The sun hung low over the sprawling fields of Duskharrow, painting the horizon in amber hues. The air carried the scent of damp earth, a reminder of the rainstorm that had swept through the night before. The world felt fresh, alive, as if quietly preparing for something long-awaited.
At the heart of this humble region lay Bramm Village, where the cobbled streets wound like veins around modest stone cottages and wooden stalls. It was a place far removed from the grand cities that dominated tales of heroes and legends—a quiet, unassuming corner of the world.
But even here, the weight of dreams pressed heavy on a few hearts.
A boy stood at the edge of the village, gazing toward the distant mountains shrouded in mist. His name was Azure von Rex, a lanky fifteen-year-old with unruly dark hair and sharp, contemplative eyes. There was little about him that stood out—no mark of nobility, no grand legacy whispered by the elders. He was just a farmer's son, burdened by calloused hands and days spent under the sweltering sun.
Yet Azure's gaze lingered far beyond the fields.
"Azure!" A voice called out from behind him.
Turning, he saw Demi, a childhood friend who had grown taller in the past year. Her fiery hair shimmered in the light, and her bright green eyes reflected a mischief that never seemed to dim. She ran up to him, out of breath.
"You'll burn a hole in the mountains if you keep staring like that."
Azure smiled faintly. "I'm just wondering… do you ever feel like there's more out there? Something we're missing?"
Demi raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Don't tell me you've been listening to Grandmaster Renkai's stories again. He'll have you believe there's magic lurking in the trees."
Azure chuckled but said nothing.
Magic.
It was a word whispered in fables, tales of Magicians who wielded fire and ice with a flick of their hands, or Martial Artists who could split mountains with their fists. But here in Bramm Village, magic was a distant thing—something that belonged to another world.
Demi nudged him. "Come on. The festival's starting soon. If you keep daydreaming, the pastries will disappear before you can blink."
Azure nodded, and the two began walking back into the village.
The village square buzzed with life as preparations for the Harvest Festival reached their peak. Children darted between stalls, their laughter echoing against the stone walls. Musicians played gentle tunes on old string instruments, and the air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and spiced bread.
Yet as Azure wandered through the crowd, his thoughts kept drifting to the mountains—the faint, flickering call of something unknown.
It was then that he noticed the figure standing at the edge of the square.
A tall man cloaked in black, his face hidden beneath the shadow of a wide-brimmed hat. He stood motionless, watching the festival with an unreadable expression.
"Who's that?" Azure whispered to Demi.
She followed his gaze, frowning. "Never seen him before. A traveler, maybe?"
As if sensing their attention, the man's gaze shifted to meet Azure's.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to still.
Azure's breath caught in his throat.
Then, the man turned and disappeared into the alleyway beyond the square.
"Azure?" Demi's voice snapped him back.
"Sorry… I thought I saw something."
But even as the festival continued, Azure couldn't shake the lingering sense that something—someone—was waiting just beyond the horizon.
Later that night, beneath a sky littered with stars…
Azure sat on the roof of his family's cottage, his legs dangling over the edge. The wind whispered through the trees, and in the distance, he could hear the faint howling of wolves.
His heart felt restless, as though something was pulling him toward the unknown.
In that quiet moment, Azure made a decision.
Tomorrow, he would leave Bramm Village.
He didn't know what he was searching for. Only that he couldn't keep waiting for it to come to him.
And so, the first step was taken—the spark that would ignite a journey spanning worlds.
The Road Beyond the Horizon
Azure awoke before the sun crept over the edge of the mountains. The air was crisp with the lingering chill of night, and the village remained cloaked in the soft hush of slumber. Only the faint calls of morning birds disturbed the silence.
He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the packed satchel resting against the wall. A simple cloak, a loaf of bread, a flask of water, and a rusted short sword his father had left behind when he retired from his youth as a guard. It wasn't much, but it felt like enough.
Azure's gaze lingered on the window, where faint rays of dawn began to stretch across the fields.
Today is the day.
A soft knock startled him. He turned to see his younger sister, Lira, peeking into the room. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, flickered toward the satchel.
"You're really leaving?" she asked quietly.
Azure hesitated before nodding.
Lira stepped inside, clutching a small wooden carving of a fox in her hands. She held it out to him.
"Take this," she said.
Azure smiled softly, brushing her hair back as he accepted the gift.
"I'll bring it back, I promise."
"You better," Lira mumbled, crossing her arms with a pout.
Footsteps creaked from the hall, and their mother appeared in the doorway. Her expression was unreadable, but the weight in her gaze said everything.
"You're really set on this, aren't you?" she asked.
"I have to, Mother," Azure replied.
She sighed, leaning against the frame. "Your father would've understood."
"I know."
She didn't try to stop him. Instead, she knelt beside Lira, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulder.
"Just… be careful out there. The world beyond Bramm isn't as kind as the stories make it seem."
Azure tightened the strap of his satchel and met his mother's gaze with quiet resolve.
"I will."
The sun had barely crested the horizon by the time Azure set out along the eastern path, leading away from the village and toward the distant mountains. The road was well-trodden but empty, save for the occasional rustle of rabbits darting into the underbrush.
As he walked, his thoughts wandered back to the Harvest Festival, to the man in the black cloak.
There was something strange about him—something that had shifted the air, even for just a moment.
Who was he?
Azure pushed the thought aside. He couldn't let himself be distracted.
By midday, he had crossed the river marking the boundary of Bramm's farmlands. The dense forest that followed swallowed the path in shadow, but Azure pressed on. His footsteps echoed beneath the canopy, accompanied only by the rhythmic chirping of crickets.
As he rounded a bend, a sudden rustling in the underbrush drew his attention.
Azure halted, hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword.
From the bushes emerged a small figure—a boy, no older than ten, with a torn cloak and wild, unkempt hair. His eyes widened when he saw Azure, and he took a hesitant step back.
"Wait," Azure called gently, lowering his hand from his weapon. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The boy hesitated, eyeing him carefully.
"What are you doing out here alone?" Azure asked.
The boy glanced behind him, as if expecting someone to appear.
"I ran away," the boy said softly. "From the village."
Azure frowned. "Which village?"
The boy didn't answer. Instead, he looked down, his hands trembling slightly.
Azure crouched beside him.
"It's dangerous to be out here by yourself," he said. "Come with me. I'll get you to the next village."
The boy stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
As they continued down the path together, Azure couldn't help but feel as though their meeting wasn't by chance.
Night fell swiftly, and the stars emerged like scattered diamonds across the sky. Azure and the boy—who had introduced himself as Kael —sat around a small campfire beneath the trees. The flames crackled softly, casting flickering shadows along the forest floor.
Kael stared into the fire, clutching his knees.
"You're heading to Vendela, aren't you?" he asked suddenly.
Azure glanced at him.
"How did you know that?"
Kael shrugged. "It's the only reason people head east."
Azure smirked. "I guess you're right."
"You think they'll let you in?"
Azure's grip tightened around the wooden carving Lira had given him.
"I'll find a way."
Kael's gaze drifted toward the sky.
"I heard only the strongest get into Vendela. People who can already use Qi or Mana."
Azure remained silent.
The truth was, he had no idea if he could awaken his Qi. He had never tried, never had the resources or guidance. But the thought of staying in Bramm Village—living a life of fields and livestock—felt more impossible than reaching the academy itself.
Kael eventually drifted to sleep by the fire, but Azure remained awake, staring into the flames.
Somewhere beyond the mountains, the grand gates of Vendela Evandelore awaited.
And Azure would walk the path, no matter how uncertain, until he stood before them.