A roaring wind blew through the air, misty wisps of white fog swirling around as a feeling of weightlessness shrouded the senses. A young man appeared out of the mist, floating, his body seemingly suspended in mid-air.
"Where am I?" The young man seemed confused, his eyes darting around, his mind struggling to comprehend his surroundings. It felt as though he were flying, but the ground beneath him was as solid as stone. A place above the clouds? he wondered, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Big brother Guilliman, save me!!"
Suddenly, a loud scream exploded in his ears, seemingly coming from every direction—loud, piercing, and distant all at once.
"That voice… Caroline?!" His heart skipped a beat. Immediately, upon hearing the voice, he was filled with panic. He began frantically scanning the space, hoping to find its source.
I couldn't help her back then. I have to find her… where are you?!!
His eyes darted desperately, but all he could see was the endless mist around him. There was no one. He was alone. Was this some sort of trick? It felt cruel, like a cruel joke. His sister, Caroline, calling for him… he had to save her, no matter what. He couldn't fail again.
"Find me, big brother. You're the only one I have left." The voice echoed in his ears once more, as if the very air itself was whispering it to him.
"I am in the place above the clouds."
And then, without warning, a second voice followed with a scream.
"Ahh!!"
Guilliman jerked awake. Sweat drenched his face, and his breath came in short, frantic gasps. His dark hair clung to his forehead as his heart hammered in his chest. He had been dreaming, but it felt too real. The vision, the voice, the panic—it all hit him with a rush.
"A place above the clouds…" he muttered under his breath, his voice strained as he looked out of the window. The sunlight filtered through, casting a pale glow across the room, and a feeling of unease gnawed at him. The dream had been vivid, too vivid. It almost felt like a warning.
Guilliman was not alone in this strange world. His sister, Caroline, had also been sent here. This place, the Sanctuary, was a world apart, a place cut off from the rest of reality. It was a world of opportunity, yes, but also one of peril. Only the strong could survive, and Guilliman had made a vow to himself to become strong enough to protect his sister.
In his previous life, during the advent of a ritual meant to unlock the powers of the shamanic arts, his father had been betrayed by his so-called allies. They had plotted to unleash an evil entity upon their world—one that sought to destroy everything in its path.
As the world collapsed, his father, desperate to protect his children, had used the sacred altar to send their souls into the Sanctuary. It was a dead space, unreachable by any force, no matter how powerful. It was a place of isolation, a place where time and space twisted and turned in strange ways. But it was also a place where Guilliman could grow stronger. His father had made that decision with one purpose in mind: to give his son the strength to take revenge on those who had wronged him.
But before revenge, Guilliman had one priority: ensuring that Caroline was safe. That was his goal, his purpose now. He had to find a way to protect her while also growing strong enough to take on the enemies who had destroyed their world.
"I'm hungry," he muttered, his stomach growling loudly. He was still sitting up on the makeshift bed, his hands gripping the edges as he took in his surroundings. The room around him was cramped and dilapidated, a far cry from any place of comfort. The walls were peeling, the wooden floor creaked with every movement, and the smell of dampness hung in the air. It wasn't much, but it was his home for now.
His eyes wandered to the door leading downstairs, where a delicious smell wafted in the air. It was enough to make him forget his worries, if only for a moment.
"I wonder what the occasion is," Guilliman mused aloud as he stood, stretching his arms before moving toward the ladder. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the quiet room as he descended.
…
As Guilliman stepped into the main room below, his eyes immediately locked onto two figures. A middle-aged man with brown hair and clothes that looked expensive, but upon closer inspection, were clearly cheap imitations of wealth. And beside him stood a woman adorned with a golden tooth and a neck full of gaudy jewelry. Both stared at him in shock, confusion written across their faces.
What was he doing here?
They both thought, their mouths hanging open slightly as Guilliman approached them.
"Hm?" Guilliman said nonchalantly, wiping the dust from his ragged clothes. His gaze met theirs with a knowing look, and his lips curled into a small smile. "Oh, good morning, mother and father," he said, his tone light as if everything was normal.
Just a few days ago, these same two individuals had come to him, speaking of their financial troubles, of how the house was near bankrupt and unable to afford anything. They had painted a picture of despair, of desperation, and in that moment, they had convinced him to join the Blackberry family as a stable boy. They had promised him work, but instead, they had abandoned him there to become a slave.
They were despicable parents. But what they didn't know was that Guilliman had planned it all. He wanted to become a slayer, and this situation was the perfect opportunity to exploit.
"Good… morning," the middle-aged man replied hesitantly, still trying to process the situation.
"You finally decided to show your face, huh? Where have you been, shithead?" Another voice sounded from across the room, obnoxious and mocking.
Guilliman turned to see one of the other men sitting at a makeshift dining table, surrounded by half-empty plates and cups. The others were eating, and they all shot him an annoyed look.
He had been missing for days, and they couldn't find him. In that time, they had been forced to do their own chores—washing dishes and taking care of things they expected him to do.
"There's food?" Guilliman asked with a smirk, walking toward the table and pulling out a chair to sit. His tone was casual, as if nothing was wrong. He didn't mention the whole slavery issue. Instead, he focused on the food, finally allowing himself to enjoy a proper meal after days of hunger.
"Here you go." The woman with the golden tooth placed a plate of what looked like leftover food in front of him. Guilliman glanced at it but didn't say anything.
What was going on here? Was the Blackberry family actually releasing their slaves after paying for them? Why was he here?
She couldn't make sense of it. But one thing was certain—she couldn't speak up. What would people say if they found out she had sold her son into slavery? Wouldn't they look down on her?
What was she supposed to say? "I sold him into slavery, and now he's back?" Wasnt that something to be ashamed of?
"Really, where have you been all this time?" she asked, feigning ignorance. She had decided to play along, pretending like nothing had changed.
"Hmm, I got lost in Clawwood Forest," Guilliman answered calmly, picking up a piece of fried fish with his bare hands and popping it into his mouth. It melted on his tongue, satisfying his hunger.
"Clawwood Forest? Yeah right, and I'm the head Regent!" A young man next to him snorted, clearly not believing the lie.
Clawwood Forest was a dangerous hunting ground that bordered the shelter. Ordinary people couldn't even venture into the outer regions, let alone get lost in its depths.
Guilliman was clearly lying. He had likely been avoiding work, doing whatever he wanted to escape chores.