The moment he stepped through the door, he felt their eyes on him.
Dozens of boys and girls stood in a circle, staring. Some whispered, their voices carrying across the room.
"Wasn't it supposed to be a girl?"
"What's his ability?"
"What's with your hair, man? Haha!"
Confusion and unease swirled in his mind. What is this place? Who are these people?
Before he could gather his thoughts, a man entered the room. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his fiery red hair glowing like embers. A tattoo on his neck read "3."
The man's piercing gaze settled on him. "Welcome to Vareen, 89," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "You'll get used to this place soon. I promise."
"89?" the boy muttered, frowning. The number felt... wrong, foreign, like it didn't belong to him.
"Why don't you get up, and we'll take a walk?" "3" said, extending a hand.
Before the boy could respond, "3" grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. The door behind him creaked shut, and the room disappeared, replaced by dimly lit corridors.
"Who are you? Why do you call me '89'? What's going on here?" the boy demanded, struggling to keep up.
"All your questions will be answered in time," "3" replied, smirking. "For now, keep up."
They walked in silence until the corridors opened into a vast hall, its walls towering like the cliffs of a canyon. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their flickering flames casting shadows that danced across the marble floors.
"This," said "3," gesturing grandly, "is the heart of Vareen. Everyone here has a purpose. Farmers, hunters, healers, cleaners, explorers... and then there are the gifted—those with abilities that defy logic."
"What about me?" the boy asked, his voice hesitant. "What's my... purpose?"
"Good question," "3" replied, grinning. "We'll find out soon enough. But first, let me show you something."
He raised his hand, and flames erupted from his palm, swirling and crackling. The boy stumbled back, startled by the intensity of the fire.
"This is my gift," "3" said, his voice serious. "It allows me to protect this place from the Evial."
"Evial?" the boy repeated, his heart pounding.
"Monstrous creatures," "3" explained. "Twisted, mindless beasts that roam beyond our walls. Some are strong. Some are fast. And then there are the horned ones..."
"Horned ones?"
"If you see one, you run," "3" said grimly. "No one survives a horned Evial. Not even the strongest among us."
The boy stared at the flames, mesmerized. A sudden, vivid image flashed in his mind—a burning figure, surrounded by fire, their hands ablaze with the same power. He could feel the heat, hear the roar of the flames.
"Why does this feel... familiar?" he whispered.
"What did you say?" "3" asked, lowering his hand.
"Nothing," the boy muttered, shaking his head. But the memory lingered, burning at the edges of his mind.
Suddenly, his knees buckled. His vision blurred, and he collapsed.
"Hey! Are you okay?" "3" shouted, catching him as darkness swallowed him whole.
---
Dream Sequence (While Unconscious):
He floated in a void, weightless and silent.
A flickering light appeared in the distance, growing brighter as it drew him in. It wasn't just light—it was a memory.
He saw himself, younger, standing in a desolate field. Flames roared around him, their heat searing his skin.
"You've seen it all before," said a voice.
He turned to see a silver-haired girl beside him. Her golden eyes stared into his, piercing and unyielding.
The memory dissolved into darkness.
---
The boy woke with a gasp. "3" and several others stood over him, their faces tense with concern.
"What happened to you?" "3" asked, his voice sharp.
The boy sat up, rubbing his temples. The memory of fire lingered in his mind, vivid and unshakable.
"I don't know," he said softly. But why does it feel like I've been here before?