open air.
"I hate how long it takes for the rifts to stabilize… it hurts being near one," Brenda murmured, wrinkling her nose as a strange, prickling sensation danced along her skin.
The pulse of energy before them continued to shift, its swirling colors becoming a perfect circle, as if the rift were preparing to open fully. The energy spread outwards, drawing in the surrounding air like a vacuum.
Mark dashed out of the carriage, practically bursting with excitement. He waved his sword around, yelling at the driver to leave. "When it becomes one color, that means it's stable—!"
Andrew and Brenda darted forward in unison. As they approached the rift, it flickered between brown and white. But as they neared, it settled into a solid brown hue.
Without a moment's hesitation, they both leaped into the rift. For a brief, disorienting moment, Andrew felt as though he was falling through cold water. The sensation disappeared almost instantly, and he landed hard on rocky ground with a sharp grunt.
When he stood up, his eyes widened. The world around him was bizarre. Towering flowers in shades of purple and yellow stretched high above him, their petals almost glowing. The grass was thick, curiously spongy, and thrummed with an unnatural energy. Strange, twisting trees loomed in the distance, their trunks warped in abnormal ways.
The clouds were yellow and moving across the sky rapidly.
Andrew smiled. "We're in a chaos realm..."