Chapter 1: Nightmare

It's cold…

A man leaned over a broken pillar resting his back on it. Exhaustion was visible on his tired face. 

He turned his head glancing at the destruction around him—scattered debris, mangled corpses, and bloody stench had spread everywhere. 

His eyes drifted to the bodies that lay twisted on the ground—faces he knew. Faces that meant everything to him. And yet, he had failed to protect them.

sorry… 

He whispered closing his eyes. Sorrow, regret, revenge etc these emotions bubbled up inside him as a single tear dropped from those soulless, empty eyes.

Thanks for everything. He remembered her smile, her last smile. 

Her final words echoed through his mind, a haunting reminder of the fate he couldn't change. 

I'll meet you soon. He whispered longingly, gazing toward the dark and foreboding sky, a veil of endless night.

krukh

Suddenly, a dreadful roar broke the silence, reverberating through the ruined landscape. The ground trembled under the loud footstep of that accursed being. 

The exhausted man turned his head slightly, glancing at the creature that had caught his attention. 

A monster with immense malice growled wildly, locking towards him. 

Its eyes filled with faint, ominous light glared at him. It creaked its body, twisting it grotesquely, and dashed towards him. 

The sheer pressure emanating from that monster's movement was nerve-wrenching.

The man slowly lifted his arms, pointing his fingers toward the monster. "Disappear," he ordered, his voice weak yet excluding profound authority. The instant his voice echoed, an unbelievable change occurred over the monster's body.

splash

It bloated uncontrollably like a balloon filled with helium gas. Painful growls echoed throughout the battlefield as the monster went berserk and thrashed around wildly. 

After a while, Its body reached the limit of expansion and…. 

boom

A deafening explosion filled the man's ears. He stared at the massive crater with his emotionless gaze. 

creak

Suddenly, the sound of something enormous shifting filled the air. The man's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the hulking monstrosity before him. 

grukh 

A gigantic abomination had appeared, grotesquely swinging its tentacles. 

sigh...

Peace was never an option huh. He slowly stood up, using his sword as a support. His body ached, yet his determination never wavered.

Very well. Come!!  

The entity growled wildly, distorting the space around it. Its body was so massive that the man appeared like an ant before it.

He raised his sword, the gleam of his eyes betraying the determination that still burned within him. With a surge of energy, he teleported in front of the beast. The clash that followed shattered the very fabric of reality.

boom

—

Haah haah 

A young boy jolted himself awake, his chest heaving intensely as he struggled to catch his breath.

Sweat drenched his clothes, his heart pounding in his chest. 

"Not this again!" He muttered, clenching his fist tightly. 

His breathing was uneven, the remnants of the dream still gripping him.

"Calm down." He placed a hand over his heart, trying to steady the erratic rhythm. 

inhale 

exhale 

sigh…

"When is this going to end?" He questioned, pushing himself out of bed. The dream—it had haunted him for weeks now. Each night, the same overwhelming dread. The same monstrous enemy.

He shook the thought from his mind and unbuttoned his sweat-soaked shirt, tossing it into the laundry pile. Grabbing a towel, he headed for the bathroom. 

Ssshh

Cold water sprayed on his body, waking him from the usual drowsiness. The cold shower had washed away the accumulated sweat and fatigue. 

He stood before the mirror, wiping his body using the towel. 

A handsome face reflected before the mirror, with wet black hair, piercing grey eyes that contrasted sharply with his fair skin, and a lean, athletic physique with toned muscles. 

His facial features were strong and well refined with high cheekbones, a well-defined jawline, and a straight nose. 

His expression carried a sense of curiousness with a subtle warmth to it.

"Lucian, The breakfast is ready."  A soft melodic voice echoed from outside the room. 

"Coming, Mom!"  Lucian, the young boy responded, hurriedly exiting the room. He swiftly wore a grey oversized T-shirt and black trousers with white stripes on it. 

"Perfect." He commented glancing at himself in the mirror. The outfit perfectly matched his appearance, enhancing his manly appearance. 

He exited the room and moved towards the dining room with an excited expression. 

"Finally, The day has arrived." His excitement was visible on his face as he smiled thinking about today's event. 

click 

A beautiful lady appeared before his eyes as he entered the room. She had a mature look on her face with rich brown hair cascading gently passed her shoulders, giving her a warm and earthy appearance. Her light green eyes, deep and soulful, were like a peaceful ocean—inviting, yet with a hidden intensity. They had a nurturing gaze, always observant and caring,

"Good Morning Mom." He greeted her with a smile, taking a seat near the dining table. The table was filled with delicious food, its sweet aroma spreading throughout the room. 

"Good Morning Dear." She smiled back, placing a glass of water beside him.

"Good Morning Dad." Lucian said, turning toward the middle-aged man beside him.

He had a muscular build, a man who had maintained his strength over the years through discipline and dedication. His thick black hair was kept neat, streaked with a few grey strands hinting at his age and wisdom.

His black eyes were equally dark, cold, and piercing, always observing and calculating, giving off an intense gaze that made those around him feel like they were being measured. His short beard, meticulously trimmed, added to his authoritative appearance, giving him a rugged yet refined look.

What truly set him apart was his stern and domineering presence demanding respect from everyone around him. 

He nodded his head, quietly sipping his tea. "How's your preparation?" He inquired, his deep yet authoritative voice resounding through Lucian's ears. 

"It's going fine," Lucian responded with a usual confident demeanor. His dad nodded his head. 

He happily munched his meal, enjoying Selene's delicious handmade food. 

"Mom, I have to say, You're an expert at cooking." Lucian praised, feeling the food melt in his tongue. He was always a fan of his mother's cooking and today's food was even more tasty than usual. 

cough

Eat slowly dear. Selene replied with a concerned look, passing the glass of water to the choking Lucian. 

He forcefully gulped down the water, releasing a low burp. 

"Sorry." He apologized, peeking slightly at his father. His father was a strict man and would always scold him when he made silly mistakes like these. 

"Eat slowly, We are not in a rush." Kaelen reprimanded, glancing at Lucian's face. 

Selene lightly patted her son's head, "Relax, Dear." She softly muttered, "Don't worry, We have full faith that you will awaken successfully." 

 Kealen nodded his head, confirming Selene's words. 

"Just give your all and leave the rest to us." He replied, encouraging his worried son. 

"Thanks Mom, Dad." Lucian smiled, feeling relieved. Today, was a very important day in his life so he was slightly nervous. He will be attending the Enlightenment Ceremony to awaken his spiritual powers. 

It was a necessary process to enter the world of magic and mysticism. He has fantasized about this day for a long time and finally, the day has arrived. 

—

"See ya, Mom." Lucian waved his hands, bidding farewell to his mother. 

"Good Luck, Dear," Selene replied, her eyes shining with pride.

Lucian turned and climbed into the waiting carriage, the silver star emblem etched on its side gleaming in the morning light.

"To the enlightenment ceremony." He ordered, leaning peacefully on the carriage's back.